The number of students in secondary vocational education (MBO) schools has fallen by almost 2,000 this year. MBO educates students for practical trade jobs, such as construction, healthcare work, IT technology and retail work; all sectors currently struggling with labour shortages. Last year there were 469,400 students in secondary vocational education, this year there are 467,500. The number of students has been decreasing since 2020. The trade association MBO Council calls the decline ‘alarming’, as it will exacerbate staff shortages in essential sectors.
Last year, former Minister of Education Robbert Dijkgraaf called on high school students to opt for an MBO course. But according to the MBO Council, there is still a ‘higher-is-better mentality’. MBO education struggles with a negative image, so high school students choose higher vocational education (HBO), more theoretical courses leading to jobs such as primary school teacher, hospital nurse or business manager. The negative view of MBO is unfair, says Ben Snoeijs. He is affiliated with several MBO schools as a technical education advisor and wants the ‘appreciation of craftsmanship’ to return. That is already happening to some extent, he says: ‘Some MBO level 4 courses earn you €80,000 in salary per year, immediately after graduating. And construction workers are in great demand and can ask high salaries.’
According to the MBO Council, the decline in the number of MBO students is partly due to a shortage of internships, especially in healthcare. Some courses are therefore forced set a maximum number of students. To the disappointment of the industry association, healthcare minister Fleur Agema (PVV) also wants to cut back on healthcare internships.
Sector organization Techniek Nederland is also very concerned about the figures, as the building sector is struggling with tens of thousands of vacancies. Chairman Doekle Terpstra is urging politicians to take action. He believes that healthcare and technical education should receive more money and that students should be (partly) exempted from tuition fees. He argues that some MBO courses are ‘useless’ and that maximums should be set here: ‘Why do we let everyone study financial services if we know that this will be increasingly automated? Another example is the air stewardess course – very popular, but there is less and less demand for that job.’ Critics say that such a maximum number per programme restricts the freedom of choice of education. Angelique Schuitemaker of the healthcare trade association ActiZ also believes that young people should be encouraged to choose a sector with shortages, but sees the solution in better salaries. According to Schuitemaker, nurses in elderly care earn too little, which can lead to fewer applications for MBO courses. ‘Politicians really need to spend more money on salaries if they really want to do something about the shortage of staff.’
Last week, the House of Representatives debated proposed cuts in education. Minister of Education Eppo Bruins said at the time that MBO would be largely spared any cuts. Bruins acknowledges the concerns about the declining number of students and the risk of staff shortages. He wants to solve this by attracting international students. He is also looking into the introduction of a minimum internship allowance, making an end to non-paid internships.
Not all schools are doing badly. The Koning Willem I College, where Ben Snoeijs is affiliated, is actually attracting more students. According to him, this is because the education is not purely classroom-based, but offers work-study programs and better aligns lessons with the business world. A good example, explains Snoeijs, is that the college’s collaboration with energy provider Essent: ‘We offer training for Essent and can train someone to become an electric car charging station installer in twenty weeks. They can then stop and go straight to work or continue studying at a higher level of MBO.’
Another solution, says Ben Snoeijs, is to teach children about technology at a much younger age. ‘Primary schools focus only on language and maths. I visit many schools where there are no technology classrooms, no manual skills, no crafts.’
Written by Saskia Roselaar