Opening of the New Maple Bear Brno Bilingual Elementary School

The first Czech-Canadian elementary school, part of the world’s largest educational network, was officially opened on September 2, 2024, in Brno at Nová Zbrojovka. In this brand-new facility, we welcomed our first students and their parents.

Maple Bear Brno Bilingual Elementary School is located in one of the new buildings at Nová Zbrojovka. It is the first elementary school in the Czech Republic to join the largest and fastest-growing educational network in the world. Currently, Maple Bear operates over 610 schools in 39 countries, providing education to more than 60,000 students. Maple Bear schools are renowned for delivering the best of the Canadian educational system through a bilingual approach that combines Canadian and local curricula.

José Henrique del Castillo Melo, CEO of Maple Bear Global, explains: “The Maple Bear curriculum is designed to support every aspect of a child’s development—physical, intellectual, emotional, and social. Our goal is to equip students with the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

We are committed to delivering outstanding Canadian education in a bilingual environment for children in Brno, while expanding our network and upholding the highest educational standards across the Czech Republic and the region.”

"Canadian education consistently ranks among the top five in the world and is the highest-rated among English-speaking countries, as evidenced by PISA assessments conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). Maple Bear brings the excellence of the Canadian education system, blending proven Canadian teaching methods with local educational requirements,” says Jiří Zelenda, CEO of Maple Bear Czechia.

“What truly sets Maple Bear apart is our commitment to delivering world-class education. With over 150 Canadian educators actively involved in training our teachers and school staff worldwide, we are proud to offer one of the best educational programs available. Our programs are built on proven global practices, providing children with the key tools they need for success—developing critical thinking, creativity, and skills essential for their personal and academic growth,” adds Jiří Zelenda.

The grand opening on September 2 was a celebration attended not only by local officials but also by international guests and Maple Bear representatives from Canada. Special guests included José Henrique del Castillo Melo, CEO of Maple Bear Global, Yann Bidan, General Manager of Maple Bear CEE, Irena Korbabicz-Putko, Academic Director of Maple Bear CEE, Pavel Lekov, CFO of Vantage Best in Class, Petr Kunc, Mayor of the Brno-Židenice district, Štěpán Juránek, Deputy Mayor for Education, and other distinguished figures.

During the inauguration ceremony, Yann Bidan presented us with a certificate confirming full compliance with Maple Bear’s standards. This certification reflects not only the adequacy of classroom equipment and the availability of Canadian educational materials but, most importantly, the quality of education provided.