The Czech school year begins today: What are the key changes for 2024–25?

New changes in education for the upcoming school year – which begins today – will significantly impact schools, students, and teachers. These changes, which include language lessons for non-Czechs, adjustments to payments, teaching hours, and school facilities, are the result of negotiations between the Ministry of Education, school unions, and associations. As of July 2024, schools will be legally obliged to introduce these changes for this academic year.

Starting this month, the Ministry of Education will introduce new measures to enhance Czech language teaching for school pupils whose first language is not Czech. These changes aim to increase the number of Czech lessons, with up to 400 teaching hours planned over a two-year period. Additionally, Czech language instruction will be incorporated into preparatory classes for preschool children in primary schools.

According to the new regulations, schools can adjust teaching hours and divide lessons flexibly. As of January of this year, the Ministry of Education has also taken over determining payment amounts for education in public kindergartens, school groups, and clubs. 

In addition, the amendment also allows for exemptions and reductions in fees for legal representatives who receive child allowance and for children entitled to state social support. This means that families who may be struggling financially will have the opportunity to receive a break in fees for their children’s education.

The state has also revised the county's Building and Hygiene Decree, allowing schools to operate without a sink in every classroom and to have gender-neutral bathrooms. In June, a secondary school in the country’s Pilsen region installed non-binary toilets.

Shadow Minister of Education Jana Berkovcová called non-binary toilets “unhygienic,” a “step backward” for Czechia and potentially causing psychological trauma. On the other hand, member of parliament Renáta Zajíčková, who proposed the change in law, said the change would “bring Czechia closer to the European world.” 

Another significant change is the ability for schools to include students from different grade levels in the same class, even at the second level of primary school. Previously, this was only allowed in the first level.

The ministry is also preparing new report cards for the use of a new type of assessment, where students will be evaluated based on predetermined criteria rather than traditional grades. These report cards are expected to be implemented by the end of January 2025.

An amendment to the lex Ukraine Act, effective in September, has also made changes to the education of students from Ukraine. This includes the elimination of segregated classes and departments, allowing for a more inclusive and integrated education system.