SECONDARY EDUCATION

I. General Secondary School

Duration: Three years (ages 15 to 18)

Compulsory Subjects: During the first year, students share a common curriculum, and in the final two years are divided into scientific and literary streams. Students scoring 60 percent in all first-year subjects may choose between the two streams. Those who score under 60 percent must opt for the literary stream.

General Curriculum: Arabic, biology, chemistry, English, geography, history, home economics (for girls), mathematics, physical education (for boys) and religious studies

Leaving Certificate: Shahadat Al-Marhalat Al-Thanawiyyat (General Secondary Education Certificate), awarded to students who successfully pass the Tawjihi (General Secondary Examination)

II. Religious Secondary School

Duration: Three years (ages 15 to 18)

Curriculum: Arabic language and literature, English, general culture, geography, history and religious studies

Leaving Certificate: Shahadat Al Thanawiyyah Al ‘Aama lil Ma’aahid Al Ilmiyya(Religious Institute Secondary Education Certificate). Graduates are admitted to university in the humanities and social sciences only.

III. Technical Secondary School

There are three types of technical education offered at the secondary level: vocational/technical, commercial and agricultural. Admission to a technical school requires the Shahadat Al-Kafa’at Al-Mutawassita (Intermediate School Certificate).All technical and vocational training comes under the authority of the General Organization for Technical Education.

Duration: Three years (ages 15 to 18)

Curriculum: 
Vocational/Technical: architectural drawing, auto mechanics, electricity, machine mechanics, metal mechanics, radio and television. In addition to technical subjects, students take Arabic, chemistry, English, mathematics, physical education, physics and religious studies

Commercial: Arabic, bookkeeping and accounting, commercial correspondence, economics, English, financial mathematics, general mathematics, geography, management and secretarial and religious studies.

Agriculture (partial listing): agricultural economics, agronomy, animal husbandry, applied biology, applied chemistry, applied mathematics, applied physics, Arabic, English, farm management, horticulture, religious studies, marketing and plant nutrition

Leaving Certificates:

Technical: Diplom Al Madaaris Al Thanawiyyah Al Mihaniyyah (Secondary Vocational School Diploma)

Commercial: Diplom Al Madaaris Al Tijaariyyah (Secondary Commercial School Diploma)

Agriculture: Diplom Al Madaaris Al Ziraa’iyyah (Secondary Agricultural School Diploma)

III. Further Technical and Vocational Training

Programs ranging between one and one-half-years are offered at vocational training centers. Admission to these programs requires five to six years of primary education.

Leaving Certificate: Vocational Training Certificate