Country Profile: New Caledonia

Geography

Area	18,575 sq km (7,359 sq mi) land: 18,275 sq km water: 300 sq km
Capital	Noumea
Largest city (2003 est.)	Noumea 134,500 (metro. area), 86,400 (city proper)
Other large cities	N/A
Climate	Tropical and rainfall is highly seasonal ; modified by southeast trade winds; hot, humid Terrain: coastal plains with interior mountains
Time Difference	(UTC+11) (16 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

People

Nationality	noun: New Caledonian(s) adjective: New Caledonian
Population (July 2010 est.)	252,352
Annual population growth rate (2010 est.)	1.561%
Age Structure (2010 est.)	0-14 years: 26.8% (male 31,191/female 29,870) 15-64 years: 65.8% (male 75,189/female 74,552) 65 years and over: 7.3% (male 7,681/female 8,953)
Urbanization	urban population: 65% of total population (2008) rate of urbanization: 2.1% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Ethnic groups (1996 census)	Melanesian 44.1%, European 34.1%(predominantly French, with German, British and Italian minorities), Polynesians (Wallisians, Tahitians) 11.8%, Indonesian 2.6%, Vietnamese 1.4%, Ni-Vanuatu 1.2%, various other groups (3.9%), Tamils, other South Asians, Berbers, Japanese, Chinese, Fijians, Arabs, West Indian
Languages	French (official), 33 Melanesian-Polynesian and dialects and Austronesian Languages
Religion	Roman Catholic 60%, Protestant 30%, other 10% (include indigenous beliefs)
Life expectancy (2010 est.)	total population: 76.56 years male: 72.46 years female: 80.86 years
Infant mortality rate CIA (2010 est.)	total: 5.8 deaths/1,000 live births male: 6.85 deaths/1,000 live births female: 4.69 deaths/1,000 live births

Government

Government type	Overseas territory of France, internally self-governing dependency of France
Head of State	Head of State: President HE Mr Nicolas Sarkozy represented by High Commissioner Yves Dassonville Head of Government: Mr Philippe Gomès
Independence	none (overseas territory of France); note - a referendum on independence was held in 1998 but did not pass; a new referendum is scheduled for 2014
Constitution	4 October 1958 (French Constitution). The Noumea Accord (1998) and consequent Organic Law (May 1999) provided the constitutional framework under which New Caledonia is governed today and defined its institutions.
Legal system	based on French civil law; the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomy to the islands
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Administrative divisions	none (overseas territory of France); there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by the US Government, but there are 3 provinces named Province des Iles, Province Nord, and Province Sud

Education

Literacy (age 15 and over can read & write) (1996 census)	total population: 96.2% male: 96.8% female: 95.5%
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)	N/A
Years compulsory	N/A
Primary to secondary transition rate	N/A
Female Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year	N/A
Male Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) - Tertiary Education as a % for School year	N/A
Education expenditure	N/A
Distribution(%) of public expenditure per level	N/A
Researchers per 1,000,000 inhabitants (FTE)	N/A
Expenditure on R&D as a % of GDP	N/A
Percentage distribution of gross domestic expenditure on research and development by source	N/A

ICT

Telephones - main lines in use (2008)	63,000
Telephones - mobile cellular (2008)	196,500
Mobile cellular subscriptions per 100 inhabitants	Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons.
Broadband Internet subscribers per 100 inhabitants	N/A
Telephone system	General assessment: a submarine cable network connection between New Caledonia and Australia, completed in 2007, is expected to significantly increase network capacity and improve high-speed connectivity and access to international networks. Domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular telephone subscribership exceeds 100 per 100 persons. International: satellite earth station - 1 Intelsat (Pacific Ocean) (2008)
International dialling code	+687
Internet domain	.nc
Internet hosts (2010)	22,456
Internet users (2008)	85,000
Internet users per 100 inhabitants	N/A
Computers per 100 inhabitants	N/A
TV sets per 100 people	N/A

Overview

New Caledonia, a territory governed directly by France under the French Constitution of 1958, is situated approximately 2,000 kilometres north-east from Sydney, Australia. It has a land surface area of approximately 19,000 square kilometres and a population of approximately 250,000 people.

