Education in New Zealand

The educational system in New Zealand is extremely varied and is one of the best in the world. According to scores, it has the highest levels of literacy, mathematics, and sciences in the country. The public educational system is one of the best funded in the world; New Zealand offers the highest percentage of public funding in education in the world. Several indices rate New Zealand as the number one country in the world for education.

So what makes New Zealand so unique? What makes it different from all of the other developed countries that provide education to their children? It is based on several things; first, because New Zealand natives believe in giving everyone the education that they deserve. There are many private schools, but because the country is so great at giving their public schools the money they need, many parents are just as happy using the public system.

The other reason is because the educational system focuses on both practical and academic achievement. Instead of sticking to a regimen that no one really understands and doesn’t really tell us anything, the New Zealand public education system focuses on being open-minded and letting children explore, thus allowing them to learn in the best way that they can. This gets them ready for college or the workplace upon finishing their secondary education.

Primary and Secondary Schools

Almost all primary and secondary schools have a set schedule, usually from 9 AM to 3:30 PM. They go to school throughout the year, with four different terms spread out evenly. The terms are as follows:

Term 1: February to mid-April

Term 2: Late April to early July

Term 3: Mid July to late September

Term 4: Mid October to mid-December

There is a two-week break between terms one and two, two and three, and three and four. Between term four and the following term 1, there is a 6 week summer break, lasting part of December and all of January.

There are three types of primary and secondary schools. State-funded, or public, schools. These schools are free, with minor costs for books, school supplies, and uniforms (if they are used; most New Zealand schools have them). The school that a child attends is based on where they live; the divisions can be found here. State-integrated religious schools. There is a number of schools that are religious in nature (Catholic) which have been integrated into the public school structure. These are, of course, options for those who wish for their children to have a religious education. These schools are free, with minor costs for books, school supplies, and uniforms. Private schools cost anywhere from $4,000 to $28,000 a year. These may be religious, but they can also be more academically intense or provide options according to what a parent may want. Students must attend school from the age of 6 until they are 16.

Primary school. From ages 6 to 12, a child attends primary school. Most primary schools have 23 to 29 students per teacher, sometimes less if it is a private or state-integrated school. Primary schools may include preschool, but there are also preschools that work on their own. Preschool is not required.

Secondary school. Referred to as “high school” or “college,” secondary school has one teacher per 17 to 23 students; sometimes it is as low as 10 if it is a private or state-integrated school. Each secondary school uses a practical curriculum to help students get prepared for either the work world or higher education, and the curriculum is regulated by the Government’s Education Review Office. Some secondary schools will allow their senior students to take the Cambridge International Exam or the International Baccalaureate, which grant them credits and recognition in higher education programs worldwide.

Higher Education

There are eight universities throughout the country, along with 18 technology institutions and over 600 training schools which help with specialized skills. Five of the universities in New Zealand are considered to be in the top 50 of the world’s universities according to the QS World Top 500 rankings. New Zealand is known for its business, technology, engineering, medicine, and biological sciences, and the schools are world class. The higher education program is subsidized by the New Zealand government for permanent residents.

New Zealand’s higher education system is also quite laid-back. Even though you have to meet vigorous requirements and have to do particular tasks in order to stay on a student visa, it is nowhere near as intense as going into an Ivy League school in New England or the Group of Eight in Australia. You will get a great education without the cost of your mental health in the process.

As you can see, the educational system, from primary school all the way to college, is a big focus for Kiwis. This is why many people decide to allow their children to do exchange programs and why college students will spend their entire academic career in New England. The focus on education plays a very large role in the overall attitudes about education. It is considered to be important, and that attitude rubs off in every aspect of Kiwi life. You can achieve your goals, no matter what education you happen to pursue.

You can learn more about education in New Zealand in two places, first at The Ministry of Education’s website, where you can find more information about the way that the educational system is laid out and what laws and such are in place. The other place is Education New Zealand’s Study in New Zealand website, which can give you moreinformation about those laws and about the schools around the entire country.

Exercise 2. Answer the questions.

