How is your Education System structured?

[Republic of Europe]

Hey all, just kind of wondering, how is the education system in your country? Feel free to describe it and don't be afraid to rate the other ones!
This is mine, I'll finish it within this week:
https://www.nationstates.net/nation=rep ... /id=970953

[Radiatia]

There is no single education system in Radiatia - there are various education systems set by state governments and in many cases by local authorities.

Usually there are three levels of education - primary, secondary and tertiary.

There are only two federal level standards: The first is the Federal Education Standard (FES), a nationwide exam that is undertaken in secondary school by 16 year olds.

All schools must teach students what is required to pass the FES, although there is absolutely no regulation on how the school system is structured or how they reach the target, just as long as they do. Federally this is considered the most basic level qualification and is recognised in all states.

The other federal standard is the Federal Tertiary Entrance Requirement (FTER), which is an optional test done by students when they turn 18 years old, and which entitles them to entry at any university across the nation, rather than being limited merely to their home state as is the usual practice.

It also entitles them to take out a federally funded student loan and students whose grades are in the top 5% will be awarded full fees payments by the federal government.

[Socialist Union Of Deutschland]

In the Socialist Union, there are three levels of Education: Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary. Grades are classified for only Primary and Secondary Schools. Grade levels and positions are normally based off of age. The age does not have to be completely accurate due to when some students' birthdays are, students who start school late, or students who are held back due to very low academic results. The first grade is Kindergarten, and the final grade is the 13th grade.

Kindergarten - 5 years of age
1st grade - 6 years of age
2nd grade - 7 years of age
3rd grade - 8 years of age
4th grade - 9 years of age
5th grade - 10 years of age
6th grade - 11 years of age
7th grade - 12 years of age
8th grade - 13 years of age
9th grade - 14 years of age
10th grade - 15 years of age
11th grade - 16 years of age
12th grade - 17 years of age
13th grade - 18 years of age

Education is mandatory from the Kindergarten to the 8th grade for all students, except students who have special disabilities. Most classroom sizes for Primary and Secondary schools are on average of 15 to 25 students. Tertiary schools sometimes has the same size. Many class sizes for Tertiary schools, especially universities, may have up to over 300 students for a class size.

Primary: Primary School is from Kindergarten to the 5th grade. In some areas of the Socialist Union, it is up to the 6th grade. Primary School teaches students basic life talents, reading talents, general history and science, and other basic techniques that students must know in their lives, so that they can be productive people in the Socialist Union. Primary School determines what level of Secondary School that students go to. Academic results are recorded starting in the 3rd grade, and are recorded up to the last day of Primary School. These academic results determine what level of Secondary School students go to.

Secondary: Secondary School has three levels within: Comprehensive, Advanced, and Gymnasium.

Comprehensive: Comprehensive School is from 5th or 6th grade, to the 8th grade. Comprehensive is the lowest level of Secondary Education. Comprehensive School does not record academic levels of students from Primary School, unlike Advanced Schools and Gymnasiums. Comprehensive School mostly teaches other basic life talents such as sexual education, tools and basic machinery, craftsmen talents, general physical being, or art. Students in this level cannot be promoted to Advanced Schools, nor Gymnasia. Once students complete the 8th grade, they get their Grade School Certificate.

Advanced: Advanced School is from 5th or 6th grade, to the 12th grade. Advanced is the intermediate level of Secondary Education. Students who drop out of Advanced School at the 8th grade or before, are sent to Comprehensive School. Students who drop out in the 9th grade or after, get their Grade School Certificate. Advanced Schools make it much easier for students to enter Tertiary Schools. Advanced Schools teach everything Comprehensive Schools teach, but at a higher, faster rate. Advanced Schools also teach advanced math such as Algebra, Trigonometry, or Geometry. Advanced Schools also teach various needed talents for society such as physical therapy, chemistry, physics, or forensics. Once students complete the 12th grade, they get their Secondary Grade School Certificate. If students have advanced academic results in Advanced School before they graduate, they may get promoted to Gymnasium schools, unlike students who are in Comprehensive Schools.

Gymnasium: Gymnasia are from 5th or 6th grade, to the 13th grade. Gymnasium is the highest level of Secondary Education. Students who drop out of Gymnasium schools can continue their education in the intermediate Advanced Schools. Or, once they are past the 8th grade, they can get their Grade School Certificate. If they are in the 8th grade or before, another option is to go to the lowest level - the Comprehensive level. Students may decide themselves. Gymnasia prepares students for Tertiary Education on an advanced level. Many students who are in Gymnasia usually become doctors, dentists, surgeons, scientists, professors, or chemists. Some students who attend Gymnasium who complete the 13th grade, may have more chances graduating Tertiary school earlier.

Tertiary: Tertiary is the final main level of Education in the Socialist Union. Only students who graduated from the Advanced level of Secondary Education, or students from Gymnasia can attend Tertiary schools. Most Tertiary schools are larger universities, but some are community colleges. Community colleges tend to be more local, while larger universities tend to be very large, usually consisting of over 80 buildings. Universities offer students their own studio rooms to live in while they are attending, and do not have to work unless if they want to. Studio rooms contain their own kitchens, bathrooms with showers, and closets. Students who graduate from Tertiary schools get Academic Degrees. There are separate schools within the Tertiary level, such as Nursing Schools, Dentistry Schools, or Welding Schools. Their degrees are not classified in the Tertiary's hierarchy. There are Five Degree levels for Tertiary Education: First, Second, Third, Doctorate, and Post-Doctorate.

First: The entry level of academic degrees. Some occupations that require only a First Degree in the Socialist Union are data entry clerks, assistant architects, assistant engineers, graphic designers, or medical computer data workers. Community Colleges do Not offer degrees past this level, and students who desire to continue their education must go to an University.