New Caledonia holds approximately one quarter of the worlds nickel reserves and is the region’s major income-earning industry.

The official language is French, which is also the language of education, business and trade, but a total of 33 other Melanesian-Polynesian languages and dialects are also spoken. New Caledonia is predominantly a Christian nation, with Roman Catholicism the most widely accepted religion, although various Protestant denominations also have a substantial following.

New Caledonia is in the process of moving toward full self-government following significant public unrest during the 1980s by Kanak (Melanesian) racial groups. Having a unicameral parliamentary system, 54 members are popularly elected to the Territorial Congress for five-year terms. All New Caledonians are entitled to vote in Territorial and French National elections from the age of 18 years.

Brief History

Habitation of the New Caledonia region dates back to around 3000 BC when it was settled by the ancestors of the Micronesian peoples, and 2,000 years later by Polynesians. European sighting of the islands first occurred in 1774 by Captain James Cook. Further European involvement led to the French annexing the region in 1853. Based upon the British model that appeared to have been successful in Australia, Napolean III, Emperor of France, directed the establishment of a substantial penal colony. Free traders soon followed, and the discovery of nickel in the 1860s led to the establishment of a mining economy.

The Europeans also brought with them diseases such as measles, typhoid, syphilis, smallpox and influenza, which had a disastrous effect upon the local population that did not have resistance to these. Further, slave traders routinely captured unwitting individuals who would then be destined for labour in the cane fields of Fiji and Australia; this continued until towards the end of the 19^th century. The result was a dwindling native Kanak population and a gradual increase in the European descended population.

During World war II, American Allied forces established significant bases in New Caledonia as part of the push to drive the Japanese north. New Caledonia remained a French territory after the war.

Recent history tells a story of a nation seeking self-determination. The Noumea Accord of 1998 was an agreement to set out how and when the territory will achieve this through a cooperative and peaceful means. Between 2014 and 2019, a referendum is due to be held to decide if this will occur.

Governance

New Caledonia has a unique status in that it is both a French Territory under the authority of the 1958 French Constitution and has a functioning parliamentary system. The unicameral legislature is made up of 54 elected representatives who serve five year terms. Three senators are elected from the legislature, two to represent the region in the French National Assembly and the other in the French Senate. The territory is divided into three regions: North Province, South Province and The Loyalty Islands. All adult nationals over 18 years of age are entitled to vote in Territorial and National Elections.

Education System

The education in New Caledonia is essentially the same as that in metropolitan France. There are four basic levels. These are: Preschool (ages 3–5) Primary Education (ages 6–10), Secondary Education (ages 11–18) and Higher Education.

English-language studies on the New Caledonian education system are relatively scarce. It is clear, however, that there is a huge gap in terms of educational outcomes between Kanak children and others. The reasons for this gap are hotly debated. Explanations range from accusations of institutional racism to claims of a specific ‘Melanesian mentality’ that hinders the academic success of Kanak and Pacific Islander children.

Given that New Caledonia has been a part of France, both directly and indirectly, for two centuries, its education system has gradually evolved to follow the same model. Students must attend school between the ages of six and sixteen.

a) School education

Pre-Primary Level

Early childhood education consists of 3 years of non-compulsory preschool provided by nursery schools (Écoles maternelles) and primary schools (Écoles primaires) with early childhood programs. There are currently about 65 nursery schools in New Caledonia.

Primary Level

The first six years of formal education is within a primary school model covering grades 1-6. The language in which lessons are delivered is French, consolidating it as the official language.

Primary education consists of a preparatory year or Cours préparatoire (CP) and 4 additional years (CE1, CE2, CM1, CM2).

In 2010, there were 201 government-run and 85 private-sector primary schools in New Caledonia (these totals include nursery schools).

Secondary Level

The first four years of secondary school are compulsory with students required to attend until they are 16 years of age. The second section of secondary education is an optional three year program known as Upper Secondary, which is required to be completed for entrance into a tertiary institution.

Secondary education is provided by Junior High Schools or Collèges (1st cycle), Senior High Schools or Lycées (2nd cycle General and Technology) and Professional High Schools or Lycées Professionnels (2nd cycle Professional).

