Education in the Czech Republic is free and compulsory from ages 6 to 15. In 1996, the gross primary enrollment rate was 104 percent, and in 1995, the net primary enrollment rate was 86.9 percent.

Primary school attendance rates were unavailable for the Czech Republic as of 2001. While enrollment rates indicate a level of commitment to education, they do not always reflect children?s participation in school. Many ethnic Roma children attend school less regularly and attend "special schools" for mentally disabled or socially maladjusted individuals. While the public school system is free and does not create significant financial barriers for children to attend, the private schools, particularly in Prague, are largely financially inaccessible for the majority of local population and thus also represent an element of exclusion, educating children separately from the rest of their peers.

The Czech school system has four degrees: Preschools - (from 2 to 5 years old) Primary (elementary) - (from 6 to 15 years old, mandatory) Professional secondary (high) schools, grammar schools (gymnasium), vocational schools and courses Universities Education in the Czech Republic is free, but there are some exceptions like preschools which are paid by parents, though only the last year before entering elementary school is free. There is also a long-standing talk about paying fees for attending university. However, as education is free, parents only pay for textbooks, basic equipment and food if their child eats in a school cafeteria. The state pays health insurance for students up to 26 years of age. Higher education in the Czech Republic consist of public, state (police and military) and private universities. Study at public universities is unlimited and free (for education made in Czech language and first time attendants), but after the age of 26, the attendant will not receive the student status from social services and state would not pay his health insurance if he continues studying. Foreign students can attend as well, with choice to attend education made in Czech language for free, or pay for education done in English. For private Universities a fee falls between 2,000 and 3,000 euro and for BSBA and MBA (not accredited by Ministry of Education) study programs between 3,000 and 10,000 euro.

Prestige and qualities of education and research of public and state universities is much higher than private ones. Private universities have undergone many scandals in recent years. For an example of a Czech public university governance, see Governance of Palacký University. Education takes from 2 to 6 years, depending on degree of studies, every degree is requirement for another: Bachelor degree programs - lasts usually 3 years, title Bc. (bakalá"5;) or BcA. (bakalá"5; umění) (only artistic fields of study), Maturita level is required. Students must pass final exam (státní zkou#3;ka, state exam - despite its name, this exam is not organized by state, but by universities themselves; at some universities required only if the student did not have good notes during his studies) and present their thesis. Master degree programs - Bachelor degree required, except of law, pharmacy and 1st stage teaching (5 years programs, maturita required) and medicine (6 years programs, maturita required). They are finished by final exam (státní zkou#3;ka, for medicine státní rigorózní zkou#3;ka) and thesis presentation. Awarded titles: Mgr. (magistr) MgA. (magistr umění) - for artistic fields of study Ing. (in&2;enýr) - for technical and economical fields of study Ing. arch. (in&2;enýr architekt) - architecture MUDr. (medicinae universalis doctor) - medicine MVDr. (medicinae veterinariae doctor) - veterinal medicine MDDr. (medicinae dentium doctor) - dentist Doctor study programs, Ph.D. title Except of these titles, more titles containing "Dr." exist. These titles are granted after a special exam (rigorózní zkou#3;ka), containing also a thesis presentation. For taking this exam, master degree education is required, but this programme itself does not have any education programme, also they are equal to master degree education. However, as they are a part of Czech tradition, they are used quite often. These titles include: PhDr. - philosophiae doctor, for philosophy, literature, languages, pedagogics and similar subjects JUDr. - iuris utriusque doctor, for law, formerly used also for security studies RNDr. - rerum naturalium doctor, for natural sciences ThDr. - theologiae doctor, for thelogy PharmDr. - pharmaciae doctor, for pharmacy