PIRLS 2006 Encyclopedia

Marjeta Doupona HorvatEducational Research InstituteSloveniaLanguage and LiteracySlovene, a Slavic language with 36 recognized dialects, is the official language ofSlovenia. 1, 2 Italian and Hungarian also are official languages in regions with Hungarianand Italian minority populations. The majority of the population (88%) speaks Slovene,while 5% speak Serbian, Croatian, or Serbian-Croatian. Two percent speak Macedonian,and less than 1% speak Italian, Hungarian, Romany, or Albanian. 3 Slovene is not widelyknown outside Slovenia, although it is taught in more than 40 university departmentsin various European countries. 4The official language in elementary schools (grades 1 to 9) is predominantly Slovene.However, the Constitution provides the Italian and Hungarian minorities with specialrights, including receiving an education in their own language. In the southwestregion, with a large Italian population, there are a few elementary schools that conductinstruction in Italian. In the northeast region, with a Hungarian population, there arebilingual Slovene-Hungarian schools. However, instruction is not provided in any otherSlavic or Romany languages in Slovene schools.Emphasis on LiteracyIn recent years, there has been increasing emphasis on literacy. In 2004, the Commissionfor Development of Literacy was established as a national body. 5 Its tasks include variousaspects related to the improvement of lifelong literacy. The commission has prepared anational strategy for the improvement of literacy.Public libraries are the main promoters of literacy. There are 256 public libraries,of which 10 are “biblio-buses” that make 147 stops in remote areas four times a year. 6Altogether, public libraries have 486,000 registered readers, almost one third of whomare children under the age of 15. 7The Reading Badge project has been a tradition for over 40 years and remainsquite popular among elementary school children. Children read a certain number ofbooks each year in order to receive a “badge,” and children who engage in this projectthroughout elementary school receive a special award. 8 In recent years, reading clubsand meetings to discuss books also have become widespread.375