About NRP

The global objective pursued by the Ministry of Labour, Family, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities in the areas of labour market, employment and occupational qualifications is to attain full employability and assert social partnership, while simultaneously raise the population's qualification level.

The activities of the Ministry in the areas of labour market, employment and vocational education focus on

• employment policies in Slovenia and abroad,
• unemployment insurance,
• student policies and promotion of occupational standards,
• the certification system and adult education.

The Ministry exercises responsibility for occupational standards in the area of education, whereas it is responsible for catalogues of standards of professional knowledge and skills in the area of assessment and accreditation of professional knowledge, skills and experience acquired outside the formal education system.

The Rules on the Standard Classification of Occupations determine individual powers in setting out occupational standards that constitute a key element in drafting educational programmes. The powers determining national occupational qualifications are stipulated in the National Occupational Qualifications Act governing the procedure, bodies and organizations responsible for the adoption of catalogues of standards of professional knowledge and skills. The Act also regulates the conditions and procedure for acquiring national occupational qualifications. It allows for another option to acquire occupational qualifications, alongside the formal education system. The competent commission can issue candidates with a publicly approved document - national occupational qualifications certificate following the assessment and accreditation procedures of knowledge, skills and experience. In other words, the document testifies that the candidate is competent to practice the occupation or perform certain occupational tasks. The occupational qualification obtained in such a way can be "used" in seeking employment and in further education since the document proves that "part" of educational programme leading to successful completion of education had already been performed. Only adults can obtain national occupational qualifications by way of assessment and accreditation of professional knowledge under national standards. Implementing regulations define individual powers more precisely.

The Ministry cooperates with chambers, ministries, occupational standards committees and the Vocational Education Expert Council of the Republic of Slovenia in the adoption of occupational standards that constitute a basis for the drafting of educational programmes in lower, upper secondary vocational and secondary professional education, as well as for catalogues of standards of professional knowledge and skills.

This area is marked by the cooperation of the Ministry with competent professional institutions in the area, principally with the Centre of the Republic of Slovenia for Vocational Education and Training, the National Examination Centre and the Slovenian Adult Education Centre.

More information available at www.mddsz.gov.si.