Primary and secondary education

In Peru, primary education is called: educación primaria. Secondary education is called: educación secundaria. Pupils conclude each of these 2 educational phases with a separate diploma:

• Primary education is concluded with a Certificado oficial de estudios de educación básica, nivel de educación primaria.
• Secondary education is concluded with a Certificado oficial de estudios – educación básica regular, nivel de educación secundaria.

Together with pre-primary education (educación inicial), primary and secondary education form the educación básica regular. Education is compulsory for children aged 6 to 17, so starting from primary education.

When pupils conclude their primary education, they receive a Certificado oficial de estudios de educación básica, nivel de educación primaria. Primary education is for children aged 6 to 12.

• Duration : 6 years.
• Content: general education subjects, such as:
  • arte (art);
  • educación religiosa (religion);
  • matemática (mathematics).
    On the website of the Peruvian ministry of Education, you can find more information about primary education subjects.
• Function of the diploma: access to secondary education (Certificado oficial de estudios – educación básica regular, nivel de educación secundaria).
• Diploma: Certificado oficial de estudios – educación básica regular, nivel de educación primaria.

When students conclude their secondary education, they receive a Certificado oficial de estudios – educación básica regular, nivel de educación secundaria. Secondary education is for children aged 12 to 17.

• Duration: 5 years.
• Content: students take the following subjects:
  • arte (art);
  • ciencia, tecnología y ambiente (science, technology and environment);
  • comunicación (communication);
  • educación física (physical education);
  • educación para el trabajo (preparation for work);
  • educación religiosa (religion);
  • formación ciudadana y civica (citizenship and civic education);
  • historia, geografía y ecomomía (history, geography and economics);
  • inglés (English);
  • matemática (mathematics);
  • persona, familia y relaciones humanas (persons, family and human relations).
    Please note: the names of subjects may sometimes be different.
• Admission requirements: a Certificado oficial de estudios de educación básica, nivel de educación primaria.
• Function of the diploma: access to higher education, for which students usually have to take an entrance exam. Access to secondary vocational education is also possible.
• Diploma: Certificado oficial de estudios – educación básica regular, nivel de educación secundaria. Sometimes the diploma is called: Certificado de educación secundaria común completa.