Slovenian education system of the schoolwork

21 November 2018
Slovenian education system of the schoolwork

Slovenian education system of the schoolwork and the organisation of sports classes in primary and general upper secondary schools;

Source Motivation of Slovenian and Norwegian Nordic Athletes towards Sports, Education and Dual Career - http://journals.euser.org/files/articles/ejser_jan_apr_17_nr_1/Robert.pdf

PhD Cand. Robert Kerštajn

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sports

Prof. dr. Mojca Doupona Topič

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Sports

European Journal of Social Sciences January-April 2017 ISSN 2312-8429 (Online) Education and Research Volume 4, Issue 1

 

Keywords: education, sports, dual career, competitive systems, school systems Introduction

The term "dual career" was introduced in 2007 when it was first written down in official documents (European Commission, 2007). It indicates the career of the athletes who coordinate their sports activities with education during their sports career, i.e. during their active trainings and competitions. Several studies were already published in this area (Brettschneider, 1999; Chen, Snyder & Magner, 2010; Wuerth, Lee & Alfermann, 2004; Flanagan & Winther, 2004; Gaston-Gayles, 2005; Althouse, 2007; Aquilina & Henry, 2010; Alfermann, Stambulova & Zemaityte, 2004; Comeaux, & Harrison, 2011; Corrado, Tessitore, Capranica, Rauter & Doupona Topič, 2012; Henry, 2013; Cosh & Tully, 2014; Ryba, Stambulova, Ronkainen, Bundgaard & Selänne, 2015). In addition, the term "dual career" can also indicate athletes' activities and their life after the end of their sports career when former athletes actively participate in after-sports life and build new life careers (Lavallee, Grove & Gordon, 1997; Wylleman, DeKnop, Ewing & Cumming, 2000; Torregrosa, Boixados, Valiente & Cruz, 2004; Stambulova, Stephan & Japhag, 2007; Stambulova, 2010; Moesch, 2012; Park, Lavallee & Tod, 2013). The legal basis for sports regulation in the European Union member states was developed based on different dual career studies (Parrish, 2003; Amara, Aquilina, Henry & PMP Consultants, 2004) that identified significant differences regarding student-athletes

In the Slovenian education system, the concern of the state for the athletes' education is demonstrated by the adjustment of the schoolwork and the organisation of sports classes in primary and general upper secondary schools; however, this is not the case in the higher education. In Slovenia, this area is regulated by the Higher Education Act. On its basis higher education institutions autonomously establish their study regimes and the forms and timetables of examination. The adjustment of study obligations to the elite athletes at universities is entrusted to individual higher education institutions, whereas the elite athletes seek to exploit these adjustments (examinations, possibility of longer absence, doing one year of study over several academic years) mainly by themselves or together with their sports associations.

To assure equal education opportunities for the elite athletes, it is necessary to adjust the process of fulfilling the education programme obligations, particularly at the university level. Regardless the lack of institutional support, the Slovenian athletes are highly motivated for dual career (Lupo, Tessitore, Capranica, Rauter & Doupona Topič, 2012).