Article
Slovenia's education response to the influx of Ukrainian students
Situation
Context
The Government鈥檚 Decree on the Methods and Conditions for Ensuring the Rights of Persons with International Protection regulates special procedures to ensure the inclusion of refugees and displaced persons in the educational space, both in secondary and higher education.
Basic education
The MoE affirms its support for the inclusion of Ukrainian children in the Slovenian education system and states that educational models have been established at the level of primary and secondary schools.
Higher education
Expenses related to the recognition of previous education for persons granted international protection are covered by the Government Office for the Care and Integration of Migrants.
As enrolment is not possible during the academic year, the University of Maribor has enabled Ukrainian refugee students to enroll temporarily in its study programs as part of the Erasmus student scheme. Any study done during this period will be recognized as part of the formal enrolment in study programs for 2022/23 academic year.
To support the mental health of incoming students and provide support to teachers, the Research Institute of Child Psychology has activated a helpline.
The University of Maribor is accepting Ukrainian refugee students (see below for financial support) and enabled higher education teachers, associates and researchers from Ukraine to join the teaching and research work, as part of the Erasmus+ programme.
The University of Maribor is waiving tuition for Ukrainian refugee students and offers some scholarships to cover the living expenses for the first few months in Slovenia. Their student status will allow them to get subsidized meals and the association of psychology students in Maribor will offer them free of charge private therapy talks in English. The university is looking to provide accommodation to Ukrainian students in dormitories, centres for extracurricular activities and other suitable state-owned facilities.
The EU issued operational guidelines for the implementation of Council implementing Decision 2022/382, establishing the existence of a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine within the meaning of Article 5 of Directive 2001/55/EC, and having the effect of introducing temporary protection (2022/C 126 I/01). As such, EU Member States shall grant access to their education system to persons under 18 years old enjoying the temporary protection status under the.
Bibliography
Government sources:
"Vrednotenje in Priznavanje Izobra啪evanja Pri Vklju膷evanju Priseljencev V Sistem Vzgoje in Izobra啪evanja | GOV.SI." Portal GOV.SI. Accessed March 22, 2022.
Other sources:
"Refugees from Ukraine Can Study at University of Maribor." Slovenia Times. Last modified March 24, 2022.
"Support and Assistance for Students Affected by the Crisis in Ukraine." Univerza V Ljubljani. Accessed March 22, 2022.
"Ukrainian Refugees Granted Temporary Protection in Slovenia." Euractiv. Last modified March 10, 2022.
"Slovenia Will Offer 鈥渋mmediate Temporary Protection鈥 to Ukrainian Refugees Until Friday." Mizzy, Sugar. Europe-Cities. Last modified March 8, 2022.
"Around 7,000 Ukrainian Refugees Apply for Protection in Slovenia." Total Slovenia News. Last modified March 28, 2022.
