New amendment to Czech school law would make participation in distance learning mandatory

Prague, Aug 12 (CTK) – An amendment to the school law, which the government will debate on Monday, would introduce a student’s requirement to participate in distance learning as part of the obligatory school attendance in the Czech Republic, which was has not been embedded in the legislation so far.

The legislation reacts to the COVID-19 epidemic, during which all schools in the country were closed from mid-March as part of the anti-coronavirus restrictions and some of them remained closed until the end the school year, that is June 30.

The bill does not specify the form of distance learning, it only stipulates that schools should adopt it to children’s conditions.

The compulsory distance learning concerns the state of emergency under the crisis law or the closure of schools ordered by the Health Ministry or regional public health offices.

“Children, pupils and students are obliged to attend distance learning except for those from nurseries for whom pre-school education is not compulsory,” says the documentation for the cabinet’s meeting.

Distance learning would not be obligatory in language schools or elementary art schools, either.

Moreover, the Education Ministry can also set another form of entrance exams and school-leaving exams if need be, under the bill.

About 10,000 children did not participate in distance learning when schools were closed to curb the COVID-10 spread, according to experts’ estimates.

Education Minister Robert Plaga (for ANO) declared that all schools would open in September in their regular regime, only with stricter sanitary measures. The wearing of face masks at schools will be up to a decision by public health officers in particular regions.