Secondary Education - Secondary Education in The EU

Secondary Education in The EU

Secondary education is a stage of education following primary school. Except in a few countries where only primary or basic education is compulsory, secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education. However, secondary education in some countries includes a period of compulsory and a period of non-compulsory education. After secondary education, the next stage of education is usually college or university. Secondary education is characterized by transition from primary education for minors to tertiary, "post-secondary", or "higher" education (e.g., university, vocational school) for adults. Depending on the system, schools for this period or a part of it may be called secondary schools, high schools, gymnasia, lyceums, middle schools, colleges, vocational schools and preparatory schools, and the exact meaning of any of these varies between the systems.