Mordusia

[Autokrator]

Education reforms pass with broad support
The coalitions promise stands! ''For our children'' says minister
September 5685
 

 

Randworth –  As announced by the new government, the new Forward Mordusia led-government wants to radically reform the education system in Commonwealth to better serve a modern world with better technology and a globalizing world. It is the believe of the new coalition government that more central government and state-level oversight is needed in schooling and more centralizing funding to make sure everyone enjoys the equality of opportunity within the nation. Now the coalition adopted the bill in the Parliament to change and radically reform this system.

 
How our educational system works
Education was a mostly decentralized thing in our nation with various terms and starting ages across the nation. Most legislation of the curriculum was already legislated by the federal government, that change was made earlier. But most of the funding, local curriculum and rules for schools and terms differed wildly. For instance, children in Voisain start in kindergarten at age 4, kindergarten being the first year of primary school. The same applies in Trelodge. However, in Trelodge the age is 5. Coliwick, Rimly and New Orange all differ as well. In those states kindergarten is pre-school education and is not mandatory. In Coliwick and New Orange you start year 1 at age 6. In Rimly this is at age 5.  This makes the education system vary across borders and makes it harder for migrants from within Mordusia or from outside our country find it hard to understand our education system.
 
Various studies also have shown that pre-school programs and early starting in school helps in the development of children. In every study it shows that levels of education and development of a child is better in schools that start at age 4 of 5, instead of 6. And this is only talking about pre-education and primary schools, not the different webs of tertiary education for vocations or college/university. The only thing that is common amongst all states is how secondary school functions.
 
Changing the system was difficult
Changing this system was always a difficult task for political parties. For years only small reforms were enacted, reformed back or moderately changed. The Reform Party has traditionally been the party that opposed taking away the freedom of states, whilst Labor and the Nationals believed children being longer at home with their parents was good for them. This changed with the large victory of Forward Mordusia.
 
The new system
The new system will make it more uniform across Mordusia with shared terminology whilst also keeping regional flavour and input in education by the states. For instance, in Voisain and in regions within states with large Ipki populations it’s allowed to institute bilingual education, in which Luthorian and a minority language are taught side by side. We summarized the changes for you:
 
Pre-Schools
Pre-school programs will remain non-mandatory and regulated by the states, however for foreigners of a non-Luthorian speaking country or a non-Commonwealth country they will become mandatory for at least two days a week. Studies have proven this will add to the integration and learning the norms, values and Luthorian language.
 
Primary education
Primary Education will begin at age 4. Primary education is mandatory and lasts 8 years. Year 1 and 2 are now recognized as kindergarten and called as such.
 
Secondary education
Secondary education will remain largely the same. Starting from year 9 and ending in year 12. An exam or test is made from which students can graduate. They can then pass on to the next years 13 en 14 to prepare for university or they can directly go to tertiary education for vocational training by receiving vocational education at colleges. A level system will not be introduced and students can pick up other subjects next to mandated federal and state subjects. Luthorian, math, science, history, social studies are primary subjects mandated throughout their entire years at secondary school. Health education is given at year 9 and 10.
 
Vocational education
Vocational education (vocational colleges) are studies for a vocation at different levels which has four levels for which you can get different certificates. Each vocation has its own certificate level and some allow you to pass onto the next by passing a lower certification first. This remains largely the same, though vocational education is now more standardized and will transition into proper colleges and a proper curriculum that is approved by the state and the Commonwealth Government with input of the market to make sure it fits the needs of the vocation the student is learning for.  More emphasis is given to internships.
 
University
University is the other tertiary form of education given. A student passing a level IV vocational study or passing year 14 of secondary school can move to university. University gives studies on higher vocations or more general fields of studies. One can study for an associate degree, bachelor or a masters degree. The bachelor is achieved after 4 years of study and passing by a bachelor proof or writing a thesis or doing a specialized assignment. Afterwards the student can go do their masters if they have taken the advanced class on scientific research and data analyses in their third and fourth year. If not then they have to take these in an extra year. In their next two years they will work for their master’s degree which they will get after their thesis is approved.
 
Digitalizing and using electronics in education
The government also passed, with great visible joy from Jody Bell, the minister of education, a secondary bill to fast track and fund the digitalization of schools and introducing more computers. Introducing more tablets, laptops and smartboards in schools to lessen the usage of paper. Hopefully reducing the needing of buying books and using printing paper. This was a deep desired environmentally sound policy in the eyes of the Wildlife Party whilst also a logical step for Reform and Forward Mordusia to take. The funds will help schools and families with limited spending power purchasing these electronic and digital tools.
 
Private schools and special schools
The government has announced that private schools and special schools remain outside the realm of changes in this huge educational reform bill. The government has announced that it will be addressed in a separate bill. From within the coalition, it has been hinted that the different parties are not yet of the agreement on how to deal with them and how to reform them. Reform is against abolishing them whilst the Wildlife Party thinks private schools should be banned. Forward Mordusia believes more in integrating them into the public system whilst maintaining their special characteristics.
 
Easier access for studying in Mordusia and abroad in Luthori and Hutori
The Minister of Education, Jody Bell, announced with the bill on a question from a member of her own Forward Mordusia party and from the Nationals if arrangements will also be made for easier access to study in Mordusia or for Mordusian to study abroad. The minister responded in saying that she pledged to make this happen with Luthori and Hutori, saying that it is ‘’a high priority, but before we could establish that we needed to sort this out first’’. Claiming that without a clear federal system the other countries wouldn’t be able to understand it.