The recent entrance exams for high schools in Prague have led to concerns among parents and officials regarding the availability of spots. While Antonín Klecanda, Prague Education Councilor (STAN), believes that there are enough spots available, the registration system has created a perception of scarcity. Students are required to submit applications to two schools in the first round, resulting in many students being accepted by multiple schools. However, as the registration process unfolds, schools are discovering available spots and reaching out to students who have submitted appeals and are below the cutoff line, improving the situation.

However, parents of academically strong students who have not secured a place in high school see the situation differently. They criticize the lack of available spots, which was anticipated due to the expected increase in students and limited capacity in maternity hospitals, kindergartens, and primary schools in Prague and the Central Bohemian Region.

Prague Mayor Bohuslav Svoboda (ODS) acknowledges the severity of the problem, and Pavel Klíma (TOP 09), vice-chairman of the parliamentary education committee, describes the situation as “critical.” The admission requirements for Prague’s high schools are higher than in other regions, with an average of 80 out of 100 points required for admission to a gymnasium. Additionally, only a few schools in the capital city announced a second round of entrance exams, predominantly in specialized schools and specific city districts.

To address these issues, Mikuláš Bek (STAN), the new Minister of Education, plans to construct new schools and reform the entrance exam system. He believes that the current system, where students submit two applications but have only one registration form, causes unnecessary stress and delays the allocation of places. The system needs to be modernized to streamline the process.

Renata Schejbalová, chairwoman of the Association of Gymnasium Directors, agrees with the need for reform and emphasizes the problems caused by the entrance exam system. She suggests increasing the acceptance rate for students who rank below the cutoff to ensure that available spots are filled.

It is evident that collaboration between the Ministry of Education and the Prague City Council is necessary to address the shortage of spots and construct new schools. Additionally, the digitalization of the entrance exam process is seen as a potential solution to help mitigate the current problems. The Ministry of Education and relevant stakeholders must work together to find comprehensive solutions to ensure that all students have access to high-quality education in Prague.

Article by Prague Forum