| Formal education usually starts at between four and seven years of age. The main stage of education, known as primary or elementary education, is free and compulsory in most countries. During this stage children learn basic literacy and arithmetic skills. Other stages of education, such as preschool, secondary or high school, tertiary education and continuing education, have less or no government funding and are often restricted to those with higher incomes.
In developed countries education is usually free or heavily government-subsidized, but in developing countries education may be unavailable or only available to those with higher incomes. The United Nations claims that primary education is a basic human right that all children should be entitled to. |