A four-tiered education system prevails in most of Chrisote. It was first set up in Zabrial, copied in Dorlaf by the 1071 Civic Education Act and has spread to most other provinces. The stages are:
Primary - for children between 4 and 9. They are taught the basics of reading, writing, maths, history, geography, the natural world etc. One class is also set aside for a child's church to instruct them in their faith. Aside from the church classes the teaching takes place at schools funded by the local authorities, each school being a fairly autonomous body with a small salaried full-time staff and a number of part-time volunteers. Classes are free for children but they usually have to supply their own materials. In the Cities attendance is voluntary though children aren't allowed to do work of nearly any sort until they are 13. Basic syllabus is taught at primary level across Dorlaf. In the Cities each neighbourhood has its own school and must accept all the children from that neighbourhood (though is allowed to expel them) However a number are registered as - these are allowed to vet pupils with semi-formal "donation" system from the parents, which means they are able to afford better tutors. Middle-class children often attend these schools.
Secondary - between 9 and 13. Advanced 3 R's teaching, history, geography, literature etc. - essentially continuing primary education. Church classes may continue but are optional. Secondary education continues in schools as above, children often staying at the same school. Syllabus slightly less standardised. Exams are set at the end of secondary schooling, those passing eligible for:
Tertiary - between 13 and 16 or 17. A system of individual tutors, or tutoring companies, each specialising in different subjects - literature, maths, politics, economics, drama, geography, geology, history, civic issues etc. The tuition takes place in various places - schools, rented rooms, sometimes the tutor's or pupils' house. There is still a basic syllabus for each top and children must sit a fairly standard exam at the end of it but tutors are allowed some license in their lessons. Children are allowed a fairly free choice in which topics they study, these numbering 3-5. Tertiary education is voluntary and still largely free, the tutors funded by the authorities both directly and indirectly (a common ploy is recruiting university students or lecturing by offering them tax exemptions). They do have the right to charge a small fee, though this must be refunded if the child fails their exams. Again religious studies may continue, given by church priests. Occasionally a child may have an individual tutor but lessons are usually given in classes of 10-15. Around 50% of children have some sort of academic tertiary education, with further numbers opting for:
A variation of the tertiary system is the study of vocational subjects, which are less dependent on passing secondary exams. Sometimes these are business studies but mostly they are just a modern form of apprenticeships, the tutors being craftsmen, professional associations etc. Vocational training can sometimes begin on a limited basis at an earlier age than 13.
Collegiate - Assorted forms. The main one is academy universities, who offer places to children who have passed at least 4 tertiary exams, and passed with a high percentage at that. Universities charge a small tuition fee and offer little in the way of accommodation or funding assistance so are still chiefly for the children of the wealthy. However the government and private bodies sponsor a number of especially bright and needy students; many universities also have a complicated loans system by which they basically hold their graduates in hock for years after, repayable from the fruits of their earnings. University education varies a lot in length, around 2-10 years. Other college institutions include religious seminaries, the Guards training centres etc.
The academic year runs from late January to mid-December. This is in accordance with ancient custom, despite the obvious difficulties in travelling at the start and end of each year. A four week break is held from the first week in September to the first in October. The perceived importance of education tends to vary a great deal. There is still a prejudice against too much book-learning and teaching children useless subjects; many feel that after basic literacy and numeracy has been established, children should learn a trade and nothing else. Certain cultures (e.g. Kakranfans, Kratzans) hold education in far more esteem than others (e.g. Zabric, Erish). Many children are brought out of the pedagogic process as quickly as possible. This happens especially when the child has a fairly clearly defined future in front of them. One case is craftsmen families, particularly familial-based crafts like blacksmiths. Another is amongst the very wealthy. Rich children are not considered to need a formal badge of education to guarantee them a good place in the world, and often do not attend schools or sit exams. They are educated by private tutors within their homes; either that or children of several friends/neighbours are brought together under a single tutor. The lessons can be more diverse than those which are geared around exam needs. They also reflect that the next governing class is being formed; politics, rhetoric, law and economics are all emphasised.