PYONGYANG - The parliament of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) on Tuesday approved 12-year compulsory education, the official KCNA news agency reported.

Choe Thae Bok, vice-chairman of the Supreme People's Assembly (SPA), reported on enforcing universal 12-year compulsory education at the sixth session of the 12th SPA.

He stressed the need to strengthen education in computer technology and foreign languages, saying all schools should set up an information network with the education committee and other educational institutions across the country.

The universal 12-year compulsory education shall be enforced free of charge for all children aged from 5 to 17. It will consist of one year of pre-school education, five years of primary schooling, three years of junior middle schooling, and three years of senior middle schooling, KCNA said.

The six-year middle schooling shall be enforced from the 2013-2014 school year. The work for converting four-year primary schools to five years shall go through the preparatory phase in the 2014-2015 school year and be finished in 2-3 years, KCNA said.

The SPA is the supreme power organ and the legislative body of the DPRK, according to the constitution. In 2009, the 12th SPA election elected 687 members. Parliament members have a tenure of five years, and the parliamentary session is usually held annually.