On 28 October 2026 President Petr Pavel awarded the Medal of Merit to teacher Sylva Knedlová, the longest-serving teacher in the Czech Republic.

Image from the publication Blesk.cz
Image from the publication Blesk.cz

On 28 October 2026, on the occasion of the state holiday, President Petr Pavel awarded the Medal of Merit to Sylva Knedlová for services to the state in the field of education and schooling. Knedlová, who is 92 and was born in 1934 in Zlín, taught for more than seventy years.[1][2]

According to Seznam Zprávy, she spent 73 years at the teacher's desk and ended her teaching career in 2025. In 2022 she became the longest-serving teacher in the Czech Republic. She taught physical education, Czech and other subjects, and in 2010 the Ministry of Education honoured her for her teaching work.[1][2]

Knedlová is also active in local politics. She has sat on the town council of Fryšták since 1990 and this year defended her seat for ODS, which according to Seznam Zprávy made her the oldest elected councillor in the Czech Republic.[2]

Chronology

  • — President Petr Pavel awarded the Medal of Merit on the 28 October state holiday to teacher Sylva Knedlová, the longest-serving teacher in the Czech Republic. Blesk.cz Seznam Zprávy

Sources

  1. Blesk.cz
  2. Seznam Zprávy