The study is being conducted on behalf of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport. The Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport uses the results of this study as a basis for policy on healthy lifestyles, physical activity and sports in secondary vocational education. The main results of this study are expected to be available in autumn 2024 via the websites of the Mulier Institute and the KVLO. The questionnaire consists of two parts, beginning with a few general questions about the secondary vocational education location or institution. The first part of the questionnaire concerns the sports and physical activity programmes on offer. The second part focuses on attention to a healthy lifestyle.

Baseline measurement results

In 2021, the report by the Mulier Institute based on the baseline measurement was published. The main findings were:

  • The motivations for providing physical activity and sports programmes within secondary vocational education (mbo) seem to stem more from a broader focus on promoting health than specifically from encouraging physical activity and sports. Since 2012, policy frameworks in secondary vocational education have not focused solely on physical activity and sports; a healthy lifestyle has also been added. Since then, attention to healthy lifestyles has increased within secondary vocational education institutions, as evidenced by the growing number of Healthy School labels and the pooling of organisations and initiatives focused on health-related themes in education.
  • The majority of respondents indicate that physical activity or sports lessons are a regular part of the student curriculum at their location (70%), most often in vocational education and training programmes (57% of the 70%).
  • The main reasons for offering physical activity and sports programmes are contributing to students’ health (71%), raising awareness of the importance of physical activity for a vital working life (67%), and contributing to a positive school climate (67%).
  • All respondents indicate that health-related topics are addressed in one or more lessons at their location, particularly nutrition (91%), physical activity and sports (85%), and smoking, alcohol and drug prevention (82%).
  • All locations pay attention to the healthy lifestyle of staff by offering a bicycle plan (82%), addressing physical and social well-being in performance reviews (76%), and implementing a smoking policy (67%).
  • Data on a number of lifestyle behaviours among secondary vocational education students themselves show that three quarters of students under the age of 18 occasionally drink alcohol (75%), even though this is strongly discouraged in alcohol guidelines. The data also show that secondary vocational education students are less likely to engage in sports at least one day a week (59%) than their peers (17–20-year-olds, 69%). Thirty-two percent of secondary vocational education students aged 18 and over are overweight, which corresponds to the national figures (34% of adults aged 18–34 are overweight).

The questionnaire can be completed here.