The Czech Republic and Slovakia are located in central Europe. Both countries have placed a high value on education throughout much of their histories because of its importance to economic development. The region also has a long history of cultural, religious, and ethnic diversity and conflict, which has shaped the educational system. The former Czechoslovakia emerged from Soviet rule in 1989, and became the independent nations of the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993. Despite their separation, the two nations continue to share similarly modeled school systems and similar problems transitioning to a democratic and decentralized system. Early regional populations included the Celts and Germanic and Slavonic tribes, with the Slavs among the earliest groups to establish schools in the area. Byzantine missionaries and invading ...