New Zealand has strong quality assurance systems which ensure consistent, high quality education across all levels of the education system. The two main agencies responsible for quality assurance are the Education Review Office (ERO) and the New Zealand Qualification Authority (NZQA).
ERO
The ERO conducts reviews of early childhood centers, primary and secondary schools. ERO is an independent government department reporting directly to its own minister.
Schools and early childhood services are reviewed once every three years. Reviews are conducted more often where the performance of a school or centre is poor and there are possible risks to the education and safety of the students. During this review process, schools and their boards of trustees are reviewed.
ERO reviews and publishes reports on:
- the quality of education provided to students
- specific aspects of schooling and early childhood education
- regional and national educational issues
- the quality of management by school boards of trustees and the managers of ECE centers
- the education of students exempted from attending school, ie students who are home schooled
NZQA:
- sets and regularly reviews standards for qualifications
- registers and monitors all national qualifications
- operates national senior secondary school examinations
- registers and monitors private providers of tertiary education
- administers a qualifications recognition service for overseas people wanting to live, work or study in New Zealand
(Source: Ministry of Education, 2008)
