Review of policies in education in the Czech Republic (1995-96)

Type of project/activity:

Evaluation of national policies

Objectives:

This project was part of the on-going OECD programme of reviews of national policies for education. It was the first time that the state of Czech education had been evaluated by a team of OECD examiners, who identified eleven policy recommendations for new policies and structures that could promote and support needed change.

Background:

The development of Czech education has been rapid in some areas since the political changes, but less responsive and more constrained in others. There was a need for a strategic approach in education policy in line with the evolving needs of an "economy and society in transition" as well as the interests and aspirations of young people.

Partners:

The project was undertaken by the Institute at the request of OECD with the support of a team of consultants. It benefited from the assistance of the Czech research team in the Higher Education Centre of the Faculty of Education, Charles University.

Main activities:

A Background report was first prepared by a Czech research team and then submitted to the team of OECD examiners who spent three weeks in Prague interviewing all interested parties before preparing their report. Both reports were discussed at a special meeting of the OECD's Education Committee, convened in Prague on 14-15 March 1996. The eleven recommendations made by the examiners were extensively discussed. A follow-up meeting was convened in Prague on 26-27 April, 1999, to discuss Czech policies and assess them in the light of new developments.

Name of programme, funder or client:

OECD, Directorate for education, employment and social affairs.

Expected outcomes, reports/documents:

Reviews of National Policies for Education. Czech Republic, OECD, Paris, 1996
Examen des politique nationales d'éducation. République Tchèque, OCDE, Paris, 1996