Prague secondary schools face record low admission rates amid capacity dispute

The share of ninth‑grade applicants accepted to secondary schools in Prague fell to its lowest levels in recent years. About 80 % secured places in four‑year programmes, 24 % were admitted to six‑year gymnasiums and 37 % to eight‑year programmes, compared with national averages of 89.8 %, 35.6 % and 47.5 % respectively.

Results of the first admission round were published on 15 May, and a second round of applications is open from 19 May to 25 May, with candidates using the DiPSy system to submit up to five applications.

The low acceptance rates have triggered a dispute between Education Minister Robert Plaga, who accused the Prague municipality of long‑standing neglect of school capacity and “wasting children’s potential,” and city education councillor Antonín Klecanda, who blames the minister for blocking the expansion of multi‑year gymnasiums and points to recent additions of more than 3,000 places and two new gymnasiums.

Some schools are also experimenting with alternative schedules, such as a gastronomy and hotel school that offers attendance only one afternoon per week.