School attendance in the CR is compulsory from the age of 6 to 15. Most children attend state schools but there are also private and church schools. Education at state schools up to 18 is free of charge but students at secondary schools must pay for their textbooks. Private and church schools charge school fees. All schools are coeducational. Children in our school system do not wear uniforms.
The schoolyear starts on 1st September and ends on 30th June. The school year is divided into two terms. The average number of lessons at a secondary school is around thirty a week, primary schools have fewer lessons. Breaks between the lessons last from 5 to 15 minutes.
Pupils and students are evaluated by marks from 1 to 5. Each term students get their school report with marks from both compulsory and elective subjects.
Education in our country includes these stages: pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary.
Pre-school education is provided by créches for children up to 3 years of age and nursery schools for children aged 3 to 6. Here children mostly play games, draw and paint, sing, go for walks and learn about the world around them.
Primary education - at 6 children start to go to primary schools and they stay there until 15. Pupils take many subjects, most of them compulsory (e.g. Czech, maths, foreign language, history, biology, geography, physics, chemistry, Art, P.E.). Primary schools are divided into two levels.