LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION (EDUCACION SECUNDARIA)

• Structure
• Age of Admission
• Length
• Programme of Study
• Assessment and Promotion
• Degrees and Certificates

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Structure

Secondary education is organized into two stages as follows: 

• Lower-Secondary Education (Educación Secundaria Básica), grades 7-9
• Upper-Secondary Education  (Educación Media Superior), grades 10-11 or 10-12

Age of Admission:

Twelve years old.

 

Length:

Three years

 

Programme of Study

There are two types of secondary education: academic programmes leading to further education, and non-academic or terminal

programmes. The curriculum for the academic programme is as follows:

*Classes meet five days a week for five hours a day, with five hours a week devoted to non-academic activities (art education, physical education and technological education). Schools with specialized curriculums spend between 8 to 12 hours per week on the specialization component, with a total of 33 to 37 hours a week. There are 53 different areas of specialization offered, ranging from agriculture to shoe making.

 

Source: SEP, Plan y Programas de Estudios, 1994-1995

 

Assessment and Promotion

Students are assessed on a monthly basis. Students must get a grade of 6 or above in order to pass a subject. Those who successfully pass all subjects are promoted to the next grade.

 

Degrees and Certificates

Upon successful completion of a programme in the ciclo de enseñanza secundaria (secondary education cycle), students receive the Certificado de Educación Secundaria (Certificate of Secondary Study). Students graduating from one of the specialized programmes may also receive a special diploma specifying the field of study, or the field of study might simply be indicated on the Certificado with a number (a complete list of specializations is listed on the back of the document). Generally, students graduating from these type of programmes continue their education at the upper-secondary level.

 

Lower-secondary programmes, not leading to further study, are designated as nivel medio básico, nivel medio elemental or nivel medio terminal (basic lower secondary education). These are non-academic programmes with a strong emphasis on vocational, commercial and artistic training. Most programmes require completion of elementary education as an admission requirement. However some students can be accepted without any specific level of education, depending on the nature of the programme. The length of these programmes range between several weeks to three to four years depending on the curriculum. Upon completion of the programme, students are awarded a Certificado de Estudios (Certificate of Study) or a diploma designating the field of specialization.

Revised: May 06, 2004 .
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