Education

early childhood education

AGE 5
When can I start school?
If your parents enrol you, you can start school on the day of your 5th birthday, but you don’t have to be at school until you are 6.

(ss 3, 20(1) Education Act 1989)

AGE 6
When do I have to go to school?
Once you turn 6 you have reached school age and must be enrolled at school until you are 16. If you don’t go to school between the ages of 6 and 16 your parents may be taken to court.

(ss20, 24, 29, 31 Education Act 1989; s14(1) Children, Young Persons and their Families Act 1989)

Can I be taught at home?
Yes, but once you turn six your parent will need to ask the Ministry of Education to grant a long-term exemption from enrolment for you. The Ministry must be satisfied that you will be taught as regularly and as well as in an ordinary school. Your parent(s) can receive an allowance from the Ministry of Education to help them with the cost of educating you. This is known as “home schooling”.

(s21 Education Act 1989)

AGE 10
What if the school is too far away?
Your parents can apply for an exemption from schooling if you are under 10 years old if you have to walk 3km or more to get there. Once you are over 10 the school must be over 5km walking distance.

(26(1)(b) Education Act 1989)

AGE 15
When can I get permission to leave school?
At 15 you can leave school as long as your parents get special permission from the Ministry of Education.

(s22 Education Act 1989)

UNDER 16
Can I have a job during school hours?
If you are under 16 and enrolled at school you cannot be employed in school hours. If you are at correspondence school or have been allowed by the Government not to go to a regular school, you must not be employed if the work interferes with your learning. If you go to a regular school you must not be employed if your job prevents or interferes with your attendance at school. Your parents or employer could be fined up to $1000 if you work when you are not allowed to.

(s30 Education Act 1989)

AGE 16
When can I leave school?
The day you turn 16 you are allowed to leave school if you want to.

(s20 Education Act 1989)

Can I be expelled?
At 16 you can be expelled from school. Under this age you can be “excluded” which also puts you out of your school. Only the school Board of Trustees can expel or exclude you and only for “gross misconduct” (i.e. serious misbehaviour) or “continual disobedience” that is a harmful or dangerous example to other students, or if your behaviour is likely to cause serious harm to you or others. If you are under 16 you must enrol in another school, or do correspondence lessons. The Principal of the school that has suspended you must contact other schools to try and find you a new school. If the principal is unsuccessful the Ministry of Education must help you to find a new school.

(ss13-18 Education Act 1989)

AGE 19
How long can I get free secondary education for?
Your right to free education ceases on 1January after your 19th birthday. But some schools take older students and students receiving special education are allowed to remain enrolled until they turn 21.

(ss3, 9 Education Act 1989; Article 28 United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child)

YouthLaw	Latest page update: made by YouthLaw , Sep 8 2010, 8:03 PM EDT (about this update About This Update Edited by YouthLaw view changes - complete history)
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