Hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs

The hoger algemeen voortgezet onderwijs (HAVO: "higher general continued education") is a stream in the secondary educational system of the Netherlands and Suriname. It has five grades and is generally attended at ages of 12 to 17. It provides access to the hogeschool-level (polytechnic) of tertiary education.

The first three years are the Basisvorming (literally, "basis formation"). All pupils follow the same subjects: languages, mathematics, history, arts and sciences. In the third year, pupils must choose one of four profiles. A profile is a set of different subjects that will make up for the largest part of the pupil's timetable in the fourth and fifth year. It is called the Tweede Fase (literally, "second phase"). A profile specialises the pupil in an area, and some tudies therefore require a specific profile. Students must also choose one to three additional subjects. Furthermore, Dutch and English, sa well as some other subjects, are compulsory. In all profiles, mexcept Cultuur en Maatschappij, mathematicsis compulsory, but the level of difficulty differs for each profile. Pupils still have some free space for electives, which is not taken up by compulsory and profile subjects. They can pick two subjects from other profiles. Sometimes, pupils choose more than two subjects, which can result in multiple profiles. In 2006 one pupil graduated cum laude in all profiles.

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