Netherlands: Don't get bogged down in studies, solve problems!
There is no need to cram or bury yourself in books in the Netherlands. There, learning is done by solving real-life problems. This is called problem-based learning. In this system, students are divided into small groups and are given a real-life problem. Then they together find a solution to that problem. This gives them practical knowledge of studies and also learns teamwork.
Here, primary school is taught for 8 years. After that, secondary school is studied for 4, 5 or 6 years. This depends on the type of school you choose. For secondary education, children can go to different types of high schools according to their choice and ability:
Vmbo: This is a 4-year course in which work skills are taught along with studies. There are many options in this too, such as leadership training or courses that prepare you directly for a job.
Havo: This is a 5-year course, which prepares you to study in a polytechnic college later on.
Vwo: This is a 6-year course, after which you can go to university. There are many options in this too, such as learning classical languages or pursuing arts.
After secondary school, students can take vocational education or go for higher education if they want. There are both government and private schools here. Most private schools are associated with some religion or ideology.
There is also a plethora of vocational training colleges in the Netherlands. If a person could not go to school in childhood due to some reason, then it does not matter. There are schools named Vavo in the Netherlands, where people of any age can complete their 10th or 12th studies.