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What distinguishes secondary education from primary education?

Differentiates secondary education from primary education

Every student in India is required to complete primary and secondary education. Although there is no big difference between these two, it is just a breakdown of the grade level in which students are placed. Being a student, you must understand the difference between these two in detail. Let us help you understand why these are considered the most vital parts of the formal education process and the difference between these two.

What is pre-primary education?

In India, pre-primary education, also known as early childhood education, used to refer to the education that kids get between the ages of three and six ( three years). However, the new education policy (NEP) has changed it to a five-year foundational stage of education, comprising three years of early childhood education for children ages 3-6 and two years of primary school for children ages 6–8 (grades 1–2).

Physical and motor development, social-emotional development, cognitive development, and communication development are the main areas of emphasis in the pre-primary or foundational stage. It also focuses on teaching children fundamental language, literacy, and numeracy.

What is primary education?

Primary education in India is divided into preparatory (grades 3–5) and middle (grades 6–8) schools. Primary education is focused on building competencies, such as reading, writing, and arithmetic, among young children. Pre and primary school education is the first formal education provided to them. It has utter importance in the lives of children. The factors that can help you understand the importance of primary education are as follows:

Build basic skills

Primary education helps children learn and develop life skills such as communication, health and hygiene, interpersonal relationships, empathy, decision-making, and self-awareness.

Make them physically fit

Primary education helps children learn the importance of taking care of their health and how to compete with others healthily. The best nursery schools in Baddi indulge children in several physical activities, such as running, swimming, and playing sports, that improve children’s overall health and keep them physically fit.

Assists in mental growth and development

Primary education provides students with a structured learning environment that helps their social, emotional, and cognitive development. It also makes them capable of acting according to the situation.

Develop good social behaviour

Young children develop social skills at school through interactions and experiences with their peers and teachers. They learn appropriate behaviour and social norms through feedback from their friends and adults.

What is secondary education?

Secondary education in India starts from grade ninth to twelfth. Secondary education plays a significant role in children’s lives as it prepares them for college and higher education. In secondary schools, life skills and a wide range of subjects are taught to students, which include science, technology, mathematics, literature, philosophy, and economics. The subjects that students pick in higher secondary education decide their careers afterwards, so secondary education is important.

Build a strong foundation

Secondary schools give children opportunities to explore different career options and help them follow their passions and build their dream careers.

Help you put your knowledge to use

In secondary education, children are given hands-on learning experiences through laboratory work, field trips, and DIY projects, which help them see the practical application of the subjects they are studying in school. International public schools participate in national and international science fairs and competitions that allow children to share their ideas with a wider audience and learn from peers of different cultural backgrounds.

Give students confidence

Secondary education gives children the confidence, knowledge, and skills that they need for their future education. Compared to primary education, it provides them with a more challenging curriculum, which helps them develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Some key differences between secondary and primary school/education

Primary education is the first stage of formal education that a child receives after completing preschool. On the other hand, secondary education is the second stage of formal education that children receive after completing their primary education.

Primary education introduces children to basic subjects such as social science, science, English, math, Hindi, and drawing. Alternatively, secondary education prepares children for science, commerce, and art streams that will help them in their future studies.

Primary education begins at the age of 8, but secondary education starts at the age of 14. Also, the former prepares children for secondary education, while the latter prepares them for higher education (colleges and universities).

Key Takeaways

Primary and secondary education are integral parts of the Indian education system. And the overall development of a child is impossible without these two stages of education. We hope you understand the difference between the two and the role they play. If you know of any other differences between primary and secondary education, feel free to share them with us.