The extraordinary government measures in response to the spreading coronavirus have far-reaching impacts on the Czech education system. More than 1.6 million Czech students and 160,000 teachers had to suddenly deal with closed schools, leading many to explore education in a purely online format.
Ondřej Kania, the founder of American Academy schools, was able to smoothly transition his schools to an online mode due to prior experience. After nearly a week of operation, he claims that the new method, in collaboration with the group Česko.Digital led by Jakub Nešetřil, offers rapid assistance to other schools.
„Some schools are currently providing students with textbook pages for the whole week via email, and when they return, they are expected to take a test based on that material,“ Kania told CzechCrunch, emphasizing that this approach is unsustainable in the long term.
To address this issue, the twenty-seven-year-old entrepreneur, who owns the educational company JK Education, launched a website called Virtual School to help other schools and their directors implement Google Classroom tools systematically. Over the weekend, schools can register for assistance, and on Monday and Tuesday, training sessions will be conducted by experts from Česko.Digital in Prague and Brno, with further guidance and resources being added to the website.
Kania’s Bratislava school shifted to a complete online mode on Monday, while those in Prague and Brno followed suit on Wednesday. Leveraging Google Classroom, which his schools already used in regular operations, facilitated a seamless transition. The advantages of Google’s solution are evident as it can effectively transition an entire school to an online mode, including teaching and organizational aspects inherent to educational institutions.
According to Kania, the key to success lies in organized implementation, as opposed to individual teachers using disparate methods. Through Google Classroom, he identified students struggling with time management, highlighting the platform’s ability to provide insights for improvement.
The current situation is unprecedented for all, and Kania commends the dedication of teachers, noting their increased efforts and commitment. He envisions a potential positive outcome from the school closures, suggesting that some schools may discover the feasibility of reducing in-person classes to 3-4 days a week in the future.
In response to the educational disruption, the Ministry of Education is also taking steps to address the issue. They have launched a new project called #NaDálku, providing guidance for teachers on specific tools and strategies for online pedagogy. Additionally, next week, Czech Television will introduce a program called UčíTelka, offering daily educational content for students on ČT2, with an interactive format allowing students to engage and ask questions via chat.
Overall, the shift to online education in Czech schools presents challenges but also opportunities for innovation and improvement in the education system. Collaboration, adaptability, and effective use of digital tools will be crucial in navigating these unprecedented times and shaping the future of education.