Prague – The Prague City Hall will probably transfer 5 plots of land to Prague at a special primary school between V Cibulkách and Na Výši streets in Košíře. The city district wants to build a primary school on them. The city should obtain land in Nepomucká Street from the town hall for the plots, which could be used for special education in the future. The shift was approved today by Prague councilors, who will still vote on it.

Prague 5 approached the city itself with a proposed shift some time ago. The municipality first rejected it, saying that the land was suitable for construction and the plan would affect a special primary school for children with autism spectrum disorders, which is located next to them. According to a document approved today, the school department finally reconsidered the negative opinion on the assumption that the special school would obtain optimal conditions for the education of pupils with special needs.

Prague Councilor Jan Chabr (TOP 09) explained today after the council meeting that a special primary school established by the municipality should be moved from V Cibulkách Street to the area created by the reconstruction of a wooden pavilion at the Nepomucká primary school, nicknamed the wooden house. This will free up space in Cibulka, where by expanding the new building to neighboring plots, the city district will acquire a full-fledged primary school. Chabr added that the plan should be completed by the beginning of the school year 2023/2024.

According to the demographic forecast that Prague 5 had prepared, it will increase by the end of 2030, mainly due to the new construction of the population of Prague 5 from the current approximately 86,000 by 12,000 to 19,000 people. The number of children and seniors is expected to increase significantly. Therefore, according to the data of the town hall, it will be necessary to secure another 1,500 places in primary schools. In addition to the planned school in Košíře, others are to be established in the emerging district of Smíchov City and in Barrandov.

Regarding education, disputes arose at the City Hall of Prague 5 in connection with the fact that Mayor Renáta Zajíčková (on behalf of the ODS) has rented a school building in Plzeňská Street from the city district for her private grammar school. According to critics, it should leave it to the original purpose of primary school. The mayor has previously stated that if it turns out to be the best solution, she is willing to vacate the building, but needs more time to evaluate it. At the same time, she denied that she had a conflict of interest on the grounds that she was not in politics at the time the school lease was concluded.