Ikrash
From Jolkein
Ikrash is the term given to any Djarvenian educational institutions which grants higher learning to its students. The term only applies to such institution that are owned and caters only to the people of Djarven ethnicity. The very first Ikash was founded sometime in 2143 as a centre where the Djarven scholars hang together and exchange their knowledge with each other. The first Ikrash was founded in what is now the town of ALAJANKA, which was then a town of only 2,500 people, it was a melting pot of both knowledge and is a trading centre. It flourish during that time and many scholars stop by there to rest and then to impart their knowledge in the local population. The Ikrash back then were centered around Djarven churches, mostly in their gardens. In these Ikrash many people would found friends in which they can impart their knowledge and their friends continue to pass on such knowledge they have gained. Overtime the Ikrashes of ALAJANKA began to form a centralized authority and began to grant degrees to their students. The form of education in the Ikrashes were unlike in the universities and colleges in the HEXARCHY. Ikrash education primarily focuses on the spiritual side of education and their curriculum often include calligraphy, literature, language, arts, theology, music, and other subject matters. The oldest ikrash in continuous operation is the ikrash in the town of IKIBALA, which was founded by a scholar taught in education at the Ikrash of Alajanka, and decided to establish his own ikrash in his hometown to impart and spread education towards his fellow citizens. That ikrash was founded in 2184, the Ikrash of Alajanka was disbanded and subsequently closed during the beginning of the 23rd century, but many of its collection of manuscripts were reclaimed and are at display in the DJARVENIAN MUSEUM OF CULTURE AND LIBRARY in the kingdom of SMAUG. The Djarvenian culture and spiritual belief were primarily given importance in almost all of the ikrashes, both extant and defunct. Most ikrashes are currently located in the northern part of the FAWZIA, however there are also a few such ikrash in the other parts of the country and in SMAUG. In SMAUG, ikrashes also admits Smaugin students which are primarily interested in the Djarvenese culture. Djarvens are well respected in SMAUG due to their skills. Today, ikrashes are mostly private institutions of learning and levy tuition fee to students. The only country known to accredit degree from an ikrash is the kingdom of SMAUG and even go the extent in which their education ministry accredits the programs offered by many ikrashes. Many students who completed their degrees typically went to SMAUG to study another six months so that they may earn their degree which may be accredited in other nations in Jolkein.
