Introduction of the New Zealand education system Education in New Zealand

New Zealand is heavily influenced by the United Kingdom due to their historical and political ties. Prior to 1947 New Zealand was a colony of the Britain empire and stands as a current member of the British common wealth. Because of this strong connection, the education system of New Zealand is adopted from the British education system.
The primary education in New Zealand consists of six year levels starting at the age of five. The precise timing of starting and finishing year 1 can vary among the students due to their differences in birthdays. Normally, the teacher decides when should a student move onto year two.
There are many options for schooling in New Zealand. Whether it be primary or secondary education, there are options for private school, state school, co-educational, single-sex and Catholic/Christian school.
The primary education covers 6 compulsory subjects (mathematics, science, social studies and English) and no selective subjects. The focus of education is to teach the students how to interact with the environment and other people; in other words, living is part of the education.
New Zealand’s education system respects the performance of each student and does not allow for any physical punishment. Furthermore, New Zealanders enjoys sports and encourages fitness training from childhood.
Growing up and studying in the peaceful atmosphere of New Zealand can teach the students more than just knowledge and skills, but also how to live their lives to the fullest.

Secondary Education

New Zealand’s secondary education is established upon the British system; it encourages students to think independently and prepares them for future studies or career.

The official secondary school qualification offered in New Zealand is NCEA (National Certificate in Educational Achievement), however, certain schools offer other secondary school qualifications like Cambridge International Exams and International Baccalaureate.

There are 8 universities in New Zealand which provides a number of undergraduate and postgraduate courses. These universities are research orientated but are still recognised internationally for their high teaching standard.
New Zealand has being recognised by the UNESCO to be among the top 10 developed countries in terms of education. According the International Guide To Qualification In Education, the entry requirement of New Zealand’s university rivals the GECA level of the British system. Therefore, the qualification and academic record received from New Zealand universities and institutes are internationally recognised.