Czech Presidency in European Schools

On September 1, 2014, the Czech Republic assumed presidency of the Board of Governors of European Schools as well as other administrative bodies of the system. This happened for the first time since 2004 – the year of the Czech Republic´s accession to Convention Defining the Status of European Schools. The Czech Republic will thus distinctly participate in further development of European schools till the end of the school year 2014/2015.

In cooperation with the MEYS CR the Czech School Inspectorate set priorities of the Czech chairmanship based on long term strategic objectives of the system, which follow up the priorities from previous Bulgarian Presidency. The priorities were introduced during talks of Inspector Boards held in Brussels, October 7 – 10, 2014.

Three essential aims were set in the pedagogical sphere which will be consequently elaborated into partial aims:
  • professional development and appraisal of teachers (fulfilling new teaching standards, piloting new evaluation tools, reform of the teacher education system);
  • systemic provision of high quality education (revision and alignment of curricula and their proper implementation in accordance with teaching standards, accomplishment of new evaluation tools for the whole system, internal and external school evaluation);
  • effective cooperation of working groups (effective management, cooperation, transparency).

The Board of Inspectors for Nursery and Primary Cycles, the Board of Inspectors for Secondary Cycle and the Joint Teaching Committee took these priorities into account and so the next school year will proceed under the sign of their fulfillment.

In European Schools the children from families of workers from EU institutions and further standing state and corporate representatives are primarily educated. The schools provide nursery, basic and secondary comprehensive education terminated with European Baccalaureate. This type of education is recognized not only by all EU member states but also by other states. Currently approx. 25 000 pupils attend 14 European Schools. Czech sections are established in the European School Brussels III and in the European School Luxembourg II.