Education Minister replaces Soc. Dem. deputy

Education Minister Josef Dobeš has replaced his deputy for general, specialised and other education for political reasons. Though a long time employee at the Education Ministry, the presence of Social Democrat Petr Špirhanzl in the Public Affairs minister’s inner circle was apparently criticised by both parties. Mr Špirhanzl will remain at the ministry in another position. The new deputy, Ladislav Němec, will be responsible for starting up state leaving exams, dealing with declining numbers of secondary school students and preparing new comparative exams for grades five through nine.