What is the current situation in secondary education?

Answer for Questions & Answers for the future of Secondary Education in 2020

The situation in the secondary education varies from country to country. Therefore, the current situation also varies.

This information was found on the World Bank website, which gives a broad picture of the current situation in secondary education. (http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTEDUCATION/0,,contentMDK:20521252~menuPK:738179~pagePK:148956~piPK:216618~theSitePK:282386,00.html)

Overview
Secondary education is a gateway to the opportunities and benefits of economic and social development. Demand for access to higher levels of education is growing dramatically as countries approach universal primary education. The global Education For All (EFA) effort provides added momentum for the growth in secondary education. Furthermore, globalization and the increasing demand for a more sophisticated labor force, combined with the growth of knowledge-based economies gives a sense of urgency to the heightened demand for secondary education.

In today’s world, secondary education has a vital mission - one which combines the policy peculiarities of being at the same time terminal and preparatory, compulsory and post-compulsory, uniform and diverse, general and vocational. Secondary education is now being recognized as the cornerstone of educational systems in the 21st century. Quality secondary education is indispensable in creating a bright future for individuals and nations alike.

Related questions:
What has the World Bank been doing to support secondary education?
How much lending takes place in the area of secondary education?
With the World Bank education policy placing so much emphasis on the importance of basic education, is secondary education being neglected?
What has the World Bank identified as the most promising directions for the development of secondary education?