The New Zealand education system is based on the British system, recognized abroad allowing transfer between institutions within New Zealand or other English speaking countries.
The New Zealand education system has three levels of education Primary, Secondary and Tertiary through which students can pursue a variety of flexible itineraries. Education is compulsory for all students aged between six and 16 years, although the vast majority of students start school at age five.
Early Childhood Education (Early Childhood Education - ECE) is for children under five years and is characterized by a strong quality assurance and a national curriculum leader in the world. There is a high degree of participation in ECE and increasing levels of teacher quality.
Secondary education, including education for early childhood, is free in the state system. New Zealand has about 2,600 schools, most of which are publicly owned and financed by the government. They follow a national curriculum and are governed by elected local councils for administration. Secondary education in the early years provides a solid foundation in reading, writing and arithmetic and an introduction to a broad curriculum and balanced, while the high school years (13-17 years) provide an excellent learning based on specific topics and career counseling.
Tertiary education in New Zealand is offered by a variety of vendors. Universities, Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (Institutes of Technology and Polytechnics (ITPs)), private training establishments (Private Training Establishments (PTEs)) and Industry Training Organisations (Industry Training Organisations (ITOs)) offer a variety of educational options often flexibly to meet the needs of students. Tertiary education in New Zealand and its programs are internationally recognized for their quality and focus on graduate preparation.
