Country: Venezuela
Date:
1995/1996
Source:
International Association of Universities (IAU)
Pre-higher Education System
Duration of compulsory
education
Age of entry: 6
Age of exit: 14
Structure of school system
Type/level of education:
Basic First Stage
Type of school:
EDUCACION BASICA
Length of program (years):
6
Age level:
from 6 to 11
Certificate awarded:
CERTIFICADO DE EDUCACION PRIMARIA
Type/level of education:
Basic Second Stage
Type of school:
EDUCACION BASICA
Length of program (years):
3
Age level:
from 12 to 14
Certificate awarded:
CERTIFICADO DE EDUCACION BASICA
Type/level of education:
Diversified Secondary
Type of school:
EDUCACION MEDIA DIVERSIFICADA
Length of program (years):
3
Age level:
from 15 to 17
Certificate awarded:
BACHILLER
Type/level of education:
Specialized Secondary
Type of school:
EDUCACION MEDIA PROFESIONAL
Length of program (years):
2
Age level:
from 15 to 16
Description of secondary school system
Secondary education (educacion media) is not compulsory.
It is divided into two cycles: 1. Diversified, to train "bachilleres"
in Science and/or Humanities (2 years), and in some cases with a
technical orientation (3 Years). 2. Professional, to train middle
technicians "tecnicos medios" (2 Years).
Higher Education System
Structure of system
Higher education is provided by universities, institutes,
university colleges, university institutes (providing humanistic,
polytechnical and technological instruction); 2 ecclesiastic university
institutes and 3 military university institutes. Those institutions
are grouped in two sub-systems: 1) Institutes and University Colleges,
mainly for short courses of study (2 1/2 to 3 years) leading to
the award of the "tecnico superior"; 2) Universities, mainly for
long courses of study (5 or 6 years), leading to the award of the
"Licenciado" or an equivalent professional title (e.g. ingeniero).
Courses of study are in the following areas: basic sciences, engineering
and technology, agricultural and marine sciences, health sciences,
social sciences, educational science, humanities, art and letters
and military sciences. The universities are divided into two groups:
public and private. Public universities (national) are of two types:
a) autonomous institutions and b) experimental institutions. Access
to higher education is organized by the Oficina de Planificacion
del Sector Universitario (OPSU) and includes 3 stages: Prueba de
Aptitud Academica; Preinscripcion Nacional y Asignacion de Aspirantes
to higher education institutions. Most institutions submit candidates
to their own selection procedures. In some institutions, preparatory,
general or basic courses form part of the admission process.
Main types of higher education institutions
in country
Type of institution:
UNIVERSIDAD
Translation:
UNIVERSITY
Type of institution:
INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO POLITECNICO
Translation:
POLYTECHNICAL UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE
Type of institution:
INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO PEDAGOGICO
Translation:
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF PEDAGOGY
Type of institution:
INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO DE TECNOLOGIA
Translation:
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
Type of institution:
COLEGIO UNIVERSITARIO
Translation:
UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
Type of institution:
INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO
Translation:
UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE
Type of institution:
INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO ECLESIASTICO
Translation:
ECCLESIASTIC UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE
Type of institution:
INSTITUTO UNIVERSITARIO MILITAR
Translation:
MILITARY UNIVERSITY INSTITUTE
Main laws/decrees governing higher
education
Name of law/decree:
Ley Organica de Educacion
Date:
26 July, 1980
Institution type: All
Name of law/decree:
Ley de Universidades
Date:
8 September, 1970
Institution type: Universities
Administrative structure
of higher education
Name of body:
Ministry of Education
Address:
Street:
Edificio Sede, Esquina de Salas
City:
Caracas
Postal
code: 1010
Telephone:
58-2-55762459
Fax:
58-2-5638488
Name of body:
National Council of Universities/Consejo Nacional de
Universidades
Address:
P.O. Box: Aptd. Correos 1346
Street: Torre Capriles Piso 8, Plaza Venezuela, Carmelitas
City: Caracas
Postal code: 1010
Telephone: 58-2-7936525
Telex: 21293 CNU VC
Fax: 58-2-7932380
Academic year
Classes start:
September
Classes end:
June
Long vacation:
from 1 July, to 1 September
Languages of instruction
Spanish
Stages and Organization of
Higher Education Studies
Higher vocational/technical
studies
Study at technological institutes or university colleges
lead to the diploma of tecnico superior, or to an equivalent title,
after two-and-a-half to three years.
University level studies
Stage 1:
Licenciatura or titulo profesional
Description: The licenciatura or titulo profesional
are usually awarded, according to the subject, at the end of long-term
studies (four to five years - six in medicine).
Stage 2:
Maestria or Cursos de Especializacion
Description: The maestria is awarded after the licenciatura
or an equivalent qualification, at the end of a year of specialization
mainly devoted to the theoretical and methodological bases of research.
Studies comprise courses followed by examinations and/or the submission
of a thesis.
