NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education
3.3 Supplementary private tutoring
Kiribati's current education governing act, the 2013 Education Act, does not include a non-state educational institution. However, according to the repealed 1977 Education Ordinance, a "non-governmental" school is defined as a school other than a government school.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Kiribati, most education at primary (six years beginning at ages six) and junior secondary education (three years beginning at ages 12) are public schools. On the contrary, senior secondary education (four years beginning at ages 15) is provided mainly by non-state actors with state subsidies. Free and compulsory education includes nine years, covering children ages six and seven months until the age of 15.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
No information was found.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools in Kiribati are established and managed by non-state actors. According to the 2016 Educational Statistic Digest, currently, non-state provision is provided by denominational schools in junior and senior secondary education where education can be sectarian. In Kiribati, the involvement of non-state actors in education is mostly at the Early Childhood Care and Education level and the senior secondary education.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
‘Private schools’ established by a non-governmental organization can be subsidies by the government through grants for operational costs and teachers' salaries.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Other types of schools
Homeschooling
No information specific to homeschool was found in the regulations in Kiribati. However, according to the 2013 Education Act, parents or legal representatives can request a certificate of exemption for a child not to attend institutionalized compulsory education.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
According to the 2013 Education Act, the Ministry of Education (MoE) governs education from elementary to a secondary level; specifically, the Director-General of Education is responsible for the operation of all schools in Kiribati. The 2017 Early Childhood Care and Education Act, created an advisory council on early childhood education to govern over policy issues and matters concerning ECCE. At a post-secondary level, the Ministry of Labour and Human Resource Development is responsible for managing post-secondary education, except for the Kiribati Teachers College which is under the responsibility of the MoE.
Vision: Non-state actors are mostly engaged as development partners and support such as international governments, International Organizations, the private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations.
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Kiribati is provided exclusively by non-state providers including churches and other community groups covering children ages from three to six through day care facilities and preschool centres. Types of preschools include Island Council preschools, Church and faith-based preschools, Community preschools, and Privately-owned preschool. The 2017 Early Childhood Care and Education regulates the provision of all ECCE providers.
Registration and approval: According to the 2017 Early Childhood Care and Education Act establishing a daycare or preschool service in Kiribati provides must apply for approval from the Director of the Ministry responsible for early childhood care and education. All proprietors (individuals or corporates) must include in their applications information regarding the qualification of the teachers, description of the premises according to the minimum standard requirements and building permit, disclose all the information about the center's equipment and infrastructure, and comply with the established child-teacher ratio proportion. The prescribed fee must accompany all applications.
Licence: Upon the Director being satisfied with the fulfilment of the requirements for approval, a permit will be granted for three years. Conditional approval may be granted subjects to conditions that the applicant must comply with before operating the ECCE services. Any service provider which operates without approval is liable to a monetary or imprisonment sanction. The Ministry must keep a register with all the approved providers and approved ECCE premises in Kiribati.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: All ECCE services must ensure their educational programs contribute to the established outcomes dictated by the Early Childhood Care and Education Act and the 2020 Registration and Administration of Service Providers, Teachers and Premises Regulations, the Kiribati Quality Standards on curriculum and learning opportunities.
Teaching profession: All teachers must comply with the minimum standard qualifications to work at a preschool or daycare facility, be registered and approved by the Director, and possess a basic first aid skills certificate. All ECCE facilities must keep a staff record with all the prescribed information, including name, training, and qualifications.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: According to the Early Childhood Care and Education Act, the Director must develop a national monitoring and evaluation program for non-state ECCE facilities. All ECCE facilities must keep the prescribed records of the service's provision and operation and disclose them for inspection where required.
Policies for vulnerable groups: According to the 2017 Early Childhood Care and Education Act all ECCE facilities must provide an equal and fair ECCE or preschool service to every child that enrolled or attends the service.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: No information was found.
