Secondary vocational education; students and graduates

Survey characteristics

Purpose

The purpose of the survey is to collect data on the number of students and graduates in secondary vocational education, broken down by course, level and field of study and by the students’ gender, origin, and region of residence.

Target population

Students and graduates in state-funded secondary vocational education, such as regional training centres (ROCs), agricultural training centres (AOCs) or vocational schools.

Statistical unit

Individuals.

Date/year survey started

The first data was collected in the academic year 2005/'06.

Frequency

Every year.

Publication strategy

In the first quarter of the calendar year, the existing StatLine tables are updated with the provisional figures from the new academic year. In the second quarter of the calendar year, the provisional figures from the previous academic year are replaced with the definitive figures.

How is the survey conducted?

Survey type

Registry information at an individual level.

Data collection method

Students are counted at a single moment at the beginning of an academic year: 1 October. Graduates are counted over the period of one academic year.

The figures are based on the Education Database Register (BRON). This database includes individual information on pupils, students, and examination results in state-funded education. It is managed by the Education Executive Agency (DUO), which collects the data from individual educational institutions. DUO converts this information into single-number datasets and shares these with Statistics Netherlands (CBS). The single-number datasets include each student's principal enrolment and each graduate's principal degree for the academic year. CBS uses these datasets to determine the number of students and graduates.

The Education Database Register is based on the citizen service numbers (BSN) of pupils, students, and graduates, which allows CBS to link these with other registers at the individual level, such as the Municipal Personal Records Database (GBA) and, as of 2014, the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). The tables therefore include data from the Municipal Personal Records Database and Basic Registration of Persons on the students’ gender, age, origin, and region of residence.

Respondents

The Education Executive Agency (DUO).

Scope of sample survey

Not applicable.

Checking and correction methods

DUO checks all the data they receive from their respondents (institutions) for internal consistency and completeness. If necessary, the data is improved in consultation with the respondents. Specialists at CBS also check the data upon receipt. If necessary, the data is improved in consultation with DUO.

Weighting

Not applicable.

Quality of the results

Accuracy

The definitive figures accurately reflect the actual number of students and graduates in state-funded secondary vocational education.

Sequential comparability

Generally, the difference between the provisional figures and the definitive figures is small. Comparability between the academic years is actively maintained; where necessary, figures are reset into new classifications.

Quality strategy

See checking and correction methods.