Uruguay - Secondary Education

Students completing secondary education may receive different types of certifications and diplomas, depending on the length of study and their choices of study. All students from ages 12 to 15 complete the Ciclo Basico, which offers general education courses. At age 15, students have three options. One is to study under the Circlo Diversificado, a program which leads to a Bachillerator Diversificado de Secundaria (similar to a high school diploma), and includes courses in humanities, science, law, business, and medicine, among other subjects. A second alternative is the Bachillerato Tecnico/Diversificado, which prepares students for careers in technical fields but also includes courses in the humanities. The Bachillerato in both areas—Ciclo Diversificado and Technico Diversificado—requires three years of additional study. The third option for secondary students is the Bachillerato Tecnico, which focuses on technical skills only, and requires up to four years of study.

Secondary students are graded on a uniform scale of 1 to 12, on which 12 is the highest possible mark and 3 is a minimum passing grade. Approximately 70 percent of children enroll in secondary schools, one of the highest secondary school enrollment rates within Latin America.