SCHOOL SYSTEM
Czech Republic
School attendance in the Czech Republic is compulsory from the age from six to fifteen
The school year starts on 1st September and ends on 30th June of the following year. The school year is divided into two terms (September - January, February - June). Primary schools have fewer lessons than secondary schools, which have about 35 a week. One lesson lasts 45 minutes and there are small breaks between lessons. Pupils are evaluated by marks from one to five. Each term students get their school report with marks from all subjects.
Education in our country includes these stages: pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary.
Pre-school education is provided by nursery schools, kindergartens for children aged three to six (creches - up to three of age). At six children start going to primary schools and they stay there until fifteen. Then pupils sit for entrance examinations to secondary schools. But at the age of eleven or thirteen can some pupils enter to a grammar school after they are passed an entrance examination.
Secondary school - several types:
a) Grammar schools - general and rather academic education, which prepares students for university (Gymnasium).
b) Technical (special) schools - technical colleges, specialised in building, chemistry, business academies, music and art schools.
c) Vocational schools - prepare students for practical professions.
Secondary education usually lasts for four years and at grammar and technical schools are finished with a school-leaving examination, which is taken in four subjects. The compulsory exam from Czech is divided in oral and written part. Students can finish their studies or for these, who don't want to study on university can attend two-year courses with specialisation for managers, businessmen, language expert, etc.
Tertiary education is provided by tertiary education, which lasts from four to six years. Students are accepted after they have passed an entrance examination. The exam consists of a written text and an interview. Our oldest university is Charles University in Prague (founded by Charles IV. in 1348), other schools are Masaryk University in Brno, Palacký University in Olomouc and Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem.