Czech government mulls mandatory kindergarten at 4 and dropping 9th grade

Education Minister Robert Plaga (ANO) said the government is considering making kindergarten attendance compulsory from age four instead of the current five, noting that the proposal would require thorough discussion and that existing facilities could accommodate the change. He also expressed opposition to proposals to eliminate the ninth year of primary school.

The idea to scrap the ninth grade is being promoted by Freedom and Direct Democracy (SPD) leader Tomio Okamura, who argues it could save about 50 billion Czech crowns a year, citing similar systems in Germany, Poland and Hungary. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, finance deputy minister Petr Mach and other coalition partners, including the Motorist party, have voiced support. The coalition is debating both measures, with no final decision expected during the current election term.