Education in Tengaria

Education in Tengaria

Ministry of Education
Minister of Education	Zhelyazko Aleksandarev
National education budget
Budget	€XXXX billion €XXXX per student
General details
System type	National

Education in Tengaria is mandatory for all Tengarian citizens and provided and overseen by the national government at all levels. Tengaria has one of the world's most unique educational systems, utilizing the Great books to form a classical Liberal arts education which claims to lead students to truth found in Theology and Philosophy. This education also seeks to give the students 'universal' knowledge and to fight against specialization found in other schooling systems. The current educational system, although having roots in ancient and medieval Tengarian schooling, is also largely the product of reforms undertaken by Tengarian President Simeon Kovachev, a major patron of education and a philosophical disciple of the Znaniya School.

Tengaria has eleven years of mandatory education from the ages of 6 to 17, covering both primary and secondary schooling (called 'universal'). Many students also do preschooling or some form of tertiary education, bringing the average number of years in school to 13 for most students. Private schooling and homeschooling are not allowed for primary and secondary education, and all schools are overseen directly by the Ministry of Education. In addition, all schooling is paid for by the government; however, tertiary education usually requires the passing of examinations in order to secure enrollment. In addition to formal universal schooling, the government also sponsors trade and technical schools for those who have completed basic schooling. Although mostly done on the national level, tertiary institutions such as the University of Lenovo are known for bringing in international students.

Tengaria's educational system, although quite rigorous and well-developed, has come under a myriad of criticisms from many sources, particular from countries in East Euclea. Opponents say that it is the autocratic and nationalistic indoctrination of children, that it teaches and is built upon outdated or harmful ideas, or that it enforces religious principles when it should be secularized. Tengaria's schooling system was also brought to the forefront of international news after a deliberate Tengarian Republican Army terrorist attack on a lower school in Avren killed 144 people in 2015, one of the deadliest mass shootings in world history.

History

The ruins of the ancient Agora school in Istros.

Education in Tengaria is a time honored tradition, dating back to the ancient Piraean city state of Istros on the Southern Coast in the third century BC. Xenagenes, disiciple of the great philosopher Xenagoras, founded a school in the city, known as the Agora. The Teleological School flourished in the city, although it became secondary to the other philosophers when the Empire of Arciluco came to dominate the region in the sixth century. Over the centuries, the Tengars came to adopt the Liberal arts education of the Solarians and Piraeans, passed on by the Amathians. In addition, the local churches established by the Sotrian missionaries provided another source of learning. The process of education was slow and gradual, as the Tengars were a rural and pastoral people, and most of the learning began to be focused in the towns and around churches. However, by the time of the Grand Principality of Tengaria, Tengaria had become more of its own state, the schools became more prominent and widespread. By the rise of the Empire of Arciluco, Tengaria had a well developed educational system and a strong philosophical and theological community. Emperor St. Vasil the Great took the educational system and reformed it, marking the beginning of the Tengarian Golden Age. He established the University of Lenovo in 1405, the oldest university in Western Euclea. The Agora school became popular once again. Tengaria for several centuries became the centre of learning in Western Euclea, and was well known for its intellectual community. The University, the Agora and soon several other insitutions became places for discussion and learning.

Eventually, Tengaria's Golden Age came to an end. The political dominance of Soravia of the region caused the educational community to fracture and to slowly decay. Although initially opposed, modern thought from Eastern Euclea began to make its way into Tengaria. Eventually those who believed in them came to positions of power, and the classics began to be put aside for the sake of the newer material. In addition, Soravian republican thought began to become prominent in the academic sphere in the late 19th century. Modern Soravian literature and Eastern Euclean scientific advancements and thought became mainstream amoung the intellectual community. Whereas before Tengaria's educational system had remained unique, it became more and more like that of other countries, with academic circles beginning to try to imitate the rest of Euclea. The old Agora school fell into neglect once again. Tengaria's education began to fall behind even its Euclean rivals. The Znaniya School was formed in part as a reaction to the state of Tengarian Education, as they sought to restore Tengaria's schools to their old heritage and strength, especially by turning back to the intellectual history and to Teleology as the means to properly educate the young. However, the academic community worked against the new school, despite its popularity, and so the schools did not have a chance to reform between the Great War.

The historic St. Vasil College of the University of Lenovo

During the Great War, higher education was suspended with the Amathian invasion and occupation. After the war, with the formation of the Republic, it was dominated by the Soravian inspired republican university staff. With the university staff now largely entering into politics, the followers of the Znaniya School began to slowly enter into the education system. However, the poorly mananged republic floundered, and the state of education was considered rather weak, as the country as a whole suffered political turmoil and economic collapse. After the Tengarian Civil War, Simeon Kovachev took power. A disciple of the Znaniya School, he viewed education as his top priority for Tengaria, as the education of the youth is vital in producing a virtuous society. He immediately worked to reform the system, dismissing unwanted teachers from positions of power, restructuring the entire Tengarian educational system, implementing a socratic liberal arts education focused on the Great Books, changing the division of the arts and sciences to a more classical system and putting heavy government oversight and funding into education. Kovachev’s system is still in use today, despite criticism from outside countries.

