Education in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) is universal and state funded schooling by the government. The national literacy rate for citizens 15 years of age and older is over 99 percent. Children go through one year of kindergarten, four years of primary education, six years of secondary education, and then on to universities. A total of 11 years of primary and secondary education are free and compulsory. The system comprises one year of preschool, four years of primary school, and six years of secondary school. Education serves as a process of inculcating communist ideology and a means to supply skilled workers, technicians, and scientists to meet the government’s economic goals. All students are required to engage in productive labour along with their studies, which emphasize science and technology. Institutions of higher education offer programs of two to six years in length.