School Act

Important Information for Foreign Parents in the Czech Republic

Today, let’s talk about the Education Act (Školský zákon) No. 561/2004 Sb.

This essential law governs the education system in the Czech Republic, including the rights and responsibilities of students, parents, and educational institutions.

The full text of the law in Czech is available at:

📎 https://msmt.gov.cz/uploads/skolsky_zakon.pdf

Compulsory Education for Foreign Children

Foreign children who legally reside in the Czech Republic are required to attend primary school from ages 6 to 15. This includes children with long-term visas, residence permits, or temporary protection status.

Rights and Responsibilities of Parents

  • A child must be enrolled in school (or in a preparatory class) from the moment of arrival, if they are 6 years or older.
  • If a child is being educated outside the Czech system (e.g., distance learning from another country), this must be officially approved.
  • Parents are obliged to cooperate with the school, attend meetings, and inform the school of any relevant changes related to the child.

Right to Free Education

  • Foreign children have the right to free education in public schools.
  • Instruction is in Czech, but if a child lacks sufficient language skills, the school is obliged to provide support — such as adaptation classes, preparatory courses, or teaching assistants.

Sanctions for Violation of the Education Act

Failure by parents to fulfill their duties may lead to the following consequences:

  • Administrative fine of up to 3,000 CZK for failure to ensure compulsory school attendance.
  • Criminal liability in cases of serious and ongoing neglect of parental responsibilities regarding care and upbringing of the child, according to § 201 of the Criminal Code of the Czech Republic.

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact us — we are here to help and provide consultation.

If you are currently looking for a school for your child, we would also be happy to invite you to visit and introduce you to our school (Grades 1–9).