To better grasp the situation of ECEC around the world, it is essential to understand the circumstances in each country. In this section, we introduce basic information ranging from population size and educational investment in the country to educational systems, mainly focusing on the preschool phase. It is our humble hope that this information will be of some use to our readers who are interested in ECEC around the world. |
1. Capital: Wellington
2. Population: 4 596 000 (2015)
3. Official/National Language(s): English, Māori, New Zealand Sign Language
4. Currency: New Zealand dollar (NZD)
5. System of Education and Childcare
- Education system: Early childhood education (ages 0-5), primary/intermediate (ages 5-12, ages 11-12: intermediate), secondary (ages 13-17), tertiary (age 16+)
- Regulating authority: Ministry of Education
- Compulsory education: Ages 6-16
- There are two types of early childhood education (ECE) services: Teacher-led services (kindergartens, education and care services, and home-based education and care), and parent-led services (Kōhanga Reo, playcenters, and playgroups).
- 3 year old: 87% (2012)
- 4 year old: 94% (2012)
- 5 year old: 99% (2012)
- 6 year old: 100% (2012)
- Pre-primary: 0.5% (2011)
- Primary, secondary, and post-secondary non-tertiary: 5.0% (2011)
- All levels of education combined: 7.4% (2011)
- Primary: N/A
- Pre-primary: 7 (2012)
- Primary: 16 (2012)
- PISA 2012: Math-22, Reading-13, Science-18
- TIMSS 2011 (4th grade): Math-31, Science-31

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Reference
- 2. Population Division, United Nations. World Population Prospects: The
2012 Revision.
http://esa.un.org/unpd/wpp/unpp/panel_population.htm. - 5. OECD (2013). EDUCATION POLICY OUTLOOK: NEW ZEALAND (www.oecd.org/edu/EDUCATION POLICY OUTLOOK NEW ZEALAND_EN.pdf), ANNEX A: STRUCTURE OF NEW ZEALAND'S EDUCATION SYSTEM.
- Ministry of Education. Choices in early childhood education.
http://www.minedu.govt.nz/Parents/EarlyYears/OtherInformationAndResources/Choi ces/WhatAreMyChoices.aspx. - 6. OECD (2014). Education at a Glance 2014: OECD Indicators, OECD
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/eag-2014-en. Table C2.1 Enrolment rates in early childhood and primary education, by age (2005, 2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933118333. - 7. OECD (2014). Education at a Glance 2014: OECD Indicators, OECD
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/eag-2014-en. Table B4.1. Total public expenditure on education (2011). http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933117573. - 8. OECD (2014). Education at a Glance 2014: OECD Indicators, OECD
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/eag-2014-en. Table D2.1. Average class size, by type of institution and level of education (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933119682. - 9. OECD (2014). Education at a Glance 2014: OECD Indicators, OECD
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/eag-2014-en. Table D2.2. Ratio of students to teaching staff in educational institutions (2012). http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888933119682. - 10. OECD (2013). PISA 2012 RESULTS IN FOCUS. Snapshot of performance in mathematics, reading and science. http://www.oecd.org/pisa/keyfindings/pisa- 2012-results-snapshot-volume-I-ENG.pdf.
- Martin, M.O., Mullis, I.V.S., Foy, P., & Arora, A. (2012).The TIMSS 2011 International Results in Mathematics. Chestnut Hill, MA: TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Boston College. http://timssandpirls.bc.edu/timss2011/downloads/T11_IR_M_Chapter1.pdf, p.40.
- Martin, M.O., Mullis, I.V.S., Foy, P., & Stanco, G.M. (2012). The TIMSS 2011 International Results in Science. Chestnut Hill, MA: TIMSS & PIRLS International Study Center, Boston College. http://timss.bc.edu/timss2011/downloads/T11_IR_S_Chapter1.pdf, p.38.