What the Czech Republic will look like in ten or twenty years is being shaped today in primary and secondary schools. The Construction Literacy program (StaGram), created on the initiative of the National Centre for Construction 4.0, focuses on this crucial window of time when interest in technical fields is either formed or lost — the upper grades of primary schools and grammar schools. The second year of the program has now finished, and the collected data shows it can shift students’ perception of construction as a modern, technology-driven field.
Students are changing their view of construction
Over the past two years, more than ten thousand pupils and students have taken part in the program. Of these, 3,550 went through the workshop alone. Thanks to the second year, we now have survey results from 1,292 students. As in 2024, the data confirms that some students are already interested in construction and see it as a possible career path — 11.7%. For 40% of students, taking part in the program may change their view or help them decide in favor of the construction field (“Yes, the lecture made me start thinking about it” / “I don’t know, I’d need more information”). These are the students the program focuses on — it aims to give them information, inspiration, and a realistic view of construction as a field with a strong future.
Today’s students will be the ones building new nuclear sources and high-speed rail lines
The results of the second program year were presented on 11 December at a meeting of partners of the National Centre for Construction 4.0 (NCS 4.0) by Tadeáš Salaba, founder of the TECH Republic initiative, which supports technical education. After the Energy, Technology, and Climate Literacy programs, Construction Literacy is the fourth and youngest project added to the portfolio promoting technical fields, this time focusing on construction and architecture.
“There’s a huge shortage of technicians. But technology is part of our world, and we need to be ready for this major shift,” says Tadeáš Salaba.
According to Radoslav Sovják, director of the National Centre for Construction 4.0, the future of key infrastructure projects literally rests on today’s students: “Primary school pupils don’t know much about construction yet, but they’ll be the ones who eventually build new nuclear sources, high-speed rail lines, and affordable housing.”
Why the program works: students teach students
StaGram is built on a simple but effective idea: children hear about construction from university students only a few years older, who study the field themselves. It’s not a company presentation or a marketing event, but an open and authentic conversation about what construction work really involves.
The program runs under the patronage of the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Ministry for Regional Development, and the Ministry of Education. It collaborates with six universities across the Czech Republic:
• Faculty of Civil Engineering, CTU in Prague
• Faculty of Civil Engineering, Brno University of Technology
• Faculty of Art and Architecture, Technical University of Liberec
• Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of West Bohemia in Pilsen
• Faculty of Forestry and Wood Technology, Mendel University
• Faculty of Civil Engineering, VSB–Technical University of Ostrava
Industry pulls together
StaGram also stands on strong support from companies in the field. They see the imbalance in the labor market and are actively involved in addressing it. Ivana Kolářová, representative of OHLA ŽS, the program’s gold partner, says:
“We see this partnership as an important and necessary investment in the future of construction. I believe I can speak for all partners when I say that together we’ve created something more than just a project. We’ve created a space that connects quality, expertise, and innovation in construction, while also building a community of people who approach their work with passion. This isn’t just another marketing activity, but a clear message from today’s builders to future generations about how we see the field we love — with all its highs and lows. We’re glad to be there when young people discover what this field is really about.”
Program partners for 2025
• Gold partner:
OHLA ŽS
• Silver partners:
STRABAG, Metrostav, Hochtief, Swietelsky
• Bronze partners:
Wienerberger, Valbek EU, ŘSD, Penta Real Estate
• Supporters:
Road Construction Association, Sudop Group
