The development of upper secondary education. A historical perspective

Abstract

This paper describes the development of education systems, beginning with the birth of universities in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, and in the xvi continues with the emergence of lyceums, forefathers of high schools. The expansion of education systems is analyzed, first by the “dual model”, which separates early children who are expected to reach college and those who will be integrated soon into the labor market; then with the “comprehensive model”, first in the United States, and since mid-twentieth century in other countries. In this model all young people study in similar schools until the end of high school. Finally, it is analyzed the difficulty found in all countries to universalize upper secondary education, and conclusions are drawn for Mexican education.