Up to 1989 only public schools were available in the Czech Republic. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union private institutions were founded. They are funded partly by the state and partly by fees paid by the parents.
There still are many objections towards private schools in the Czech Republic. They are considered to be rather lax in their education, not preparing children for real life. However, pure facts tell another story. More than 70% of the graduates of private schools start studies at a university, compared to the relatively low 24% of public school graduates.
In addition, most private schools are multi-lingual, so their classes are held in Czech and English, or sometimes German. This increases the students' chances of studying abroad. The connections to highly recognized universities worldwide also boost private schools' attractiveness.
The fees for private schools vary greatly and depend on what sort of additional education you want for your child. Yearly fees can range from around 50,000 CZK for pre-nursery care up to around 450,000 CZK for the final grade and the exams.
Any extracurricular activities will be charged for separately and even lunch, text books and school uniforms are sometimes not included. Still, the performance level of private schools is high and it is worth checking them out. The most important private schools in the Czech Republic are