Czech Education System

One of the main reasons I came to the Czech Republic is to compare their education system to that of America. After living in the Czech Republic for over a month, I have learned, and definitely see, some key differences. The following is one of these differences:

In America, children need to make a decision about what they would like to be as a "grown-up" at the ages of seventeen/eighteen, when they are a senior in high school. If we are being honest, most Americans have no idea what they want to become at that age. They enter college, spend thousands upon thousands of dollars, and declare themselves "Undecided". Sure, some of them will "find" themselves after two years of college, and actually make a decision, but most of them will not. These wandering souls will graduate with a Psychology or Liberal Arts and Sciences degree, which ultimately will require going back to school to get a Master's degree in something more substantial and concrete. 

In the Czech Republic, the decision is made at the age of eleven, or fifteen. The most gifted and brightest students have the opportunity to attend Gymnazium from the age of eleven, where they will spend eight years getting a top education. I would compare these students to the Honors/AP level students in America. Those who need more time to develop their skills will have the opportunity to apply and pass entrance exams for Gymnazium at the age of fifteen. These are the average students in America. Perhaps they try hard, but can't quite get the marks. Or perhaps they tend to be a bit lazy. Those who fail to pass the entrance exams for (or do not want to attend) Gymnazium will have to attend vocational/technical schools or a conservatory, which are job specific. Let's keep in mind that mainly only students who attend Gymnazium will go on to attend University, once they pass the Maturita, or school-leaving exam, and University entrance exams. Some of the special schools allow students to take the Maturita exam, but those students will have a more difficult time trying to succeed at the University compared to their peers who went to the Gymnazium, which truly prepares them for Higher Education.

So maybe this system doesn't sound so bad to you? Well, here's a true story for you:

A professor's step-daughter applied to a Gymnazium that offered a handball club because she was quite good at the sport, which is very popular here. Unfortunately, she did not pass the math exam, so she did not get into the school. By the time the results came about, the only school that had an opening was a cook/server vocational school. She will be a cook/server for the rest of her life.

Remnants of Communism and an elitist society are still very much apart of this culture. You cannot postpone your career decisions, you literally have to make them at the age of fifteen. If your parents do not know the value of an education and good marks, you will fall into the same endless cycle every generation. There are no do-overs. There are no second chances. This is your only life.