Second: This is the second level of academic degrees. Some occupations that require a Second Degree in the Socialist Union are engineers, architects, teachers, web developers, or computer programmers.

Third: This is the third, and intermediate level of academic degrees. Some occupations that require a Third Degree in the Socialist Union are senior engineers, senior workplace coordinators, automotive engineers, dental hygienists, or rocket scientists.

Doctorate: This is the fourth level of academic degrees. Some occupations that require a Doctorates in the Socialist Union are doctors, dentists, surgeons, academic professors, general researchers, or senior web developers.

Post-Doctorate: This is the Highest level of academic degrees. Most occupations that require a degree do not require a Post-Doctorate. However, some occupations that may require a Post-Doctorate are neurosurgeons, anesthesiologists, advanced scientific researchers, or orthodontists.

There are other Educational facilities that may be needed for many people in the Socialist Union. There are driving schools, which first accept students at the age of 14 years. There are Vocational Schools, Liberal Arts Schools, Trucking Schools, and Exclusive State Schools, which accept students with special conditions, so that they can get the special individual attention they may need. There are a lot of apprenticeships. There are even educational programs in the Military.

[Midand]

Midand has a well funded education system, and it's managed by the Midand Education Ministry (MEM).
Schools are ranked by levels based on how strict, prestigious, and higher level schools receive more funding.
Level 1-3 School - All kids are allowed to enroll, with all the minimum requirements for education met.
Level 4-6 School - Slightly harder to get into with a lower acceptance rate, these receive higher funding and have more requirements set.
Level 7-8 School - Low acceptance rate, and have very good funding and have a wider curriculum.
Level 9-10 School - Highest level of schools in the nation, they receive a lot of funding and cover many subjects, as well as being strict and enforcing many education requirements and a code of conduct.

Preschool is REQUIRED for kids to enter schools Level 7 and above.

The age to enter a school is 4, at Kindergarten and goes all the way to Grade 14.
King. - Grade 7: Primary School
Grade 8-10: Junior High
Grade 11-14: Secondary

Mandatory testing is enforced in the nation, with massive exams at certain grades. These tests decide how the child is doing and if he/she needs extra help.
Testing comes at these grades:
Grade 1
Grade 4
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 14

The MEM also employs a number grade rather than a letter grade system, on a system of 1-10, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest.

[FreedLymonia]

Completely privatized

[Xmara]

Xmara employs both private and public schools, though they are for the most part, structured similarly. School is from Monday to Friday, and is from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, in spring, summer, and fall (winters in Xmara are very harsh, making it too dangerous for children to go to school in the winter). School lasts from September 1 to June 1 (since Xmara is in the Southern Hemisphere, winter is in June, July, and August). School is compulsory all the way through grade 12.

Preschool
Preschool is compulsory in Xmara and children are enrolled at the age of 4 (provided that they turned 4 before September 1 of that school year; if not then they have to wait until next year). Preschoolers learn their ABCs, numbers, colors, shapes, and how to read and write. Art and music classes are also part of the curriculum.

Kindergarten
After preschool, Xmaranese children are enrolled in kindergarten. Kindergarteners learn basic arithmetic, more advanced reading skills, and also begin to learn other school subjects such as science and history. Art and music continue to be part of the curriculum. While technically not recognized as part of primary school, most kindergartens are housed in the same buildings as primary schools.

Primary School
Primary school consists of grades 1 to 6. In addition to language arts, arithmetic, science, history, art, and music, physical education and geography are also required of students. Primary school students also get the opportunity to compete in the national spelling bee and national science fair, and some primary schools offer sports teams for children to participate in.

Intermediate School
Intermediate school consists of grades 7 and 8. The same courses required in primary school are also required in intermediate school. While intermediate school students cannot participate in the spelling bee, they can still participate in the science fair and, in addition to sports teams, can also join after school clubs.

Secondary School
Secondary school consists of grades 9 to 12. Art, music, and geography are no longer required of students, but they can still take those classes as electives. Numerous clubs and sports are offered to most secondary school students, along with the opportunity to compete in the national science fair.

Higher Education
There are many options for students once they complete secondary school. The most popular options are:
University
Community college
Career center
Military academy

[Stroulia]

Education in Stroulia is divided up as so:

Early Education

• Preschool
• Kindergarten

Primary

• Grade 1
• Grade 2
• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Grade 6

Secondary

• Grade 7
• Grade 8
• Grade 9
• Grade 10
• Grade 11
• Grade 12

Tertiary/College Level

• Associate's Degree
• Bachelor's Degree
• Master's Degree
• Doctorate

Education is entirely government funded, including student tuition, however living on campus does require individual payment for a person's living quarters.

[Kenmoria]

The education system in Kenmoria is completely privatised and the structure is left up to the company running the school.

[Arthropol]

Removed for retcon purposes (2019-08-01)

[Klemantan-Borneo]

The Carlsvadian Education System is based on the Anglo-Saxon Educational System where it's divided onto three categories which are Primary Level, Secondary Level(Junior and Senior High) and finally Tertiary level. After completing their secondary level, an individual may continue to the tertiary level or the vocational level which they would undergo an apprenticeship under various trade schools.

