Board Thread:Custom Lore Development/@comment-26535281-20170421003549

"The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home."

- Zi Kong Qiu

Education is seen as highly important in Xin (A trait lacked by many nations in the west and southern parts of the world) as both a tool of the state but also to improve the standard of living in all of Xin and it's colonies (To an extent)

Education beings at the age of 6 in which parents can send their children to the village center or temple to learn the basics of writing, reading, and mathematics. When a child reaches the age of 8 they are allowed to take a 'Imperial Examination' which determines if they are able to receive Imperial education (They can retake the exam until they reach the age of 10). Imperial Exams are held 4 times a year at the begging of the seasons of the year.

If a child passes an Examination they are then given the benefits of Imperial Education and are sent to a Imperial school (Each town is expected to have one) they will stay at this school until they reach the age of 10 or 12 (12 for late starters).

The next phase determines if they continue for a few more years of basic skills or if they are deemed worthy and desirable enough for the state to further educate (Education in stuff like philosophy, advance math, classical Xinese, and so on). For those who are not they finish their basic education and are sent off to do what ever work they can they graduate at the age of 14 or 16 (The basic education should be enough to get them a role in the government, a minor role, but a role none the less). This the final staged of equal education after this point education depends on the Academy and such.

The Final phase of higher education is the Academy. Before they head off they take a Exam that will determine what they would be good at (Normally narrowed down into 3 sections) this test is known as the 'Exam of a Hundred Paths'. The student then choices out of the top sections they got and then are enrolled into the Academy in question. This phase last till the student is 18 or 20 but can stretch longer for certain roles.

Academy has two payment options for the poor their are public options that are decent but not the best. The middle class can afford to send their children to private academies known as 'Jade Academies' and finally the rich and powerful can send their children to the finest Academies known as the 'Royal Academies'

Now Education in Xin is a tool of the state no matter what. The State makes sure to keep certain knowledge hidden from the students and to indoctrinate all students in the philosophy of Xin (See Xin is an open society but only if it doesn't affect the state).

The most important aspects in the Education in Xin is the history of Xin, culture, and the teaching of politics. All students are taught a slightly different history then what actually happened with history carefully changed by the authorities to better suit it's philosophy anything other then what the State deems acceptable is banned, simple.

Education in Xin also isn't about friendships it is about rivalries and class politics. Such an environment is meant to bring out the best in the Students and show who will be useful to the Emperor and who will be just simple citizens. So fierce are the rivalries that each school/Academy is expected to have a dueling arena.

Education is seen as the key to civilization in the Xinese eyes thus it's reason for it to be open of people of all classes and races (Even if for the lower classes it is limited) this system also helps bring the Empire together for the most part all students are taught the same, given the same history, and indoctrinated in the same culture.

Education is not limited on culture either with both sexes given equal opportunity when it comes to education (Although separated schooling for later stages). The only job field that is limited to mainly males is the military (With women being able to sever in the reserve although some exceptions do exist)

The Education system is also meant to find the best for the Empire. This means thus who are qualified will advance meaning that a peasant farmer from so rural village that has some gift when it comes to education can make it far in life while a noble son with a lazy attitude will not.

The military is one of the few organizations in Xin that will pay fully for it's students education (Of course if one falls below standards they will be dropped) this is mainly to keep the Xinese military with a healthy and educated officer and to an extent soldier class. 