BSO diploma an advantage on labour market, says SSL

SSL researchers compared employment upon students’ entry onto the labour market in several European countries. A professional-oriented study track guaranteed a relatively smooth transition from school to work, according to the study. Graduates with a BSO diploma found jobs faster than those who entered the labour market without a diploma but also than those from other study disciplines in secondary and higher education.

The study also showed, however, that those with a diploma in general education (ASO) stay in their jobs for longer periods of time. A possible explanation, SSL researcher Jeroen Lavrijsen told jobat.be, is that a BSO programme in Flanders has a very specific character, and graduates often lack certain general skills.

“BSO graduates are, therefore, less employable if new technology is introduced and they have to follow extra training, for example,” said Lavrijsen. He pointed out the advantages of the Scandinavian system, where students choose between general and professional education at a later age – 16 as opposed to 14 in Flanders. BSO students there can also choose programmes from ASO.

Lavrijsen thinks there should be a revaluation of the BSO diploma, which is now too often seen, he said, as an option for those who can’t keep up in ASO.

Photo courtesy klasse.be