Czech schools face parental workbook fees amid funding shortfalls

Parents of Czech primary‑school pupils report paying between 1,000 and 1,900 Czech crowns for compulsory workbooks, despite the law that basic education must be free of charge. A Ministry of Education spokesperson emphasized that schools may not require payment for materials that are essential to teaching, and that any contribution must be voluntary.

Analysts note that the national school budget for 2026 is about 283.9 billion CZK, with roughly 41.7 % allocated to primary education. Calculations show that, on average, a primary school receives around 25 million CZK, which is considered insufficient to cover staff salaries, building maintenance, and standard teaching resources. The funding gap is cited as a reason why some municipalities request voluntary contributions from parents for items such as workbooks, while others provide the materials without charge.