Children go to school1 when they are ready for it. That is, when they know how to behave with other children and can concentrate during the lessons. Therefore, there is no certain age at which children go to school. Some are never ready, and when they are grown up, some useful jobs will be found for them.
The first school years last for about 5-7 years. The schools are in almost every village. The teacher(s) are paid by the local government. The children learn about language (read, write), simple mathematics, history, geography, biology, etiquette, music, art and other things that are useful in normal life.
When a child is 12 years old, it is going to be an adult (but is no adult yet). At the age of 12, the school is no longer obligatory. Many children get into the next phase of their education: two years off to explore the future. This period is popular for trying several jobs, for grand tours, helping out the parents, or for the first real job. Some just do nothing at all, and that is all right too - but they should not complain about that later.
When one is 14, the school waits again. This can be a private school, a learning course with a craftsman, or the highschool to learn some more general things. Highschools are in many Dalethian cities. Most of these schools are specialised, such as the Academy of Arts in Ildritz and the Imperial College of Technics. For lots of children, this is the reason to leave the family and get a home (usually a small room) on their own. It is normal to work and study at the same time. The highschools are partly paid for by the government, and partly by the student.
Of course, many child of the elite has private education. Private education is indeed very popular among the rich inhabitants of Daleth. With private education the child will be learned how to behave in the elite society, a very complex way of living. Private education is also very good to cover up for a lack of intellect by the child (less rich children who are not very smart can always find a job that does not ask much from their brains, but for rich children it is impossible to work with their hands - or even, to work at all).
 Altheizar University |
Universities are expensive and each student has to pay for the education. Some governments pay for research, sometimes for the education of a smart poor student, but never for “just another student”.
Other Masters are those who have worked for a Master of Craft and did the Proof of their abilities. This Proof is judged by the appropriate Guild. Only such masters can educate pupils to be a Master.
Of course, there are some other schools and educational institutes. Everyone is free to start such an institute. The most famous of them are the Priest schools throughout Daleth. In these schools, one learns how to be a priest. But many priest schools will try to get their pupils into university for further education - it never hurts to know too much.
The University of Altheizar
Among the universities in Daleth, that of Altheizar has a special place. No more under the rule of the Emperor, the university started its own plan of education. The result of this innovation in education is a technically advanced university, where the modern insights are taught.The more traditional universities, like those of Ciniz and Ildritz, watch the University of Altheizar with a mixed feeling. Many of the courses given are close to magic and the experiments taken have no scientific proof. It is said that many of the Altheizar scientists are in fact dabblers, and the university is regarded to as the Magic School.
Example: [Dis-Letneins]
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1 Naglani children in the Taycha are not educated in schools, but by their kiltei. The Taycha has not enough children to keep schools going. See also The Naglani Culture