The Slovenian Context of Computers in Education

Abstract

Slovene compulsory education in the past 40 years was characterized by centralization and as little diversity as possible. This uniformity was based on the idea of providing equal chances for everyone to learn the basics which are supposed necessary to enter secondary schools for continued education. Uniformity did not comprise the academic side of education alone, but also the socializing contents of education. Education in Slovenia is funded through the state budget, and schools are financed directly by the Ministry of Education and Sports according to norms which are set and controlled by the Ministry. In the 1980s, the educational scene in Slovenia was characterized by individual schools or teachers spontaneously introducing different educational approaches. While computer education started as a compulsory subject in some Slovene schools 22 years ago, no schools actually acquired computers until the middle of the 1980s. Today, several projects are underway to assist schools with the implementation of computers and other information technologies.