Inspection: According to the 2017 Early Childhood Care and Education Act, an ECCE inspector is in charge of entering and inspect the ECCE premises to review the standard and condition of the facility and interview with the propitiators in matters concerning the operation and provision of the ECCE or preschool centre.
Child assessment: According to the Early Childhood Care and Education Act and the 2020 Registration and Administration of Service Providers, Teachers and Premises Regulations, all ECCE services must ensure that all child assessments and evaluations are documented such as the assessment of the child’s developmental needs and progress.
Sanctions: When an ECCE facility operates without compliance with the preestablished norms for approval, the Director can order the suspension or revocation of the approved permit.
Registration and approval: All schools in Kiribati must be registered and approved by the state. According to the 2013 Education Act, a person must apply to the Minister and comply with the conditions and criteria determined for the approval of school registration.
Licence: Upon fulfilling the minimum requirements to operate, the Minister issues a certificate of registration in the approved form for an indefinite period subject to the school's compliance with the registration conditions.
Water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH): All schools must comply with the prescribed health and safety standards and ensure that the school environment is clean, well maintained, safe and secure with adequate sanitary facilities for staff and students
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: All schools must comply with the National Curriculum and the Assessment Framework.
Textbooks and learning materials: No information was found.
Teaching profession: All teachers must apply to the Teacher Registration Committee to receive state approval to work at a school following the professional requirements following the 2020 Teacher Registration Regulations. The Director of Education must keep a register of all teachers registered.
Corporal punishment: In Kiribati, corporal punishment is not acceptable under any circumstances. Any school staff member who commits an offense or administers corporal punishment to a student is liable to a monetary or imprisonment conviction.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: The 2013 Education Act establishes that any school principal, in the view of an immediate risk to the school's health or safety or students, has the authority to close the schools temporarily. Additionally, in the case of a student carrying a contagious disease, the principal may direct the student not to attend the school. The Education Sector Contingency Plan for COVID-19 in Kiribati provides four outcomes, including developing a system of learning continuity, appropriate services and measures for reopening schools, and strengthening the resilience of the education system against future emergencies.
Fee-setting: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: For students to access senior secondary education, they must complete a student examination. According to the 2016 Education Statistics, most non-state educational institutions are schools structured as junior and senior secondary schools.
Policies for vulnerable groups: According to the 2016 Act to amend the Education Act 2013, the state can assist with tuition or book allowance to students who passed the prescribed national examination on attending a recognized senior secondary school in Kiribati.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School board: The Education Act 2013 dictates a school may establish its school committee comprising of, but not limited to, the representatives of teachers at the school, students of the school, parents of students of the school, the broader school community, and other persons prescribed by regulations
Reporting requirements: According to the 2013 Education Act, the Minister can prescribe the national standards for assessment and reporting. In addition, all state and non-state schools must submit yearly the School Survey Form for the Education Census including information on funding, school structure such as the existence of a parental committee, school enrolment details, infrastructure and teaching staff.
School inspection: According to the 2013 Education Act the Minister can appoint officers of the Ministry to be school inspectors to enter the school premises to inspect the compliance with the requirement of registration.
Student assessment: According to the 2016 Education Statistics, all students in grade ninth must sit for examinations to progress into senior secondary education and complete examinations at the end of senior secondary education to access further education. The Standardised Tests in Achievement in Kiribati (STAKI) are conducted every two years for students in years four and six.
Diplomas and degrees: According to the Education Act 2013, the Minister may establish criteria for awarding a certificate to students upon educational completion.
Sanctions: The Education Act 2013 established that any school that does not comply with the registration conditions may be placed on a probation period for no more than two years and is required to address and remedy the deficiencies identified in the school’s operations. If the school fails to address the deficiencies or requirements for registration, the Minister can cancel the registration. A person who operates a school without registration is liable to a monetary fine.
In Kiribati, post-secondary education is available through various technical and vocational education and training (TVET) administered by various ministries. Tertiary education is provided by overseas higher education institutions such as the University of South Pacific (USP), the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC), or other regional and international universities.
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