1. Why is the education system in New Zealand one of the best in the world?

2. What are the peculiarities of the New Zealand public education?

3. What is the length of the terms in primary and secondary schools?

4. What are the three types of primary and secondary schools?

5. How many universities are there in New Zealand?

6. Is education considered to be important in New Zealand? Prove it.

TEXT. 16 Dialogue.

Exercise 1. Look through the dialogue and say which people think that university education should be free. What do you think of it?

Chairperson: Welcome to Q and A. With me are Jackie Nash from the National Union of Students, Penny Little, Head of Bingham University, and Stuart Downs from the Ministry of Education. And the first question, please.

Mr Davis: Hello. My name’s John Davis and my question is “Do you think university education should be free?”

Chairperson: Stuart Downs, what do you think?

Stuart: I’m sorry, I don’t agree. Universities need more money, as we know, and students get good jobs when they leave university. So they should all pay.

Penny: I’m not sure about that. I don’t think everyone should pay. I Didn’t have to pay for my university education and neither did you, Stuart.

Stuart: But there are many more students now than there were 20 years ago, Penny. It’s impossible for the government to pay for everyone.

Penny: Yes, may be you are right. But I think the government should help people who haven’t got the money to pay.

Chairperson: What about you, Jackie? Do you think students should pay?

Jackie: No, definitely not. The government can always find money to pay for wars, so why can’t they find money to educate the young people of Britain?

Chairperson: So do you think that universities in the future will only be for rich people?

Jackie: Yes, definitely. That’s what’s happening now.

Penny: I agree with Jackie. That’s why we have to help students from poor families to go to university.

Chairperson: Do you agree with that, Stuart?

Stuart: Yes, I think so. We can help them, certainly. But I don’t think the government should pay for everything. The students should pay something too.

Chairperson: What do you think, Mr Davis? Should universities be free for everyone?

Mr Davis: No, I don’t think so. I didn’t go to university and I don’t earn much money. Why should I pay for someone to become a doctor or a lawyer and watch them get rich?

Exercise 2. Are these sentences true or false?

1.Stuart thinks universities need more money.

2.Stuart and Penny had to pay to go to university.

3.There were more university students 20 years ago.

4.Jackie thinks the government spends money on the wrong things.

5.Mr Davis went to university.

Exercise 3. Look at these phrases. Are they ways of: a) agreeing? b) disagreeing? c) asking for opinions?

1. What do you think?
2. I’m sorry, I don’t agree.
3. I’m not sure about that.
4. Yes, may be you are right.
5. What about you?
6. Do you think …?
7. No, definitely not.
8. Yes, definitely.
9. I agree with …
10. Do you agree with that?
11. Yes, I think so.
12. No, I don’t think so.

Exercise 4. Use these phrases and make up your own dialogues. Think of reasons why you agree or disagree with the following sentences:

1. Students’ holidays are too short.
2. All students should do sport at universities.
3. Exams are the best way to find out what students know.
4. All children should stay at school until they are 18.

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SPEECH EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Speak on the following topics.

1) System of education in Great Britain

2) System of education in the USA

3) Compare British, American and Russian systems of education

4) One of the famous universities in Great Britain/ America/ Russia

WRITTEN TASKS

Exercise 1. Write a letter to your friend in Great Britain. Here is a part from his letter.

a) “ … I am leaving school this year and I want to continue my education. I know that you won the grant last year and now you are a university student in Great Britain. Can you advise me if it is worth studying at some British university? Do you like the way you study?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Peter.

b) “ … I am leaving school this year and I want to continue my education. I am advised to continue my education in Russia. What educational establishment should I enter? What is more useful - to enter a college or a university in your country? Why? What city should I go to?

Hope to hear from you soon.

Love,

Peter.

Exercise 2. Write an essay on the topic:

1) How do you imagine an ideal system of education? Education of which country is closer to it?

Follow the plan:

1. Give a general statement of the problem.

2. Give your opinion and reasons for it.

3. Give other people’s opinion and say why they are not right.

4. Make a conclusion.

2) Many young people go to university after leaving school. However, a number of school-leavers feel that university is not for them and choose not to go.

What can you say for and against entering the university.

Follow the plan:

1. Make a general statement of the problem.

2. Give arguments for entering the university.

3. Give arguments against entering the university.

4. Make a conclusion.

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