THE NETHERLANDS:

EDUCATION
SYSTEM
IN SECONDARY SCHOOLS

Romiel S. Condonar
Teacher 1
Today’s Discussion
OUTLINE OF TOPICS

 Three levels (pathways) to secondary school

 Difference Between VMBO, HAVO and VWO
 Standards and Curriculum
 Grading System, Assessment and Qualifications
Central End Test
(Centrale Eindtoets Basisonderwijs)

 CITO Test
 Route
 IEP
 Secondary Education

VMBO HAVO VWO

 3-4 years

Follow-up

MBO
Senior Vocational
Education
4 years

Level of Difficulty

VMBO (Preparatory Vocational Secondary Education)

Four Different Routes (Levels) of VMBO

VMBO-TL VMBO-GL
(Theoretic Education) (Mixed Education)
Duration : 4 years Duration : 4 years
Follow-up : MBO Follow-up : MBO
Difficulty : Difficulty :

VMBO-KB VMBO-BB
(Job Framework) (Job Basics)
Duration : 4 years Duration : 4 years
Follow-up : Craftmanship Follow-up : Craftmanship
Difficulty : Difficulty :
 Praktijkonderwijs
(Practical Education)
Duration : Not Specified
Follow-up : Craftmanship
Difficulty :
LWOO
(Assisted Learning Education)
Duration : Not Specifed
Follow-up : Craftmanship
Difficulty :
 5 years
Follow-up

HBO
University of Applied
Sciences
4 years

Level of Difficulty

HAVO (Senior General Secondary Education)

 6 years

Follow-up

WO
University
4 years

Level of Difficulty

VWO (Pre-University Education)

VWO

Atheneum
Gymnasium
offers extra subjects like philosophy,
Latin and Greek are compulsory subjects
additional foreign languages and courses
Standards and
Curriculum

Subject Choices
 For VMBO, students can choose which sector to specialize
Subject Economics (e.g., administration, commercial services, fashion)
Choices Agriculture (e.g., agriculture, environment, and food technology)
Technical (e.g., construction, graphics, automotive, electrical)
Care and Welfare (e.g., care, sports, services, safety)

For HAVO and VWO, students will choose “profile”, subject clusters, towards the
end of their third year

Culture and Society, emphasizes arts and foreign language

Economy and Society, emphasizes social sciences, economics and
history
Nature and Health, emphasizes biology and natural sciences
Nature and Technology, emphasizes natural sciences
 COMPULSORY SUBJECTS
Subject
Choices
- Dutch + English Language & Literature
VWO: one other language (French / German)
- Math
- Social Studies
- Culture and Arts
- Physical Education
- Electives
- Write Research Paper
Bridge Class
Grading System,
Assessment and
Qualifications
Let’s do a

RECAP!
 JOB JOB JOB JOB
MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET

VMBO MBO HBO HBO

Bachelor Master

HAVO
Preliminary
School

VWO WO Bachelor WO Master PhD

JOB JOB JOB JOB JOB

MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET MARKET
References

https://www.expatica.com/nl/education/children-education/dutch-
education-system-100816/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Education_in_the_Netherlands#Seco
ndary_education

https://ncee.org/netherlands-learning-systems/