Education in Eiria

In Eiria, education is largely provided by organized, public school systems, with some private institutions existing (Private universities being by far the most common). Core educational curriculum is nationally standardized under the authority of the Ministry of Education. However, as the provincial Ministries of Education have administrative control over their respective school systems, provincial governments have the ability to set their own standards.

Education is compulsory from age 5 to age 18, and is divided into three schools: Junior School (Ekōl Gunjōr, ages 5-10), Standard School (Ekōl Standar, ages 10-12), and Senior School (Ekōl Vecaks, ages 13-18). Education in the first two schools are very regimented, whereas students are able to arrange their schedules upon entering Senior School. In addition, Senior School offers a much wider variety of subject matters, activities, and class difficulties.

Upon graduating from Senior School and receiving the Sertifikācōn Basēk (“SertBas,” the official diploma for secondary education), students are eligible to progress into full-time tertiary education at various institutions, including Independent Universities (which contain a large variety of four-year degree options), Select Universities (which focus on a few specific fields of study), and Technical Universities (which largely focus on two year programs, trade education, and certification).

Primary and Early Childhood Education

Schooling in Eiria can start as early as age 3, as children between 3-5 may be enrolled in one of two optional programs. The first are Nursery Schools, or Krešasei in Eirian. These schools prioritize using entertaining methods to work on socialization, motor function, and other skills. The other schools available are Development Schools (Ekōls dei Develabmōn), which focus more on reading skills and problem-solving (and are often bilingual). Oftentimes, these schools are subsidized by the national and/or provincial governments, allowing them to be low-priced or free for parents.

Upon approaching the age of five, a student may be enrolled in the Eirian primary school system. This system is divided into Junior Schools, which focus on skills such as reading, writing, and problem-solving, and Standard Schools, which begin to introduce more information-based teaching styles in order to provide a smooth transition to secondary education. The curriculum of both of these schools are very structured, however some classes (such as musical ensembles or theater classes) are optional. These classes are usually taught in Eirian, with students also taking mandatory English classes. In addition, some sports and activities are available to students in late Junior School and throughout Standard School.

Secondary Education

Students are enrolled in a Senior School around the age of 13, and it lasts for five years. This is when students get much more of a choice when it comes to their course work, as students are given autonomy over their schedules (provided they complete all course requirements by the end of their schooling). Almost all public schools are on semester schedules, with students having seven periods per semester.

In Senior School, many more extracurricular activities become available to students. Among the most popular are various extra musical ensembles, swimming and diving, water polo, speech, debate, hockey, and speed skating. However, if a student is not performing well academically, they will be withdrawn from these activities until their grades improve.

National Senior School Curriculum

The National Senior School Curriculum (``Macēta Nācōnals dei Ekōl Vecaks``) is the list of basic course requirements that students must complete in order to finish their secondary education. The list is by no means a comprehensive list of what a student will take throughout their studies, as they only make up 15 out of the traditional 70 courses that students will take (and different provinces also may have additional course requirements).

The current national course requirements are:

• Two courses of Mathematics (assigned based on choice and the student's current mathematics level)
• Three courses of Eirian Studies (specifically Literature, Grammar, and Writing Skills)
• One course of English Studies (Assigned based on current English level)
• One course of Basic Science (Chemistry, Physics, or Biology)
• One course of "Living Essentials"
• Two courses of History (World History and Eirian History)
• One course of Geography/World Studies
• One course of Government Studies
• Two courses of Art(Can be fulfilled with Physical Art, Graphic Design, Theater Arts, Band/Orchestra, Choir, or other classes)
• One course of Human Health

Course Rigor and University-Level Courses

For particularly advanced Senior School students, there are several tracks of advanced classes available. For more detailed and specific curriculum, there are “Silver Classes” (``Klazei Argaca``) that provide a more comprehensive context of various subject matters, as well as providing what some may consider new and challenging ways to look at said matters. These classes are comparable to honors courses in other nations.

Furthermore, students may also be interested in conducting research while pursuing their secondary education. These students are able to enroll in “Gold Classes” (``Klazei Zeltaca``), which are essentially research semesters that allow a small handful of students to cooperate with faculty members while conducting novel research and experiments. These classes look very good on school transcripts, and as such, are very popular. There are also additional scholarships and awards available for the best research projects every year.

Finally, for students who want to get a head-start on their university education, there are two types of classes that can give university credit to students in Senior School. The first are “High Rigour Classes” (Klazei Avec Plu Rikur, or KAPR). These courses offer complex concepts and, upon passing one, students are granted credit according to the standards of the Ministry of Education’s Guidebook on University Credit Transferal (Conducted by the Office of University Accreditation).

The other method for Senior Students to acquire university credit is through the Student Bridge program (Pant dei Etudiēsei). This program allows students who have received particularly high marks on certain standardized tests (or who have already completed a number of advanced courses) to enroll in local universities and take courses there for free.

