It is the duty of the pupils' legal representatives to send them to school for compulsory school attendance. The right to free primary education in public primary schools is guaranteed by law.
Primary education includes primary and lower secondary education and lasts 9 years, corresponding to 9 years of compulsory education. It is the duty of the pupils' legal representatives to send them to school for compulsory school attendance. Otherwise, they commit an infringement for which they are liable to be penalised. All foreigners residing in the territory of the Czech Republic have access to basic education regardless of their right of residence or their knowledge of the language of instruction. The right to free primary education in public primary schools is guaranteed by law. Lunch and extracurricular activities (e.g. after-school activities) are usually charged.
Non-formal education
Compulsory schooling begins in the school year for children who reach 6 years of age on 31 August before the school year in question. Children who are physically and mentally mature can be admitted under certain conditions even earlier. Children who have been granted a deferral of compulsory schooling by the headmaster must start compulsory schooling at the latest in the school year in which they reach the age of 8. The schooling obligation lasts 9 years. At most, however, until the end of the school year in which the pupil reaches the age of 17. Persons who have completed nine years of compulsory education but have not completed primary education may receive this level of education in the relevant courses for obtaining primary education.
Recognition of primary, secondary or higher vocational education attained at foreign schools
The vast majority of the population receives primary education at a primary school with the following structure:
- first degree (primary level), includes 1st-5th year,
- Secondary level (lower secondary level), includes 6-9 years.
However, some schools do not have all grades (so-called incomplete schools), in the vast majority they are formed only by the first grade. The Regional Authority designated schools provide Czech preparatory courses to children of foreigners and Czech citizens with insufficient knowledge of the Czech language. Members of national minorities shall be guaranteed the right to be educated in the language of the national minority if the legal conditions are met.
The primary school also fulfils broader educational and social functions. It ensures: educational counselling, school meals and usually extracurricular activities of children in after-school groups and school clubs that provide leisure education.
The pupil completes compulsory school attendance at a primary school established by a municipality or a union of municipalities established in the school district in which the pupil has his permanent residence (the so-called catchment school), unless the legal representative chooses another school for the pupil.
Enrolment in primary school takes place between 15 January and 15 February of the calendar year in which the child is to start compulsory education. In addition to Czech citizens, compulsory education also applies to foreigners who have resided in the Czech Republic for more than 90 days. Children can also be enrolled in primary school during the school year. The transition from the first to the second grade of primary school is automatic.