Dutch Education System


There are around 700 secondary schools in the Netherlands , both publicly and privately run. Secondary education encompasses schools providing pre-university education (VWO), senior general secondary education (HAVO), pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO) and Practical Training (PRO). All four types of secondary education are for children aged twelve and over and all begin with a period of basic secondary education.

Secondary education is in the midst of implementing two major educational innovations. In 1999 all HAVO and VWO schools introduced set subject combinations and the 'study house' construction, which commences in the fourth course year and requires students to acquire skills and knowledge in a much more independent capacity. In 1999 pre-vocational education and junior general secondary education schools introduced pre-vocational secondary education (VMBO).

In vocational education, courses of study have been adjusted to better suit the labour market. In light of the ever-growing demand for MBO (upper secondary vocational education) and HBO (university professional education) graduates, an important goal for the coming years is to encourage students to move on to higher secondary school levels and prevent dropouts.


Regional training centres
There are 46 regional training centres in the Netherlands . They provide:

  • Vocational education in three sectors: Engineering and Technology, Economics and Health & Social Care. Vocational education in the sectors agriculture, natural environment and food technology are provided by agricultural training centres, financed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food quality. Vocational education offers participants from the age of 16 a choice of 700 vocational courses, four training levels and two routes different routes in which courses can be followed. There is a full-time college-based route that includes work placements and there is the part-time work-based route, which combines part-time education with an apprenticeship in a company.
  • Adult education offers adults courses focusing on social sufficiency and citizenship, and the mastery of Dutch as a second language.

Read more information about the Dutch Education System at: http://www.minocw.nl/english/education/index.html

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