Current Structure of the Carlsvadian Education System:

Primary Level

Primary School
Age:6-12
Compulsory to all
Year 1 to Year 7
Subjects:-
Carlsvad German(Carlsvads-Hochdeutsch)
Standard German(Hochdeutsch)
French(Le français standard)
Mathematics
English
History
Science
Geography
Arts

Secondary Level

Junior High
Age:13-15
Compulsory to All
Year 8 to Year 10
Student's may choose the subject they like or would like to take.
Subjects:-
-Basic Chemistry*
-Basic Physics*
-Basic Biology*
-Basic Literature
-Basic Philosophy*
-Basic Psychology*
-Basic Sociology*
-Mathematics*
-Dutch*
-Carlsvad German(Carlsvads-Hochdeutsch)*
-Standard German(Hochdeutsch)*
-French(Le français standard)*
-English*
-Basic World History*
-Geography*
-Arts*

Senior High
Age:16-17
Compulsory to All
Year 11 to Year 12
Student's may choose the subject they like or would like to take.At the age of 17,student's will sit for their G.H.C.E or General High Common Entrance(G.H.C.E) which is equivalent to GCE A-Levels or a High School Diploma. Upon attaining a GHCE certificate, students may pursue their undergraduate studies in the areas of their interest under various universities, locally or internationally.
Subjects:-
-Advanced Mathematics*
-Advanced Chemistry*
-Advanced Physics*
-Advanced Biology*
-Advanced World History*
-Advanced Geography*
-Advanced Arts Studies*
-Advanced Dutch*
-Advanced Carlsvad German(Carlsvads-Hochdeutsch)**
-Advanced Standard German(Hochdeutsch)*
-Advanced French(Le français standard)*
-Advanced English*
-Advanced French*
-Foreign Language(s)*
-Basic Accounting*
-Basic Health Science*
-Basic Sports Science*
-Computer Programming*
-Basic Engineering*
-Literature*
-Philosophy*
-Psychology*
-Sociology*

*-Optional Subjects
*-Foreign Language(s):-
-Standard Arabic
-Standard Spanish
-Standard Portuguese
-Standard Russian
-Standard Latin

Tertiary

University
Age:17>
Optional

Undergraduate Studies
Diploma
Bachelor's Degree

Postgraduate Studies
Master's Degree
Doctorate

Trade School
Age:17>
Duration: 3 - 5 years Apprenticeship
Certification
Diploma

[Hammer Britannia]

We don't need no education

[Imperial States America]

First off only the wealthy elite may send there kids to the best schools in the country the elite however can fill out exemption forms to have their daughters continue their education after middle school since the rest of the country is not so lucky. The daughters of regular people are forbidden from attending school after middle school and even in what little education they do get they learn only how to be good obedient, submissive citizens and the learn how to cook and clean and take care of kids nothing more. The males of the lesser classes can continue to high school as well as one of the few local colleges run by the Imperial government but they only learn about the history of the ISA, the Royal Family, why society is the way it is, all to indoctrinate them into loyal citizens. The children of the poor classes can only go to elementary school under a government program since school is super expensive once there they only learn basic numbers, English, shapes, colors and any basic functions to properly function in society. After school most kids of the lesser and poor classes will be assigned jobs which they must do for the rest of their lives the poor do manual labor jobs and those such as dealing with bodily excrements the males of the lesser classes get assigned jobs such as merchants, shop owners, general business people, and most are assigned to serve in the Imperial Military. The kids of the wealthy elite get the high paying good jobs such as politicians, government reps, military hierarchy, and other jobs.

[Halfblakistan]

https://www.nationstates.net/nation=halfblakistan/detail=factbook/id=972063

[Jeltronia]

Early childhood education
Pre-Kindergarten (ages 3–5)
Kindergarten (ages 5–6)

Elementary education
Grade 1 (ages 6–7)
Grade 2 (ages 7–8)
Grade 3 (ages 8–9)
Grade 4 (ages 9–10)
Grade 5 (ages 10–11)
Grade 6 (ages 11–12)
Grade 7 (ages 12–13)
Grade 8 (ages 13–14)

Secondary education
Grade 9 (ages 14–15)
Grade 10 (ages 15–16)
Grade 11 (ages 16–17)
Grade 12 (ages 17–18)

Tertiary education
College
University
Graduate school

[Nui-ta]

Pre-School

Pre-school education is entirely optional, although the Ministry of Education does have guidelines for the curriculae of private institutions which offer a pre-school level of education to students. Because pre-schooling is entirely privatized, programs vary greatly.

On average, however, most pre-schools admit students from ages 3 to 4. Concepts usually cover the basics of reading, writing, and mathematical concepts (like number sense). Basic behavioral concepts are also taught (standard use of honorifics, interpersonal behaviors, the concept of "authority"), so that pre-school students have an easier time adjusting to their entrance into primary school.

Primary School

Primary school lasts from ages four to thirteen, and is the first level of school which is actually mandatory. Nui-ta recently overhauled its exit examinations for primary school, releasing a new exam called the PLCB, standing for "Primary Level Completion Battery". Completion of the PLCB is required for entrance into secondary school. It is also required as a very basic requirement for all but the most menial of jobs.

There are both private and public facilities for primary schools. Public facilities are taxpayer funded, with things like admission, textbook, uniform, and meal costs being covered by the government. While all primary schools are required to teach enough material to cover the contents of the PLCB, most public schools don't go much farther in the scope of their curriculum. Private facilities have much less government funding, with families being personally responsible for all costs: the benefit of most of these institutions, however, is advanced preparation for secondary school material --- this is often seen as a leg up for families who want to get their children into the best secondary schools possible.

Primary school grades are as follows:

• Year 1(Age 4-5)
• Year 2(Age 5-6)
• Year 3(Age 6-7)
• Year 4(Age 7-8)
• Year 5(Age 8-9)
• Year 6(Age 9-10)
• Year 7(Age 10-11)
• Year 8(Age 11-12)
• Year 9(Age 12-13)

Secondary School

Secondary school is very diversified in Nui-ta, with the focus of schools varying greatly based on "track". There are four tracks of education for secondary schools in Nui-ta: academic, military, trade, and religious. If you pass primary school, you must attend secondary school until you either graduate or drop out (after age 16).

