A total of 15,137 applicants applied for the four-year study in Prague for the first round of entrance examinations this year. In the pre-pandemic year of 2019, it was about thirty percent less. There were a total of 11,598 three years ago, according to the Analysis Department of the Center for Learning Outcomes.

“This school year has really seen a significant increase in the number of applicants enrolling in four-year fields of education. This correlates with a relatively significant expansion of the population of children who are studying the last year of primary school this school year, “explained Marek Lehečka, a spokesman for Cermat.

The strength of the year is manifested – according to the ongoing results of the first rounds of the admission procedure at several Prague schools provided by Czech Television, on average two thirds of the number of applicants did not place. For example, 564 pupils applied at the U Libeňského zámku Grammar School and 120 were admitted, said the school’s director František Kosina. According to the director Milan Štěrba, the results at the Štěpánská Academic Grammar School are in a similar ratio so far. And up to 460 applicants, 120 accepted.

Other schools are in a similar situation. Although 350 pupils got to the Secondary Industrial School of Electrical Engineering in Ječná Street, the total interest reached 753 applicants, as assigned by the school principal Ondřej Mandík. And according to the director of the Dušní Business Academy, Alena Kocourková, 375 applicants applied to their school, and 150 were accepted.

The school principals unanimously point out that the pupils were initially able to apply for two schools and the admission procedure is not over yet. Among other things, subsequent registration for enrollment is essential. Additional students may be admitted on appeal. However, most of the addressed schools do not hold a second round of admissions. There is no reason why they will fill the vacancies reliably. The offer of schools in the next rounds will thus be significantly reduced for students who have not yet been accepted.

Prague is currently increasing its capacity at grammar schools

According to the municipality, there are a total of 11,590 places in graduation courses in Prague. However, according to Cermat, the already mentioned 15,137 applicants, including pupils from schools outside Prague, applied for admission to the first round.

“For the second year in a row, we have been systematically increasing the number of classes in the four-year Grammar School at schools established by the City of Prague. In the first wave on September 1, 2021, the Grammar School branch was enrolled in four secondary schools established by the City of Prague. For example, at the Secondary Industrial School and the Na Třebešíně Grammar School, we have newly opened two classes for 60 pupils in the first year, “said Vít Šimral, Deputy Mayor of Prague.

“As of September 1, 2022, two classes for 60 pupils will be newly opened in the first year at the Hotel School Radlická and one class for 30 pupils will be opened in the first year at the Secondary School of Technical and Economic Training. In both cases, in the field of Grammar School, full-time form of education, “added Šimral.

But he doesn’t admit a possible problem yet. “At this point, we certainly cannot claim that many applicants did not get into any school because the admission procedure is still ongoing. It must be said that the lack of vacancies in the first years of high school is apparent. The lack of space is not a situation where the applicant is not admitted to the school of his first choice. Prague offers a number of graduation courses from which applicants can choose, “said Šimral, reminding that there are still 4 120 places of courses with an apprenticeship certificate.

The Ministry of Education is waiting for the evaluation of the statistical survey as of September 30, 2022, when it will know all the numbers. “Increasing the capacity of schools has been addressed by the already valid Lex Ukraine law, and the situation will be similarly addressed from September,” said ministry spokeswoman Aneta Lednová. She did not comment on the issue after CT’s inquiries.