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Central European students return to school for the 2026/2027 academic year
The 2026/2027 academic year begins across Central Europe, bringing various regulatory, economic, and social changes for students and families in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Slovakia.
In the Czech Republic, new educational policies include stricter rules for delaying school attendance and a ban on first graders repeating the grade due to poor performance. There is also an ongoing legislative debate regarding the restriction of mobile phones in schools to protect student mental health. Economically, parents are seeing increased spending on school supplies and electronics, with a notable rise in interest for smartwatches and notebooks.
In Hungary, the new term involves administrative updates via the KRÉTA system and specific travel discounts provided by MÁV for students. Local municipalities, such as Szerencs, are also offering academic support for high-achieving students.
In Slovakia, the return to school affects hundreds of thousands of students, including over 57,500 first graders. The new year brings changes to daily family routines and specific holiday schedules for different regions.
Entities
Czech Ministry of Education · Czech Republic · EDUin · Eva Pavlová · KRÉTA · Martin Beneš · Ministry of Education, Research, Development and Youth of the Slovak Republic · MÁV · MÁV-START · Nikola Šrámková · Petr Pavel · Přerov
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] A teaching assistant will be provided to every first-grade class with more than fifteen students. www.ahaonline.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Maximum monthly fees for kindergarten attendance may reach 1,792 CZK for the 2026/2027 school year. www.ahaonline.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] First-grade students will no longer repeat the grade due to poor academic performance. www.ahaonline.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] ZŠ Přimda has implemented a ban on mobile phones during the entire school stay, allowing use only for didactic purposes with teacher consent. tachovsky.denik.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The plan to make English mandatory starting in the first grade has been halted; it remains mandatory from the third grade. www.ahaonline.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Consuming social media content for more than 2.5 hours daily can lead to anxiety and loneliness. www.emimino.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Rules for delaying school attendance have been tightened; delays can now only be granted for long-term health reasons documented by a doctor or psychologist. www.ahaonline.cz
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The school in Konstantinovy Lázně requires mobile phones to be completely turned off during instruction. tachovsky.denik.cz