They argue, among other things, that “multilingualism is one of the cornerstones of our European belonging: it must be supported by compulsory education from the earliest possible age in order to offer our youth as many opportunities as possible”.
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“At a time when the Czech Republic assumed the presidency of the Council of the European Union, this proposal would be in exact contrast to the choices shared and supported by the majority of states in Europe,” the ambassadors said.
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Multilingualism is one of the cornerstones of European belonging and must be supported by compulsory education from the earliest possible age
ambassadors of Germany, France, Spain and Italy
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Their opinion is a contribution to the debate about one of the most explosive points of the upcoming changes to teaching and curriculum content at the second level of primary schools. Some time ago, experts from the Ministry of Education, who are preparing a large-scale revision of educational programs, came up with the idea that compulsory teaching of a second foreign language should be abolished.
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“Not everyone can do everything the same. In our opinion, it is necessary to develop the individual possibilities of each individual pupil,” declared Jan Jiterský, head of the expert panel that oversees the revision, in a debate in June. According to him, students should develop at school mainly in what they are interested in and what they can succeed in life.
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Even school principals are leaning towards it. According to a May survey by the ministry, roughly three-quarters of the 2,162 principals of primary schools would waive the obligation. However, pupils should be able to choose a second foreign language voluntarily, and schools should offer its teaching as a matter of course.
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“Irreplaceable contribution”
“We think it would be good if the second foreign language was optional at the second level, while schools would remain obliged to offer it,” Luboš Zajíc, head of the Association of Primary School Principals, told Práv.
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According to him, children do not even properly learn a second foreign language in elementary school. “The pupils, for example, do not even master the first foreign language, i.e. mainly English, to a sufficient extent. So it would be good if the children mastered English to the full extent,” he said.
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Tomáš Klinka from the Department of French at the Faculty of Education of Charles University sees it differently.
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“We fear that in the case of optionality, the loss of interest in a second foreign language would be massive, and pupils would thus lose the opportunity to learn it. We conduct research and ask companies about their experience. In western and southern Bohemia, in the south of Moravia, they confirm to us everywhere that German provides people with work,” described Práva.
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There are also concerns that inequalities in education will deepen. Some families from socially weaker circumstances might not evaluate the benefits of education in a second foreign language well. “I know many examples of children who did not do well in English, but in the higher grades they blossomed and today they master both languages brilliantly. It is also proven that a child who studies a second language develops competences that he applies in Czech as well,” argued Klinka.
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According to him, the main reason for maintaining the current approach is one of value.
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“Other foreign languages allow children aged 12 to 15 to meet something different, unique, something they don’t have to be afraid of, something they understand. No other subject can replace that, not even universal English,” he said.
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By changing the educational program, the ministry wants to limit cheating and focus more on the development abilities of pupils. It turns out that children are overwhelmed by a large amount of material that they do not have time to learn and soon forget. In addition, often the required knowledge is not important for life. IT education should be significantly strengthened.
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We think it would be good if a second foreign language at second level was optional, leaving schools with an obligation to offer it
Luboš Zajíc, head of the Association of Primary School Principals
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But the debates will continue for months. The gradual and voluntary introduction of the new program should not begin until September 2024. Schools should switch to it compulsorily a year later.
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Compulsory teaching of a second foreign language was introduced in 2013 by the then Minister of Education and current Prime Minister Petr Fiala (ODS). Teaching must begin in the eighth grade at the latest.
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It is also compulsory at secondary schools with matriculation subjects. A second foreign language does not have to be taught at schools.
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