Education in Zhenia

Education in Zhenia is universal and mandatory managed by the Ministry of Education and, in terms of selecting members of government, the Jungchuwon. The scope of education in Zhenia includes mandatory schooling and the primary and secondary levels of education, professional and tertiary education, technical institutes and academic research. The Constitution and additional legislation clarifies that all Zhenian citizens and residents of appropriate age must undergo 12 years of mandatory primary and secondary education - this is done by both public and private schools, both of which receive funding from the government to an extent.

The Zhenian educational system is widely regarded as one of the best and most rigorous in the world. It is one of the top-performing nations in the world in reading comprehension, math and sciences, and has one of the highly educated workforce in the world. Zhenian society in general is known for its feverish outlook on education, coining the term "Zhenian fever": educational success and academic achievement are widely regarded as crucial to one's socioeconomic success in the nation as a whole. Academic success within the education system frequently becomes a source of pride for not only individuals but also families and within the society itself in general. A vast majority of Zhenians view education as the main propeller of social ascendancy for themselves and their family as a gateway to the Zhenian middle and upper class. Graduating from a top university in Zhenia is the ultimate marker of prestige, high socioeconomic status, promising marriage prospects, and a respectable career path. An average Zhenian child's life revolves around education as academic success is indoctrinated among them from an early age. Overall, competition for the most selective institutions in the nation is fierce, with many students being part of intensive tutoring to supplement classes to gain a competitive academic edge in the process. While such educational pressure has indeed resulted in academic and national success of Zhenia, it has also brought about social side effects, such as the highest youth suicide rate in developed nations.