Secondary education has either a general or vocational focus, and is completed by the Matura exam (maturita), apprenticeship certificate, or a final examination. It is offered at secondary general schools (gymnázium), secondary technical schools, secondary vocational schools and conservatories.
Secondary schools offer pupils knowledge, skills and competencies necessary to pursue an occupation or group of occupations or work activities on the labour market. At the same time it develops the general knowledge, skills and key competencies necessary for their private, civic and work life, as well as for their continuing education.
Secondary schools create their school curricula in accordance with the national curricula developed for all fields of study at secondary schools by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The student's educational path is determined by national curricula that define objectives, the content and conditions of education in more than 279 fields of study. Schools develop their own school curricula which take into account the school's specific conditions and objectives.
Levels of secondary education
- Secondary education: the student must successfully complete the educational programme in the course of 1 or 2 years of full-time study. This level of education provides neither an apprenticeship certificate, nor a Matura certificate (maturita).
- Secondary education with apprenticeship certificate: the student must successfully complete the educational programme in the course of 2 or 3 years of full-time study, or in the course of a shortened programme which provides proof of secondary education with apprenticeship certificate.
- Secondary education with Matura exam (maturita): the student must successfully complete the six-year or eight-year programme, an educational programme consisting of four-year full-time study, a two-year follow up courses, or a shortened educational programme to receive secondary education with Matura exam.