The Czech Social Democratic candidate for the post of Education Minister, according to new information from the party leadership, is Kateřina Valachová. Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka was scheduled to inform President Miloš Zeman about his chosen nominee yesterday.
Valachová (age 38) is currently Deputy Human Rights Minister. From her public appearances it can be assumed that she supports inclusive education, i.e., the incorporation of disadvantaged children, including Romani children, into mainstream education.
She has previously worked for the Office of the Czech Senate, for the Public Defender of Rights (the ombud), and for the City of Brno. She graduated in law from Masaryk University in Brno in 2001 and completed the doctoral program in administrative law there in 2006.
Since February 2014 she has worked as a deputy to Czech Minister for Human Rights, Equal Opportunities and Legislation Jiří Dienstbier and as director of the Government’s Legislative Council Section. She specializes in administrative and Constitutional law.
Earlier this year Valachová was appointed to the selection commission tasked with choosing a deputy minister for the civil service agenda. In her role as deputy she also contributed to drafting the country’s new law on civil service.
From 2004-2014 she was a member of the Czech Government Human Rights Council’s committee. She was also an external instructor from 2006-2014 at the Law Department of Masaryk University and speaks English and German.
