April 1, the school opening day, is just up ahead.

The start of a new semester unfolds with it an unusually delightful scene across the country - happy children going to school dressed up in new school uniforms; they carry Sonamu schoolbags on their backs, filled with Mindlle stationery. Looking at the bright, happy faces clad in school uniforms, parents feel gratitude towards the country for its care bestowed upon the future generation.

Providing school children with well-fitting school uniforms – this is the eternal policy of our Republic. And modern factories have been built to produce attractive notebooks, school bags and other stationery bearing the brands of Mindlle and Sonamu , ensuring favourable conditions for studies of young people.

The DPRK has excellent educational conditions that allow all children to learn to their hearts’ content and bring their hopes and talents into full bloom, thanks to the world’s most superior universal 12-year compulsory education system.

The universal 12-year compulsory education system is divided into 1 year of pre-schooling and 11 years of school education. The curricula include the teaching of general elementary knowledge, secondary basic knowledge, and specialized basic knowledge, together with an advanced course for select students with unusual talent.

Dozens of teachers’ colleges and universities of education have been established throughout the country to train teachers for the primary and secondary schools engaged in the universal 12-year compulsory education.

Competent teachers, graduates of the universities which are well equipped with facilities for multimedia education, virtual reality education and intellectual education, are providing solid foundations of knowledge for preschool children and primary and secondary schoolchildren to occupy the fortress of cutting-edge science.

Since the beginning of its foundation, our country has directed great attention to educational work, regarding the education of young generation as an important matter affecting the destiny of the country.

In 1956, soon after the completion of post-war reconstruction that followed the three-year war, our country set a precedent in Asia for adopting and implementing the policy on compulsory primary education.

In 1959 universal compulsory education system was introduced, in 1967 universal 9-year compulsory technical education system and in the mid-1970s universal 11-year compulsory education system.

Thanks to the superior educational system, the working people’s levels of general knowledge and basic technical knowledge have surpassed at a rapid pace compared with those in the countries with the fee-paying education system, and our country has emerged as an intellectual power with millions of learned people.

Our country performed an unprecedented miracle in the world history of economic construction by completing the industrialization in 14 years and built socialism by dint of self-reliance. And it could possess a reliable war deterrent. These are all attributable to the potent talent forces trained through the excellent educational system and the policy of our country to prioritize education.

A thriving future is always reserved for the country which prioritizes education. This also goes to the government that sets great store by talented scientists and technicians trained through the excellent educational system.

This is the eternal truth recorded in the annals of history of our country - the country of education.