The thesis describes private primary education in Slovenia. The theoretical part discusses the conceptual basis of private education, highlights emerging issues and the principles which direct how private schools operate. Next, I present the different private schools in Slovenia, the specific teaching methods and focus, describe their pedagogical and educational orientation, their view on the developmental stage of the child, the teacher's role, cooperation with parents and their educational goals. In the empirical part, I present a qualitative analysis based on five interviews with management staff of school in an attempt to present a comprehensive overview of the work and goals of private primary schools in Slovenia. Results are presented in several sections dedicated to specific topics: the foundation, the purpose of the establishment of the school, goals of private primary school, uniqueness of the school, the role of the teacher, the motives of the parents, parental involvement with the school, social diversity and tuition fees, ensuring enrolment and the aspect of the school’s future activities.
The purpose of establishment of private schools and their goals are reflected in different pedagogical approaches or other educational approaches of interest to parents. The specific nature of different private schools is reflected in their curricula, working methods and educational approaches. Teachers in private schools their education expand their knowledge of pedagogical approaches the school represents, or by accepting the religious inclination the school, if such inclination exists. The motives of the parents in enrollment are different, leading the desire for education of their children under the approaches that schools offer. Cooperation with the school is not mandatory, but parental involvement is substantial in the schools’ opinion. The tuition fee varies both between schools and between pupils of the same school. Promotion of school mostly spread through word of mouth among parents, schools do not make use of advertising. The development of schools in the future, as reported by heads of schools, is associated with the continuation of the educational goal, some by upgrading secondary education, much of them highlighting the current unequal regulation of co-financing of private schools and emphasize that they want, with education they offer, to enrich and contribute to the development of education in Slovenia.
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