Vladimír Vaněk

Resume:

One of the current educational issues is educating the gifted. Gifted students belong to students with special needs. Their characteristics challenge the teachers at school. It is very difficult to follow their educational and emotional needs and sometimes it exceeds the possibilities of teachers. This applies also to a special group of gifted students – mathematically gifted.

The history of gifted education in our country is very diverse. Since 1974 mathematically gifted students can choose to enter mathematical classes (secondary education). The conditions have changed several times during the existence of the classes. Some of the changes were helpful some not. Nowadays situation is getting worse and there is no hope to improve this.

Today’s situation:

• too many students in a class;
• no talent entrance exams in advance;
• no interest of Ministry of Education;
• decrease of number of mathematical classes at secondary schools;
• decrease of number of lessons therefore narrowing of the curriculum amount;
• lack of special educational texts for these students;
• worse cooperation with universities;
• no opportunity for gaining a scholarship;
• lack of special teaching methods applied at schools.

The dissertation project is a continuation of my diploma project which was also focused on the topic of education of mathematically gifted students in the Czech Republic – ”The Care of talents in mathematical classes at gymnasiums”. The dissertation project tries to find a solution of the above mentioned problems and to contribute to the undergraduate preparation of teachers, who could identify and form the talent of their students.