MBO or middelbaar beroeps onderwijs (vocational education and training) is the highest level of education reached by around 40% of the working population. At any given time there are over 600,000 students in the MBO sector, 485,000 of them taking part in regular courses and the rest following adult education programmes. The government invests about €2.6bn (12% of the education budget) in MBO schools and colleges. You need an MBO diploma for jobs such as a nursing assistant or hairdresser.