Evaluating skills at secondary schools to increase their chance for studying in universities: a case study

Abstract

Entrance to a university depends on the acquisition of skill sets to enhance transition success. A case study of secondary schools of the scientific branch about their quality of education to discover which students skills are needed for students to succeed in the transition phase between high schools and universities. 220 participants from three different schools: public school, private school, and elite public school were examined. The skills were classified into six categories:  literacy and numeracy skills, critical thinking skills, leadership skills, Interpersonal skills, information technology skills, and school ethic skills with different items according to the type of skill. Univariate-ANOVAs were performed to explore differences in skills among demographics. Also hypothesizes that there is no difference between the different secondary schools in the six skills. The results show that there is a significant difference among the students’ perceptions of four of the six skills. Also revealed that the attitudes of elite public-school teachers were the highest, followed by the private school and, finally, the public school. This study Highlighted skills items of students’ scientific branch that should be emphasized in the secondary curriculum to enhance the transitions to universities.