School/work combination also popular at older ages

Nearly 30 percent of students in senior secondary vocational education (mbo) combine learning and working in the apprenticeship-based learning track (bbl). Many students in this learning track only started at age 25 or older.

Many over-25s in bbl track

In 2006/’07, 141 thousand students in senior secondary education were in the apprenticeship-based learning track. Thirty-seven percent of them were aged 25 or older. Students in this learning track are usually employed by a company which provides practical experience and training, and go to school for one or two days a week. In addition to students who are more practically oriented, this is also a popular option for people who want to obtain an mbo diploma at a later age or who want a career change.

The apprenticeship-based learning tracks in the health and personal care and welfare sector attracted relatively many mature students. Nearly four out of ten of them were even older than 35 years.

Students in the bbl learning track of mbo, 2006/07*

Students in other learning track much younger

In the other mbo learning track (bol), which also combines theory and practice, but the latter in the form of work placements for 20 to 60 percent to of the total course, students are much younger. Ninety-five percent of the 355 thousand students doing the bol learning track were  younger than 25 years. The bol is mainly popular among students who want to finish school before they enter the labour market.

Students in the bol learning track of mbo, 2006/07*

Students with bbl diploma older than 27 on average

In 2005/’06 51 thousand students completed the bbl learning track and received an mbo diploma. On average they were older than 27 years, nearly two years older than graduates from higher professional education (hbo). The average age of students receiving a bbl diploma varied from 24 years for technology to 33 years for health and personal care and welfare. In the bol learning tracks, 91 thousand students received an mbo diploma. Their average age was 21 years.

Average age of students receiving mbo diplomas, 2005/06*

Theo van Miltenburg