REVIEW OF EDUCATION SYSTEMS OF NEW ZEALAND
Europeans who landed in New Zealand in the middle of XVII century, were extremely surprised by the beauty of this land, the landscape – a combination of mountains, fjords, forests, meadows and lakes. In the language of the Maori name of the archipelago “Aotearoa ” means “Long White Cloud “. Later immigrants from Britain, gave it a different name – “Southern Seas England “.
Until 1907, New Zealand has remained a British colony (so far it is formally the head of the Queen of England), so the British influence is felt everywhere: in the city (there is a Oxford and Sheffield), and the choice of the official language (say, English ), and in the education system, built on the British model.
Foreigners like to get education in New Zealand. Every year it attracts about 30,000 students from abroad. In New Zealand, they are attracted by the safety, quality of life and a great environment.
New Zealand Schools
In New Zealand there are about 440 schools, about 20 of them – private. As in many European countries, there are separate schools (only for girls or for boys) and the joint type. Most of them – the state, therefore, are free, but foreigners are generally not accepted. Along with the state, there are private boarding schools to which access is open for students from abroad. These schools offer foreigners a very good education and basic training, with which you can easily enter universities in the English-speaking countries.
Education in New Zealand primary school lasts 8 years – from the first grade to the eighth (Year 1 – Year 8). At the age of 13 years, children go to one of the secondary schools, which are sometimes referred to as “college ” or “the highest level of school “. In grades 9-13 (Year 9 – Year 13) guys are ready to enroll in universities and polytechnics. In high school, students will choose six majors. A complete list of disciplines includes up to 30 positions and approved by the organization of New Zealand for the recognition of qualifications (NZQA).
At the end of 11th grade students who pass the exam receive a certificate of secondary education (School Certificate). 12th class exams ends on the certificate Sixth Form Certificate, and in the late 13th class students take final exams, which are both opening universities (University & Bursary Scholarship Examination).
In 2000, the highest level in schools in New Zealand has learned more than 6,000 foreign students (3%). Many of them are doing this in order to be able to continue their education in English-speaking universities.
To enroll in a New Zealand school, is sufficient to provide a certificate of assessment of their school and take a test in English. Acceptable level allow the candidate to read fluently English newspaper and understand the reading. Sometimes students from abroad recommend a crash course in English and only then allowed to start the course on the syllabus.