Parallel Session Proceedings »
2.2.5 Current Practice and Future Perspective of Gifted Education in Slovenia
The proposals below represent the synthesis of our theoretical and empirical research: (i) Legislation, which should be systematised or formalised by a policy on identifying and working with gifted students and a policy of professional competencies required for educators. In the Slovenian educational system, it is necessary to prepare the Rules for identifying and working with talented pupils, thus ensuring the "legitimacy" of conceptual and professional backgrounds. We must be primarily orientated toward preparation of the developmental curriculum or educational model for the gifted at pre-school and the school stage. (ii) Empowering teachers with the help of appropriately qualified inclusive pedagogues. We must provide pedagogical and psychological support for the teachers and also for the parents of gifted children. (iii) Providing teaching materials, teaching aids and special didactic recommendations for teachers. (iv) Establish training workshops or an educational programme which would give teachers the opportunity to gain the appropriate national certificate in the field of identifying and working with gifted and talented students. (v) Awareness should be promoted more widely in the immediate social environment on the importance of respecting human rights or the principles of democracy, autonomy and equal opportunities, especially the rights to educate gifted pupils, regardless of the level of education; (vi) It is necessary to renew the partnership between different institutions - schools, families, local communities and/or other organisations (sports, cultural, technical ...) and higher education institutions in the preparation and implementation of individualised programmes for students. We must be primarily oriented towards cooperation and networking with other institutions which are also involved in the field of gifted and talented education; At the University of Primorska, Faculty of Education we are contributing to: (i) Local, national and international networking, exchange of good practice examples and cooperation; (ii) Active participation in teaching, scientific research, international studies and exchange of databases for the purposes of international research; (iii) Participation in the formulation of educational policies and guidelines; (iv) Organisation and cooperation at thematic meetings, conferences, plenary meetings; (v) Exchange of good practice examples of professional teams; (vi) International exchange of students and teaching staff engaged in further professional training. For quality education of gifted, talented and also other students, it is necessary to continue with professional education of teachers in the area of the subject they teach, as well as in the broader pedagogical and psychological fields.