Primary education lasts 6 years and is followed by another 6 year cycle of secondary education. Secondary education comprises three grades and starts at 12 years of age. Each grade lasts 2 academic years. During the first year of the first grade every pupil receives the same education programme. In the second year a range of options can be chosen.
Secondary education includes general, technical, artistic and professional programmes.
In 1989, competences for education was transferred to the communities. Simultaneously, a greater autonomy has been granted to schools. With the European single market, European authorities will play a greater part in education policy. This is quite evident in important issues, such as teaching new technologies at school, matters concerning the children of immigrants, equal opportunities for boys and girls, equivalence rating of diplomas and exchange programmes such as Erasmus, Comenius, Lingua and Leonardo.