Czech Republic education policy and student transitions

The Czech Republic has implemented stricter amendments to school laws to address the trend of delaying compulsory school attendance. These regulations, effective between 2025 and 2026, have abolished the option for “late delays” during the first semester of first grade and restricted repeating the first grade to serious health reasons. Parents seeking standard delays must now provide recommendations from both a school counseling facility and a specialized physician or clinical psychologist.

Teachers have reported challenges regarding classroom dynamics, noting significant maturity and skill gaps between six and seven-year-olds. In some instances, educators have had to slow the pace of instruction to accommodate students struggling with basic literacy.

In other areas of the education system, ninth grade students in the South Bohemian and Hradec Králové regions are preparing for high school entrance exams. Educational experts are advising students to use past exam papers and regular study sessions to manage exam nerves and identify knowledge gaps.