Education in North Korea

Education in North Korea is provided by the government and is available to all children. It includes one year of kindergarten, five years of primary school, and six years of secondary school. After finishing secondary school, students can choose to go to a university or a technical college to learn more.

The government pays for all of this education, making sure every child has the chance to learn. In 1988, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) shared numbers about teachers in schools across North Korea.

Unfortunately, as of 2021, UNESCO did not have recent information about how well people in North Korea can read and write. Still, the country’s education system shows how important learning is to its leaders and people.

History

Historical Korea

Formal education has always been important in Korea, both in the past and today. In old Korea, called the Joseon Dynasty, schools taught students special subjects. These schools were only for a few students, and most children could not go to school.

Later, new schools began teaching modern subjects. Missionaries from other countries started schools, including the first school for girls. But when Japan took control of Korea, they made sure Korean students only got basic education.

Democratic People's Republic of Korea

After North Korea became its own country, many children could not go to school. By 1950, the government made school required for children, but the Korean War made this hard. Finally, by 1956, all children could go to school.

Today, North Korea offers free education to all children. They go to school for eleven years without paying anything. Recently, the leader suggested making school even longer, up to twelve years. This means children now go through kindergarten, primary school, and several years of secondary school before they can choose to go to college.

Primary and secondary education

In North Korea, children attend school for many years. After kindergarten, they go to primary school for four years and then continue to secondary school for six years. Some special schools focus on music, art, or foreign languages, while also teaching regular subjects.

One important special school is the Mangyongdae Revolutionary Institute, where students learn modern subjects like economics and computers. In secondary schools, some lessons are about important national ideas and policies.

Social education

Social education in North Korea happens outside of regular school lessons. It includes activities after school, time with family, and learning about relationships in society. The goal is to create a safe space where children are protected from unexpected influences.

Young people join groups like the Korean Children's Union and the Socialist Patriotic Youth League. Here, they learn about teamwork and prepare for bigger responsibilities. After school, they take part in many fun activities in special buildings called "schoolchildren's palaces." These places have libraries, gyms, theaters, and host events like poetry recitals and science discussions.

Higher education

North Korea has many schools and universities. These include colleges for teachers, technology schools, medical schools, and special schools for subjects like science, art, music, and foreign languages. There are also military schools.

One important university is Kim Il Sung University, founded in 1946. It offers many subjects such as economics, history, law, and computer science. Getting into this university is very hard because many students want to go there. Other universities focus on technology, natural science, foreign languages, and teacher training.

In 2011, all universities were closed for a short time because of worries about uprisings similar to those in the Arab Spring.

International students

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, there were about 100 foreign students at Kim Il Sung University and 100 at the Kim Hyong Jik University of Education, mostly from China.

International students in North Korea have more freedom than tourists. They can move around the city on their own, use the subway and taxis without guides, and use the internet if they have access to foreign websites.

These students live with specially trained local students who help them learn the Korean language and culture.

Adult education

Adult education is very important in this country, and many people take part in learning activities, often in small groups. In the early 1990s, people in villages were grouped into teams of five families to help each other learn and stay informed.

Workers at offices and factories have special learning time after work, where they study topics about their jobs and the country. There are special schools for workers, called "factory colleges," where they can learn new skills without leaving their jobs. They study in the evenings or during short courses. There are also schools for people working on farms, and ways to study through correspondence courses. For those who could not go to regular school, there are special schools for workers and farmers, though these became less common after the country started requiring more years of school for everyone.