Czech government debates funding cuts for private and religious schools

The Czech government is debating potential reductions in state funding for private and religious schools. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has questioned the necessity of the approximately 20 billion CZK allocated annually to these institutions, suggesting that such funding should be restructured or decreased. Finance Minister Alena Schillerová has also expressed a need to review these expenditures.

Education Minister Robert Plaga noted that the 2027 budget proposal already faces a 3 billion CZK shortfall for mandatory expenditures related to private and religious education. The current funding system provides per-student contributions based on costs comparable to public schools, while private founders cover additional costs such as buildings and equipment.

Critics and school representatives argue that reducing state support would lead to significantly higher tuition fees. Estimates suggest that without state subsidies, annual tuition for a primary school student could rise from roughly 51,000 CZK to as much as 200,000 CZK. The debate affects approximately 135,000 children currently enrolled in non-state educational institutions.