School attendance in the Czech Republic is compulsory from the age from 6 to 15. There are state schools, private schools and church schools. Education at state schools up to 18 is free of charge but students must often pay for their textbooks. Private and church schools charge school fees. All schools are coeducational. Children do not wear uniforms. Handicapped children are educated separately.

The school year starts on 1^st September and ends on 30^th June of the following year. The school year is divided into two terms (September – January, February – June). The average number of lessons is about thirty lessons per five days. Classes begin usually at 8 a.m. The lunch lasts about 45 minutes and after it begin afternoon classes until 4 or 5 p.m. Breaks between the lessons last from 5 to 15 minutes.

Students are evaluated by marks from 1 to 5. 1 is the best, 5 is the worst. Each term students get their report with marks from both compulsory and elective subjects.

Education in our country includes these stages: pre-school, primary, secondary and tertiary. Pre-school education is provided by crčches for children up to 3 years of age and nursery schools (or kindergartens) for children aged 3 to 6. At 6 children start to go to primary schools and they stay there until 15. At the age of 15 the pupils transfer from primary to secondary school. Pupils can also visit the grammar school since 11 years of age after passing the entrance examination.

The secondary schools are sorted into grammar schools, special schools and vocational schools. Grammar schools provide academic education which prepare students for university. Special schools include technical colleges, business academies, agricultural schools, nursing schools, music and art schools which offer professional education. Vocational schools train would-be workers for practical jobs. Secondary education usually lasts for 4 years and at grammar and special schools it is finished with a school-leaving examination, which is required by all universities and colleges. This examination is taken at grammar schools in four subjects – in Czech language, foreign language and two optional subjects – and in five or more at special schools. The examination is held in May and it is oral, but the part of this examination is also writing the essay in Czech about a month before. The oral part lasts about an hour (15 minutes in each subject). After the graduates have passed their school-leaving exam, they receive the School-Leaving Certificate.

Universities and colleges provide tertiary education which lasts from 4 to 6 years. Each secondary school graduate has to pass the entrance examination which consists of a written test and an interview. The most important universities are Charles University in Prague (founded in 1348), Masaryk University in Brno, Palacky University in Olomouc and Purkyne University in Usti nad Labem. Undergraduates can study a variety of subjects such as law, humanities, science, medicine, music, art, drama, engineering etc. The basic degrees are Bachelor's Degree (3 years), Master's Degree (5 to 6 years) and Doctoral Degrees (more than 6 years). The university or college study is finished with a state examination and every undergraduate also has to write a thesis in order to receive a diploma.

Full-time university students have to pay a tuition, an accommodation and board. The students from distant places usually lodge at a hall of residence (dorm).

For those who do not want to enter the university there are various types of two-year training courses such as for managers, businessmen, social workers etc.

Full time education is compulsory for all children between the ages of 5 and 16. Most of schools is maintained from the public funds and through Local Education Authorities. The education at these school is free. Besides this state system exist also independent schools. The schools are both single-sex and coeducational. The classes are from Mondays to Fridays. The school year begins in September and ends in July. It is divided into three terms. Pupils have to wear uniforms in most private schools and at many secondary schools. The school day begins at 8 or 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. The state system of education is divided into four stages: pre-school and primary, secondary, further and higher education.

Pre-school and primary education is provided by nursery and primary schools. Compulsory education begins at 4 or 5 years of age, when children go to infant schools. These schools learn through experience, drawing, painting, musical activities, movement, play, reading, writing and simple counting. At 7 many children move to junior school, where the work is more systematic. There are also "first schools" and "middle schools".

Secondary education lasts from 11 to 19 years. The main types of schools are Comprehensive schools, Grammar schools and Secondary Modern Schools. The first two types provide academic and practical education. The third type provides more general education.

Further education is provided by the top two classes of a comprehensive and grammar school, by six-form colleges and by tertiary colleges. The main qualifications are the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), the General Certificate of Education Advanced level, the Advanced Supplementary (AS) and the General National Vocational Qualifications (GNVQ)

Higher education is provided by universities and colleges. The Open University is a special type of university, but the quality of information is the same as at the other universities. University courses last between 1 to 6 years. The degrees at universities are Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree and a degree of Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy).

The independent schools charge high fees (about 4000 pounds). The oldest were founded in 7^th century, the newest in nowadays. They are divided into Public schools and Preparatory schools.

The program of British education is anchored in the National Curriculum. The object is to make the education more relevant to the working environment and to improve skills in science, technology and modern languages. The National Curriculum defines four key stages and ten statutory subjects. They are divided into three "core" subjects (English, mathematics and science) and seven "foundation" subjects (information technology, history, geography, music, art, physical education and a modern foreign language). Religious education and sex education is not statutory subject, but it is also taught.

In the USA education is mainly the responsibility of the individual states. The Federal Government often gives money to schools. All schools are controlled by an elected "school board" and by the city and state in which the school is located. The school boards are controlled by parents of pupils who attend the school. The majority of all schools are public schools, financed by the state or local government. These schools are free. Beside this type exist also private schools which charge high tuition and they are attended mostly by children of rich families. All public schools are mixed schools, but some private or church schools are single-sex. The school year begins from mid-August to mid-September. It is divided into three or four terms. After each term students get a report card with their results of study. At the end of school year they get a transcript. School uniforms are worn only in private schools. School attendance is compulsory from 6 until the age of 16.

Pre-school education includes nursery schools and kindergartens. Most of them are private. Both the elementary and secondary education is comprehensive. Years in USA are called grades. Elementary schools last for five grades. The children a an elementary school learn to read, write, do arithmetic, elementary science, history, geography, physical education, arts and crafts and music.

Secondary education is provided by Middle Schools or by High Schools, divided into Junior High and High School. In High Schools students have very wide choice of subjects to study and the level of academic study ("track").

The basic school leaving qualification is usually the High School Diploma or the General Education Diploma (GED). The Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) is taken in mathematics and in English and it is useful for students who want to study university or college.

Higher education is provided by Community Colleges, Vo-techs, Universities and Technical Colleges. Community Colleges provide continuing general, vocational and semi-professional education for people with a High School Diploma. Vo-techs are vocational-technical schools. Universities and colleges require the high-school transcripts and teacher's recommendation, interviews, test results or essays. Most universities and colleges offer undergraduate courses of 4 years of study. The degree titles are Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degrees and Doctoral Degrees. The most famous universities are e.g. Harvard, Yale University, Princeton University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.