Primary and Secondary Education in Venezuela
A 12-year system of education with Pre-school education being the first compulsory stage of education at age 5 years.
- Basic Education is 9 years in duration, and runs from grade one through nine (ages 6-15). Upon completion of basic education, students are awarded the Certificado de Educación Básica. Basic Education consists of Primary Education and Middle Education.
- Primary Education is 6 years (ages 6-11) Grades 1-6. Upon completing this stage, students are given a Certificado de Educación Primaria.
- Middle Education is 3 years (ages 12-14) Grades 7-9
- Diversified Secondary Education (Educación Media Diversificada) is 2 years (ages 15-17) Grades 10-11.
- Vocational Secondary Education (Educación Media Profesional) is 3 years (ages 15-18) Grades 10-12.
- Upon completion of Diversified Secondary, students are awarded the title of Baccalaureate (Título de Bachiller), and upon completion of vocational secondary they receive the Técnico Medio. These credentials are equivalent to U.S. high school graduation.
Schools follow the academic year that begins in mid September and ends in late June or early July lasting for 38 weeks. It consists of two semesters of instruction. Schools are in operation five days a week (Monday through Friday), 198 days a year. There are a total of twelve years of education preceding post-secondary education – grades 10 and 11 (equivalent to 11 and 12 in U.S.). The curriculum guidelines outline a 35-hour school week at the Bachillerato level.
The Ministry of Education is responsible for implementing education policy and regulations.
Post 2009
Post 2009, education in Venezuela was reorganized into the
following stages:
- pre-school education for children below age of 6 years
- Primary Education for 6 years (ages 6-12) Grades 1-6. Upon completing this stage, students are given a Certificado de Educación Primaria.
- General secondary education (educación media general) for 5 years (ages 12-17) Grades 7-11 is provided at colegios and liceos.
- Vocational secondary education (educación media general) for 6 years (ages 12-18) Grades 7-12 is provided at escuelas técnicas (technical schools).
Grade conversion scale for Venezuela:
Common Grade Scale |
U.S. Grade Equivalence |
16-20 |
A |
13-15 |
B |
11-12 |
C |
| 0-9 | F |
Credentials:
- Certificado de Educación Primaria (Certificate of Primary Education)
- Certificado de Educación Básica (Certificate of Basic Education)
- Bachiller en Ciencias (Bachelor of Sciences) or Bachiller en Artes (Bachelor of Arts) or Bachiller en Humanidades (Bachelor of Humanities).
- Técnico en Ciencias (Technician of Sciences)
