Czech Comparative Education: Revitalization, Issues and Trends

Comparative education is deeply embedded in the Czech education tradition. Its development has primarily joined with the effort to improve national education. In every period the state of the field was interdependent with the social situation and political orientation of the country. A revival in the 1990s was challenged by a social and political shift. Now comparative education is a constituted field developing with increasing relevance for educational policy and practice. By descriptions, explorations and interpretations, comparative education helps to understand the substance of the world of education in its diversities and similarities. However, there are some weak points. Comparative education is taught at universities, but it is not a degree specialization. Comparative research is performed in various institutional frameworks primarily designated for other purposes. Contributions to the international community are limited by the Czech language of the most produced publications. To steer activities, to develop the theoretical and methodological discourse, to encourage young scholars to participate in comparative research, and to be more visible internationally are challenges for the future development of Czech comparative education.