School opening ceremonies were held on Saturday across North Korea celebrating the country’s full implementation of its new 12-year compulsory education system, multiple state-run outlets reported over the weekend.

North Korea adopted a law for “universal 12-year compulsory education” at the 6th session of the 12th DPRK Supreme People’s Assembly in September 2012 with Kim Jong Un’s approval, and has been progressively implementing the new legislation since.

Previously the North required 11 years of compulsory schooling: one year in kindergarten, four in elementary school, and six in secondary school.

Rodong Sinmun, an organ of the ruling Workers’ Party of Korea (WPK),