Regardless of track, secondary school lasts from 13-16 and covers the following years:

• Year 10(Age 13-14)
• Year 11(Age 14-15)
• Year 12(Age 15-16)

Academic track schools are similar to most high schools in other nations, they cover more advanced courses of math, literature, history, and the sciences. Their main objective is to prepare students to take tertiary (college) entrance exams. Nearly all secondary schools of this track are private, and most charge families for their services.

In the process, they also prepare students for the NSETs, which are general secondary-level exit exams, functioning like a real-world United States G.E.D. Successful completion of the NSETs will usually complete a requirement for clerical or factory jobs that don't require an advanced degree or additional education. ALL tracks are supposed to teach enough to prepare a person for the NSETs.

Military schools are, surprisingly, a lot like academic schools, with only a few minor differences. For starters, military secondary schools are nearly all publicly funded. Conscription is active in Nui-ta, so the logic is that students essentially pay for their admission through the conscription terms they are expected to fulfill later in their lives. There is less of an emphasis on preparing the student for college admissions, but several military schools are still quite good at this, and see many of their students go into a college program of some sort. They also by and large see great pass rates of the NSETs.

Trade schools are really more oriented to preparing students for apprenticeships to applied trades such as electrical work or manufacturing. They are usually also pretty good about getting students to pass NSETs.

Finally, there's religious track, which prepares students who want to go into the clergy --- this is sometimes seen as a last resort for people with no other academic future. Most of these students can't pass NSETs, but they don't really need to, so...

Tertiary School

This is the collegiate level --- runs a lot like you expect it too, and isn't mandatory.

[Great Nortend]

Schooling in Nortend is highly rigorous, with a strong focus on four subjects: English, Latin, History and Mathematics. The state system and the independent sector differ in particulars, howevere there are generally two schooling levels: primary and secondary. The academic year has three terms: Summer, Easter and Michaelmas. The school day varies, especially as many schools are boarding, but as a general rule, school starts at 7·00 and ends at 13·30. Day and mixed schools run from Monday to Friday, whilst all-boarding schools typically have a half-day on Monday and an extra half-day on Saturday.

STATE SCHOOLS
Primary schooling starts at the age of five at a junior school, which is typically mixed-sex. Going from Infants, Bottom Junior, Second Junior, Third Junior, Fourth Junior, Fifth Junior to Top Junior (Reception to Year 6), pupils are taught addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, history, geography, grammar, rhetoric, poetry and other basic subjects. The teaching of Latin commences in Third Junior (Year 3). Pupils move to senior school at the age of 12.

Secondary schooling starts after Top Junior at a senior school usually at the age of 12, in First Form. Senior school teaches pupils advanced subjects such as algebra, trigonometry, calculus, more history, more geography, literature analysis, &c. This is also when most boys' schools start cadets. Cadets is usually compulsory up to Third Form, though it usually can be continued afterwards. Girls may conclude their studies at the end of the Third Form, though many do not. At the end of Third Form, pupils choose supplementary subjects for the General Examination. These are:

Additional Latin
French
German
Mathematics II
Chemistry
Physics
Biology
Theology/Divinity
Geography
History
Art and Design
Music*
Housewifery

* Music assessment is conducted by the Royal Music College.

English, Mathematics I, Latin and History, as well as supplementaries, are studied for two years. At the end of the Fifth Form, the General Examination is held in state schools and some public and independent. This assesses pupils in English (Comprehension, Spelling and Writing), Mathematics (Algebra, Calculus, Trigonometry, Indices, Fractions, Reductions, Operations &c), Latin (Reading and Writing), and History (Knowledge of), as well as any supplementary subjects the pupil has chosen to undertake. Pupils who do not pass in at least two of the compulsory subject fail. Girls conclude their studies here whilst boys wishing to attend university will continue for another two years in the Lower and Upper Sixth Forms.

INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS
The Independent and public schools run a similar system of Junior School and Senior School but with some major differences. Some Independent school pupils go to a state junior school however many go to private preparatory schools. Girls' preparatory schools start at Infants (age 5) and end at Top Junior (age 10) whilst boys' preparatory schools start at Lower First (age and end at Lower Third (age 11). Thus, boys will often go to a pre-preparatory school for their first three years of education, from the age of 5 at Infants, to Bottom Junior and to Top Junior, before starting at a preparatory school. Some older boys' independent schools start at the age of 10 as well and hence boys' sometimes leave at Lower Second.

Girls' independent senior schools begin at the age of 11 and follow a standard First Form, Second Form &c. structure, ending at the Upper Sixth Form, the equivalent of Fifth Form in the state system.

On the other hand, boys' independent and public schools follow a variety of different structures. Many schools will start in Upper Third and progress all the way to Upper Sixth. Older schools start in Third Form (or Form III as it is more commonly known), progress to Fourth Form, then to Remove, Fifth Form and then Lower and Upper Sixth. Some schools start in First Form at the age of 12, where it thus follows the state model. A small number of older schools start at the age of 10, with First Form, Second Form, Third Form, Fourth Form, Remove, Lower Fifth Form, Upper Fifth Form and then Lower and Upper Sixth Form, or any other arrangement of lowers, uppers and removes between Fourth Form and Fifth Form. Some schools go from Sixth Form to Top Form, where Sixth-formers are the youngest and the Top-formers the highest. Some schools have unique names for certain forms, such as Under Form at Purling School for Second Form, and Box for the Third Form at a number of schools.

