Education in Kalharia

Kalharia has a universal public education system, eleven years of which are compulsory. Education policy and the curriculum are the responsibility of the national government. Although the day-to-day running of schools is delegated to the districts, in practice Kalharia's education system is highly centralised and organised.

Education is divided into four policy areas: Frühausbildung (early education, ages 3-5), Schulausbildung (school education, ages 5-19), Höherausbildung (higher education, post 19) and Berufslicheausbilding (vocational education, post 17).

Governance
Education policy is the exclusive responsibility of the Ministry of Education, although much of the day-to-day running of schools is delegated to the districts. The Ministry sets the school curriculum, inspects schools and oversees the Matriculation Board of Kalharia, which sets examinations and awards qualifications.

The districts are responsible for the construction, maintenance and funding of schools and vocational colleges, as well as acting as the employer of all school staff and owning all school buildings and grounds. It is the district, and not the school, that has ultimate responsibility for the education of pupils, so may intervene if school staff are deemed incapable of providing an adequate education. Additionally, each school has a school board, consisting of representatives from parents, school staff, the local community and the church, which oversees the strategic objectives of the school and holds its management to account.

Municipalities play no role in the functioning of schools, though they may send a representative to each school's governing board.

Universities are funded at the national rather than the local level, and have more independence in their administrative and academic affairs. The degree-awarding process, though, is uniform across the country, and the admission and tuition-fee charging process is managed centrally.