Overview of Education System
Responsibility for schools in the Czech Republic is distributed among the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports; regional education authorities; and municipalities. The Ministry sets policies and assesses the development of the education system. For example, the Ministry defines compulsory educational components, is partially responsible for funding public schools, and oversees the school register, a tool that ensures all students have access to appropriate educational opportunities. Among other responsibilities, the Ministry oversees institutions that provide professional development for teachers. The Ministry also retains direct control of several institutions related to institutional or preventive care, such as orphanages, detention centers for juveniles, and schools for students with physical needs or disabilities. The Czech School Inspectorate serves as the main state authority responsible for monitoring school quality at the preprimary, primary, secondary, and post-secondary levels.
From 2001 to 2003, regional education authorities were established to fundamentally decentralize the education system. The Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sports retained its policymaking responsibilities but transferred administrative responsibilities to the regions and municipalities. After decentralization, the regions assumed responsibility for secondary schools and post-secondary technical schools. Municipalities are responsible for nursery schools and basic schools, which provide compulsory primary and lower secondary education and guarantee these schools’ funding (except for salaries and instructional equipment, which are funded by the central government indirectly via regional education authorities). Some schools are run by private entities or denominations, and are required to fulfill a set of criteria to obtain state authorization and receive state funding.
Nursery schools usually provide education for students ages 3 to 6, as part of preprimary education. Attendance is not compulsory, but 88 percent of children in this age group and 91 percent of 5-year-olds (the year prior to compulsory schooling) enroll.4 Children have a legal right to attend the final year of preprimary education, which is free of charge. Although the availability of care for children younger than age 3 is limited, some schools accept these children under certain conditions. The percentage of 2‑year‑olds attending nursery school is 34 percent.5
School attendance is compulsory for all children ages 6 to 15. Basic schools provide nine years of education at the primary and lower secondary levels—five years at the primary level for students ages 6 to 11 and four years at the lower secondary level for students ages 11 to 15. At the end of the primary level (fifth grade), students may leave basic school to start an eight year track of general secondary school (gymnasium) or conservatoire, in which they may complete their compulsory education within the first four years of study by age 15. Similarly, at the end of seventh grade of basic school, students may start a six year gymnasium after passing an entrance examination set by the school. Approximately 12 percent of students study in a multiyear gymnasium or dance conservatoire. All public basic schools are free of charge.
At the primary level, the same teacher usually teaches all subjects, whereas lower secondary teachers are specialists, generally in two subjects. The Framework Educational Programme for Basic Education sets objectives and the basic curricula content on which schools base their educational programs.
Three kinds of schools provide upper secondary education: gymnasium schools, providing general academic programs for 24 percent of students ages 15 to 19 and culminating with a school leaving examination; secondary technical and vocational schools for 50 percent of students ages 15 to 19, also culminating with a school leaving examination; and secondary vocational schools for 26 percent of students ages 15 to 17 or 18, offering an apprenticeship certificate without a school leaving examination.6 Prerequisites for acceptance into upper secondary schools include completion of compulsory education and meeting entrance requirements set by schools. Students must pass an upper secondary school leaving examination to apply for post‑secondary education. Students completing vocational school with an apprenticeship certificate may apply for post-secondary education after completing two years of follow‑up courses and passing a school leaving examination.
Private primary and secondary schools were established in 1990, while private universities were established in 1999. These schools mostly are secular and typically are established by profit or nonprofit grant-aided organizations. Nongovernmental basic schools (private and denominational schools) represent only 3.8 percent of basic schools and educate 1.7 percent of primary school students. In contrast, nongovernmental secondary schools account for 25.8 percent of all secondary schools and educate 13.3 percent of secondary school students.7 Private schools receive a state contribution toward their operating costs. This funding is formula-based, and the method of calculation still is under development. School fees and other private sources cover capital expenditures and rent.
The school year begins on September 1 and ends August 31 the following year. The summer holiday is in July and August. Schools offer a one week holiday in the spring and other short holidays in the autumn and at Christmas, Easter, and the end of the first semester.
Students attend school five days a week, from Monday to Friday. In addition to morning classes, they also have afternoon classes once or twice a week. Lessons last for 45 minutes. The timetable allows for intervals of less than one lesson period (i.e., less than 45 minutes), and block teaching can be used. Students attend 18 to 22 lessons per week at the primary level, and 28 to 32 lessons per week at the lower secondary level.