Czech Republic1

Attending school in the Czech Republic is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15. Education in public schools until the age of 18 or 19 is free.

State system of school education

Attending school in the Czech Republic is compulsory between the ages of 6 and 15. Education in public schools until the age of 18 or 19 is free. Children with special needs study separately. Primary education in the Czech Republic lasts nine years, usually between the ages of 6 and 15. Children can receive their primary education in different schools, which can also use different types of educational programs. At the age of 15, students move from primary school to secondary school. Some students, at the request of their parents, can go to gymnasium at the age of 11 after passing the entrance exam.

Gymnasiums are schools that focus on a certain field of study, but still provide students with an elementary education. Alternatively, students may choose to attend a conservatory. All of these different types of schools provide students with an initial education that allows them to continue on to higher education at the secondary and university levels. Upper secondary education can be general or vocational, usually lasts four years (grades 10-13) and is not considered compulsory. Students who graduate with a Vocational Certificate often do not continue their studies in the traditional education system, but instead immediately pursue a career in their chosen field. A small number of students attend secondary education, as most attend an 8-year grammar school after the 5th grade, which takes them to their 13th year of ed