FP

   Formación profesional (vocational education), designed to provide pupils with job-related skills, is part of the system of secondary education, parallel to, but of a lower standard than BUP, and imparted in special vocational schools. There are two stages: the first consists of two years of compulsory schooling for those who have failed to obtain the Graduado Escolar certificate (see also EGB). This leads to certification as a técnico auxiliar (auxiliary technician), and qualifies the recipient for entry into the second grade of BUP or the second stage of FP. The latter has two strands, a general two-year course or a specialized three-year programme, leading to qualification as a técnico especialista (specialist technician). This specialized course admits to the first year of university.

   See also: LODE; LOGSE

   ISIDRO FADRIQUE