Post-Secondary Education

After receiving a Sertifikācōn Basēk, students may choose to continue with their studies at an accredited University institution. Eirian tertiary education institutions may have one of three designations: Independent Universities, Select Universities, and Technical Universities, each with their own educational specifications.

There are a number of degrees that university students may attain in Eiria. The first is the Diplōm, which is a two year degree that is equivalent to an Associate’s degree from other nations. While this degree can contain a variety of curriculum, it is most commonly used for technical education or to fulfill the general curriculum of four-year universities.

The primary university degree in Eira is the Baklōrēta, a four-year degree that is the basic requirement for many entry-level white collar jobs. Many universities require a couple semesters of general, lower division classes before proceeding onto specialized courses. Enrolling in a Baklōrēta program does not require a Diplōm, however many such programs have an optional track to grant students a Diplōm halfway through their studies.

Once students have received their Baklōrēta, they may proceed to graduate education. The first step is to attain a Meistrēta degree, which can take anywhere between one and three years. Applicants don't technically have to have a Baklōrēta in the subject that they intend to pursue graduate studies for, however, if a student wishes to change fields entirely, they must take a variety of exams and/or context courses to ensure that they have the knowledge that they need. In order to complete a Meistrēta degree, a significant, transformative research project is required.

The capstone of Eirian education is the Dōktōrēta degree, which is meant to certify those with the most knowledge in every field. This degree can take from three to five years on its own, and a Meistrēta degree is required to apply. Dōktōrēta degree programs prioritize research and academic writing, with a substantial and original thesis being a requirement to graduate.

Finally, throughout their undergraduate and graduate education, students may choose to earn Learning Certificates, or ApSerts. These certificates usually consist of one to two semesters of courses, and are the Eirian equivalent to both undergraduate minors, technical certifications, and graduate certificates. In some cases, ApSerts may be pooled together in order to form a full degree [This is most common in the trades (with Diplōms) and in the education field (with Meistrēta degrees).

Degree Classification

Eirian degree abbreviations follow a largely comprehensive system made up of three parts: The degree level, the degree “group,” and the clarifying letter. For example, a Dōktōrēta in Music Composition would be written out D4-M, whereas a Diplōm in a practical trade would be written out Di2-D. The first one (or two) letter change based on the degree, while the latter two change depending on the studied subject.

There are four main degree groupings and numerous clarifying letters, as seen below:

Krupa Un (G1): Biological, Physical, Medical, and Ecological Sciences

• K1-B: Biology, Ecology, Zoology
• K1-F: Physics, Chem, Geology
• K1-M: Medical, Health Sciences, PT

Krupa Duv (G2): Engineering, Technology, and Practical Trades

• K2-D: Trades (Construction, early electrical work, plumbing, machining, etc)
• K2-I: Engineering
• K2-T: Tech (Computer Science/IT)

Krupa Tren (G3): Mathematics and the Social Sciences

• K3-C: Psychology, Sociology, Counseling, Social Work
• K3-E: Business, Economics
• K3-I: Education (Nonspecific, usually for Elementary Ed or Graduate Degrees)
• K3-K: Cultural Studies, Linguistics, Foreign Languages
• K3-L: Law
• K3-M: Mathematics, Statistics
• K3-P: Political Science, International Relations, Public Policy
• K3-V: History, Anthropology, Archaeology

Krupa Čati (G4): Communications, Humanities, and the Arts

• K4-A: Art, Art History, Architecture, Graphic Design
• K4-L: Communications, Literature, Classics, Journalism, Eirian Studies
• K4-M: Music
• K4-R: Religion
• K4-T: Theater/Other Performing Arts

Grading System

Grades in Eiria are based on a 0-10 point scale, as follows:

• 9.50-10.00: Outstanding, A+
• 9.00-9.50: Excellent, A
• 8.50-9.00: Very Good, A- (to B+)
• 8.00-8.50: Good, B
• 7.50-8.00: Fair, B- (To C+)
• 7.00-7.50: Standard, C
• 6.50-7.00: Below Standard, D+
• 6.00-6.50: At Risk, D (to D-)
• 0-6.00: Failing

Alternative Educational Paths

While education in Eiria is highly standardized, there are still programs for parents and students who aren't interested in the main track public education system. These programs are largely privately funded and controlled, with one main exception being the recently-booming Digital Academy Program, which allows students to learn from home.

Private primary and secondary schools are fairly rare in Eiria, but not entirely unheard of. Oftentimes, these schools are located in higher wealth communities or communities of a particular ethnicity or religion. These schools are still strictly regulated by the provincial and national governments, however, they still do have some autonomy in deciding individual school policy. One primary example of this is uniform policy, as Eirian public schools almost always do not have official uniforms.

Primary and secondary education are legally mandated in Eiria, and must be taught by qualified professionals. As such, “homeschooling” is effectively illegal, and withholding education can even be classified as a form of child abuse (depending on the exact circumstances).

See Also

List of Eirian Universities