The 1877 Education Act in New Zealand aimed to establish equal, secular, and compulsory education across the country. It sought to standardize curriculum, provide free public education regardless of social class, and require school attendance to build citizenship. However, the effects were not entirely equal, as students from lower decile schools and Maori and Pacific Islander students have been shown to underachieve and be less likely to gain university entrance, calling into question whether equal opportunity was fully realized.

1. The establishment of 1877 Education Act

2. Prior-Education act. Before the education act the south island was more established and well funded education and schools rather than the north. Due to more churches and because of the money from the gold rush.

3. Centralized Ensure that the quality of education was equal all over the country. Make sure that every province was taught from the same curriculum.

4. Main objectives from the education act

5. Free To ensure every child received education independent of their social class and social economic status without worrying about the cost.

6. Secular Making sure that education was non-bias from religion. Education no longer came from just talking from the bible and more about ensuring every child had the skills to succeed. No matter what their religious beliefs were.

7. Compulsory Schooling became compulsory for all children. This ensured that they were not causing trouble in there area.

8. The education act was about building citizenship and creating equal opportunities for all. But is it really equal? Children in low decal schools are less likely to gain university entrance Maori and Pacifica students are under achieving, why is this if it is meant to be equal opportunities for all?