Schools
Primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic
In 1774, compulsory school attendance was introduced in the Czech Republic. Since then, a fairly complex system of nursery, primary and secondary schools has been established.
The Czech academic year starts in August and ends in the middle of June. There is an extended summer break of two and a half months.
The grading system used ranges from grade 1 (výborně) the best grade, to grade 5 (nevyhověl) the worst. If a student gets a 5 in a subject at the end of a school year he has to take a test at the end of the summer break. If he fails that test again, he has to repeat the whole year.
Nursery schools and Pre-school education
Children between the ages of three and six can attend nursery schools (mateøská škola). The majority of schools are free but in some cases you may be asked to pay for up to 30% of the running costs.
Even before compulsory education starts there are many day care facilities available in the Czech Republic that prepare children for a school learning environment. In addition to this the social contact with other children helps to make the transition to primary school easier.
Many nursery schools in the Czech Republic have been shut down over the last two decades due to low birthrates. Since birthrates have increased again there is now a shortage of places in nurseries in some regions of the Czech Republic.
Primary education
Compulsory education usually starts at the age of six. It is divided into two parts, primary and upper secondary school, together lasting nine years. For the first stage, from classes one to five, all children go to a basic school, the základní škola.
After grade five students can decide whether they want to stay at basic school or go to an upper secondary school. Staying at basic school usually means another four years of classes, grade six to grade nine, and a final exam at the end. The diploma awarded is the vysvědčení, a primary school leaving certificate. This does not entitle you to university or college education and therefore graduates from a basic school are likely to start vocational education.
Secondary school
Students who decide to move on to upper secondary education can choose between three different kinds of school.
Gymnázium
The Czech Gymnázium prepares its students to go on to higher education institutions, such as universities or colleges. The program usually takes eight years, from class 6 to class 13. However, it is also possible to change to Gymnázium after grade 8 and complete it in only six years.
In either case there are exams at the end of grade 13. If passed, a secondary school leaving certificate, maturitní zkoušce, is issued. This allows the student to study at a tertiary education institution.
Technical school
Another option to achieve higher education entrance qualification is attending a technical school, střední odborná škola. Their programs take four years and students usually come to this school after successfully finishing grade 9 at a basic school. Technical school is finished with exams for the maturitní zkoušce as well. However, classes focus on technical subjects.
Conservatory
This kind of school, the konzervatoř, is an alternative to a gymnázium and has a special focus on either dance, music and drama. The programs that focus on dancing usually take eight years, beginning with grade 6 whereas the programs that focus on music and drama only take six years. With the successful completion of a conservatory two diplomas are issued. The first one is the maturitní zkoušce allowing you to start studying. The second one, the absolutoriu, is a special final certificate for the participation in dance, or music and drama classes, respectively.
Special schools
There are special schools from nursery through upper secondary level in the Czech Republic. To attend these schools a recommendation from appropriate authorities is needed as well as the agreement of the parents. Their pedagogic standard is very high and their equipment is up-to-date due to a newly passed policy of integration.
Vocational school
Vocational programs in the Czech Republic take three or four years. The focus of the programs is practical experience and they are tailored towards specific jobs. Four year programs at a středni odborné učiliště prepare students to take exams for their maturitní zkoušce whereas three year programs lead to a vocational certificate, the výuční list. The latter does not entitle you to study at a tertiary institution.
School admission for foreign students
Foreign students do generally get compulsory education at primary and secondary schools free of charge. However, a precondition for admission for non-EU nationals is a Czech residency permit. If the student has already completed his primary school in his home country a certificate of attestation equality, issued by the home school, has to be provided. Only then will admission to a secondary school be guaranteed.
Classes in the Czech Republic are generally taught in Czech although it is also possible to have classes in another language. However, this has to be approved by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. In addition, language deficits are taken into account when it comes to evaluating the performance of the students in the subjects Czech and Literature.
Free tutoring including Czech classes are available for EU citizens. They are not provided for non-EU citizens.
Also in this section
- Schools: Primary and secondary schools in the Czech Republic
- Private schools in the Czech Republic: Choices, costs and quality
- Higher education: Public & private universities, polytechnics
- Entering university: Admission requirements and fields of study
- Czech degrees: Bachelor, Master and Doctor
- Financing your studies: State support and scholarships
