Korean Job Discussion Forums

[wormholes101]

I've had questions posed to me regarding the amount of years that New Zealand students attend school and for the life of me, it was such a long time ago I can't remember exactly.

Something like this?

J1, J2, Standard 1, Standard 2, Standard 3, Standard 4, Form 1, Form 2, Form 3, Form 4, Form 5, Form 6, Form 7. Makes 13 years?

What age do most kids start formal education?

I heard things have changed though... Can anyone get me up to speed on this?

Thanks!

[itaewonguy]

not sure but I heard its one year more than most other countries!
nEW ZEALAND education is considered to be one of the best in the English Speaking world! still didnt do much for me hahahahahaha

there are websites out there which prove this..

formal education starts at standard one.. 6 years old
but J1 is 4 years old... so I guess you start from there..
4-18 years...
14 years... plus uni = 17 years plus honors = 18

maybe something like this...

[Kiwi Paul]

The new system of counting is in "years" rather than the old J/standard/Form system. New Entrant's is for a few months and then it runs from Year One (old J1) to Year Thirteen (old form 7).

Most kids start formal education at 5y.o. (the minimum age you can attend a primary school), but some to not start until 6y.o. (the age at which school becomes mandatory). Many these days are taking part in some form of pre-school education as well.

[wormholes101]

OK.. so to clarify and please let me know if I'm off here.

Kids can start public school at the age of five (Year One) but it doesn't become mandatory until age six (Year Two). However, there is a "new Entrants" class which precedes Year One and is held at a regular public school (presumably to adjust young kids to a school environment and habits)

Public school life is a maximum for 13 years (or 12 years in the case of those starting at Year Two).


A couple of other questions if you entertain me

Is 16 y.o still the earliest one can leave the public school system?

I remember having to take what I assume was a type of IQ test (didn;t seem to be a regular school type exam) before entering high school (Year 9). You know if this still exists? Pre Year 9, do other major examinations exist? If so, what are they?

Thanks

[Kiwi Paul]

Yes, kids can start at public schools from age five and must start at age 6.

Regardless of age, when a child first starts school, they go into New Entrant's. When the teachers feel they are ready, they are bumped up into Year One. School "years" are not necessarily equal to calendar "years". A child may, for example, spend only six months in Year One before being progressed into Year Two.

I believe 16 is still the age at which one may leave school.

Any requirement for a test before entering high school is dependent on the particular school. Many high schools (and intermediate schools) impose these tests in order to assess what "stream" the student should be placed in.

No major national examinations or qualifications exist prior to Year 11 (Form 5). As you may be aware the old School Certificate, Sixth Form Certificate and Bursary system went out a few years back and was replaced by NCEA (National Certificate in Educational Achievement) levels 1-3 (i.e. years 11-13).

[wormholes101]

Thank you Kiwi Paul. Much appreciate your time and info.

Sorry to bug you further ~ have another couple of questions. When I was at school I remember one kid being held back a year cause he wasn't up to speed. Do you know if this practice is still in effect? How about if a child is just doing (very) poorly in one subject; say maths. What happens then?

Big thanks for the replies so far.

[crazylemongirl]

[rothkowitz]

Just to butt in..

In the 80s(down south at least) it seemed common for a small number of 7th,even 6th formers in each year to repeat their year.

I think in large part this was to satisfy a formal requirement age-wise for armed forces as well as a second chance to improve their scores.In most cases it just provided some more social opportunities in small towns.

One woman at my school in the early 1990s repeated her 7th form specifically so as to stay with our school's music teacher(went on to become an opera singer).I think a couple more people did that after I left.

[crazylemongirl]

[rothkowitz]

Yep,7th form return...some more rugby,a few more parties.(though most had probably been buying beer at the bottle shop from 15 or 16 anyway)

Some schools would play in the senior reserve,even senior grade ,so ,older boys were handy.

[crazylemongirl]

[rothkowitz]

What HS was that?I don't want to look it up.

[Kiwi Paul]

[xtchr]

Just curious, when did they raise the school leaving age to 16?
When I was at school it was still 15, and there was a steady exodus of boys leaving during the fourth form. Actually your birthday was a hectic time - get your licence, leave school, and get a job in the freezing works, all on the same day.

[Kiwi Paul]