Created by primary school

Kosmonautu 15, Ostrava

This project is funded by European Union

• School attendance in the Czech Republic is compulsory from the age of 6 to 15.

• Most children attend state school, but there are private and church schools.

• Education at state schools (primary, secondary, and tertiary) is free of charge but students at secondary and tertiary schools must pay their for textbooks.

• Private and church schools charge schools fees.

• All schools are coeducational.

• Children in our state schools wear no uniforms.

• Handicapped children are educated in:

– schools which provide special support for them

– or they can be integrated in a special class which is part of a regular school

– or they are integrated individually into a classroom with healthy pupils.

Education in our country includes three stages :

• Pre-school 3 - 6 (kindergarten, optional)

• Primary 6 - 15 (in one building is elementary level and junior high school, compulsory)

• Secondary 15 – 19 (optional, almost all pupils,

80% takes „Maturita leaving exam“, majority studies general education in „Gymnázium“ or profession orientated engineering schools, minority goes to vocational schools)

• Tertiary 19 – 26 (optional, 60% of students enters colleges, universities, or higher education specialized schools)

TYPES OF SCHOOL EDUCATION

State kindergarten 3 – 6Free of charge, optional

Private kindergarten 3 – 6Quite expensive, optional

GYMNÁZIUM 15 - 19, 4 grades

Maturita leaving examgeneral education

Secondary

ENGINEERING SCHOOLS Economical, building,

electric, technical, chemical, pedagogical

15 - 19, usually 4 gradesMaturita leaving exam

SecondaryGYMNÁZIUM

11 - 19, 8 gradesEntrance exam,

11% of population

Maturita examgeneral education

VOCATIONAL SCHOOL

15 – 18 or 193 or 4 grades

Rarely MaturitaProfession exam

Secondary

Public primary schools 6 – 15, usually 9 grades

Free of charge, Compulsory education

Private primary schools

Charge fee, Offer extra classes

Church primary schools

Charge little fee, Excepts all pupils

VOŠ – higher education3 years

Diploma of expert specialit

COLLEGE3 years Bachelor degree

+ 2 years for Master degree

UNIVERSITY3 years Bachelor degree

+ 2 years for Master degree

TERTIARY EDUCATION

• The school year starts on 1st September.

• School year ends on 30th June of the following year.

• The school year is divided into two terms: September –January and February – June.

• At the end of the term pupils get report for parents about their results.

• They get marks for their behaviour and all school subjects. The best mark is 1, the worst is 5

• Most pupils 11 – 15 years old study 14 subjects

• The names of the subjects can be different but the curriculum is given by the government. Pupils can choose some subjects and the offer depends on school.

• A lesson lasts 45 minutes, a break is 10 minutes

• A school day is different at different types of schools.

• The average number of lessons is thirty a week.

• Primary schools have fewer lessons in a row, followed by a lunch break, usually 45 minutes long, which is one period, and then pupils have afternoon classes.

• Afternoon classes end between 4 and 5 p.m. at the latest. Breaks last from 5 to 15 minutes.

• Pre-school education is provided by kindergartens for children aged 3 to 6, sometimes younger children can be admitted.

• A lot of children attend kindergartens, even though parents must pay for it.

• The last year of kindergarten is free of charge.

• Many kindergartens are part of a primary school, they still have their separate building and curriculum. Only the headmaster is common for both types of schools.

• At 6 children start to go to primary schools and they stay there until 15.

• Compulsory school attendance lasts 9 years and pupils usually go to the same school building.

• But there are two levels within the school.

• Elementary education lasts five years, pupils have fewer subjects which are mostly taught by the same teacher.

• Some pupils transfer to grammar schools earlier, after finishing grade 5 they can take the entrance exam to grammar school. And about 20 percent of the population is admitted.

SCHOOL SUBJECTS

Czech language

MATHS SCIENCE

P. E.ART MUSIC CRAFTS

1 - 9

English language

4 - 9 BiologyGeo-

graphy

Civics6 - 9 Physics HISTORY

7 - 9Russian

languageICT

8 - 9 Chemistry

• At the age of 15 when pupils are in grade 9 they have to decide about their future.

• Pupils can apply for 2 secondary schools:

- some schools organize entrance exams

- most schools look at the grades in school reports.

• Pupils can choose among a variety of secondary schools which differ in the curriculum, the length of school attendance and level of education.

After clubs and school canteen

School playground

Typical old primary school Gym

• Most of the best pupils continue in grammar schools. - They last 4 years and teach all general subjects. - Pupils are well prepared to entry a university, especially medical, law or math.

• Some best pupils and most of the average oneschoose specialized middle schools, for example on constructions, electricity, business, chemistry, agricultural etc. - They also last 4 years - Prepare students to start work after graduating- Students are also well prepared for studying at technical colleges and universities.

Economy, banking, sport management, insurance, social studies, pedagogy, nurse, administrative, diplomatic services and public relations

This middle school prepares competition „Harry Potter´s Day“ to attract young people to come, see the school and decide to study here later.

• Pupils who are not interested in studying or do not have good academic results enter vocational school which prepare them for the world of work.

• They learn general subject very little and most of the time is devoted to gaining practical skills and learning specific technical subjects needed for the chosen profession.

• Some of these schools last 4 year and students can try to study at college, some take 3 or even 2 years.

This middle and vocational school prepares electro technicians, mechanics, auto mechanics, transport economists and logistics.

• Secondary education is usually finished with a school-leaving exam called “Maturita” which is required by all universities and colleges.

• This exam has two parts. • One is written test from Czech language and English or

Math prepared by the ministry of education, it is the same for all students.

• The second part is oral and it is prepared by each school. - This exam is held mostly in May. - It usually consists of 4 different subjects.- Students have some time to prepare and then they try to show what they have learnt during the past four years.

• Universities and colleges provide tertiary education which lasts from 4 to 6 years.

• Each student can apply to as many schools as he or she likes but there is a fee for the entrance exams. Usually there is also entrance test.

• Public universities and colleges do not charge any fees for regular students.

• Those who study longer because they failed to pass exams or write diplomas in time have to pay for the extra year.

• Foreign students who study in English programs must pay for the education.

• Students pay for their accommodation in dormitories or hire flats. They can eat in school canteens, meals are very cheap but the choice is limited. They also buy books.

• We have many universities and colleges, almost in every bigger city is at least one.

• Charles University in Prague is the oldest university in the Middle Europe.

• Students can usually study for 3 years for a Bachelor´s degree and then continue for 2 years for a Master´s degree. Medicine takes 6 years.

• Students are awarded after another few years of study with the Doctoral degree.

• There are also various training courses for managers, social workers, and businessman. They are more practical and specialized. Students must pay them.