National curricula

National curricula so called Framework Educational Programmes) define the general obligatory framework for creating school curricula (School Educational Programmes) for all fields of study in preschool, basic education, art, language and secondary education. Framework Educational Programmes were incorporated into the education system of the Czech Republic by law No. 561/2004 Coll. on Preschool, Basic, Secondary, Tertiary Professional and Other Education (the School Act). This law has been amended in 2015 by the Decree No. 82/2015.

 The Framework Educational Programmes determine especially:

  • concrete objectives, forms, length and content of both general and vocational education (based on the field of education), their organizational structure, professional profile, conditions of education and the ways  a procedures of the final evaluation, as well as the main principles for the development of the school curricula (School Educational Programmes).
  • conditions for education of students with special educational needs and the necessary material, personal and organizational conditions, as well as conditions of work safety and protection of health.

The Framework Educational Programmes must reflect the latest findings in:

  • scientific disciplines whose basic principles and their practical usage are communicated within the curriculum,
  • pedagogy and psychology which focus on effective teaching methods and organization of the curriculum, while taking into account the student's age.

The Framework Educational Programmes are issued by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports after due deliberation with relevant ministries. Every school creates its own curriculum – so called School Educational Programme – in accordance with the Framework Educational Programmes and the rules which they set up. A School Educational Programme which is based on a Framework Educational Programme must work in accordance with the given Framework Educational Programme. Within the context of the school curriculum, the learning content may be offered in coherent blocks of learning, such as subjects or modules.

A School Educational Programme for which has not been issued a national curricula yet must determine objectives, length, forms, content and time schedule of its educational programme, the conditions of the applicants' acceptance, the process of final evaluation of education, the conditions for the education of students with special educational needs, as well as the processes for the certification.