Today the Korean people are enjoying a worthwhile life, fully exercising their right to learning.

The socialist educational system in the DPRK, in which the state is entirely responsible for educating all the people and training them to be true masters of society, is realized through the universal compulsory education system, the universal free education system, the study-while-you-work system and the nursing and upbringing of children.

Soon after the country’s liberation from the Japanese imperialists on August 15, 1945, schools at all levels from primary schools to universities were set up on a wide scale and universal compulsory education was introduced stage by stage as the revolution and construction made headway and the economic foundations of the country were consolidated.

Thanks to it, the universal compulsory primary and secondary education, the universal compulsory 9-year technical education and the universal compulsory 11-year education were put in force, and the universal compulsory 12-year education has been introduced since Juche 103 (2014).

It is the universal free education system that supports universal compulsory education.

Since Juche 48 (1959), all educational institutions in the country have enforced universal free education at state expense.

As a result, the state takes full charge of not only the building of schools, study and experiment and practical training of students but also the expenses for extracurricular activities, study tours, visits and camping. It also provides textbooks, reference books, school things and uniforms.

School education, social education, study-while-you-work education and other forms of education are all conducted at state expense, so that the objects and scope of universal free education system in the country are very inclusive and comprehensive.

The study-while-you-work educational system was founded on July 15, 1951 with the establishment of factory colleges in the period of the Fatherland Liberation War (June 25, 1950-July 27, 1953).

Afterwards, the first farm college and fishermen’s college were set up in Chongsan-ri and in Sinpho City, respectively and, with them as parent body, other factory, farm and fishermen’s colleges mushroomed in all parts of the country.

In Juche 99 (2010), an online education system, a new form of education, was established, so that anyone can receive higher education regardless of time and place. And the establishment of the well-regulated sci-tech dissemination system centred on the Sci-Tech Complex provides a sure guarantee for making all the people well versed in science and technology.

The establishment of the system of nursing and upbringing of all preschool children at nurseries and kindergartens at state and public expense makes all people enjoy the benefits of the socialist system from their birth.

Thanks to the recent enforcement of the Party’s childcare policy, children are growing up healthily in every part of the country from a village in the remote mountain known as the first village under the sky, to that on a far-flung islet while receiving tasty and nutritious dairy products every day. They grow up spiritually, morally and intellectually under the social nursing and upbringing system.

That’s why the Korean people feel grateful for the socialist system and strive to build a prosperous socialist power without fail, seeing their children growing up happily under the meticulous care of the Party and the state.

Jang Song Ok