After 4 years, Junior High School pupils receive the Diplôme National du Brevet or National Diploma Certificate. Students who proceed to Senior High School spend the next three years studying towards the academic Baccalauréat général or the more technical Baccalauréat technologique.

Those student who go to the Lycées Professionnels spend the next two years studying for certificate- or diploma-level qualifications. Those with a diploma can proceed to a further two years’ study to gain the Baccalauréat professionnel. Graduates with a Baccalauréat professionnel can then either opt for one year’s further training or spend another two years studying for a Baccalauréat technologique.

There are some specialised programs at Junior High School and Senior High level for students with special needs.

According to the official figures there were 40 government-run and 35 private high schools in 2010. This total is broken down into:

30 public and 23 private Junior High Schools

6 public and 4 private Senior High Schools

4 public and 8 private Professional High Schools

A number of secondary schools of all types had remote campuses.

Non-Government Schools

Private schools are an essential part of the country’s education system. Private school associations active in New Caledonia include the Enseignement Catholique (Catholic Education), the Alliance Scolaire (the School Alliance) and the Fédération de l’Enseignement Libre Protestant (Free Protestant Education Federation).

b) Vocational education and training (VET)

Senior High Schools provide post-baccalauréat education in the form of Classes Supérieures des Lycées. Qualifications on offer include the Brevet de Techniciens Supérieurs (BTS), Diplômes Préparatoires aux Études Comptables et Financières (DPECF) and the Diplômes d’Études Comptables et Financières (DECF).

The Institut de Formation des Professions Sanitaires et Sociales en Nouvelle-Calédonie (IFPSS) provides certificate, diploma and degree level training in the areas of nursing, health care and social work.

The L'Institut de Formation à l'Administation Publique (IFAP) offers training courses for public servants and elected office holders in New Caledonia. Each year, the IFAP runs hundreds of training sessions in areas such as law, finance, computer technology, human resource management, public health, science and technology.

There are also three training agencies associated with the Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Nouvelle-Caledonie (CCI). These are the Formation Professionnelle Continue (FPC), the Centre de Formation d'Apprentis (CFA) and the Ecole de Gestion et de Commerce (CGE).

Much like the IFAP, the FPC provides tailor-made courses for private companies. Short courses are available in management, communications, law, labour law, accounting, commerce, information technology, languages, occupational health and safety, and computing.

The CFA provides two and three year diploma training for apprentices in a wide range of vocational areas. Training provided through the CFA includes lessons and work experience. Courses on offer from the CFA include diploma, certificate and baccalauréat level qualifications.

The CGE provides education in the fields of management and business studies to secondary school graduates The EGC takes 25 students at year, who take a three-year diploma course, which includes 6 months of work placement and 2 months in Australia.

In addition to agencies attached to the CCI, there are also a number of smaller bodies offering vocational training in fields such as agriculture, seamanship, arts and crafts, mining and quarrying.

c) Higher education

There are five separate institutes of higher education in New Caledonia. In 1987, the Universite Française du Pacific (French University of the Pacific) was established at two locations: one in the French Polynesia, and the other in New Caledonia.In 1999, these were split into two separate entities with the one in French Polynesia being named the Universite de la Polynesie Française (University of French Polynesia) and the other being named Universite de la Nouvelle Caledonie (University of New Caledonia).

The Université de Nouvelle-Calédonie (UNC) is the major tertiary education provider in New Caledonia. The UNC offers a number of preparatory programs, including an entrance diploma (Diplôme d’Accès aux Études Universitaires) and courses aimed for future civil servants. Like any other French university, the UNC provides baccalauréat holders with wide range of programs at diploma, degree and masters levels. The UNC has three faculties: (i) Literature, Languages and Humanities; (ii) Law, Economics and Management; and (iii) Sciences and Technologies. In addition, there is a doctoral school established in association with the Université de la Polynésie Française (UPF). The UNC currently has approximately 2,800 students.

The UNC also offers Continuing Education in the form of short-courses delivered to private or public sector clients. In addition, there is a small Open University program that consists primarily of diploma-level training in a number of vocational areas.