Overview

A Painting of the Seven Liberal Arts

Tengaria has one of the world's most unique curricula, designed and implemented by Simeon Kovachev and inspired by the thought of the Znaniya School. The education harkens back to the ancient liberal arts education of Piraea and the Solarian Empire, but further and beyond this is ordered primarily by Teleological and Episemialist principles. However, it distinguishes itself from other contemporary liberal arts education in principle- whereas other liberal arts programs pursue a “humane studies” or “general education", Tengaria views the liberal arts as seven introductory disciplines which prepare the student for the more profound subjects, those that constitute the heart of a liberal education. The ultimate goal of the liberal education is the knowledge of the truth to be found by Wisdom both Divine and Natural, namely Theology and Philosophy. A liberal education is one that "frees" men by pursuing this truth, allowing them to know and pursue their proper end. The education is not ordered towards any practical end or career path, but is instead ordered to pursuit of knowledge for its own sake and for producing virtuous citizens.

For this reason, the Primary Education of Tengaria is focused on the study of the classical Trivium, namely Grammar, Logic and Rhetoric, and Quadrivium, namely Geometry, Arithmetic, Astronomy and Music. The study and habituation of these speculative arts give the student the necessary foundation by which they can study the higher things later in the curriculum. Students study the basic principles of these arts, and habituate them by means of demonstrating propositions, giving arguments, grammatical exercises, studying the stars, listening to and giving speeches, and other methods. The students do practical exercises but do not study them merely for their practical ends, but rather use these practical means for the sake of studying the speculative or scientific knowledge of these arts. When possible, works by the great authors are used directly, as the students are supposed to deal directly with the great ideas rather than through another teacher. The foremost example of this is Euclid's Elements for Geometry. However, this is not always practical or possible for every subject or for every grade level, so textbooks and manuals are occasionally used.

In addition to the liberal arts, all primary school students (both upper and lower) take religious education, gymnastics (physical education), musical performance and civic virtue classes. Religious education is taught from an Orthodox Episemialist point of view, and educates the populace on the principles of the faith from an early age. Gymnastics is seen as necessary for the development of a healthy and well balanced lifestyle. All students learn how to sing and are required to study another instrument of their choice. This is required because music is seen as a means of ordering the soul towards the good, and it also habituates the students in musical experience. This is distinct from their study of music as a liberal art, which focuses on the mathematical and auditory principles of the speculative art of music. Finally, all students take Civic Virtue classes, which are classes which aim to teach ethics and patriotic loyalty from a young age, as well as Tengaria's history. All students, when studying grammar, are also taught ancient Piraean and portions of Solarian. In addition, they are also taught the Amathian script, and so primary school students are required to learn a total of four alphabets.

Anamation of the steps of Proposition 47 from Book 1 of Euclid's Elements

After successful completion of both levels of primary school, students move to secondary school, called Universal School. It is named as such because the curriculum is still focused on the study of universals and speculative knowledge, rather than particulars and practical knowledge. Students study Theology, Philosophy, Natural Science, and more advanced Mathematics. These are counted as the "Universal Studies", and are given priority in the order of studies. Theology is given primacy of place due to its divine origin; Philosophy is also very highly valued. The natural sciences, such as biology and chemistry, and more advanced courses of mathematics, such as algebra and calculus, are also considered instrumental and necessary for a complete understanding of the principles of the world. Textbooks are very rarely used; most reading takes place from the greatest works of the prominent authors. By using the books themselves, students are challenged to engage with the great conversation of the intellectuals throughout history. In addition, literature and history are also studied, along with a continuation of musical performance and civic virtue classes, but are not given as much importance as the others. Although completing Universal School is the requisite for all citizens, there are other further steps of secondary education. Students who enter into Preparatory School continue the Universal Studies until they are prepared to enter into tertiary education. Technical school diverges away from speculative knowledge and focuses on the practical studies for students who desire enter into the workforce.

The universities of Tengaria are funded and overseen by the central government. Students who study at University pursue the core studies of the universal education, except at a much more intense and comprehensive level. The liberal arts are again approached, but now as looking back upon the principles which lead into the higher sciences, from a vantage point of experience. In addition, there are no history, music, or civic virtue classes, and University focuses on developing the intellectual life of the students. All students take the same degree, and once they graduate, they are allowed to move on to higher studies in a particular field of their choice. This uniformity is in place so that the students will have a basic understanding of universal speculative knowledge before they go on to study a narrower field of study. Tengaria is considered to have a very strong classical education, and the students come out having a wide range of knowledge.

However, the education is not without its detractors. Several international educators criticize the lack of electives and specialization options available for students, saying that it causes students from finding paths which uniquely suit their abilities and talents. Some have criticized it for being too archaic and backwards, with its classical mindset hampering the students through poor educational focus or outdated thought. Because the thought and intention behind the education is so radically different than most countries, several scholars think the whole system is flawed. Other innovators claim that a focus on learning through books and lack of technological learning and other modern developments hamper the student's abilities to thrive in the modern world. The harshest critics say that contrary to the education's goal to make the students free, the religious education and civic virtue classes constitute nothing less than "brainwashing".

