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Education is considered important by people in New Zealand. Learning areas include language, mathematics, science, technology, social sciences, and arts. Children must attend school until they are 16 years old. The country has 99 percent English literacy, one of the world's highest literacy rates.

After 1910, when Japan took control of Korea as its protectorate, the Korean people were treated severely. Korea remained under military control until Japan was defeated in 1945, at the end of World War II. Reading and writing their own language was vital for Koreans during the colonial period, when Japanese language, culture, and history were officially taught in schools.

The Korean kingdom of Choson's golden age occurred under King Sejong the Great. He was concerned that only the educated yangban could write, and that they wrote in Chinese which ordinary people could not read. He invented a Korean alphabet called 'hangu,' which enabled ordinary people to write their own language. There were many scientific inventions in his time too. Books on farming and medicine printed then are still read.

The Thai government aims to provide education for all citizens. All schools use the same curriculum. There are more than 40 universities and teachers' colleges. Courses are offered to adults and people with special needs. These include the handicapped or unemployed and those who have not been able to attend school or learn vocational skills. Universities train scientists, engineers, and economists for industry and agro-industry.