EDUCATION SYSTEM IN CZECH REPUBLIC
EDUCATION SYSTEM IN CZECH REPUBLIC
We present you with an overview of the education system in the Czech Republic.
For better understanding, an exact graphic representation of the system is added below. The Ministry of Education operates the Czechian education system, Youth and Sports.
Preschool Education
Nursery school (mateřské školy) is not compulsory in the Czech republic and generally it is not state funded. The children can enter the public and private nurseries, at the age from 3 – 5; under certain circumstances, they can be accepted at the age of two.
It is obligatory to enter preschool for the five-year-olds. They teach social and behavioral skills, physical activities to enable children to enter primary school.
Primary Education
Primary school is divided into two levels:
First level: from 1st – 5th grade
Age: 6 – 11
At the first level, classes are taught by a single teacher, whereas different teachers can hold foreign languages and gym classes.
Second level: from 6th – 9th grade
Age: 11-15
At the age of 11, children can decide if they want to finish their obligatory education at the primary school or continue their education in secondary school.
Grading
Schools in Czechia have a 5 point grade system in primary and secondary schools, with one as the best and five as the worst grade.
The school year begins on the first weekday of September and ends on the last weekday of June, the following calendar year. The school year is divided into two semesters, each lasts five months.
Approximate Day Schedule
A school day usually starts at 8 am, children come to school at around 7.45 am. The school day’s length depends on the number of classes (one class lasts 45 minutes). Every school has its own schedule. Children on the first level usually finish at around noon, children at the second level finish their school day a little later between 1 pm and 3 pm.
After School Activities
Quite a few schools offer daily attendance, called družina, where children (mainly from 1st – 5th grade) participate in educational and leisure activities supervised by the teaching staff.
Secondary Education
Secondary Vocational Education:
SECONDARY TECHNICAL SCHOOLS (SOŠ)
Pupils can enter a two, three, or four-year program. Upon concluding the three-year program, they obtain – výuční list and are prepared to enter a particular profession. However, it does not allow them to enter the University. If a four-year program is concluded, they finish with a Maturita examination certificate in addition to vocational certificate, and graduates can continue their studies at the University. The students must pass both sets of exams.
SECONDARY VOCATIONAL SCHOOLS (SOU)
The SOU mainly prepares pupils for jobs, where they engage in manual labor, typically manufacturing, construction, maintenance, ect. The programs mostly last from 2-3 years; for very demanding manual professions, the secondary vocational school lasts four years and is completed with the Maturita examination certificate.
CONSERVATORIES (konzervatoř)
Conservatories give their attendees the knowledge and skills in the fields of music, voice, dance, and drama. Conservatoires provide art education in six-year or eight-year programs. Graduates usually gain tertiary professional education at a conservatoire (vyšší odborné vzdělání v konzervatoři) and complete their studies with a Maturita examination certificate.
Secondary General Education:
HIGH SCHOOLS (gymanzium)
This school provides an education that prepares pupils to enter higher education institutions and requires entrance exams in Math and Czech language. The studies are completed with the Maturita examination certificate. All graduates can continue their studies at the University.
Tertiary education
Tertiary education in the Czech Republic is carried out according to the European Bologna system. It is under the ECTS – European Credit Transfer System, and helps the students to move between countries and have their academic qualifications recognized.
Enrollment Requirements for Tertiary Education:
The admission process at a given study program is different for every Faculty or University. The minimum entrance requirement to enter the tertiary level of education is the Maturita examination certificate (maturitní zkoušce).
Some educational institutions might require completed entrance multi-choice tests, unique talent or abilities, interviews, or motivational speeches.
The deadline for submitting applications is usually the end of February or March, sometimes later. The entrance exams are mostly held between June and September.
Academic Year
The academic year is divided into two semesters. Winter and Spring. The examination period in the winter semester is from January to mid-February, whereas for the spring semester, it is from mid-May to the end of June.
There are three types of higher educational institutions:
HIGHER PROFESSIONAL SCHOOL OR COLLEGES (vyšší odborná škola)
Colleges offer specialized vocational education. Before graduation, students must pass the final exams (absolutorium) to conclude a final thesis. Graduates receive a DiS degree – diplomovaný specialista.
UNIVERSITIES (vysoká škola)
Students gain a classical education in three levels of study:
- Bachelor’s degree programs last 3 to 4 years.
- Master’s degree programs last 1 to 3 years, or are undergraduate “Master” study programs with a duration between 4 to 6 years.
- Doctoral study programs last 3 – 4 years are intended for graduates from Master’s programs. The program concludes by state doctoral examination (rigorozni zkouška) and a defense of a dissertation work, which must have been published or admitted for publishing.
The study program must be completed with a final state examination (statni zkouška), usually including a thesis presentation. Graduates are awarded a Bachelor’s diploma and degree.
Students in Master’s programs have to take a final state examination (statni zkouška), present and defend their thesis at the end of their studies.
ACADEMIES OF ARTS
Academies are university-level institutions providing art education.
