Today, 13 July 2022, Human Rights Ombudsman Peter Svetina held a getting-to-know-you meeting with Minister of Education, Science and Sport Dr Igor Papič, where the two men discussed a number of cases dealt with by the Ombudsman’s office and concerning the ministry’s area of work. Mr Svetina told the minister that his office had noticed a sharp increase in calls relating to social activities, which include education and sport – in fact, the number of calls increased by 100% in 2021 compared to the year before. The number of calls related to Covid-19 also increased, by almost 50%, with most of them referring to measures taken in education to combat the disease.

The Ombudsman and minister also discussed the effects of the pandemic on educational institutions, peer-to-peer violence among children, the issue of tuition fees and the challenges of educating children with special needs. ‘Education is a human right,’ said Svetina. ‘At the same time, it is an indispensable means of exercising other rights. It is a basic driver for lifting economically and socially deprived children out of poverty and enabling them to play a full part in the community,’ he added.

Mr Svetina also delivered a copy of the Ombudsman’s 2021 annual report to Dr Papič.