Introduction to

Secondary Education
(8624)
Muhammad Afzal
Ph.D. Scholar
AIOU, Islamabad
OBJECTIVES

After going through this chapter the students shall be able to

explain
 Nature of secondary education
 Significance of secondary education
 Objective of secondary education
 Secondary education in Pakistan
 Scheme of study of secondary education
 Stage of formal operation and structure development
 NATURE OF SECONDARY EDUCATION

Education from class 9th to 12th 

.Bifurcated into Lower Secondary (IX to X) and Higher Secondary (XI-XII) 
Falls in Level-2 & 3 of The International Standard Classification of Education 2011. 1 
Key feature of Level-2 (Lower Secondary) 
Provide for lifelong learning .1
Organised around more subjects .2
.Program classification are referred to as middle school/junior high school, etc .3
Usual entry age is between 10 to 13 most common being 12 years .4
 Nature of secondary education (Continued)
Key feature of Level-3 (Upper Secondary) 
Typically designed to complete secondary education in preparation for tertiary education .1
.or provide skills relevant to employment, or both
specialised and in-depth instruction than programmes at ISCED level 2 .2
.more differentiated, with an increased range of options and streams available .3
,Teachers are often highly qualified in the subjects or fields of specialisation they teach .4
Nature of secondary education
(Continued)
Compulsory in most of the countries (SDG-4 of UNO)2 

Provide skills like 

Non occupation-specific practical capabilities .1

ICT the ability to learn independently.2
To work in teams .3
.Entrepreneurship and civic responsibility .4
 Significance of Secondary Education
 Occupy the most critical and transition period due to its
structure, to its clientele and between pure and applied knowledge

 Paradoxical position in society, Higher education depend on its quality

 Diversity of curricula provide basic skills

 Provide an opportunity for nation building process

 Provide a vide range of learning opportunities

 Provide opportunity for physical development, special needs of students

 Objectives of Secondary Education
General Objectives 
Provide students with knowledge and skills appropriate to their age .1
Instrument for raising quality of life .2
Realize students with real life situation .3
Futuristic outlook .4
Specific Objectives 
To develop the skills of learning and living .1
To develop appropriate value .2
To provide the knowledge require for satisfaction and as a basic for further education .3
Secondary education in Pakistan
Scheme of study of secondary education
Scheme of study of secondary education
Scheme of study of secondary education
Scheme of study of secondary education
Scheme of study of secondary education
Scheme of study of secondary education
Scheme of study of secondary education
Scheme of study of Higher secondary education
Scheme of study of Higher secondary education
Stage of formal operation and structure development
Stage of formal operation and structure development

Characteristics of Formal Operation Stage 

Begins at 11 or 12 years and extend to adulthood .1
Adolescent at this stage can apply analogical reasoning to non real object .2
or ideas
Cognitive structure reach maturity .3
Students start think abstractly like justice and inner peace .4
)Santrok, 2011(
Structure Development During Formal Operation
(Secondary Level)
 Hypothetical-Deductive Reasoning

 Scientific-Inductive Reasoning

 High School Cognitive Development

 High School Social Development

(Santrok, 2011)
 References
1. http://uis.unesco.org/sites/default/files/documents/international-standard-classification-of-
education-isced-2011-en.pdf
2. https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/education/
3. Santrok, J.W. (2011). Educational Psychology. McGraw-Hill. New York.