EXPLAINED: How a new type of school is set to modernize Czech education

The Czech Ministry of Education has announced plans to launch a general lyceum next year. The new option will replace the current branch-specific lyceums, which focus on specialized areas such as technical or pedagogical studies.

Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced the initiative Tuesdsay, noting that the general lyceum will address the needs of students not ready to commit to a specific field so early in their education. Fiala told reporters that a new general field must change the education system to meet society’s needs and reflect young people’s priorities.

“This year, almost 24,000 students applied to the lyceum, and this shows that this is a type of education with promise,” he said. The Prime Minister says the general lyceum will create an alternative to gymnasiums. According to Fiala, many young people do not know what they want to do at 15.

In the Czech school system, a lyceum is a type of secondary education that typically lasts four years and culminates in graduation. It serves as a middle ground between a grammar school (gymnasium) and a technical high school. Students at a lyceum receive a general education with a focus on basic sciences while also gaining an introduction to specific professional fields. The lyceum system is common in many European countries, offering a balance between broad academic instruction and early career-oriented studies.

In the Czech system, students often enter specific branches of lyceum (such as technical, medical, or pedagogical lyceum) around the age of 15. This requires students to choose a focus early in their education.

Unlike the current system, where lyceums focus on a single subject, the general lyceum will allow students to explore a broader range of topics, combining fields like medicine and technology, according to Deputy Minister of Education Jiří Nantl. This flexibility gives students more time to discover their interests before making definitive career decisions. According to Fiala it's critical to change the education system so that it meets the needs of society and reflects the priorities of young people. 

The program is expected to launch in Sept. 2025, with up to 60 high schools participating in a pilot phase. Schools will develop educational programs by June to ensure they are ready for the first cohort of students. Interest is expected to be exceptionally high particularly in the Central Bohemia region.

The general lyceum initiative is part of a larger effort to modernize the Czech education system. While gymnasiums (similar to grammar schools) currently offer a broad education, branch-specific lyceums force students into narrower fields. The general lyceum will serve as an alternative to gymnasiums, providing a more diverse curriculum.

In addition to introducing the general lyceum, the Ministry of Education is reviewing the country's extensive list of secondary school fields, which currently number around 280. The goal is to streamline these into fewer categories—potentially reducing them to between 104 and 157 options—to make the system clearer and more accessible for students and educators.

The Association of Secondary Technical Schools opposes the introduction of the new general lyceum, arguing that it is redundant and unnecessary. They believe that pushing students into fields of study they are not interested in is ineffective. Instead, they emphasize the importance of aligning education with student demand and the needs of employers. 

Education Minister Mikuláš Bek acknowledges these concerns but stresses the need for a more integrated education system and strengthening general secondary education. He also suggests that shorter study programs at vocational schools could be a better fit for lyceum graduates and employer demands.