<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> Attainment (2015) </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Secondary diploma </Th> <Td> 88% </Td> </Tr> <P> The education system in New Zealand is a three - tier model which includes primary and intermediate schools, followed by secondary schools (high schools) and tertiary education at universities and polytechnics . The academic year in New Zealand varies between institutions, but generally runs from early February until mid-December for primary schools, late January to late November or early December for secondary schools, and polytechnics, and from late February until mid-November for universities . </P> <P> In 2009, the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), ranked New Zealand 7th best at science and reading in the world, and 13th in maths . The Education Index, published as part of the UN's Human Development Index consistently ranks New Zealand among the highest in the world . </P>

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