Overview of the General Education System

The education system in the Pitcairn Islands is formed by its ocean-surrounded geographical isolation and extremely small number of inhabitants. It is officially known as Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno Islands, which are a group of four volcanic islands in the southern Pacific Ocean. It forms the sole British Overseas Territory in the Pacific Ocean.

As the island is home to only a small population, it has just a handful of school-age children. The island’s only is Pulau School, which provides pre-primary and primary education to resident children. Historically, the education system has adapted to these demographic limitations by relying heavily on New Zealand’s academic frameworks, which is why it follows the New Zealand national curriculum, including cyber safety policies. The school building also houses a small museum that supports the local curriculum with exhibits on the island’s flora and fauna.

Education is compulsory between the ages of five and 15. However, there are currently no school-age children on the island. When it comes down to it, students remain on Pitcairn until the age of 12 or 13, after which they are sent to New Zealand to continue their secondary and tertiary studies. This transition is fully funded by the Pitcairn Islands Government, wherein most children attend schools in Auckland.

Since the island adheres to New Zealand’s academic standards, the educational environment remains informal due to the absence of multiple institutions or educational tiers. There is no record of private, religious, or international schools existing on Pitcairn. The language of instruction is English as it aligns with both the island’s colonial past and its educational connection to New Zealand.

Compulsory education on Pitcairn Island spans from age five to 15, following New Zealand educational standards. All children during this age range must attend Pulau School, the island’s only educational institution. The school provides a combination of pre-primary and primary education and is operated by one full-time teacher sent from New Zealand. Albeit, early childhood education is offered, it is not legally mandated but is entrenched within the school’s operations.

As stated, children usually begin schooling at age five and continue on the island until around age twelve or thirteen, in which they are sent to New Zealand for secondary education. However, in recent years, it is noticed that the number of students on the island has dropped immensely. Pupil counts at times falling to as low as seven.

Pitcairn Island does not have any tertiary education institutions or post-secondary training centers. Consequently, students must pursue secondary and higher education abroad, predominantly in Auckland, New Zealand.