The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports (MŠMT) has approved the revised Framework Education Programmes (RVP) for pre-school education (RVP PV) and primary education (RVP ZV). These key documents represent a significant step towards the modernisation of the Czech education system, reflecting the needs of contemporary society and meeting the objectives of the Czech Education Policy Strategy 2030+. The documents will be presented to the public at a press conference on 14 January 2025.
The RVP is the basic curriculum document that sets out the general requirements for education in the Czech Republic. It defines the main objectives, the content of education, the expected learning outcomes and the skills that pupils and children should acquire at each level of education. The curriculum also gives schools the flexibility to develop school education programmes (SEPs) that take into account the specific conditions and needs of each school. The revised RAPs focus on simplifying content and increasing its relevance for pupils, teachers and educators.
"The new framework curricula focus on the development of competences and literacy skills that meet the challenges of today's society and the needs of our children. We believe that the new programmes will not only make teachers' jobs easier, but also provide pupils and children with better opportunities for their educational and professional future," says the Minister of Education, Youth and Sports Mikulas Bek and adds: "By approving the revised Framework Curriculum for Primary Schools, its implementation can begin in schools that voluntarily decide to educate according to the new Framework Curriculum as early as the 2025/2026 school year.This will provide important feedback that will be used for subsequent adjustments to the Framework Curriculum and model school curricula before their introduction from 1 September 2027."
In basic education, the focus is on linking key competences and basic literacy to the expected learning outcomes of the learning domains. The new approach promotes the practical application of acquired skills and knowledge in everyday life and develops literacy and numeracy. The Expected Learning Outcomes (ELOs) are clearly articulated for each learning domain, thus supporting competence-based learning. Great attention is paid to school climate, personal and social education. In addition to changes in content, the new RVP for primary education focuses on simplifying the structure of documentation, reducing the administrative burden on schools and allowing teachers to spend more time preparing quality teaching.
Among the changes introduced by the new RVP for primary education are the teaching of the first foreign language, English, as a compulsory language from Year 1 (now it is compulsory from Year 3 at the latest, but almost half of schools already teach English in the first grades), and an increase in the exit level of English from the original A2 to B1. In the case of another foreign language, it will remain compulsory from Year 7, with the exit level being A1. In Mathematics, the level will be raised from 'partially meets the minimum' to 'meets the minimum'.
The implementation of the RVP ZV will take place gradually and includes several key steps that will ensure a smooth transition of schools to the new curriculum:
- September 2025 - possibility of starting education for 1st and 6th grade,
- September 2027 - compulsory start of education for Years 1 and 6,
- September 2031 - compulsory education for all grades,
with the exception of the teaching of an additional foreign language from Year 7 at the latest, where it is envisaged that the choice will be limited to three foreign languages (German, French or Spanish), where the effect is postponed until September 2034 in at least Year 7, September 2035 in at least Years 7 and 8 and September 2036 in Years 7-9.
The Framework Curricula for pre-school education reinforce an inclusive approach and support the development of children's individual needs. They prepare children for a smooth transition to primary education and emphasise the creation of a stimulating and respectful environment.
The implementation of the RVP PV will take place according to the following schedule:
- September 2025 - voluntary introduction of the new RVP PV in all kindergartens that meet the conditions of the preparatory period,
- September 2026 - mandatory introduction of the new RVP PV in all kindergartens.
Both kindergartens and primary schools will have methodological materials and training for teaching staff to facilitate the implementation of innovations in practice. Support includes examples of good practice, consultation and, for primary schools, model school curricula. These tools will enable an effective transition to the new curriculum and take into account the needs of each school. "Our priority now is to support schools in implementing the revised RVP so that the transition to the new curriculum is as smooth as possible," Adds Ivo Jupa, Director of NPI.
The review process has been underway since 2021 and has involved a broad collaboration of more than 600 experts, educators and education stakeholders. The public consultation, which took place in the spring of 2024, generated over 3,200 submissions, which were taken into account in the final documents. Roundtables, expert discussions and workshops were held on an ongoing basis to ensure transparency throughout the process and to enable the active involvement of all key stakeholders.
For more information, visit the RVP Revision project website at https://revize.rvp.cz/.
MOE/ gnews - RoZ
ILLUSTRATIVE PHOTO - pixabay
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