Czech Education Minister Wants to Introduce Mandatory English from First Grade

The Czech Education Minister, Mikuláš Bek (STAN) proposed that all children start learning the English language from the first grade.

This reform has been three years in the making and is now approaching its final stage, with both the Education Ministry leadership and coalition politicians focusing on it.

The main goal of this reform is to shift from rote memorization to understanding context and the practical application of knowledge and skills.

English from Kindergarten?

Minister Bek has confirmed that primary school children will still be required to learn two foreign languages. He shared on social network X that English might become compulsory from the last year of kindergarten.

“English compulsory from Grade 1, maybe from the last year of kindergarten,” Bek stated. “A second language compulsory from Grade 6, schools would have to offer at least one of a choice of German, French, and Spanish.”

This marks a change from the original plan, which proposed only one compulsory foreign language in primary schools, with the second language being optional.

Currently, schools must start teaching the first foreign language by third grade at the latest, and the second by eighth grade or earlier.

Decision Process

“We are clarifying our views and positions, but at the moment no decision has been made,” said MP Jan Berki (STAN).

The coalition includes supporters of both the current system of compulsory two-language teaching and the option of one compulsory language with the other being offered as an elective.

Changes to Arts Education?

Beyond foreign languages, there’s a significant debate about the future of music and art education as part of the broader education reform.

It’s still unclear whether these subjects will be taught as before or integrated into broader disciplines that include film, dance, and drama.

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