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New Zealand first in world for education - global survey

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NZ first in world for education - survey

3News NZ

The education ranking is based on access to education, quality of education and human capital

The education ranking is based on access to education, quality of education and human capital

By 3 News online staff

A new global survey of wealth and wellbeing has ranked New Zealand fifth-highest overall, and first in the world for education.

The annual Prosperity Index, produced by London-based public policy think-tank The Legatum Institute, aims to assess national prosperity by taking into account traditional economic indicators (like GDP per capita) as well as indicators of personal wellbeing. In total, 89 different variables are assessed across eight different categories.

While New Zealand ranks very highly, in fifth place overall, the country has actually dropped a place after being ranked fourth in the 2011 index. But New Zealand also found itself in fifth place in 2010, up from tenth place in both 2009 and 2008.

This year New Zealand was pipped by Australia in fourth and the three Scandinavian countries at the top of the table. Most of the New Zealand data included in the 2012 survey dates from 2010 and 2011.

New Zealand tops the education rankings – which were made on the basis of performance in three areas: access to education, quality of education and human capital.

New Zealand’s lowest ranked sub-index was economic prosperity, for which we were ranked 27 of the 142 countries in the survey. This sub-index measured macroeconomic policies, economic satisfaction and expectations, foundation for growth, and financial sector efficiency.

The Prosperity Index recorded New Zealand’s GDP per capita at US$29,534.50, and average life satisfaction at 7.19 out of 10.

This year is the first time the United States has been ranked outside of the top ten in the Prosperity Index – dropping to twelfth place.

THE 2012 LEGATUM PROSPERITY INDEX TOP 10

1. Norway

2. Denmark

3. Sweden

4. Australia

5. New Zealand
6. Canada

7. Finland

8. Netherlands

9. Switzerland

10. Ireland

READ MORE: See the full rankings here

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Comments

30/05/2013 7:26:02 p.m.

Robyn Davies wrote:

How come German 11 year olds are doing NZ 17 year old Maths!!!!! i host exchange students from all over the world, and most of them are bored out if their brains....too easy they say......so how come we are 5th in the world...dont understand that at all

5/11/2012 9:03:56 p.m.

Jane Donald wrote:

Our education system is in dire straights. Go take a look in any primary school class and see what chaotic nonsense is going on. There is no structure or educating going on at all. Kids are self managed and left to teach themselves (if they choose to do so)! No wonder the country is going to the pack! Thanks National once again!!!

5/11/2012 2:49:46 p.m.

Wayne Hawker wrote:

So where is Lesley Longstone now, hopefully on a one way flight back to England then what she is talking about not having a world class Education system she can apply that logic to the UK and actually be correct in what she is saying

3/11/2012 10:17:35 a.m.

Daniel Lang wrote:

New Zealand is still a very young country and I feel that that fact may have something to do with ranking highly. It's the policies that will be brought in over the next 50 years or so that will determine if we stay that way or if we have massive drug and crime problems, mass immigration, etc.

3/11/2012 7:52:29 a.m.

Jim Seaview wrote:

QUOTE: "While New Zealand ranks very highly, in fifth place overall, the country has actually dropped a place after being ranked fourth in the 2011 index. But New Zealand also found itself in fifth place in 2010, up from tenth place in both 2009 and 2008." THIS QUOTE SAYS IT ALL. We were 10th place in the 2008 and 2009 surveys and now we have climbed up to 5th place in the whole world. When you look at this trend, the comments from CEO Lesley Longstone last week saying "NZ does not have a world class education" has just proved again that she is totally out of her depth. The UK didnt even make the top 10 - How bad is that??

2/11/2012 3:57:34 p.m.

Kelvin wrote:

An interesting result. It should be remembered that none of us ever said it was a perfect system - just much better than systems from around the world. This is because it is closely influenced and lead by communities through their dedicated parent reps on Boards. It should also be noted that ours is the highest performing multi-cultural education system in the world. It is also worth noting that the US and UK are both below us in world rankings. They have been the creators of Charter Schools (which is pretty much what we have already) yet even the best of them (17%) those charter schools probably don't out perform NZ schools. For a small country we have been pretty innovative over a long period of time.

2/11/2012 3:09:52 p.m.

Greg wrote:

NZ, educating and training its brightest to work in another country.
Keep up the good work National, working for every one else except NZ.

2/11/2012 1:37:45 p.m.

Lester Flockton wrote:

So Lesley Longstone, the Ministry of Education chief imported by the Government from England where she was a senior education bureaucrat in a system that does not shine, is going around saying NZ does not have a world class education system! Why - because of the poor record of Maori and Pacific achievement - which relate to long standing issues of equity, etc. - issues that can override what schools do! This latest survey is another, along with other international surveys, that clearly ranks NZ as one of the top in the world (i.e. "world class"). Indeed, if all 196 countries were included in international surveys instead of the top 30 or 40, even Maori and Pacific students would rank high. Clearly, Longstone is intent on reinforcing the lop-sided interpretations being parroted by PARATa whenever she gets the opportunity. A message for both women - if you honestly want to address the Maori/Pacific issue - the starting place is NOT schools! How many times to you have to be told that>

2/11/2012 7:27:57 a.m.

Andy Wilson wrote:

I hope all those supporters of Key and his band of mobsters will take note. As for Longstone, you are simply a lap dog for this government. Not all children are served well by the system but closing down special schools. Another brains trust decision - well done Minister.

1/11/2012 11:08:21 p.m.

TWE wrote:

The education systems in the rest of the world must be truly shocking for us to be the best there is...