8531 General secondary education

NOGA 2025
- Q EDUCATION
  - 85 Education
    - 853 Secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education
      - 8531 General secondary education
        
        853101 Lower secondary level
        
        853102 Baccalaureate schools
        
        853103 Upper secondary specialised schools

This class includes the provision of education that lays the foundation for lifelong learning and human development and is capable of furthering education opportunities. Activities classified in this class are based on programmes that are usually on a more subject-oriented curriculum using more specialised teachers and more often employing several teachers conducting classes in their field of specialisation.

Subject specialisation at this level often begins to have some influence even on the educational experience of those pursuing a general programme. Such programmes are designed to qualify students either for technical and vocational education or for entrance to higher education without any special subject prerequisite.

This class includes:

lower general secondary education corresponding more or less to compulsory school age
upper general secondary education, whether granting access or not to higher education

85.31.1 General lower secondary education services
This category includes education services provided within educational programmes at ISCED Level 2, typically designed to build on the learning outcomes from ISCED level 1 and generally aiming to complete the provision of basic skills and knowledge of the primary level, although teaching is typically more subject-focused, often employing more specialised teachers who conduct classes in their field of specialisation. These services cover education which is not designed explicitly to prepare participants for a specific class of occupations or trades or for entry into further vocational or technical education programmes, nor lead directly to a labour market-relevant qualification.

This category also includes:
- services related to the provision of special education programmes at this educational level
- services related to the provision of literacy programmes for adults at this educational level
This category excludes:
- vocational lower secondary education services, see 85.32.1
85.31.11 Online general lower secondary education services
85.31.12 Other general lower secondary education services
85.31.2 General upper secondary education services
This category includes educational services for programmes provided within educational programmes at ISCED Level 3, with a higher degree of specialisation and where teachers are more qualified and specialised in their subjects when compared to Level 2. Often different streams and types of programmes are available at this level. Generally speaking, completion of Level 3 education is the minimum requirement for entry into tertiary education programmes. Services in this category cover education which is not designed explicitly to prepare participants for a specific class of occupations or trades or for entry into further vocational or technical education programmes.

This category excludes:
- vocational upper secondary education services, see 85.32.2
85.31.21 Online general upper secondary education services
85.31.22 Other general upper secondary education services