- Pre-vocational secondary education (vmbo)

• The theoretical learning pathway is offered at schools that provide VMBO education; it prepares pupils for the middle management training and vocational training in senior secondary vocational education (MBO) or HAVO
• The mixed learning pathway is offered at schools that provide VMBO education; it prepares pupils for middle management training and vocational training in senior secondary vocational education (MBO);
• The advanced vocational learning pathway is offered at schools that provide VMBO education; it prepares pupils for the middle management and vocational training in senior secondary vocational education (MBO);
• The basic vocational learning pathway is offered at schools that provide VMBO education; it prepares pupils for the basic vocational training in senior secondary vocational education (MBO).

Learning pathways are tracks that lead to senior secondary vocational education (MBO). Each learning pathway represents a different way of learning. For each learning pathway and for each sector groups of subjects are determined. A group of subjects consists of a common component, a sector-related component and an optional component.

The common component is obligatory for all pupils and consists of Dutch, English, Social Studies, Physical Education and Fine Arts. The pupils take a central school-leaving examination for the subjects Dutch and English. For Social Studies, Physical Education and Fine Arts the pupils have to pass a school exam.

The sector-related component is obligatory for all pupils in one of the sectors technology, care and welfare, economics and agriculture. For the optional component pupils can choose from a number of subjects depending on the chosen learning pathway.

Moving on to secondary vocational education (mbo)
Via the pre-vocational secondary education the student can move on to secondary vocational education (level 1, 2 or 3).