All senior independent schools are single-sex, and most state senior schools are too, though state junior schools are mostly mixed-sex. Up to 40% of all senior school pupils go to independent schools, with it being mostly the working class attending state schools with most middle class and all upper class sending their children to independent or public schools.

After schooling, most pupils undertake apprenticeships in trades, industry or business. A small number of pupils, mostly the richest and cleverest attend university or colleges, such as the Royal College of Veterinary Science, to study to become doctors, nurses, chemists, engineers, scientists, clergymen &c.

[Lancov]

Preschool: Preschool is optional, but is usually offered beginning at age 3. Preschools are offered by Counties, which may charge tuition.

Comprehensive school: Comprehensive school is the period of compulsory schooling, it is divided into primary, middle, and secondary school. Primary school begins the year the student turns 6 and continues for five years, while middle school lasts for four years. Middle school allows slightly more freedom than primary school in regards to class choices and students will have several teachers rather than one.

High school lasts for 3 years and is very different compared to middle school. While some classes are mandatory for all, students also have many options to choose from for elective classes. There are also different types of high schools, students may elect to attend a vocational school which will prepare them to enter the workforce or learn a skilled trade through an apprenticeship, in addition to general education requirements. They may also attend a Gymnazium, which prepares them to enter a university, though entrance requirements are high.

At the end of high school, students sit for the Matura exam, which doubles as both the graduation exam and university entrance exam. They don't have to attend or even apply to university, but everyone must take the Matura.

Tertiary/higher education: University tuition in Lancov is subsidized by the central government, so fees are affordable for nearly all families. Students also receive a stipend based upon the number of units taken and their GPA. This makes universities very competitive, and only high-performing or highly motivated students are accepted. Gymnazium students have an advantage here, but universities only look at one's Matura performance when deciding on admissions. This means a student who attended a vocational high school can still be accepted to a university.

University programs are focused on the major being studied, so there is almost no time spent on general education. It generally takes three years to earn a Bachelor Degree, Two years for a Master Degree, and three for a Doctorate. One may attend a different university for each level, but the institution will give preference to its former students.

The two types of university in Lancov are Universities and Universities of Applied Science. Universities of Applied Science offer more practically-focused programs rather than the theoretical research approach of traditional universities. While the line between the two has blurred over time, degrees such as engineering, economics, and design will generally only be found in Universities of Applied Science, while programs in medicine or the natural sciences are usually only offered by Universities.

Doctorates are only awarded by Universities, but may involve coursework at a University of Applied Science if being awarded in an applied science field. Neither type of university is seen as inherently more prestigious, except maybe by very snobby people.

School management: Comprehensive schools are managed by County-level school boards, except for some Gymnaziums that are centrally managed. All universities are owned by non-profit foundations made up of alumni, faculty representatives, and government appointees. The Lancovian Public University System provides government oversight; all degrees are awarded in the name of its Board of Regents.

[Van Hool Islands]

Our educational system is loosely modelled after Britain's, with some differences (for example, we usually use grades instead of years).
Pre-primary (optional)
Nursery School - Ages 4-5
Primary
Kindergarten - Ages 5-6
Grade 1 - Ages 6-7
Grade 2 - Ages 7-8
Grade 3 - Ages 8-9
Grade 4 - Ages 9-10
Grade 5 - Ages 10-11
Grade 6 - Ages 11-12*
Pre-secondary/intermediate
Grade 6 - Ages 11-12*
Grade 7 - Ages 12-13
Grade 8 - Ages 13-14
Grade 9 - Ages 14-15
Secondary
Grade 10 - Ages 15-16
Lower Sixth - Ages 16-17**
Upper Sixth - Ages 17-18**
Post-secondary***
Post-secondary years depend on the school and degree, generally for three-year degrees the years are as follows;
First Year****
Second Year****
Third Year****
*Intermediate schools that incorporate Grade 6 are known as "Pre-secondary" schools. Ones that don't are simply referred to as "intermediate" schools.
**These two grades are commonly grouped together as "Sixth Form". These two grades exist to prepare students for the "EA (Educational Assessment)" exams that happen at the end of Upper Sixth. The terms Upper and Lower Sixth are used to differentiate the two grades. More and more commonly these grades are referred to as "Grade 11" and "Grade 12" to simplify the grade structure.
***There are two main different types of post-secondary education in the Van Hool Islands, college and university. The terms are not interchangeable with each other as they are in some countries like the United States. Colleges are almost always privately owned, and include technical and community colleges. Universities on the other hand are publicly funded.
****The terms "freshman, sophomore, and senior" are never ever used in the Van Hool educational system at an official level, although some university and college students do decide to refer to the years as these terms.

School attendance is compulsory from Kindergarten to the start of Sixth Form. Homeschooling is completely legal but regulated by the Ministry of Education, and must be done through an approved homeschooling provider or a tutor to avoid parents pulling their children out of school and never actually teaching them anything. Private schools also exist, and along with homeschools follow the same grade structure as public school. Grammar schools existed from 1890 to 1974. Many former grammar schools are now upper-class private schools. Catholic schools also exist, and are considered private schools by the Ministry of Education, but they have never been as popular as they can be in other countries, mostly due to our mostly Protestant population.

[Evea]

In Evea eduction is free for all from Preschool to College unless parent send their kids to private school. Public preschools are for children from 6 months to 3 years. Nursery schools are for 3-4 year olds and are usually attached to preschools but in some districts they are attached to primary schools. Primary schools are for 4-14 year olds (year 1 to year 10), high schools are for 14-19 year olds (year 11 to year 15). Education is compulsory from age 4 until age 16. State colleges are free for students under 30 and are low cost for mature students. Much like Evea's 4 day working week, schools only run from Monday to Thursday.

