Pyongyang (HRNW)- North Korea’s ruling Workers’ Party has decided to tighten regulations in senior middle schools after a large number of students reportedly failed a newly introduced elective subject at the start of the 2026 academic year.
According to media reports, a significant number of students did not pass the specialization track examinations conducted after the new semester began.
The provincial party education department has issued a stern warning, stating that students who fail to meet the required academic standards may be assigned to work in coal mines or construction sites.
The elective system was introduced this year across senior middle schools to evaluate students’ suitability for specialized academic tracks.
Following unexpectedly poor results, party officials declared the outcome “abnormal” and dispatched inspection teams to schools across the province to review the implementation of the system.
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