UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) aims to ensure that all countries, both developed and developing, have access to the best educational facilities necessary to prepare young people to play a full role in modern society. Understanding information technology (IT) and mastering IT's basic skills and concepts are now regarded by many countries as part of the core of education alongside reading and writing. To give practical help to all UNESCO countries, the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP) has been asked to specify a curriculum in informatics for secondary education, designed to be capable of implementation throughout the world. The curriculum has been designed in modular form so that education authorities can select appropriate elements to meet their objectives at the phase of development reached in their countries. Curriculum objectives include: computer literacy; application of IT tools in other subject areas; application of informatics in other subject areas; and application of informatics in professional areas. Three curriculum units are detailed (general education at the foundation level, general education at the advanced level, and vocational education at the advanced level). A section on general implementation issues examines the automation, information, and communications phases. Appendices include: Computer Literacy Units; Informatics In Other Disciplines; General Advanced Level Units; Vocational Advanced Level Units; and a bibliography. (MAS)