New Zealand Education

Education System

Primary education commences at five years of age and generally ends in the eleventh year, two years for intermediate schooling, and secondary education is compulsory until age fifteen.

Courses are general in the first two years running on to more specialized studies in the next three years. Qualifying examinations for a school Certificate (which is a national examination) take place at the end of the third year.

In the fourth year is normally a national sixth form certificate qualification. A fifth year of study can qualify a student for university studies at a higher rate of bursary by means of an appropriate pass in the bursary of scholarship examinations.