The minister opened a new elementary school Povážská in Strakonice

project: AR18 - German Žilka architects

Strakonice - Adapting the education model in elementary and secondary schools to the demographic curve is one of the main tasks for the coming years. Minister of Education Petr Fiala said this today as he officially opened the Povážská Elementary School in Strakonice. The cost of building the facility for 500 children was approximately 350 million crowns, funded by the city.
     About 300 students now attend the modern facility with a gym and a rooftop playground. There are two classes in each grade. According to nationwide statistics, the number of students is gradually increasing. "That is why I hope that schools will not remain empty. But we need to think carefully about where and how to develop opportunities for school attendance," Fiala said. "This year, more students are entering elementary school, but fewer students are coming to secondary schools. These are the facts we must work with and adjust our education system accordingly," he stated.
     The first part of the Povážská Elementary School has been in operation since last September. In the previous school year, it was attended by about 180 first-grade students. Now, 130 children from higher grades have joined. "It is a modern facility with equipped sports areas. Whether I like it is not that important. What matters is that the school appeals to the students and teachers," Fiala told journalists. He chose to visit Strakonice today for a simple reason. According to him, there are not many newly built elementary schools in the Czech Republic right now.
     The new facility on Povážská Street replaced an outdated wooden school. The construction, which lasted nearly three years, was initially accompanied by protests from local residents for various reasons. "But I am convinced that a new school was indeed needed here," said Strakonice Mayor Pavel Vondrys (Assurance for Strakonice) to ČTK.
     This year, approximately 6,100 first graders have started school in the South Bohemia Region, which is a comparable figure to last year. This year, 50,500 students will attend elementary schools in the region. Last school year, that number was 50,200. In South Bohemia, 29,250 students will attend secondary schools this year, which is 2,250 fewer than last year.