Christina Hyde

3/24/15
New Zealand Education Status

The Organization for Economic Co-Dependence, OECD, named New Zealand in its
2013 Better Life index, as the country who devoted the highest percentage of public money to
education. It also called the countrya top-performing country in terms of the quality of its
educational system (Education, 2013).
According to the Ministry of Education, New Zealand combines proven, traditional
principles with innovation, creativity and fresh thinking to produce leaders and citizens equipped
for the 21st century in its school systems. Its centered around students, supporting them to
become team players and innovative thinkers. Each student is able to develop their own path in
life whether they continue onto university or go into a vocational school after school is over.
Education in this country has undergone transformation in the past two decades, including the
areas of governance, curriculum, assessment, qualifications, and teaching and learning (NZ Ed,
2015). The number of children attending school ranges from a few hundred to up to 3,000 in
some of the larger schools (School system, 2015).
So what is the school system like? Going to school is required by law for all children in
New Zealand from ages six to 16, however most children start when they turn five years old.
School for Kiwi children begins in primary school. If its a full primary school, they stay there
until twelth grade. If its a contributing primary school they will move onto to an intermediate
school for their last two primary school years, from 11-12 years old. Intermediate schools
provide a bridge to the next step of school (which is also sometimes called college, high school
or grammar school) (School system, 2015). In fact, more New Zealanders than ever are attending

school as the chart below shows. The amount of student aged young adults attending school rose
from 5% to 8% between 1967-2002 (Image #1, 2015).

This chart below shows the heriachy of schooling in New Zealand. This shows education
options from birth to whatever degree citizens chose to pursue (Image #2, 2015).

Works Cited
1. Education and Schooling. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2015, from
https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/education
2. New Zealand Education System Overview. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2015, from
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/NZEducation/EducationPolicies/InternationalEducation/ForI
nternationalStudentsAndParents/NZEdOverview/Education_in_New_Zealand.aspx
3. The school system. (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2015, from
https://www.newzealandnow.govt.nz/living-in-nz/education/school-system
4. Image #1 (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2015, from
http://www.socialreport.msd.govt.nz/2003/images/figure-k5-1.gif
5. Image #2 (n.d.). Retrieved March 24, 2015, from http://www.ncee.org/wpcontent/uploads/2011/11/New-Zealand-System1.jpg