New Zealand was one of 38 countries which took part in ICCS in 2008. ICCS focuses on Year 9 students' knowledge and understanding of civic systems and citizenship issues, and their attitudes, values and behaviours relating to civics and citizenship. It also looks at differences among countries in relation to the outcomes of civic and citizenship education and how these differences relate to student, school and community backgrounds.
Purpose
The International Civic and Citizenship Education Study (ICCS) is an international standardised study that looks at the ways in which young people are prepared to undertake their roles as citizens. ICCS measures students’ knowledge and under-standing of civic systems and citizenship issues, as well as student attitudes, perceptions and activities relating to civics and citizenship. It also looks at differences among countries in relation to the outcomes of civic and citizenship education and how these differences relate to student, school and community backgrounds.
Methodology
During 2008/09, approximately 140,000 students around 14 years of age and 62,000 teachers in over 5,300 schools from 38 countries around the world participated in ICCS. In New Zealand almost 4,000 Year 9 students, 1,350 teachers and 123 principals from 146 schools took part in the study between October and December 2008. A representative sample of New Zealand schools with Year 9 students was selected. The student sample was representative of their Year 9 peers.
It is worth noting that data collection in New Zealand took place around the time of the 2008 general election, which may have influenced students’ responses to some questions.