The North Korean education system is highly centralized and state-controlled, focusing on ideological training alongside academic subjects. Education is compulsory for children from ages 6 to 15, and the curriculum emphasizes the teachings of Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il, promoting loyalty to the Workers' Party of Korea. Schools in North Korea include primary, secondary, and higher education institutions, with a strong emphasis on science, technology, and military training. Students are often required to participate in political activities and are taught to view the state as a central part of their identity, fostering a sense of nationalism and devotion to the regime.