EN
The contribution gives account of selected conclusions of a longitudinal research carried out in 2007 to 2009, focusing on the choice of further educational pathways with lower secondary school pupils. Many experts have pointed out that pubescents are not mature enough to make a responsible choice. In view of the characteristics of the Czech educational system, the decision-making process is very difficult, with a number of critical moments. The main objective of this article is to describe the process of choosing the educational pathway a pupil is going through between lower and upper secondary education. A seven-phase-model of the decision-making process is identified, as is the timing of some of the involved aspects and the pupil’s attitudes to the choice of their further educational pathways.