Education System In New Zealand [2021]

The education system in New Zealand implements a three-tier model which includes primary and intermediate schools, followed by secondary schools (high schools) and by tertiary education at universities and polytechnics. The academic year in New Zealand varies between institutions, but generally runs from early February until mid-December for primary schools, late January to late November or early December for secondary schools and polytechnics, and from late February until mid-November for universities.

In 2018 the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), ranked New Zealand 12th-best at science, 12th-best at reading, and 27th-best in maths;[3] however, New Zealand's mean scores have been steadily dropping in all three categories.[4] The Education Index, published as part of the UN's Human Development Index, consistently ranks New Zealand's education among the highest in the world.[5] Following a 2019 Curia Market Research survey of general knowledge, researchers planned to release a report in 2020 assessing whether New Zealand's education curriculum is fit for purpose. The study found that people in New Zealand lack basic knowledge in English, maths, science, geography, and history.[6]

Education System In New Zealand

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The absence of a national education system meant that the first sizable secondary education providers were grammar schools and other private institutions. The first grammar school in New Zealand, Auckland Grammar School, was established in 1850 and formally recognised as an educational establishment in 1868 through the Auckland Grammar School Appropriation Act.[13] Some schools were set up by religious groups, and others by provincial governments. Nelson and Otago were better funded and more efficient education systems than northern provinces such as Auckland;[14] Auckland Board of Education was set up in 1857,[15] under the Education Act of that year,[16] and had 45 schools by 1863.[17]

The Canterbury Provincial Council passed its first Educational Ordinance in 1857, appointed a Board of Education in 1863, and had eighty-four school districts by 1873 when it changed funding from school fees to rating land to provide free secular primary education in its schools.[18]

Following the abolition of the provinces in November 1876, New Zealand established a free, compulsory, and secular national state education system from 1 January 1878, largely modelled on the Canterbury system.[18]

All New Zealand citizens, and those entitled to reside in New Zealand indefinitely, are entitled to free primary and secondary schooling from their 5th birthday until the end of the calendar year following their 19th birthday.[19] Education is compulsory between a student's 6th and 16th birthdays;[20] however most students start primary school on (or shortly after) their 5th birthday, and the vast majority (around 84%) stay in school until at least their 17th birthday.[21] In exceptional cases, 15-year-olds can apply for an early leaving exemption from the Ministry of Education (MOE). Disabled students with special educational needs can attend day specialist schools until the end of the calendar year they turn 21.[22]

The New Zealand Curriculum has eight levels, numbered 1 to 8, and eight major learning areas: English, the arts, health and physical education, learning languages, mathematics and statistics, science, social sciences, and technology. Te Marautanga o Aotearoa includes a ninth learning area, Mori language.[29]

State-integrated schools are former private schools which have chosen to integrate into the state education system, becoming state schools but retaining their "special character": being run by a religious community or a specialist group.[26] They were established in 1975 after the near-collapse of the then-private Catholic school system, which had run into financial difficulties and threatened to overwhelm the state school system were they to close.[31] The majority of state-integrated schools are Catholic, but other Christian denominations, religions and educational philosophies are also represented. The private school owners stay on as proprietors, and sit on the school's board of trustees to ensure the special character is maintained. State-integrated schools charge "attendance dues" to parents to cover the costs of the still privately owned land and buildings, and to pay off any debts accrued by the school prior to integration. Typical attendance dues range between $240 and $740 per year for Catholic schools, and between $1,150 and $2,300 per year for non-Catholic state-integrated schools.[32] Around 10% of students are enrolled in state-integrated schools.[26]

While English is the dominant language of education throughout New Zealand, in recent years there have been ongoing efforts to raise the availability of Mori language education in New Zealand as one of New Zealand's three official languages.[42]

In 1816, the first mission school was opened to teach the Mori in the Bay of Islands. Here too, instruction was conducted primarily in the Mori language.[43] Though English-medium education would have also been available for children of European settlers from nearly their first arrival, ethnic Mori continued to learn primarily through the medium of the Mori language for many years. It was not until the Native Schools Act was passed in 1867 that a systematic government preference was articulated for the English language as a medium of instruction for Mori children. And even with the passage of the act, the English-language provision was not rigorously enforced until 1900.[43]

Starting in 1903, a government policy to discourage, and even punish, the use of the Mori language in playgrounds was enacted. In the early 1930s the director of Education blocked an initiative by the New Zealand Federation of Teachers to have the Mori language added to the curriculum. Though not the only factor, the ban on the Mori language in education contributed to the widespread loss of Mori-language ability. By 1960 the number of Mori who could speak the language had fallen to 25% from 95% in 1900.[43]

Under New Zealand's current education laws, Mori language education is available in many locations throughout the country, both as a subject in a normal English-medium school as well as through immersion in a Mori-medium school set up under Section 155 (s155) or Section 156 (s156) of the Education Act 1990.[44] The full immersion schools are commonly referred to as Kura Kaupapa Mori. Though enrolment numbers in Mori language programs have remained relatively stable in the last 5 years, the raw total as well as the percentage of students enrolled fell from 2004.[citation needed]

No Mori Language in Education: No Mori Language in Education includes those students who are only introduced to the Mori language via Taha Mori, i.e. simple words, greetings or songs in Mori (Mori Immersion Level 6), and students who are not involved in Mori language education at any level.

Revitalising Mori education has not meant closing down Pkeh schools but instead means offering an alternative approach which is designed from top-to-bottom by Mori, to serve Mori. This system has shown us that by deploying a by Mori-for-Mori approach, better outcomes can be achieved for all New Zealanders. (Te Huia Bill Hamilton)[47]

Tertiary education in New Zealand is used to describe all aspects of post-school education and training. This ranges from informal non-assessed community courses in schools through to undergraduate degrees and advanced, research-based postgraduate degrees. Tertiary education is regulated within the New Zealand Qualifications Framework, a unified system of national qualifications in schools, vocational education and training.

Funding for tertiary education in New Zealand is through a combination of government subsidies and student fees. The government funds approved courses by a tuition grant based on the number of enrolled students in each course and the amount of study time each course requires. Courses are rated on an equivalent full-time Student (EFTS) basis. Students enrolled in courses can access Student Loans and Student Allowances to assist with fees and living costs.

Most tertiary education students rely on some form of state funding to pay for their tuition and living expenses. Mostly, students rely on state provided student loans and allowances. Secondary school students sitting the state run examinations are awarded scholarships, depending on their results, that assist in paying some tuition fees. Universities and other funders also provide scholarships or funding grants to promising students, though mostly at a postgraduate level. Some employers will also assist their employees to study (full-time or part-time) towards a qualification that is relevant to their work. People who receive state welfare benefits and are retraining, or returning to the workforce after raising children, may be eligible for supplementary assistance, however students already in full or part-time study are not eligible for most state welfare benefits.

On a more general note, the Pearson report said the quality of teaching was key factor in a successful education system but also highlighted the importance of an underlying culture focused on children's learning. The report noted that Hong Kong, Japan and Singapore, which were all ahead of New Zealand, had societies "where education and learning was of the greatest importance and where parents were very much involved with their children's education".[60]

Our education system reflects our unique and diverse society. We welcome different abilities, religious beliefs, ethnic groups, income levels and ideas about teaching and learning. We have processes in place to give our students consistent, high-quality education at all levels.

Reflecting these aspirations, the Government has decided on five objectives to help shape a stronger education system with all New Zealanders. It has also set out a series of actions, over 10 years, to achieve these objectives, and to realise the vision for the future of education. 006ab0faaa