Vocational and General Matura Exams: A higher level of general knowledge required upon completion of secondary education

This year, Slovenia is celebrating the 30th anniversary of the reintroduction of the Matura exam. The traditional Matura exam was abolished in Slovenia during the period of career-oriented education in Yugoslavia, but was reintroduced alongside grammar schools as a centrally administered examination with external assessment. Since 2002, there has been a general Matura exam and a vocational Matura exam for secondary professional training programmes (VET). Compared to the General Matura exam, students from technical education programmes are less successful at the Vocational Matura exam for second-cycle tertiary education, which does not achieve the goal of adequate preparation for further study, due to the low level of knowledge achieved on average at the end of primary school and in secondary education. Although Slovenia is among the best in the world when it comes to education, completing at least secondary school and enrolling in tertiary education, this does not, on average, indicate a high level of knowledge achieved on average at the end of primary school and in secondary education. For most faculties and colleges, the ease of mass entry is favoured over the prior knowledge required for successful studies. Compared to the General Matura exam, graduates from technical education programmes do not achieve the goal of adequate preparation for further study, which does not only affect students from technical education programmes, but also the quality and general level of knowledge in secondary education. Therefore, academic performance, the quality and general level of knowledge in secondary education must be improved, and Vocational Matura graduates should be given the opportunity to acquire the missing knowledge they need for further study. This would not only lead to more successful studies for technical school students, but also result in a higher level of professional competence.