Informal education comprises organised behavioural education activities, which are conducted outside of the formal education system and offer the focused development of life experiences, skills and attitudes based on a self-contained system of values.
Informal education is provided by:
- schools within the formal education system (e.g. school groups at regular schools, school clubs at primary and secondary schools)
- primary art schools
- children’s and youth homes / leisure centres, which are usually established by the municipality and ensure hobby clubs and other leisure activities for children for affordable prices
- children’s and youth unions associated by the Czech Child and Youth Council
- private language schools
- private educational agencies and clubs
- employers within corporate education
Primary art schools
A primary art school (PAS) provides basic artistic education. Compared to primary schools, primary art schools do not provide a level of education. The aim of education at PAS may also be to prepare pupils for education at conservatories, post-secondary vocational schools and artistic or pedagogical universities.
Studies at PAS are subject to tuition.
|
Type of study
|
Pupil’s age
|
Number of years
|
Acceptance
|
Certification
|
|
Preparatory
|
From 5 years
|
Maximally two
|
Applicants demonstrate requirements for education
|
/
|
|
Lower-level basic study
|
From 7 years
|
4 to 7 years
|
Successful passing of talent examination and recommendation from the acceptance committee
|
Final examination
|
|
Higher-level basic study
|
From 14 years
|
3 or 4 years
|
Successful passing of talent examination and recommendation from the acceptance committee
|
Final examination
|
|
Study with extended number of lessons
|
Corresponds to lower and higher-level basic study
|
Corresponds to lower and higher-level basic study
|
By proposal of the teacher of the main subject
|
Final examination
|
|
Studies for adults
|
not specified
|
Maximally 4 years
|
Successful passing of talent examination and recommendation from the acceptance committee
|
Final examination
|
Informal education and foreigners’ children
For the quick integration and learning of the Czech language, lively contact with the Czech environment also during leisure time is recommended, such as reading books and magazines for children, watching Czech stories and films, listening to music and audiobooks, etc., as well as visiting the Czech outdoors, historical sites and cultural events. There are also non-profit organisations (NPOs) which help foreigners and their children integrate into the Czech environment. These NPOs offer Czech lessons, tutoring, mentoring and various activities in addition to advisory services.
Examples of NPOs that work with foreigners:
Public libraries
There is a fully developed network of national, regional and local libraries in the Czech Republic, which generally lend books, magazines and audio-visual material simply on the basis of creating a library card and paying a (usually annual) fee. Libraries also often organise courses, cultural events, etc.