Created by: Marina Aukon-Page
The education system in Amuria is structured as a welfare system funded through general taxation. This taxation is met with adequate representation in Amurian’s having the freedom to elect their government who will impose education guidelines. Amuria is a social democracy that prides itself on inclusion, equality, and equal opportunity. Thus, the systems, institutions, and policies are structured to support these key pillars of society. With respect to education, Amuria invests highly utilizing taxation as a means to have an inclusive, world-class education system made highly accessible. Education is seen as one of the most important investments Amuria makes in its people. Education is structured as a welfare system that invests itself back into the Amurian economy, it is an investment in the future and has allowed Amuria to be an innovator in green energy and maintain a thriving economy.
Education is seen as an afterthought by many nations, sacrificed for a stronger military or tax cuts but Amuria acknowledges its importance and has established a welfare-based system, fueled by general taxation, and run in a democratic way in order to create the most equal, just, and innovative system. Education reform is a difficult undertaking but in Amuria, democracy is at the center of all governmental actions and the people of Amuria hold education as one of the highest priorities. Because of the social welfare structure, Amuria is able to allocate large amounts of funding into the education system in order to make it accessible, exceptional, and highly inclusive.
The structure of the education system is democratic, with the Secretary of Education being appointed by the Chief Executive, as well as regional popular elections of the local government which are responsible for a number of statutory duties drafted by the parliament and legislative branch in regard to education. These statutory duties include a high minimum wage for educators, this wage changes with respect to inflation and is aimed to put educators in the high middle class, incentivizing this job and allowing for competition and highly trained instructors to be adequately compensated. Instructors must also take certifications for the specific subject or subjects they teach.
Education in Amuria is thoroughly funded by the government. The primary and secondary school districts receive yearly funding and are tasked with allocating it properly, with certain percentage delegations being made mandatory. For example, all schools must employ a nurse, psychologist, and welfare officer (or similar positions). Education is free and compulsory, Amurian students must attend public primary and secondary school. While homeschooling is legal, there are thorough testing benchmarks which must be met to satisfy the national education requirement. Within the schools, the government mandates historical teaching to include that of the Ukugan tribe and the indigenous backgrounds of Amuria; land preservation and wildlife conservation are also key aspects of history and science teaching in primary and secondary schools.
State universities are highly funded, and tuition is subsidized making it free for the first four years and need-based after, private schools are allowed to operate freely but tuition is not subsidized, and they must be nonprofit. State universities have large staff and decreased class sizes. The Amurian government gives a large number of grants every year to high school and university students, focused on innovation in the sciences, specifically green energy and sustainability. There is further funding for public universities' STEM programs to provide state-of-the-art equipment and labs. The STEM programs are the highest funded programs within public universities as Amuria is known for its innovation in green energy, sustainability, and land and wildlife preservation.
The culmination of this “social” education system is high-stakes standardized testing. This begins in year ten when students take an exam to determine whether they are on track for university or trade school. When students graduate high school, they take another standardized assessment in order to qualify for university admittance, this test is adaptive and focuses on skills: critical thinking and problem-solving are regarded much higher than written facts. These tests are standardized and written by the ACB, the Amurian College Board, and are rigorous and highly regarded.
The Amurian education system takes inspiration from the Nordic Model. In Sweden, schooling is compulsory, similar standards including rigorous testing are in place, and they are highly effective. Though years 10-12 are not mandated, “around 69 percent of upper secondary students received a leaving qualification in 2021 (diploma)” (Swedish Institute). Sweden’s education is highly regarded and, “Sweden's long focus on education is quoted as one of the explanations for the country's capacity for innovation.” (Swedish Institute). The Nordic (or Scandinavian) Model that Sweden follows, as well as Finland, Denmark, Norway, and Iceland; has yielded incredible results in education, these countries are noted having “high economic productivity, high social equality, high social trust and high levels of personal happiness (Brooks).
Overall, education in Amuria is one of the most important parts of society. Though there is a focus on encouraging innovation in science and rigor in students’ studies, the cumulative model of the education system focuses on developing the students, fitting them with the tools to thrive in society. It is centered around critical thinking, maturity, overall: “educating the whole person.” Amuria aims to educate students who “understand complex systems and see the relations between things — between self and society, between a community of relationships in a family and a town” (Brooks). This way of educating allows Amurian’s to have high levels of social trust, lower corruption, and communal responsibility, all important pillars of Amurian society. The Amurian education system is focused on equality, universal human rights, collective freedom, and science. Free of restrictions based on race, social status, and religion. All Amurian’s are ensured access to education as to provide equal opportunity within a thriving, innovative, society.
Sources:
Swedish Institute. The Swedish School System. “Education is key in Sweden. It's tax-financed, and compulsory from the age of 6” .https://sweden.se/life/society/the-swedish-school-system
David Brooks. “This Is How Scandinavia Got Great.” NY Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/13/opinion/scandinavia-education.html