Dutch Education
Dutch children between the ages of four and twelve go to Elementary Schools. The elementary school covers 8 years. The first two years, group 1 and 2 are comparable to kindergartens, group 1 is not obligatory. As for group 3 children learn to read, write and do mathematics. In group 7 and 8 children usually also take English and sometimes French. Some schools already start teaching English and French in earlier years. After the elementary school pupils go directly to secondary education.
Dutch Secondary Education
Dutch secondary education is offered at three levels, each focuses on the needs and abilities of the pupils. In the last year of primary education Dutch pupils take a test to decide upon which of the three streams is most suited for them. These tests are widely seen as the best way to decide the level, but of course the advice of the primary school teachers is also taken into account. Dutch secondary education begins at the age of twelve and continues up to the age of 16, 17 or 18 depending on the level. All students have to follow education (full-time or part-time) until their eighteenth birthday.
VMBO
The first and shortest course is vmbo (preparatory middle-level applied education). This is a 4 year-course for students from age 12 to 16. It combines vocational training with theoretical education in languages, mathematics, arts, history etc. Roughly 60% of all Dutch pupils are enlisted in the VMBO. VMBO is divided into 4 different levels, each level determines how much vocational training or theoretical education pupils get. The vmbo diploma gives access to advanced vocational education (MBO).
HAVO
The second level is havo (higher general continued education). This is a 5 year-course for pupils between the ages of 12 and 17. In the first three years of the HAVO all students follow the same educational programme including languages, mathematics, history, sciences etc. In the third year students choose one of the four profiles which determines the subjects pupils get in the fourth and fifth year. The four profiles are: Culture and Society, Economics and Society, Nature and Health and Nature and Technology.
- Culture and society: focuses on history, arts, foreign languages and mathematics (statistics)
- Economics and society: focuses on economics, social sciences, history and mathematics (statistics)
- Nature and health: focuses on biology, natural sciences and mathematics (algebra, geometry)
- Nature and Technology: focuses on natural sciences and mathematics (algebra, geometry)
Each profile is a distinct specialization which qualifies students for a certain type of HBO-education (polytechnic). Culture and society qualifies students for artistic, cultural and social studies at HBO level. Economics and society allows for economy and management training and social studies at the HBO. Nature and Health is necessary for all medical training at the HBO in the Netherlands. Nature and Technology qualifies students for technological and natural science studies at the HBO.
VWO
The highest level is VWO (Preparatory scientific education ). This is a 6 year-course for pupils aged 12 to 18.The vwo diploma gives access to all universities, although some still set their own admission criteria. Students can choose between Atheneum and Gymnasium .The Gymnasium programme is similar to the Atheneum programme except for Latin and Greek . After the first three year pupils have to choose a profile, similar to the HAVO. The four profiles are: Culture and Society, Economics and Society, Nature and Health and Nature and Technology.
- Culture and society: focuses on history, arts, foreign languages and mathematics (statistics)
- Economics and society: focuses on economics, social sciences, history and mathematics (algebra, geometry)
- Nature and health: focuses on biology, natural sciences and mathematics (algebra, geometry)
- Nature and Technology: focuses on natural sciences and mathematics (algebra, geometry)
The profile division is similar to the HAVO profiles and allows access to the same kinds of studies at university level.
Dutch Tertiary Education
Tertiary education exists of the MBO, HBO and WO.
MBO
MBO (Middle-level applied education) is meant for students who have attended vmbo. The studies offer vocational training and various internships where they are trained on the job and take 2 to 4 years.
HBO
After the HAVO students can enrol in a HBO programme (Higher Professional Education). These studies offer higher education combined with professional training and usually take 4 to 5 years. After obtaining a bachelor certificate students can decide to continue their studies and follow a master programme.
WO
After passing the vwo exams students can enrol into a University (Scientific Education). The vwo diploma allows access to any of the fourteen Dutch Universities. University studies generally consist of a bachelor programme of three years followed by a one or two year master programme. Excellent university students can apply for a position to qualify for the highest academic degree, the doctorate, after doing a master programme.