News

19.06.2008

Czech Educational System

The Czech education system

The Czech education system is based on a long tradition beginning in 1774, when compulsory school attendance was instituted. Currently, there are all types of education � starting with preschool, through elementary, secondary, university and postgraduate and ongoing education.

Preschool education

Children may enter this first level of education before they begin the compulsory school attendance, as a complement to family-based education. This purpose is served by creches and nursery schools. These institutions are intended to raise elementary habits of learning and also provide social contact among children. Both are important for children's smooth transition to elementary school.

Elementary education

Children usually gain elementary education at elementary schools. Compulsory school attendance takes nine years, usually from the age of 6 till the age of 15. However, children may receive this level of education at various types of schools that can also utilize different types of educational programs.

These are the types of schools that provide children with elementary education:

Elementary school (state or private): Children pass the entire nine-year compulsory school attendance, divided in two cycles.
Grammar school: Within the eight-year or six-year grammar schools, pupils can complete elementary education and continue education at the midlevel.
Conservatory: Eight-year dance conservatories allow students to complete elementary education and continue education at the midlevel.
Special school: Children with some disability may be integrated in special classes of elementary school, or they can attend a special school.
Special and assisted schools are intended for children with mental disabilities.
In recent years, the system of home education has also been experimentally tested.

Secondary education

Pupils who have fulfilled the nine-year compulsory school attendance can apply for study at a secondary school. By graduating the medium education level one can obtain:

Secondary education when student gets a report on a final exam after one to two years of study.
Secondary education with vocational certificate � completed after two to three years of study by a report on a final exam and a vocational certificate stating professional capability, e.g. in the area of crafts. Graduates in there subjects usually do not continue in the classical education system and rather go to work in the selected branch.
Secondary education with a leaving examination, when usually after four years of study a student gets a report on a leaving examination. A leaving examination consists of several smaller exams � an exam of the Czech language and other exams according to study specialization and also the student's choice. After 2008, the leaving exam should consist of two parts, common (state) and profiling (specific for individual types of schools). The objective is to provide better comparability of this exam among different schools.
Grammar schools
Secondary vocation schools
Secondary apprentice training centers

Secondary education can be achieved by students also at eight-year or, more precisely, six-year grammar schools at which they have already completed several classes of elementary education.

In addition, secondary schools can institute (extension course) programs that can be attended by students who have successfully completed at least three years in a related field of study, completed with a vocational certificate. An extension course takes two years in the daily form of study.

University education is available to all applicants with completed secondary education (i.e. leaving exam) who successfully pass the entrance exam. The system of entrance exams is specified individually by each college, and serves for testing the knowledge and skills of applicants.

Most universities have the following accredited degree programs:

Bachelor's: Usually a three-year course of study in which students get an elementary survey of highly specialized areas. Students can either leave their studies after these three years, or they can complete it by means of a leaving exam including the defense of a bachelor's thesis, or may continue into the master's program, where they can achieve a narrower specialization.
Master's: Operates either as five-year (or, more precisely, six-year), or as two-year programs following bachelor's studies. During the course, students gain both a basic survey of highly specialized subjects and a certain grade of specialization. The program culminates with students taking required state leaving exams and defending their diploma thesis.
Engineering: Relates to technical and economic fields.

University education

Foreign students study at tertiary schools under the same conditions as Czech citizens, provided that they are able to study in Czech. Therefore, since Czech students are not required to pay for their studies, the same conditions apply to foreign students.

Foreign students wishing to study at a Czech tertiary school in another language than the Czech language must pay tuition. At private tertiary schools, all students are required to pay tuition; the same conditions apply to Czech citizens and foreigners alike.

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