In mid-November, we welcomed a delegation from Bosnia and Herzegovina. We co-organised this visit with their DVV International Regional Office. 20 guests from six cantons, mainly representatives of different ministries, estimated that adult education in Slovenia was well organised. The prime minister herself, accompanied by three ministers, was among the representatives of the Bosnian-Podrinje Canton Goražde. The grounds for the visit were adult learning in practice, funding and cross-sectoral cooperation between ministries, local communities, non-governmental and private sectors, etc., in Slovenia. Namely, in all the cantons of the guests’ country, laws on adult education have recently been passed. That is certainly a great success given such a fragmented arrangement.
On the first day, we travelled to Črnomelj to attend an event organised by the Črnomelj AEC; a meeting of directors of adult education centres and municipal mayors with the Minister of Education. The contributions and presentations of good cooperation practices between Črnomelj AEC and municipalities provided a solid practice-oriented overview of the functioning of education in our country. In the evening, we could still remember the taste of lamb and other delights that the locals from Bela krajina served us.
We spent the second day in Ajdovščina. We were first welcomed in the municipal building, which is truly a token of good collaboration practice. Mayor Tadej Beočanin was again impressive. We realise that politicians are versed in public appearances, but Mr Beočanin confidently and professionally answered all questions, including technical ones, which, to me at least, indicates that he is genuinely concerned about the challenges of today’s society, and is seeking solutions through education. I want every municipality in Slovenia to have such a mayor. The Ajdovščina AEC then presented its projects and served delightful snacks, photos of which instantly flooded Facebook. We also visited the company Mlinotest, the village of Vipavski Križ, and the Learning Centre in Brje. One could write something nice about each.
The programme was indeed extensive, as it is worth showing the guests what we do in the respective field to inspire them for further work. Perhaps we only succeed because we are always kindly received by our colleagues in the field and from the ministries. Thank you.
Darijan Novak (darijan.novak@acs.si), SIAE
