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How did you experience the year (and November) 1989, and what educational institution shaped you? These questions opened the panel discussion Crossroads of the Revolution, held on Sunday, November 17, at the Faculty of Education, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. The event offered reflections on the transformations of Czech education over the past 35 years. The discussion attracted around forty attendees to the lecture hall of the Faculty of Education, with additional viewers joining via live stream.

The Dean of the Faculty of Education, Pavel Mentlík, who moderated the event, emphasized at the outset the importance of the events of 1989 not only for Czech society but also for education. The panel discussion explored both the period before 1989 and the changes that followed. After the opening question, How did you experience November 1989?, the panelists delved into the former education system, highlighting its positives and negatives. Marek Adler, one of the panelists, pointed to the system's permeability and centralized management, particularly regarding the existence of standardized curricula. This sparked reactions from the audience: "It's interesting that Pilsen was liberated by the U.S. Army, yet we were taught otherwise in school," remarked one participant. Panelists confirmed that this discrepancy was common across other regions as well.

"It is essential to note that the title of this discussion, Crossroads of the Revolution, is truly fitting because it was indeed a major crossroads for education," said Jiří Zounek. "On the other hand, the Education Act from 1984 remained in force until 2004, with only amendments made in the 1990s. Some processes continued unchanged. However, what changed very quickly were school leadership and language instruction," Zounek added.

Another panelist, Ondřej Neumajer, stated: "The fundamental problem is that we lack a clearly defined vision of what a graduate of primary and secondary education should look like. As a result, we don't know what direction we want to take. This impacts our ability to foster citizens who actively participate in elections and responsibly choose leaders who can secure a sustainable future for our society."

The Crossroads of the Revolution panel discussion, organized by the Faculty of Education and the Department of Lifelong and Distance Learning as part of Pilsen's celebrations of the 35th anniversary of the Velvet Revolution, offered not only a retrospective look at the past but also a current perspective on the challenges facing Czech education. Photos from the event are available in the Faculty of Education's online gallery.

Panelists' Profiles

Mgr. Marek Adler
Mgr. Marek Adler, headmaster of the Be Open primary school in Prague's Hostavice district, is an educator focused on innovative teaching approaches and supporting the professional growth of teachers. He graduated in informatics and geography for secondary schools at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen. After a career in sports and marketing, working on projects for HC Plzeň 1929, the Czech Ice Hockey Association, and the Czech Paralympic Team, he entered education in 2015. Over time, he became a leader in integrating modern teaching methods and developing school teams. He also delivers webinars and seminars on using ICT in education, teacher collaboration, team teaching, and differentiation. Alongside his teaching practice, he produces the Education Mosaic podcast, which addresses current educational topics and challenges.

PhDr. Ondřej Neumajer, Ph.D.
PhDr. Ondřej Neumajer, Ph.D., is a Czech education expert and advocate for the purposeful use of digital technologies in schools. He has long focused on educational innovation and policy, holding positions within the Ministry of Education and the Research Institute of Education. He has been involved in major digital education projects such as Digital Teaching Materials, the RVP.CZ Methodological Portal, and the Czech Digital Education Strategy. For his work, he has received numerous awards, including recognition from the Česká spořitelna Foundation for advancing digital education. He currently leads the Digitalization in Education department at the National Pedagogical Institute of the Czech Republic and collaborates with the Teacher for Life nonprofit organization.

Doc. Mgr. Jiří Zounek, Ph.D.
Doc. Mgr. Jiří Zounek, Ph.D., is a prominent Czech educator and researcher specializing in the history of education in the 20th century and the use of digital technologies in teaching. Based at the Faculty of Arts at Masaryk University in Brno, he co-founded and supervises the Pedagogy with a Focus on Digital Technologies in Education (Digited) program, unique in the Czech Republic. This program reflects his vision for gradually innovating education in the digital age. Over the past decade, he has led or co-led several research and development projects. His work has been published in academic journals and presented at international conferences. He has co-authored books on ICT in primary schools, teachers and technology, mobile learning, and e-learning. Recently, Zounek published two books with international publisher Springer: Life and Learning of Digital Teens: Adolescents and Digital Technology in the Czech Republic (2022) and (Post)Socialist Transformation of Primary Schools: Processes, Stories, and Challenges in the Czech Republic (2024). His lecturing focuses on 3D printing and virtual reality.