Structure

Zhelyazko Aleksandarev, current Minister of Education.

Tengaria's educational structure shares some structural similarities to other countries, but also differs greatly in the methodology and material. All schools in Tengaria are run or heavily overseen by the central government, and all follow the same structure. Tengaria has 11 years of mandatory education, from ages 6 to 17, though other levels are offered before and after. Primary and secondary education are required, with the Primary education being split into two parts. Furthermore, education is often split by sex; oftentimes, the schools are single-sex or several the classes in the school are divided by sex, a practice which is found even the nation's universities. By law, gymnastics and civic virtue classes are always split by sex, and usually differ in focus for each sex.

Parents can send their children to designated preschools when the child reaches four years of age. This is designed to give the child early sense experience in order to foster his later education. Another important function of this lower school is to ensure that the children have some basic literacy before they enter in primary school. If the parent chooses to opt out the child from preschool, they must ensure their child has this literacy before they are allowed to enter into primary school. Primary school is divided into two parts, a lower and an upper, each lasting three years. After this, all students go into the Universal school, which lasts for five years. Every student takes the same courses, and most finish by the time they are 17 or 18. Some take longer, but students who consistently fail are sent to designated schools for students with learning issues. If deemed unable to complete the education at all, special exceptions are made.

After the completion of Universal school, students are no longer required to take any studies. Many students enter into the workplace immediately after school, and those wishing or needing to learn technical skills in any variety of fields can go to certain government sponsored Technical schools, which are designed to give the students practical knowledge of their field of interest. For those wishing to pursue higher education, they must take an common examination. Each university has a threshold which the student must clear. The threshold is fairly high, and many do not pass the examination on their first attempt, or might only qualify for certain universities. If the student does not make any threshold, he may go to a Preparatory school to study more to pass the examinations.

Tertiary Education

In addition to primary and secondary education, Tengaria also has institutions of higher education. The most famous and well known of these is the University of Lenovo, which is the oldest University in Western Euclea. Inspired by the scholastics of Eastern Euclea, St. Vasil the Great founded the University in 1405 to be the centre for higher learning and to augment and enhance the liberal education already present from the Empire of Arciluco. Although there were schools prior to this, such as the Agora School and the higher learning of institutions of Arciluco, the University was the first one of its kind based upon the model of university found in the East. Since then, several other universities were established, but the University of Lenovo was always seen as the top and primary institution of learning in Tengaria. The universities gave students a higher degree of learning in the liberal arts and theology and philosophy, before allowing for the student to become a master of a subject. However, as education in Eastern Euclea and Soravia began to change in the twentieth centuries, the universities began to slowly adapt to their methods as well. After the Great War, the university system was in shambles. As part of his reforms during the 1960s, Simeon Kovachev changed the structure and format of the university system, reflecting the older traditions of the universities and also putting a greater focus on liberal education.

There are three levels of tertiary education. The first and primary one is simply called "University", reflective of the universal curriculum which it pursues. All university students take the same undergraduate curriculum, studying at a higher level the universal studies which they pursued in universal school. Theology and philosophy are given the primary importance, but mathematics and the natural sciences are all rigorously studied. All classes are discussion-based and directly use the great books. Supplementary lectures available for interested students. The education is known for being very intense and difficult, and is ordered to developing the intellectual life of the students rigorously. For Tengarian citizens and qualified international students, the three-year university is common to all other undergraduate students. All those who pass are granted a degree in Liberal Arts, which is held as equivalent in credit hours to a Bachelor's Degree with a dual major Theology and Philosophy and a dual minor in Mathematics and Natural Science in international standards.

Graduates of the University of Lenovo in traditional academic dress.

Having completed University, students then have the opportunity to progress on to the next levels of tertiary education. In order to be accepted into higher programs, an applicant must successfully complete even more rigorous examinations, usually focusing on the subject matter which they wish to study. At these levels, the student moves away from universal study begins to specialize in the field of their choice. The length of the degree often depends on what they choose to study, and medical, theology and philosophy students usually spend longer on their degrees then other departments. The second level is a Master's Degree, which can last anywhere from one to five years, and the third level being the Doctorate, which lasts at least three years but can extend up to six or seven years. It is easier to be accepted to the Masters level than at the Doctorate level. Tengaria's schools are usually not focused on research study, but pedagogical studies instead, as the profession of educator is one given great prestige in Tengaria. However, the top-tier universities have research-based graduate programs, especially for the natural sciences.

All tertiary level education is free for Tengarian citizens and paid for by the government; however, it is not free for International Students, although the Tengarian government on occasion has been known to give grants and scholarships to certain international students to encourage them to experience Tengarian education. For international students who wish to study under the Tengarian mode of education but are not prepared to engage in the rigorous process, several universities offer a four-year less intense and more basic approach to liberal education for all who are interested in getting a basic liberal education. International students who wish to pursue graduate-level education also have more lenient and less rigorous entrance exams, because of the difference in educational background. In particular, graduate level studies in Philosophy at Tengarian Universities are internationally renowned, but are known for being extremely selective in who they choose to admit.