According to Statistics Netherlands, most pre-university education (VWO) graduates choose their degree programme because it interests them: this was the most important reason for 82 percent of them. Only 8 percent say the chances of getting a good job were more important.
For senior general secondary education (HAVO) graduates, job prospects played a slightly bigger role. One in ten said they mainly paid attention to this aspect. But a large majority (75 percent) still chose the programme they thought seemed the most fun.
Apparently, prevocational secondary education (VMBO) graduates are more concerned about their future income: for 18 percent, job prospects were the most important thing in choosing a particular senior secondary vocational (MBO) programme. Only 61 percent say: I just thought this programme would be the most fun.
Help
But where do secondary school pupils get information about their future programme? About 60 percent of young people receive help from parents or family members. Teachers and friends also help sometimes, but not nearly as often.
Those who think that young people are online all day and therefore collect their information on the internet are mistaken. When choosing a programme, they make little use of, say, YouTube or – a little more specific – websites like Studiekeuze123.nl. Only 46 percent of VWO graduates did this: less than half. Amongst HAVO graduates, this was 26 percent (one in four) and amongst VMBO graduates, 7 percent.
