Secondary school
Secondary school (enseñanza media) provides pupils with more specialised training than their basic education and prepares them for university or vocational training. The four years of compulsory secondary school are divided into two, two-year cycles, the curriculum containing compulsory and optional subjects.
During secondary school, the compulsory subjects are:
Language and communication,
Mathematics
Science (physics, chemistry and biology)
History
Geography
Social science
English
Physical education
Visual or musical arts
Technology, the first two years
Philosophy and psychology, the last two years.
Upon completion of secondary school, pupils who have achieved passing grades are awarded a graduate of secondary education (Licenciado en Enseñanza Media) certificate enabling them access to higher education or to undergo specialised vocational training. Also, pupils finishing professional school obtain a diploma of técnico de nivel medio in whatever specialty they studied.