Source document: https://docs-lawep.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com/1698058367631.pdf (Liberia)
ISCED classification Revision 2011 Nordisk statistiktræf om uddannelse June 22, 2010 The scope of ISCED 2011 • Formal education: Institutionalised and recognised by the relevant national authorities.

Credentials from formal education are clearly defined as such.

• Non-formal education: Alternative to formal education, not recognised as formal education.

Could be generally acknowledged in society and may lead to labour market relevant skills.
• Informal education: Intentional, but is less organized, not institutionalized and less structured.

Outside the scope of ISCED 2011.

09/05/2011 ISCED 2011 simpler than ISCED97 • ISCED 2011 is one dimensional • Emphasis on the orientation dimension, which highlights vocational training and direct labour market qualifications.

General vs. vocational programmes.


• Destination criteria are less prominent, as pathways in education systems are becoming more flexible and adapted to the needs of the individual.

Access vs. no access to the next level.
09/05/2011 Proposed structure for ISCED 2011 Level Category 0 early childhood education 1 primary education 2 lower secondary education 3 upper secondary education 4 post secondary, non-tertiary education 5 tertiary education; short cycle 6 tertiary education; bachelor or equivalent 7 tertiary education; master or equivalent 8 tertiary education; doctorate 0.1 early childhood development 0.2 pre-primary education 2.1 vocational education 2.2 general education 3.1 vocational education 3.2 general education 4.1 vocational education 4.2 general education 5.1 vocational education 5.2 general education 6.1 long first degree (equivalent to bachelor level) 6.2 first degree (equivalent to bachelor level) 6.3 second and further degrees (equivalent to bachelor) 7.1 long first degree (equivalent to master’s level) 7.2 second degree (equivalent to master’s level) 7.3 further degree (equivalent to master’s level) 09/05/2011 Fields not revised yet • The educational programme continues to be the unit of classification in ISCED.
The content of the programme should be the basis of the classification.

• The fields of education will not be revised until after the level classification has been completed, i.e.

not until after 2011.

• Qualification becomes important in ISCED 2011, as well as the educational programme, as the revision includes definitions of qualifications.
09/05/2011 Orientation is used for levels 2-5 • General programmes develop learners’ general knowledge, especially with a view to preparing participants for further education at the same or a higher level.

• Vocational programmes lead participants to acquire the practical skills, know-how and understanding necessary for employment in a particular occupation or trade.

• Pre-vocational programmes introduce students to the world of work but do not lead directly to a labour market relevant qualification.
They will in ISCED 2011 be classified in the general or vocational orientation depending on the national context.

09/05/2011 Destination becomes less prominent • Destination criteria are less prominent in ISCED 2011, as pathways in education systems are becoming more flexible and adapted to the needs of the individual.

Reduced to: • Access to the next level.

• No access to the next level.


09/05/2011 Duration criteria vary by level • Duration of a programme should be at least one semester of full-time study to qualify as ISCED formal education.

• Level 4: No duration criterion.

• Level 5: No minimum duration criterion but programmes are less than 3 years.

• Entrance to the tertiary level is typically 12 years but requires a minimum of 11 years of previous education and at least 2 years of study at ISCED 3.
09/05/2011 Completion criteria • Levels 1 to 3 are completed when the completion of a programme grants direct access to the next higher ISCED level, which in the case of ISCED 3 is level 5 or 6, not level 4.

• Completion of programmes that are not designed to lead to further education but have substantial length also counts as level completion.

This applies to programmes with at least 2 years of study at a given level.
09/05/2011 Modular programmes • Modular programmes common in the Nordic countries are a special case.

The completion of modules is only a successful completion of a programme as long as all requirements for the programme are fulfilled.

The highest educational level successfully completed is validated by the successful completion of all requirements of this level.

09/05/2011 Educational attainment • Educational attainment is defined in ISCED 2011.
• The educational attainment of an individual is defined as the ISCED level corresponding to the highest formal recognised education credential successfully completed, and where the success is being validated by a recognised credential.

09/05/2011 Attainment only in the formal system • Determined only by formal education, i.e.

education in the regular school system.


• Education programmes should be classified on the basis of their characteristics at the time of successful completion, not upgraded in line with present programmes.

09/05/2011 Specific levels – ISCED 0 • Age limit 3 years.

• Will be split in two: Early childhood development (primarily 0-2 years old) and pre-primary education (primarily 3-6 years old).

• Difficult to split pre-schools up by age • Difficult to separate day care and education.
09/05/2011 Specific levels – ISCED 3 • Educational attainment definitions.

• Boundary between ISCED 2 and 3.

• Boundary between ISCED 3 and 4.

• Boundary between ISCED 3 and 5.

• Sequential programmes at ISCED 3.

09/05/2011 Specific levels – ISCED 4 • Few students and not used much in analysis.

• Will only contain vocational programmes that are added onto vocational programmes at ISCED 3.

• Second chance programmes to complete ISCED 3A will be classified at ISCED 3A, not 4A.
• Will contain educational attainment of persons enrolled at level 5 or 6 but did not qualify for level completion.

09/05/2011 Specific levels – tertiary levels • Present ISCED 5 will be split into three levels: • ISCED 5 which will include general and vocational programmes.

• ISCED 6 for Bachelor programmes • ISCED 7 which will include Master’s programmes, but also long first degree programmes deemed to be equivalent to Master’s level programmes.
09/05/2011 ISCED governance • ISCED is part of the UN family of classifications which gives rules for how ISCED should be maintained via a supervisory committee.

• ISCED glossary expanded.

• ISCED mappings important for transparency.

09/05/2011