Grade schools are required to be attended by anyone from the age of 4 – 18. Grade 1 starts on the year with the student’s 6th birthday. 4 or younger being pre-k, and 5 years old being kindergarten. Grade school is divided into 3 divisions. Grades 1-4 is elementary, grades 5-8 is Junior High, and grades 9-12 is High. There will also be options for those with developmental problems to be in a special education school that would be provided for by the county.
Grade schools will be given a number rather than a name. Since the school system is nationalized, this will prevent two schools from being identified as the same. This code will be based off of the county number, and a 3 digit number after the code. This gives a unique Identifying number for each school without having to use a name. Therefore, the first county in alphabetical order will be given an 01 (if more than 9 counties), or a 1 (if less than 10 counties). A school ID might look like 01152 for the first county of the nation.
Each grade school student will get their own email address. The email address will be based on their NIN@edu.ka. Since the NIN travels with the student, there is no need to change email addresses if they changed schools. This would seem a little silly, and therefore the address will be assigned to the edu.ka domain. However, each school will have their own website where the school can promote themselves, and provide all other information. In the example above, the School’s address will be https://01152.edu.ka.
Once the student enters school, they will be given the essentials which will include a backpack, computer, eBook reader, eBook tablet, and a PDA. If the PDA requires a data plan, this will be the responsibility of the guardian, however it might make more sense to get a 5G modem/router. All of the essentials will be intended to last the entire 12 years (Exception of the PDA) of school, and the OS will also be designed to last that long if not longer.
As well, any household that is considered as low income will be provided with a color laser printer. This is only one per household as opposed to one per student like a computer would be. The family is responsible for acquiring their own laser toner cartridges, but will be able to make a payment plan with the school since the school will be acquiring all the same printer for low income families. Those exceeding low income standards will be encouraged to buy their own printer that would meet their family needs. If they decide on not getting a laser printer, they will be encouraged to buy an ink tank printer rather than ink cartridge printers.
Courses
There is no point in going to school if there are no courses to learn. Since the education system will be nationalized, and all of the schools offer the same courses, the courses is as follows:
Grades 1-4
- Art
- English
- Health Science
- Library
- Lunch
- Martial Arts
- Math
- Science
- Social Studies
Grades 5-8
- Elective
- English
- Health Science
- Language (Available Choice of Student)
- Lunch
- Martial Arts
- Math
- Personal Finance
- Science
Grades 9-12
- Elective 1
- Elective 2
- Health Science
- Language (Available Choice of Student)
- Lunch
- Martial Arts
- Math
- Science
- Study Hall
Course Description
Art is intended to introduce the student to learning various arts such as painting, drawing, and even music. The choice of the art class will be the choice of the student (upon availability). While not technically an elective, the student does have some say in what they wish to learn here.
Electives will be courses the student may choose for themselves based on interest they may have. In Junior High, they will have one elective, and Senior High, they will have 2 electives. This will be done in a manner that education is still on the forefront. Any elective not chosen will be considered as a study hall period, and the student will be in the library, however – electives are recommended, and in Senior High, an elective can be chosen to learn a trade.
English as the name suggests is intended to focus on learning the components of the English language. Early on, they will be taught script even though it isn’t used much with the prevalence of the computer keyboard. They will be fast tracked for these portions of the English language as nowadays – script does not seem much importance with the exception of signing their name. With that said, the first year will be devoted to script whereas the student would have learn the alphabet, and how to print in Kindergarten.
Health Science can also be just called Health. The student will learn about keeping up with their health, and well being from simple details, and information in elementary to sexual education in grades 5-8. More pervasive details will be made in 9-12 with learning about the legality of their health, including learning about informed consent.
Language is to learn a second language. This would depend on what the school can acquire, but it would be intended to learning a global trade language. These languages can be spoken, and understood by many people who knows a second or third language. Examples might be Spanish, or French.
Library will teach the student on how to use the Kaldan National Library, and other library systems. This will also be a course in learning how to use the basics of their computer since that would be important. Library class will also teach the student how to borrow a book (using the school’s library), and how to download books to their eBook reader. Since the library is both digital, and physical, it would make sense to teach both parts.
Lunch is technically not a class, but will still take a 45 minute time slot, and therefore will be positioned as if it was a class. Ministry of Education will require nutritional foods, so there will be no junk foods served, and there will be no vending machines neither – again to promote healthy eating. So while not a class in itself, it is one to teach something.
Martial Arts will be a self-defense course that the student will be required to take. This will be in place of general physical education. The actual martial art will depend on what’s available in the school, but the martial arts will allow the child to build confidence, and physical education.
Math is a part of the STEM focus of education. With that said, all grades will have math as a requisite to learning how to compete in the global stage. Elementary will learn the basics. Junior High will learn more advanced math such as exponents to Calculus, and Senior High will learn maths such as geometry, and trigonometry, and other very complex maths.
Personal finance will be as the name suggests – their own finances. They will learn how to budget, and plan ahead for desires. They will learn consequences of credit cards, and loans. They will learn the difference between using their ID card vs. the Debit Card for purchases. Eventually, they will learn how to go to HHS to acquire a GIN, and learn the process in activating their bank account. Of course, they must be of age to actually open the account.
Science will be as the name applies – science. One will learn the basics in Elementary, and more advanced things like computer science, and basics in engineering in the higher grades. Computer programming will be considered as an elective.
Social Studies will be the study of society, and the basics of how to interact with it. Elementary will teach the essentials such as learning the basics of the Constitution, learning how local and national laws are made, and so on. Social studies can be taught in 4 years, and will not need to focus anymore time on it than necessary. Instead in Junior High, personal finance will become more important.