New Zealand Student Behaviour Near the Bottom of OECD Rankings

Classroom behaviour has been among the worst in the OECD for over 20 years, and is getting worse, the Education Review Office says.

Auckland Grammar students show their support during the First XV match between Auckland Grammar School and Kings College at Auckland Grammar on June 10, 2023 in Auckland, New Zealand. Phil Walter/Getty Images

Student behaviour in New Zealand classrooms has hit a new low, an Education Review Office report reveals.

The country’s ranking on an OECD scale has been among the worst for 20 years, but the report says it’s getting worse. Prolonged periods away from the classroom due to pandemic lockdowns triggered a further decline, which educators have been unable to arrest.