Central and Local Control in Education

Abstract

The question of the extent to which education should be centrally or locally controlled and administered has been a hardy perennial in New Zealand. It was being vigorously debated even prior to the passing of the 1877 Education Act, which established the national system and, far from lessening in importance, became central to the 1989 education reforms. This paper begins by briefly examining the situation prior to Tomorrow’s Schools and then explores trends and issues until the present day, concluding with a discussion of the Coalition Agreement on Education.