“In connection with some recent incidents, we also asked about the classroom atmosphere in the survey. According to nearly three quarters of teachers, it has worsened in recent years, including in terms of discipline and student motivation. A contributing factor is the deteriorating mental health of children, which 80 percent of teachers consider a problem. Half of the teachers also still observe the effects of school closures during COVID on their students,” said Radek Schich, director of GTS Alive.

Only one fifth of teachers agree with the statement that students are basically the same as when they themselves were in school; three quarters do not think so. Perhaps all of the above contributes to the fact that only about one third of teachers feel highly motivated in their work this school year. In Slovakia, however, the situation is even worse, with only 27 percent of teachers feeling motivated.

The survey also asked elementary school teachers about assigning homework. 70 percent are in favor, 20 percent against. Secondary school teachers, on the other hand, commented on the topic of state graduation exams and unified entrance exams (JPZ). The current form of state graduation exams is viewed positively by 41 percent of teachers, negatively by 45 percent, and the rest are undecided. For JPZ, the result differs only slightly, but a positive view narrowly prevails, shared by 44 percent of teachers.

Teachers also generally view their school leadership favorably. According to nearly two-thirds of them, the school is managed well by the principal. Less than a fifth disagree, and the rest are unsure. Nearly three-quarters of teachers also say that in difficult situations, they receive sufficient support from school leadership.

However, more than 10 percent of teachers say that during a typical school year, there is not a single classroom observation by school leadership in their lessons. For over a third of teachers, such an observation occurs once; for 30 percent, it happens twice.

And how do beginning teachers—those with less than three years of experience—see their situation? The good news is: quite positively. The vast majority say they feel considerable or strong support from school leadership and colleagues. Their work motivation this school year is also much higher than that of their more experienced peers.

If they do have criticisms, they point to paperwork and bureaucracy, a certain lack of respect from some parents and students towards them as novice teachers, or a reluctance by some colleagues to use modern digital technologies. They also mention a number of unpaid tasks beyond regular teaching, such as hallway or cafeteria supervision. But the actual work with students is something they overwhelmingly enjoy.

The survey was conducted in November and December 2024 among 2,393 elementary and secondary school teachers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. In the Czech Republic, the survey was conducted by GTS Alive, the issuer of ISIC and ITIC cards. In Slovakia, it was carried out by CKM SYTS, also an issuer of ISIC and ITIC cards.

Notes for editors:

GTS Alive s.r.o. in the Czech Republic issues and manages ISIC student cards and ISIC Scholar pupil cards, ITIC teacher cards, and, to a lesser extent, other cards. The company was founded in August 2000. Its predecessor in the Czech Republic was GTS International. GTS Alive s.r.o. is part of the international GTS Alive Group, headquartered in Prague, with branches in seventeen countries on four continents.

GTS Alive organizes a large professional conference for school principals called Alive Forum once a year.

GTS Alive, through the ISIC PORT chip identification system, also provides many elementary and secondary schools with secure access to their buildings and an electronic attendance system. The company also facilitates travel or accident insurance for students.

For more information, contact:

Jan Šimral, media representative of GTS Alive
Tel.: +420 737 944 370
E-mail: info@jansimral.com