Czech Republic Leads EU in School Deferrals: Experts Urge Reform

The Czech Republic holds a concerning record in the European Union, with nearly a quarter of children beginning school later than they are eligible.

Now, politicians and education experts are pushing for changes to reduce school deferrals.

Every year, approximately 100,000 children in the Czech Republic reach the age to begin primary school. However, as many as 25% of these children start their education a year late, at age seven instead of six. This places the Czech Republic among the EU countries with the highest rate of school deferrals.

“This is overdone,” says Jan Horkel, headmaster of Pod Žvahovem Primary School in Prague. “It creates an imbalance between older and younger children in the classroom. I fully support the idea that school deferrals should only be granted with the approval of a specialist doctor or the school itself.”

However, not all parents share this view. Another mother notes, “I see more and more children getting deferrals. Some kids end up spending two years in preschool, while others don’t even get a spot because the classes are full. And then, there are those ‘vacation kids,’ born later in the year, whose readiness for school is often questioned.”

Every year, educators encounter children in the first grade who don’t need a deferral but whose parents insisted on it. Some parents, swayed by societal pressure, overlook expert advice and push for deferrals regardless.

“There are parents who even threaten school inspectors or bring in lawyers. They bypass school counseling centers without realizing they might be doing more harm than good,” says Martin Sezima, an education counselor.

Psychologists also warn against the trend of overprotecting children.

“Parents today are over-educating their children, trying to shield them from stressful situations. But this approach ultimately hampers their ability to adapt,” one psychologist explains.

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