Education in Emerstari

Anders Ingvar Skogstrom: Chief of the Department of Education

Education in Emerstari is mandatory for children between the ages of 6 years and 15 years. The school year in Emerstari usually begins in late August and runs until early July, broken up by a Christmas (6 Dec. – 6. Jan.), fall (20 Sept. – 10 Oct.), spring (15 April – 30 April), and summer (1 July – 31 Aug.) breaks.

While there does exist preschool in Emerstari, usually in the form of local church programs, it is fairly uncommon for children to attend, and it is viewed as a familial responsibility to foster young children. Between the ages of 6 and 11, children attend Furstskole (English: First school) wherein they all study the same subjects. From 11 to 15, children attend Midtenskole (English: Middle school). In this school, there is more variety and choice in the subjects that students can study, but there is a requirement of one foreign language. The majority of Emerstarian schools are administered by counties but are regulated federally.

Almost all studies continue studying after Midtenskole in a 3-year-long secondary school, Gymnasjom (English: High school) where most choose one out of 18 national programs, of which, some are vocational and some preparatory.

In 2014, 49% of Emerstarian children attended public county schools, 31% attended public church-affiliated schools, 14% attended private schools, and 8% were homeschooled.

History

1978 graduation class of a Vernian Midtenskole

In 1876, the Emerstarian legislature passed the Skoleska Låger, a series of laws creating a new plan that would standardize schooling across the nation. Up to that point a large portion of Emerstarian children was homeschooled or tutored and another portion attended schools run by local churches.

The Skoleska Låger of 1876 created Alltskole (English: General school) which consisted of four grades. In 1901, three more grades were added and Alltsskole was divided into Furstskole and Sekondskole. The current system was devised in 1937, making school mandatory from ages 6 to 15. Additionally, Sekondskole was renamed to Midtenskole and the optional Gymnasjom was introduced.

Primary education

In the Emerstarian Furstskole, students take each of 16 subjects which are, according to the time allocated: Emerstarian, Mathematics, Physics, Physical education, History, Biology, Religion, Geography, Technology, Music, Visual arts, and Handicrafts. These subjects are taught in three stages, lower stage (Grades 1–2), middle stage (Grades 3–4), upper stage (Grade 5).

In Emerstarian Midtenskole, in addition to required Emerstarian, Mathematics, Physical education, History, Chemistry, and a foreign language, students may choose to study Geography, Religion, Music, Home economics, Visual arts, or engineering and technology.

Grading

Emerstarian students begin receiving grades from third grade; before third grade, students receive an Individulsk Taksseringplan (English: Individual Assessment Plan), containing teachers' assessments of the student's knowledge.

The grading system in primary school uses the grades A, B, C, and D as passing grades and E as a failing grade. If a student cannot be graded due to extensive truancy, the student will receive a dash instead of an E; a dash is not considered a grade. If a student is on the verge of receiving an E in a certain subject, the teacher thereof is responsible to write the student and the student's parents a review on how to improve themselves.

National tests

In grades 3–9, national tests are administered to all students. The aims of these tests are to assess both the students' and the schools' progress and they are considered when dispersing the national education budget. In grade 3, there is a second national test to specifically assess students proficiency in Emerstarian and basic math, science, and history.

Gymnasjom

Secondary school, called Gymnasjom, usually lasts for three years, and is optional, but it has a 99% enrollment. It is divided into 21 different national programs with different educational focus. The system is course-based with the same courses sometimes being used for multiple programs.

National programs

The national programs are divided into two categories: preparatory and vocational. All of these programs give basic qualification to attend university or to apply for a job.

List of national programs

English name	Emerstarian name	Type
Social Science Program	Sammlingskvettenskap	Preparatory
Natural Science Program	Naturskvettenskap	Preparatory
Business Management and Economics Program	Ekonomigprogramme	Preparatory
Technology Program	Teknikprogramme	Preparatory
Humanities Program	Manskaprogramme	Preparatory
Arts Program	Konsteprogramme	Preparatory
Electricity and Energy Program	Elektrisk- åg energiprogramme	Vocational
Building and Construction Program	Byggandesk- åg konstruksjonprogramme	Vocational
Vehicle and Transport Program	Vagn- åg transportprogrammet	Vocational
Health and Social Care Program	Hålsja- åg Sammlingskvårdprogramme	Vocational
Child and Recreation Program	Barn- åg rekreasjonprogramme	Vocational
Business and Administration Program	Handelsk- åg administrasjonsprogramme	Vocational
Natural Resource Use Program	Naturbruksprogrammet	Vocational
Agricultural Science Program	Bondeskprogramme	Vocational
Handicraft Program	Håndverksprogramme	Vocational
Restaurant Management and Food Program	Restaurangt- åg Måtsprogramme	Vocational
Industrial Technology Program	Industriteskprogramme	Vocational
HVAC and Property Maintenance Program	VVS- åg landsprogramme	Vocational
Hotel and Tourism Program	Hotell- åg turismprogramme	Vocational

Higher education

Uppsalle University, founded in 1450, is the oldest university in Emerstari

See also: List of universities and colleges in Emerstari

The first university in Emerstari, Uppsalle University, was established in 1450 by order of Georg I Erik. It remained the only university in Emerstari until 1461 when Rensulier University was founded.

In 2016, 62% of Emerstarian adults had attended a university.

Cost

A few charity institutions cover all of a student's tuition, including the Der Kuings Upperskoleskfond (The King's Higher Schooling Fund), and scholarships are widely available. The average yearly tuition in Emerstari in 2015 was:

• Public university (4 years): $3,278 or 2,927 ESK (per year)
• Private university (4 years): $11,382 or 10,163 ESK (per year)

Chart of grade levels

Grade levels in Emerstari

Type of education	School		Designation
Doctoral level	University (Universitet) 2–4 years	4th year
		3rd year
		2nd year
		1st year
Master's level education	University (Universitet) 1–2 years	2nd year
		1st year
Bachelor's level education	University (Universitet) 2–3 years	3rd year
		2nd year
		1st year
Secondary school	High School (Gymnasjom) Ages 16–18		12th grade
			11th grade
			10th grade
Primary school	Middle school (Midtenskole) Ages 12–15		9th grade
			8th grade
			7th grade
			6th grade
	First school (Furstskole) Ages 6–11		5th grade
			4th grade
			3rd grade
			2nd grade
			1st grade
Preschool education	Preschool (Føreskole) Ages 1–6		-