New Zealand

PRESCHOOL AND PRIMARY EDUCATION
KOHANGA REO AND KURA KAUPAPA MAORI

Education in New Zealand is free, secular, and compulsory between the ages of 6 and 16. In practice almost all children enter primary school at age five, while many of them have already begun education in preschools, all of which are subsidized by the state.

Many parents like their children to play and learn with others in their community before starting primary school. There are kindergartens for three and four-year-olds. Kohanga reo ("language nests") are Maori early childhood centres encouraging children to Maori language. Pacific Island early childhood centres emphasize language and cultural values. Playcentres, childcare centres, kohanga reo and informal community playgroups accept children from birth to school age. Parents often stay with their children.

There are public and private primary schools in New Zealand. There are composite schools, which combine primary and secondary education and include a correspondence school. There are secondary special schools. In addition to public and private schools, home education is also allowed. Some children are taught by a correspondence school method because they live in remote areas.

New Zealand children generally start school at the age of five years and spend eight years in primary school. Primary education consists of infant classes during the first two years and six grades designated Standards 1, 2, 3, and 4 and Forms I and II. Children spend about two years in the infant classes (or junior school), depending on their progress and when they started their first year in school. The progress through Standard 1 to 4 and, in some schools, Forms 1 and 2. Some students will attend a separate intermediate school after completing Standard 4 at a primary school.

There are about 2,300 primary schools in New Zealand. All state primary schools are coeducational. The curriculum includes English (including handwriting, oral and written language, reading and spelling) art, health, mathematics, music, physical education, science and social studies.

Maori language and culture are promoted in New Zealand education, whether in immersion schools - "kura kaupapa Maori" - or in the general school system. In 38 state-funded kura kaupapa Maori all subjects are taught in Maori.

(From "Australia and New Zealand in brief" by V.V. Oshchepkova)