Schools are left to their own devices on this matter. If a school turns to the MIZŠ with a question about the issue, it is referred for information to the Health Protection Institute (ZZV) or the NIJZ. The MIZŠ also believe that expert workers in schools have no legal basis for examining children’s scalps. However, since the NIJZ or the ZZV recommend that teachers examine children’s scalps at least twice a week, the leadership of schools must inform parents about this and ask for their permission. 2.15 CHILDREN’S RIGHTS We are not satisfied with the answers we received. The Ombudsman is of the opinion that the MIZŠ should issue clear instructions to schools on how to deal with the problem of head lice infestation, where to turn to, and who should establish whether and which students have lice. We recommended that schools be issued adequate instructions on how to act, and that they coordinate their measures with the Ministry of Health (MZ). This is the only way make al schools act the same and prevent unnecessary anger and dissatisfaction on the part of parents. The MIZŠ accepted the Ombudsman’s proposal and agreed with the MZ that, given the public health nature of the problem of head lice infestation, it will prepare adequate instructions and proposals for measures for schools. However, this obviously has not happened (yet), which is why we are pointing to the problem again. We demand that the competent state authorities implement the Ombudsman’s recommendation that the MIZŠ prepare adequate instructions for schools on how to act in cases of head lice infestation. In our opinion, the complaint was justified. 11.0-75/2015 Who may inspect school bags? We were notified about a questionable practice in a secondary school where security guards inspect school bags because they suspect that students are taking prohibited substances or items into school. Security guards are not authorised to carry out such inspections, even if they were given prior consent by a student, and thus any inspection is a violation of children’s right to privacy. Unfortunately, the complainant did not name other school, which we would otherwise have warned about the questionable practice. Hazing The Ombudsman warned in the 2013 annual report about violent initiation rituals in secondary schools, which violate children’s right to dignity. We are happy that we can present a case of good practice, with which were acquainted by Nova Gorica social work centre. In cooperation with the police and the Nova Gorica school centre, the centre prepared various materials (legal bases, leaflets and a form for reporting to safe spots), which were intended to deal with the problem as comprehensively as possible. We assess that all the activities present a case of good practice which can significantly contribute to reducing violence in schools. We believe that this approach to dealing with this issue could be taken by other communities where hazing occurs. We included the information in the Annual Report, because we think that cases of good practice should be given more attention, and that the public should also be acquainted with them. 2.15.6 Compensation for the transfer of a child to another sports club Example: Handing of invoices for payment of costs to students The Ombudsman has received for examination a complaint related to the issuing of invoices for payment of meals in schools. According to the complainant, children receive invoices in (closed) envelopes in school and deliver them (or not!) to parents. She thinks this method of delivering invoices is unacceptable, including because some children open envelopes of their schoolmates and get information that is not their business. Students who have subsidised meals are frequently ridiculed. The complainant wanted the Ombudsman to examine the problem and warn the authorities about it. The Ombudsman again received several warnings about the behaviour of sports clubs upon transfers of underage athletes to other clubs. High amounts of compensation are demanded, which parents find unacceptable. Based on information we received from some schools, the handing of invoices is done differently in different schools. Many schools use the method described by the complainant, as this was agreed with parents at the beginning of the school year. Some schools use standing orders, a method that we think is more suitable. We explained to the complainant that the Ombudsman had already dealt with the problem of high compensation (in some cases amounting to several thousand euros!) in cases of transfers of underage athletes. The problem was included in the Ombudsman’s annual reports (for 2009 and 2010). We advised the complainant to try to make an agreement with the club, because we were not familiar with the contract that was signed between the club and the parents. We do not know if the child joined the sport club under a contract or only with an accession statement. In our opinion, an accession statement alone is a doubtful basis for the requested compensation. The Ombudsman is of the opinion that it is not suitable for invoices to be delivered to children. However, sending invoices by registered mail cost too much for the particular school. On the other hand, some parents might not claim the registered mail for a lengthy period. This is why we believe that the problem can be solved in schools at the beginning of the school year. In the Ombudsman’s opinion, it would make sense for parents to arrange standing orders, on the basis of which banks would charge for the costs of school meals every month, as well as other costs related to school (school excursions, outdoor lessons, trips). Parents would receive invoices only in electronic form. In this way the problems which the complainant points out can be avoided. According to the information available to us, schools have very different practices in this field, as they are obviously adjusted to local conditions. We believe there is no need for a uniform practice or special instructions from the ministry. In any case, the problem could be discussed by the parents’ council and the school council, which could propose an adequate adjustment of the practice which would be respected by parents. 11.0-81/2015 158 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 A complainant acquainted us with the case of his 12-year-old grandson. He said that EUR 600 in compensation had been demanded for his transfer to another club. After a discussion with the president of the club, the amount was reduced to EUR 300. Since the grandfather did not give up, the club reduced the amount once more (to EUR 150) and explained that this was the “final offer”. We explained that we have no legal basis to intervene in the basketball club or to influence the branch association to change the rules on the conditions for transferring young athletes to other clubs. The Ombudsman’s position on the problem is that the internal regulation of relationships in sport associations without external control is inadequate, and might lead to abuses or at least irregularities. The complainant thanked the Ombudsman for the answer. He said that he had forwarded our letter to the club and that representatives of the club had further reduced the compensation to EUR 50 for the recovery of administrative costs. In our opinion, this shows that responsible representatives of clubs can freely set the amount of compensation upon the transfer of a young athlete to another club. The Ombudsman thus recommends that the issue of the suitability of compensations for transferring children between sports clubs be regulated in the Sports Act. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS OMBUDSMAN OF THE REPUBLIC OF SLOVENIA FOR 2015 159 2.15 CHILDREN’S RIGHTS Even this answer failed to explain to us how schools are supposed to deal with this problem, which is why we also sent an inquiry to the MIZŠ. The MIZŠ said in a response that it had not sent any circular letters or instructions to schools about how to deal with the issue.