The law guarantees the right to education that respects individual educational needs for all pupils of nursery schools, primary and secondary schools, conservatories and post-secondary vocational schools. The law guarantees pupils with special educational needs the right to the free provision of specific support of education through auxiliary measures and the provision of education and school services in structurally and technically modified premises.
Pupils with special educational needs in the Czech Republic include all pupils with an inadequate knowledge of the Czech language.
Education and foreigners
EU nationals are legally entitled to access to education and school services under the same conditions as citizens of the Czech Republic. Within basic education, the regional authority ensures Czech language lessons for these pupils.
All foreigners are entitled to free basic education. Access to education on other levels is specifically regulated.
Auxiliary measures
The individual educational needs of pupils are ensured by school advisory facilities (SAF), which can propose auxiliary measures. Auxiliary measures are provided by schools through all their teaching staff, including specialists (behavioural advisor and school prevention specialist, school psychologist or the special education teacher), or also the school advisory facility.
An example of an auxiliary measure is the teaching of Czech as a second language, allocation of an assistant teacher, modification of materials or evaluation, special textbooks and aids or inclusion of the pupil in the special education system.
The first level of auxiliary measures is the teaching support plan, which is implemented by the school directly (it is not mandatory, but optional). If the SAF recommends a higher-level measure to the school, it will propose an individual educational plan with which the pupil’s legal guardian must become familiar and must grant their informed consent.
School advisory facility (SAF)
SAF include teaching-psychological advice centres which provide advisory services to pupils and support to schools, including methodical guidance. Special teaching centres are designed for pupils with severe handicaps such as bodily and sensory disabilities. Assistance to parents and their children regarding upbringing are offered by behavioural care centres.
SAF services may be used free of charge by the pupils of nursery schools, primary and secondary schools. The parent or student signs the child up to as SAF. At latest within 3 months from signing up to a SAF, the legal guardian will receive a detailed report and the school will receive a binding recommendation.
Special education
Auxiliary measures on higher levels may include the inclusion of the pupil in the special education system, which is arranged in several ways:
- through individual integration into regular classes (or departments and study groups) at a regular school
- through group integration in classes established for pupils with medical handicaps within a regular school
- at schools established specifically for pupils with medical handicaps
- by other means of fulfilling mandatory school attendance, as permitted by law (e.g. individual education)
The education of pupils with special needs is primarily conducted at regular schools. Separate schools or classes may be established for pupils with visual, hearing, bodily or mental impairments, autism, specific learning or behavioural disorders, speech impediments or multiple disabilities.
SAF appointment
Diagnosis (specialised pedagogic or psychological) of the child, which may even take over 3 hours, is conducted by specialised experts. It includes an interview with the child and its legal guardians, tests, etc. If the child or its legal guardian does/do not speak Czech, an interpreter must be arranged.
SAF are in very high demand and an appointment must be booked several months in advance. The facility must not refuse the applicant.