[Ru-]

Preschool (optional) public preschool is offered at age 4, private preschools are also available for age 3


-beginning of compulsory schooling-

Elementary School
Kindergarten - age 5: These are half day rather then full day, though some private schools offer full day classes.

in grades 1-4, basic subjects are taught and students often remain in one classroom throughout the school day, except for physical education, library, computer lab, music, and art classes

1st grade: - age 6

2nd grade: - age 7

3rd grade: - age 8: this is the year where students first encounter the Ruvian Standardized Educational Assessment. The RSEA is primarily used to determine if individual schools are meeting the national educational standard and to help advise schools on which students may need to be held back or given additional assistance.

4th grade: - age 9

5th grade: - age 10: this year is mostly the same as grades 1-4 except that it lightly introduces the idea of changing classrooms and teachers for each subject. Students are assigned a "homeroom" teacher who, along with the other teachers will teach 1 of the core subjects: Language Arts (Ruvian language literature, writing, and grammar.), Math, Science, History, and English Language. (English as a second language is introduced as a core education course starting in grade 5. All students in a "homeroom" will move to different classrooms at the same time, so though the teachers change, fellow classmates remain the same. 1 of the core classes is taught for each day of the week.

Middle School
Middle school is similar to 5th grade except that students do not move to different classrooms together, so each class will have a different assortment of students. Middle School also introduces students attending multiple core classes in the same day.

6th grade: - age 11

7th grade: - age 12

8th grade: - age 13

High school
Starting in 9th grade, a student's grades become a part of their official transcript, a GPA is introduced and accessible to colleges and universities. Students will also now be given more freedom in choosing some of their classes in the form of electives, taken in addition to the mandatory core classes (Ruvian Literature, English, History, Science, and Math) Electives may include foreign languages other then English, art, music, theater, and variety of trade classes.

9th grade: - age 14

10th grade: - age 15

11th grade: - age 16

12th grade: - age 17

12th grade marks the end of compulsory schooling in Ru. Higher education in the form of public and private colleges and universities. Acceptance to and financial assistance for tuition at these schools depends on High School performance, college entrance exam scores, admission applications, extra curricular activities, and various other factors. Student loan debt is increasingly becoming a larger problem in Ru and the Late King Thomas's attempts to have the government and Central Bank of Ru rectify it have foundered in the Senate. King Yoshio has expressed an intention to continue his father's attempts once he gets the chance, and current Chancellor Andy Flanders has pledged to make it a priority if he is reelected to a third term.

[Fenton Island]

Education on the island is all private, with the only state input being to subsidise vouchers for some poorer children. Schools are free to decide their own age and attainment structures according to the demands of their customers.

[Medwedian Democratic Federation]

The Medwedian school system is highly stratified. Children of parents who did not attend grammar school and university are not allowed to, even if they are bright - their teachers are instructed to suppress gifted children. The Medwedian school system prepares everybody for their future social and professional position and indoctrinates every student severely into believing that what is done to them is right.

The common children go to "comprehensive" 8-year schools called Hutskole or Midtskole. They are taught rudimentary writing and reading skills, basic mathematics and abilities needed for work. Emphasis is placed on practical education of the future worker, farmer or servant. Classes are extremely monotonous and boring. Some children are allowed to go to vocational schools to become skilled craftsmen, but the rest goes straight to work after school. No Hutskole or Midtskole student was ever admitted to an university. These schools are supposed to dumb down, not to teach.

The children of the upper class are sent to Gymnasium grammar schools, which are often boarding schools. Normal, "middle-class" doctors, engineers or scientists are educated in grammar schools located in cities while the sons of the elite (it is uncommon for girls of the upper class to go to school) are sent to Specialgymnasium boarding schools, comparable to European and American elite institutes like Eton, Salem or Lyceum Alpinum. There are about 500 schools of this type in Medwedia, all offering an interesting curriculum and allowing their gifted students to pursue their interests. The students of the elite schools are taught to feel themselves as the national elite and indoctrinated into their future governmental roles. Gymnasium schools have 13-year programs and lead to universities or military universities.

[Vedastia]

The education system in most cantons is structured as follows:

Nursery (not compulsory)

• Year 1 (ages 2-3)
• Year 2 (ages 3-4)
• Year 3 (ages 4-5)
• Year 4 (ages 5-6)

Roughly 23% of children attend nursery school and enter at various points in time. Nursery school students often take the Primary School Placement Exam (Examen de colocación de las escuelas primarias; Ekxamin vun Kaulukatxiun vun tei Xkhulii Wunerul), an aptitude placement test for primary exam schools, in late March preceding their admission to a primary school. Administration of this exam is optional for primary academies (independently-run schools which receive public funds) and independent secondary schools.

Primary

• Year 1 (ages 6-7)
• Year 2 (ages 7-8)
• Year 3 (ages 8-9)
• Year 4 (ages 9-10)
• Year 5 (ages 10-11)
• Year 6 (ages 11-12)

Year 6 students take the Secondary School Placement Exam (Examen de colocación de las escuelas secundarias; Ekxamin vun Kaulukatxiun vun tei Xkhulii Twerul), a placement test for secondary exam schools, in late March preceding their admission to a secondary school. State secondary schools are divided into grammar schools (which grant Advanced Baccalaureates necessary for admission into universities and liberal arts colleges), technical schools (which grant Technical Baccalaureates necessary for admission into technical universities), and basic schools (which grant Ordinary Baccalaureates and leaving certificates). Administration of this exam is optional for secondary academies, but is used by most, and independent secondary schools, which use it less frequently and often use their own version of the exam.