Stage 3:
Doctorado
Description: The doctorado is the highest degree
awarded by certain universities after the maestria or a specialization
(higher professional level). It is conferred at the end of studies
characterized by an emphasis on the theoretical and methodological
bases of research and of continuing education. It requires a minimum
of 45 creditos, the passing of examinations and the submission of
a thesis.
Teacher education
Training of primary/basic
school teachers
Primary school teachers are trained within the Universidad
Pedagogica Experimental Libertador, as part of the higher education
system, although the courses may last only two years.
Training of secondary
school teachers
Secondary school teachers are also trained within
the Universidad Pedagogica Experimental Libertador (including the
teacher training institutes). In-service training for teachers is
offered by special training centres.
Grading system
Usual grading system
in (upper) secondary school
Is on scale of 20-1, with 10 as the minimum pass mark.
Each academic year is divided into 3 or more periods. A grade is
given for each period. the end of the year the grades
for each period are averaged to form a previa grade.
Highest on scale:
20
Pass/fail level:
10
Lowest on scale:
1
Main grading system generally
used by higher education institutions
Examinations are graded on a 20 maximum with 10 as
the minimum pass mark. Two or more partial examinations are taken
during each period. The average of all yields 40% of the final grade
and must be 10 or above to take the final examination.
Highest on scale:
20
Pass/fail level:
10
Lowest on scale:
1
Other main grading system
used
9-1 scale. 9: excellent; 8: outstanding;7: very good;
6: good; 5: average; 4-1: failure.
Admissions to Higher
Education
Admission to Vocational/Technical
Studies
Admission to higher vocational/technical or other
professionally oriented non-university level studies
Secondary school credential/certificate/diploma(s)
required for entry
Name of sec. school credential:
BACHILLERATO
Minimum score/requirement:
10
For: All
Total number of years of
primary and secondary school study: 12
National admission entrance
examination requirements
Name of test/exam: PRUEBA
DE APTITUD ACADEMICA
Minimum score
: 10
For: all
Admissions to university
level
Secondary school credential/certificate/diploma(s)
required for entry
Name of sec. school credential:
BACHILLERATO
Minimum score/requirement:
10
For: All
Total number of years of
primary and secondary school study: 11
National admission entrance
examination requirements
Name of test/exam: PRUEBA
DE APTITUD ACADEMICA
Minimum score
: 10
For: all
Admission for foreign
students
Special entry regulations
for foreign students in country/state:
In order to have their studies, degrees and diplomas
recognized, foreign students must address an application to the
Minister of Education together with documents duly authenticated
by the educational authorities of the home country and by the Venezuelan
Consulate. Information concerning the presentation of documents
may be obtained from the Direccion General Sectorial de Educacion
Superior of the Minister of Education.
Requirements at national
level
Name of exam or requirement:
Good knowledge of Spanish.
Authority to whom foreign
student applications should be addressed:
Name of national/central
body: Ministerio de Educacion, Direccion General
Sectorial de Educacion
Superior
Address of body:
Street: Esquina de Salas, Oficina 13-16
City: Caracas
Postal code: 1010
Telephone: 58-2 562-54-44
Telex: 21943 min ed
Reference to further information materials
on foreign students admissions
Title:
Oportunidades de estudios en los institutos de educacion superior
de Venezuela
Publisher: Consejo Bacional De Universidades,
Oficina de Planificacion del Sector Univ.
Recognition of studies
and qualifications
Recognition of studies completed and credentials awarded in
foreign countries
Bodies primarily addressing questions relating
to the recognition of foreign credentials and studies in higher
education
Name of body: Min. de
Educacion, Direccion General Sectorial de Educacion Superior
Address:
Street: Esq. de Salas, Ofc. 13-16, piso 13
City: Caracas
Postal code: 1010
Telephone: 58-2 562-54-44
Telex: 21943 min ed
Principal multilateral agreements adopted by the country relating
to recognition of studies, degrees and diplomas
Name of agreement: CONVENIO ANDRES BELLO DE INTEGRACION
EDUCATIVA, CIENTIFICA Y CULTURAL DE LOS PAISES DE LA REGION ANDINA
Year of signature: 1970
Name of agreement: CONVENTION OF THE RECOGNITION
OF STUDIES, DIPLOMAS AND DEGREES IN HIGHER EDUCATION
Year of signature: 1974
Student services
Main student services at national level
Name of service: Ministerio
de Educacion - EDUPLAN
Address:
Street: Edificio Esmeralda, Avenida los Proceres San Bernardino
City: Caracas
Category of service provided:
Social and welfare services
Category of service provided:
Academic and career counselling services
Student expenses and financial
aid
| Tuition and fees for national students |
Tuition and fees for foreign students |
| Minimum: Bolivar 200 |
Minimum: |
| Maximum: Bolivar 140000 |
Maximum: |
Publication(s) listing scholarships/grants/loans
available
Title:
Study Abroad, 1996-1997
Publisher:
UNESCO
Year of publication: 1995
|