In Flanders, primary education includes both pre-primary and primary schooling.

Pre-primary education is available to children aged 2.5 to 6. Those between 2.5 and 3 years old can begin attending at seven specific times throughout the school year—typically the first school day following each holiday and the first school day of February. From the age of 3 onward, children may enter pre-primary education at any time during the academic year.

Although attendance is not compulsory, nearly all children in Flanders participate in pre-primary education. This early education stage promotes broad development—cognitive, emotional, and physical—helping to lay the foundation for later learning.

Primary education, usually starting at age 6, is compulsory and lasts for six consecutive years, usually from 6 to 12. Upon completion of primary education, students who meet the curriculum requirements are awarded a certificate of primary education. 

Secondary education (secundair onderwijs) in Flanders is designed for students aged 12 to 18 and is structured into three stages, each consisting of two grades. Full-time secondary education includes various educational tracks.

During the first stage, all students follow a common curriculum. It is only at the beginning of the second stage that they choose a specific field of study.

From the second stage onward, four distinct types of education are available. In Flanders, students select a study programme within one of these educational pathways:

1.    General secondary education (gse), which focuses on broad general education. It does not prepare pupils for a specific profession, but rather lays a firm foundation for higher education.
2.    In technical secondary education (tse) attention goes in particular to general and technical-theoretical subjects. After tse a youngster may practice a profession or transfer to higher education. This type of education also contains practical training.
3.    Secondary education in the arts combines a broad general education with an active practice of art. After secondary education in the arts a youngster may practice a profession or transfer to higher education.
4.    Vocational secondary education (vse) is a practically-oriented type of education in which the youngster receives general education but where the focus primarily lies on learning a specific profession.