Secondary (first half)

• Year 7 (ages 12-13)
• Year 8 (ages 13-14)

Year 8 students in basic state secondary schools take the Specialized Secondary School Placement Exam (Examen de colocación de escuelas secundarias especializadas; Ekxamin vun Kaulukatxiun vun Xkhulii Twerul Xpekiyub), a placement test for each track in the final two years of secondary education, in late March of Year 8. Those who score high on this exam are often admitted to grammar schools, while those who specialize in STEM fields are often admitted technical schools. Students who do not score high enough on this exam remain in basic schools.

Secondary (second half)

• Year 9 (ages 14-15)
• Year 10 (ages 15-16)

Grammar school students, as well as most independent school students and some academy students, are qualified to take the Advanced Baccalaureate Exam (Examen de bachillerato avanzado; Ekxamin vun Bakkalaureat Atvankyub) in late March preceding their admission to a university, liberal arts college, or sometimes a junior college. Technical school students, as well as some academy and independent schools students, are qualified to take the Technical Baccalaureate Exam (Examen de bachillerato técnico; Ekxamin vun Bakkalaureat Tekhnikul) in late march preceding their admission to a technical university or sometimes a junior college. Basic school students do not take exams for Ordinary Baccalaureates; they receive OBs for completing the educational requirements of a basic school. Grammar school and technical school students who do not sit for their respective exams but meet educational requirements otherwise also receive OBs. Students in all three tracks who do not complete the necessary academic requirements and do not elect to meet them after the age of 16 receive a leaving certificate certifying that they have attended school until they were no longer required to attend it due to their age. Students who receive leaving certificates and drop-outs have the option of taking the Remedial Ordinary Baccalaureate Exam (Examen de bachillerato ordinario remedial; Ekxamin vun Bakkalaureat Urtinariul Remetiul) to receive an Ordinary Baccalaureate.

Tertiary (undergraduate; not compulsory)

• Year 1 (ABs entering universities, liberal arts colleges, and junior colleges; TBs entering technical universities and junior colleges); Year 11 (OBs entering junior colleges; TBs entering junior college to receive an Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, or Associate of Letters)
• Year 2 (ABs in universities; second year of general education for ABs in liberal arts colleges; ABs transferring out of junior college to universities with an AA or ASc; TBs in technical universities; TBs transferring out of junior college to technical universities with an Associate of Technology); Year 12 (OBs in junior college; TBs in junior college studying for an AA, ASc, or ALitt)
• Year 3 (Final year of university for ABs; first year of specialization for ABs in liberal arts colleges; ABs transferring out of junior college with an Associate of Letters to liberal arts colleges; final year of technical university for TBs; TBs and OBs transferring out of junior college to universities with an AA or ASc or liberal arts colleges with an ALitt).
• Year 4 (Final year of liberal arts college; final year of university for TBs and OBs; final year of technical university for OBs)

Roughly 16.5% of the population of Vedastia possesses a Bachelor's degree.

[ALLSNS]

Most schools structure K-12 education as follows:
PRIMARY
- Elementary = Grades K-6
SECONDARY
- Junior High = Grades 7-9
- Senior High = Grades 10-12
After completing grade 12 most students then go to college or university (same exact thing, just different names).

Each school determines its own curriculum, structure and system of governance, but a typical school is run as described below:
- Elementary school is focused mainly on general education. Students study: English (reading, spelling, grammar); math; art; music; PE; some history and science starting in 3rd grade.
- Junior high school has a handful of core classes which every student must take (English, math, history, science), but allows students to choose their own PE, arts, music and language classes, if any.
- Senior high school is composed almost entirely of elective classes, however the school has basic graduation requirements in English, mathematics, civics and health. English class (in contrast to "literature" class) focuses on writing skills and grammar, and geometry is a separate course from mathematics, which teaches mainly algebra, calculus and number theory. Senior high schools generally offer a wide range of courses and the typical school offers: English, literature, math, geometry, social studies, economics, civics, ALLSNS history, world history, geography, chemistry, general physics, astrophysics, biology, geology, arts, music, computer programming, PE, health and foreign language (French, German, Dutch, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and Hindi).

Grading: Letter grades are given out in elementary school. Starting in junior high school, percentage grades are given. At the end of 12th grade, the student's percentage grades in their four best-performed courses are averaged to make the student's final "score". This score must be above 50% for the student to graduate.
Percentage grades are often accompanied by letter grades for the sake of convenience:
90-100% = A (passing grade)
80-89% = B(passing grade)
70-79% = C (passing grade)
60-69% = D (passing grade)
50-59% = E (passing grade)
0-49% = F (failing grade)

Senior high schools and colleges are usually governed at least semi-democratically. Secondary schools are generally run by boards elected by students, their parents, and teachers. In elementary schools, students are generally not allowed to vote in such elections.

Education is compulsory from 1st grade up until the age of 18 or completion of 12th grade (whichever is earlier), unless the student has a full-time job before then. If a student drops out of school, most schools will allow them to re-enroll; they have no age limits but instead limit how many years a student may stay at the school. If a student surpasses this limit (usually 5 years for a senior high), the school may legally start charging for attendance (if it is a public school).

More on college to come.

[Victorious Decepticons]

Mandatory, Government-Provided Education

All new Decepticons MUST have the Standard Educational Data Pack (SEDP) installed prior to full activation. It takes just 10 minutes to install and run, and once it has done so, the recipient has a complete "public school level" education.

