The Education System
The education system in the empire has always been open to all citizens regardless of age, nationality, alien race, or gender. Using the educational systems of the United Kingdom and the United States as models, Trekylon's education system uses the grade system when assessing a student's performance. The higher the grade point average (GPA), the better a student's opportunities for further advancement of their studies in a major college or university. Schooling starts at age 4 for both male, female, transgender, and neuter children and lasts until the age of 18-19, though if the student chooses to attend a college, they could gain a degree by age 25. Strong emphasis is placed on mathematics, science, languages, and philosophy.
Those students who show promise in vocation or technology are either selected or can apply to special schools which provide advanced courses in technology, mathematics, and languages. Students who graduate from these schools can easily find jobs in the medical, industrial, technological and even military fields. There are also schools for students seeking to enter the political field, specializing in government, languages, social science and history. But among the most important of the educational centers in the empire is the Starfleet Academy, for students who desire to become officers in the Imperial Starfleet. The most diverse in the empire, Starfleet Academy has many satellite campuses scattered across all Terran colonies, as well in the territories of the Founder Races. Here, starship operations, stellar navigation, and space combat basics are taught in addition to the standard courses including mathematics and languages.
Private schools associated with religion have become more rare over time, as Trekism has no fundamental requirement for them. However, in pockets all across the Terran colonies and on Gaia itself, religious institutions such as Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism do still offer theologically-based studies with included secular studies in mathematics, languages, and history. Messianite schools use a rigorous, almost militaristic system in teaching its students, while the Valenite 'Schools of Discipline' tend to be more relaxed, free-thinking, and meditative.
While roughly 90% of the population attend public or private school institutions for their education, 10% take courses from their homes, or on starships. Less than 1% continue the practice of 'homeschooling' as many believe a public education also promotes social development in children, while others may not have the time or do not believe themselves adequate to the task. This is a sharp decline from the days pre-Empire, when almost 40% practiced homeschooling. There is and has never been any regulations against homeschooling, nonetheless, fewer are choosing to pursue this course.
Those students who show promise in vocation or technology are either selected or can apply to special schools which provide advanced courses in technology, mathematics, and languages. Students who graduate from these schools can easily find jobs in the medical, industrial, technological and even military fields. There are also schools for students seeking to enter the political field, specializing in government, languages, social science and history. But among the most important of the educational centers in the empire is the Starfleet Academy, for students who desire to become officers in the Imperial Starfleet. The most diverse in the empire, Starfleet Academy has many satellite campuses scattered across all Terran colonies, as well in the territories of the Founder Races. Here, starship operations, stellar navigation, and space combat basics are taught in addition to the standard courses including mathematics and languages.
Private schools associated with religion have become more rare over time, as Trekism has no fundamental requirement for them. However, in pockets all across the Terran colonies and on Gaia itself, religious institutions such as Christianity, Islam, and Hinduism do still offer theologically-based studies with included secular studies in mathematics, languages, and history. Messianite schools use a rigorous, almost militaristic system in teaching its students, while the Valenite 'Schools of Discipline' tend to be more relaxed, free-thinking, and meditative.
While roughly 90% of the population attend public or private school institutions for their education, 10% take courses from their homes, or on starships. Less than 1% continue the practice of 'homeschooling' as many believe a public education also promotes social development in children, while others may not have the time or do not believe themselves adequate to the task. This is a sharp decline from the days pre-Empire, when almost 40% practiced homeschooling. There is and has never been any regulations against homeschooling, nonetheless, fewer are choosing to pursue this course.