educational objective upper secondary education objective An educational objective specification that has a concretization that, when realized, confers on the active participant skills and knowledge that prepare them for tertiary education, or employment, or both. Programmes at ISCED level 3, or ‘upper secondary’ education, are typically designed to complete secondary education in preparation for tertiary education, or to provide skills relevant to employment, or both. Programmes at this level offer students more varied, specialised and in-depth instruction than programmes at lower secondary education (ISCED level 2). They are more differentiated, with an increased range of options and streams available. William R. Hogan http://uis.unesco.org/en/glossary-term/upper-secondary-education-isced-3 upper secondary education objective specification