Kindergartens, Slovenia, school year 2008/2009

The number of children enrolled in kindergartens is on the increase

In the school year 2008/09 the number of children enrolled in kindergartens increased by 7.5% as compared to the previous school year. Almost 66,000 children are enrolled in kindergatens and in childminders families, which is 70% of all children of the proper age.

Compared to the previous school year, the number of children particularly increased in the 1^st age period (children up to 3 years old) which recorded an increase of 18.4% in the number of the enrolled. In the 2^nd age period (children aged 3 up to entering elementary school) the number of children increased by 3.5%. The calculation is based on the state of population as of 31 December 2008.

Slovenia is approaching Barcelona objectives for kindergartens which provide 90% inclusion of children of the second age period

In acordance with the 2002 Barcelona objectives the EU countries should provide 90% inclusion of children aged from 3 years up to entering school in kindergartens and 33 % inclusion of children younger than 3 years. Slovenia has already achieved the second goal, in the school year 2008/09 as 49% of children younger than 3 years were enrolled in kindregartens. In the second age period the share of the enrolled amounted to 84%. We may be talking about mass enrolment in kindergartens for children age 4 and 5 (80% enrolment or more).

Nearly 800 children with special needs are enrolled in kindergartens

Among children attending kindergartens there are 796 children with special needs. Three quarters of those children are enrolled in regular class units with additional professional support and one quarter is enrolled in class units with moderate programs (progressive class units). In the school year 2008/09 in the scope of kindergartens operated 51 progressive class units, with 5 children on average. There were on average 2.5 children per professional staff.

On average 8,2 children per educator and assistant educator

In the school year 2008/09 there were 9,000 professional staff employed in kindergartens of which nearly 4,000 educators, 4,200 assistant educators, 300 headmasters and assistants to headmaster, remaining employed were advisory and other professional staff. There were only 2% men among professional staff. There were on average 8.2 children per educator and assistant educator, of which in the first age period 6.3 children and in the second age period 9.4.

• Enrolment rate by permanent residence, 41kB