Geografie 2011, 116, 300-316

https://doi.org/10.37040/geografie2011116030300

Changes in the Accessibility of Elementary Schools in Czechia as a Factor of Disadvantage Impacting Regions and Localities

Silvie Kučerová1, Tomáš Mattern2, Přemysl Štych2, Zdeněk Kučera1

1Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Přírodovědecká fakulta, katedra sociální geografie a regionálního rozvoje, Albertov 6, 128 43, Praha 2, Czechia
2Univerzita Karlova v Praze, Přírodovědecká fakulta, katedra aplikované geoinformatiky a kartografie, Albertov 6, 128 43, Praha 2, Czechia

Received February 2011
Accepted June 2011

The aim of the article is to identify changes in the distance and time accessibility of elementary schools in Czechia, during the second half of the twentieth century, using geo-informational analytical methods. to the article focuses particularly on quality of life in disadvantaged, peripheral areas. The elementary school network has been changing, in accordance with general changes in the geographical organization of society and school catchment areas have been expanding due to improved transportation possibilities. The second part of the article addresses the impact of changes in elementary school accessibility on life in rural peripheral regions, utilizing in-depth interviews with inhabitants from six case study localities, where local schools were closed, during the observed period. The article introduces a classification of forms of disadvantage, affecting regions and localities and resulting from spatial inequalities in the distribution of elementary schools.

References

46 live references