This Pack is offered freely at every Debugging Center, and there's at least one of these Centers in every town. It can also be obtained from a few other government outlets too, such as the main Immigration Office, the Center for Decepticon Education (this is where the small council of chosen educators meets to decide what to put in the SEDP for the year), military recruitment offices, and similar places. The Debugging Centers, however, are the primary sources because legally, every new Decepticon must have his Code checked there (and debugged if necessary) before he is first activated. Having plenty of copies of the SEDP right there makes it easy to educate these "new-builts" during the same session.

The SEDP contains what we consider necessary education for staying alive, and for doing well in the Decepticon Empire. In some subjects, its contents take the person to what Earthians would consider the doctorate level, but in others, it barely offers any education at all. On the advanced side, someone with this Pack installed is capable of reproduction - which for us means that he is an expert in writing Code Intended to be Sapient (a subject many biological nations are utterly clueless about) and also knows enough mechanics and engineering to build a body for a new offspring. There are several other advanced subjects, as well.

On the other hand, someone who "only" has the SEDP will be woefully ignorant of biology and medicine - such matters are of no importance to someone who has a proper robotic body and who lives on Cybertron. Those who want further knowledge about this and other non-essential subjects have to get it privately, usually in the form of AEDPs (described later).

Notably, there is no math education in any Educational Data Packs. Since we're robots, those abilities are hard-coded in rather than added later. The same goes for the understanding of the Binary language.

Strongly Suggested, but Not Mandatory

SEDP Updates - The SEDP is updated every year. While many adults don't grab every single update, it is strongly suggested that they get one at least every 5 years so that they are up to date with the latest theories and discoveries.

While the SEDP is nothing short of a miracle in terms of providing a full "high school" education in literally 10 minutes, it's not as great at teaching things that require physical skills or the ability to interpret constantly-changing events on the fly. Therefore, the government's Debugging experts strongly suggest that children join groups to play raid games. These are simulations of oil raids that rely on skills like working with small groups (the average size of a raid gaNG is 4-5 members, and the games mimic this dynamic), using tactics and strategy, and carrying large amounts of "oil" out of "hostile territory." Another purpose of these games is to keep the kids out of the way of REAL raiders and away from REAL targets. This makes things safer not just for the kids, but for the real raiders who could get killed if their ordnance-dodging maneuvers are blocked by some n00b who has no clue about what to do.

Education That Happens Naturally

Every species has some sort of activity or game that the young play in order to prepare themselves for adult life. Here, our kids try to CON each other, and adults, into falling for (usually) minor frauds. When it doesn't work (and it often won't, at that age), fights result. This gives them fighting experience along with teaching them what types of approaches won't work for conning. Parents are always the most worried about their kids at the age when this urge hits, and they typically make said kids leave a fresh mind-save disk behind before they are allowed out for the day. Fights here often turn deadly, even among the young (we start out with our Two Standard Blasters, permanently attached, right from the time of activation), and keeping a fresh Save is insurance against irrevocable death.

Another thing our kids will do is try to steal everything that isn't nailed down. The end result of this is much the same as with failed cons, which gives parents double the reason to insist that their offspring make a Save before leaving the house!

One thing that Decepticons don't naturally do is work together. Even though youngsters do not start out with the deep mistrust of other Decepticons that comes by age 5, we are naturally solitary, competitive, beings. Therefore, cooperation must be actively taught. That doesn't start with regular education, though. It starts with...

The Military - Mandatory

Here, those who have just reached adulthood (age 5, or 4 for the precocious) are drafted for their first of many military stints. First-timers get a lot of education in the form of the Military Data Pack, lectures, and drills. This is sometimes the first time a new conscript will actually have to work with, rather than merely tolerate, others. Cooperation - and flight formations - are taught for groups ranging from 2-bot teams all the way to 1.5 billion-bot mass formations. This is where prior membership in a raid games group really helps, because those who have this experience at least know the basics of cooperation already.


Higher Education

The Advanced Educational Data Packs (AEDPs) are available to everyone who has the money to get them, or who can get their Coder to pay for them, regardless of age. Like all other education with "Data Pack" in the title, these are installables that result in instant education in the covered subject. Unlike the SEDP, which covers a large range of topics, the AEDPs are highly specialized and only cover a single topic.

AEDPs roughly compare with college education on other planets, with the main differences being that they are executable files and that they are single-subject. We do not do the thing where you have to take a bunch of unrelated courses to get your credential, either - you get a Certificate that says what you have installed, and from where, and that's that. The Certificate will tell how many AEDPs in a subject that you have installed, as well, and these levels roughly correspond to the different degree types in human institutions.

That said, there is a wide variety of AEDPs needed to reach the maximum educational level, and how many you require depends on the subject you're into. It takes a huge amount of expensive, high-level AEDPs to become an engineer qualified for a scientific position at the Bureau of Impossible Physics, but if you're looking to be an expert in basic mechanical repair, it only takes 2 moderately-priced AEDPs in mechanics and 1 in Advanced Physics. The 1 physics Pack is required so that you can understand your clients' body modifications, which in Decepticons, are often NOT merely cosmetic.

Corporate Data Packs

These are rare, but sometimes, you'll encounter a company that produces items that are so unique that it's more cost-effective for them to hand out AEDP-like "Corporate Data Packs (CDPs)" on how those items work than it would be for them to demand high amounts of pre-existing education from their lower-level employees. With one of these, employees can find things like assembly instructions, alloy component requirements, emergency procedures, official company practices, and similar things. Unlike with the education from other forms of Data Packs, people tend to delete most of this information as soon as they quit a job unless it is somehow useful for something else.

These are the main forms of education available in Victorious Decepticons. Due to the format, these Packs only work with people who run on the Decepticon OS. This means that foreigners are completely out of luck for education unless they become citizens. Citizenship includes mandatory mind-transfer to a proper body, and once that's done, installable education works the same for them as it does for anyone else.