Základní škola (ZŠ) is a Czech elementary school. It is mandatory for all school-aged children in the Czech Republic, including Ukrainian children.
🔴 Main Risk for Families
Mandatory school attendance is required, and online learning in a Ukrainian school does NOT replace it. This is the most common and costly mistake made by Ukrainian parents in the Czech Republic.
🔴 Special Enrollment Canceled
Starting from 2025/2026, there is no longer a separate special enrollment for Ukrainian children. Enrollment will happen in the usual way and within the same deadlines. There will be no separate enrollment in June.
How to Enroll a Child
- Find the catchment school in your municipality.
- Submit a written application.
- The school must accept the child, unless it is full.
If your child is not accepted, escalate the issue: municipality → regional authority → MŠMT (Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports). They must find a place for the child.
Language
- Language preparation — up to 400 hours per year for free for children from abroad. This is provided systematically through regional authorities, directly in schools.
- 🔴 From 01.01.2026, adaptation groups as a separate funding call are replaced by systematic funding through "school indexing". Schools with a higher percentage of children facing language barriers will automatically receive more funding, without needing to apply.
Lex Ukrajina Education is now indefinite — "effectiveness is not time-limited".