The overwhelming majority of Korean students attend public primary and secondary schools with publically supported education beginning at ages 6 or 7.
The Korean school year includes 2 semesters.
The first semester starts in early March and extends to mid-July and second semester runs from late August to mid-February.
Class periods are typically 45 minutes in length followed by a 10 minute break.
At least 4 lesson periods per week are designated to mathematics instruction.
Education is compulsory through the 9th grade and is fully funded by the government. Students who do not perform at their grade level will not have to repeat a grade and they will not be transferred to other schools because of deficiencies.
Teachers work with them as much as possible to ensure that these students will move up with their classmates.