Within five years, 82 percent of those who had completed basic school went had obtained an upper secondary diploma, either in an upper secondary school or a vocational school. About three-quarters -- 71 percent -- of the basic school graduates continued their studies in an upper secondary school, while a -- 25 percent -- went to a vocational secondary school. By the fifth year after completing basic school, 40 percent of graduates had enrolled in higher education, including 29 percent in bachelor's studies and 11 percent in applied higher education, with the vast majority -- 97 percent -- reaching it through general secondary education rather than vocational secondary education. Although vocational secondary education does not rule out entering higher education, so far this has been rather exceptional. "In recent years, significant changes have been planned and implemented to raise the level of vocational secondary education and to offer a competitive alternative to general secondary education.