Iryna's education system is split up into four levels: pre-school, primary, secondary, and higher education. Completion of primary and secondary schooling is mandatory for all Irynians under the age of 16. Enrollment is near-universal, with the exception of homeless children who might face obstacles to attending school regularly. Truancy is taken seriously by the Irynian justice system, and although the punishment for first-time offenders is relatively light, repeated offenses can lead to parents being charged with the much more serious charge of child neglect.
Primary and secondary schools are run by Irynian district governments, to ensure that schools meet local needs. Upper Old Iryna, the least populous district, only has one school, but every other district has multiple schools evenly distributed throughout the district. Most children go to the school nearest to their residence, although some may wish to attend a different school for a variety of reasons: the child may have friends who attend that school, the school may have programs that better suit the child's needs, or the school might be closer to a parent's workplace. Children can even apply to attend school in another district altogether, which is most common for children who live near the division between two districts, and might be closer to an "out-of-district" school.
Children are only expected to start school once they are deemed intellectually and developmentally ready to do so. Most children are ready to begin official schooling by the age of 4, although some children do not start until they are 5. Parents who wish for their children to be properly prepared for primary school often enroll them in pre-schooling programs as early as 18 months old, but typically starting at ages 2 or 3. Classes are not broken up by age, but by academic ability - children move to the next level of classes when they have demonstrated their competency in the relevant material, which might take several months or several years, and might not happen at the same time for each academic subject. Children are not expected to completely master every subject, but at the very least demonstrate academic growth and comprehension of the basic-level concepts of that subject. Comprehension is assessed by teachers in one-on-one evaluations with each student, which occur at standard intervals throughout the school year. During these evaluations, teachers and students discuss the material covered up to that point, and come to a consensus on whether the student is ready to advance to more difficult material. Less frequently, parents or other school administrators contribute to these evaluations, if a consensus cannot be reached.
The exact selection of available classes varies between individual schools. However, there is a set number of core subjects that all students are expected to learn before graduation. These subjects are math, science, trade skills, the arts, language, literature, spellcasting, and history. Primary school students take classes that serve as general introductions to each of these subjects. After all primary school coursework is completed, children transition to secondary school, which typically occurs at age 9 or 10. In secondary school, students are given the opportunity to choose which subjects they wish to study in greater depth. Secondary school classes cover more advanced concepts, demand more active participation from students, and prepare graduates for a potential career in that field. A student who routinely struggled in one or more subjects in primary school may choose not to pursue those subjects in secondary school, instead focusing on their strengths in a different area of study. Mandatory schooling ends when a student turns 16, regardless of how many years they were enrolled in secondary school or how well they did in their classes. Students who complete the course requirements for at least one area of study can apply to graduate secondary school before the age of 16. If their application is accepted by the district board, their parents or guardian/s will not be charged with truancy if the child stops attending school. Most students opt to take classes in multiple areas of study, extending their education until they are 16.
Adults who are interested in acquiring more knowledge have many options to continue their education after their legally-mandated schooling. The largest and most prestigious higher education institution is Iryna Magitech Institute, but other options include smaller specialized trade schools, on-the-job internships and apprenticeships, as well as equivalent institutions of higher learning on other islands in the Corvidan Archipelago. Oxana University is a popular choice for those who wish to take the opportunity to experience an unfamiliar culture. Very few employers require education beyond secondary schooling, notable exceptions being for doctors and magitech engineers, but even these professions typically only require proof of competency in necessary skills.
Mandatory schooling, and most forms of supplementary schooling, typically take place during the sunset quarter-day, between noon and dusk. This is the time period that children tend to be most active and able to focus on school activities. For some extracurricular programs or adult continuing studies, classes may be held at sunrise or moonrise to accomodate non-standard schedules or personal preference. Classes are held on the first four days of the week, with the fifth weekend day being a school holiday. The end-of-year intercalary days are also school holidays.