There are three teacher training centres in New Caledonia. Attached to the UNC is the Institut Universitaire de Formation des Maîtres de l’UNC. The Institute provides training for primary and secondary teachers. In addition to the IUDM, there is the Institut de Formation des Maîtres de Nouvelle-Calédonie (IFMNC). The IFMNC also offers training for prospective primary and secondary school teachers, as well as specialised training for teachers of Kanak language and culture. The non-government Ecole Normale de l'Enseignement Privé (ENEP) trains teachers for private schools in New Caledonia. The ENEP offers a three year course, after which graduates are normally employed in schools run by one of the main private school grouping in New Caledonia.

Historical Overview of Distance Education

New Caledonia is largely a consumer of distance education courses from metropolitan France, rather than a source of home-grown programs. However, there are signs of a growing interest in the area of distance education. In recent years, the Centre National d'Enseignement à Distance (CNED) or National Centre for Distance Education has expanded its activities in New Caledonia. The CNED is now offers distance education programs scheduled to coincide with the academic terms in the French overseas territories in the southern hemisphere.

The CNED offers distance learning courses at the pre-baccalauréat level to students in New Caledonia. These courses are available for nursery school, primary, junior secondary and senior secondary students.

The CNED offers TVET-related online and correspondence courses in New Caledonia. These include programs designed to prepare candidates to sit entrance examinations for professional training institutes and public service examinations. As a French overseas territory, New Caledonia is also a market for French agencies offering correspondence courses in vocational areas. Examples include the correspondence courses in agriculture run by bodies such as the Centre National de Promotion Rurale (CNPR).

The UNC has recently begun to provide distance education programs in association with the CNED. These include a small number of post-baccalauréat level qualifications. Also active in New Caledonia are the 35 French universities that form the Fédération Interuniversitaire d’Enseignement à Distance (FIED). These institutions offer students in New Caledonia with opportunities to choose from a wide variety of university courses by correspondence or online.

Administration and Finance

The New Caledonia Educational Authority for Primary, Secondary and Higher Education, based in Noumea, is a decentralized government department that oversees the educational system in New Caledonia. Both public and parochial schools are accountable to this entity. Education in New Caledonia is free and remains compulsory for children between the ages of 6 and 16.

Higher Education Reforms

The UNC has recently received increased autonomy as part of the wider French reform of the university sector. On 1 January 2011, the institution achieved autonomy in terms of its budget and human resources. Although the UNC receives a global budget from the French Government, it has wide discretion in expenditures.

Future Direction of Tertiary Education

In 2012, the three different parts of the UNC will move to a single campus. This campus will include residential accommodation for 471 students, new sporting venues and improved facilities for teaching and administration. The UNC intends to position itself as an international university, creating new courses designed to attract overseas students. These courses, along with modern residential, sporting and leisure facilities, are expected to drive the internationalisation of the UNC student body. The goal is that 7% of students will be from overseas by 2013. In addition, the UNC plans to further develop the range of its distance education programs.

Information and Communications Technology Initiatives

a) Information society strategy

New Caledonia has relatively modern telecommunications by Pacific standards. The government-owned OPT New Caledonia offers fixed line telephony, a GSM mobile network and Internet access. Mobile telephones now exceed the number of fixed-line connections. There are no less than 5 ISPs in New Caledonia, offering Internet connection speeds of up to 2Mbs. The rapid expansion of telecommunications access is largely due to the Gondwana-1 undersea communications cable connecting New Caledonia and Australia. Brought into service in mid 2008, Gondwana-1 has made it possible for students to benefit from widespread Internet access. Free Internet wi-fi services have been installed in a number of public areas, including high schools and institutes of higher learning such as the UNC, the IUFM and IFM-NC.

b) Major e-learning initiatives

Since 2005, apprentices and higher education students in New Caledonia have been able to participate in the Micro-Portable Etudiant (MIPE) program. Under this program, students can select from a wide choice of wi-fi enabled laptops at reduced prices, typically 30% lower than the normal retail price. These computers cost between 30,000 and 240,000 francs and guaranteed 1 to 3 years.

c) Benchmarking e-learning

None identified.

d) Support for Open Education Resources (OER)

In 2011, a representative from New Caledonia attended the Foundation Meeting for the OER University at Otago, New Zealand. The Secretariat of the Pacific Community, based in New Caledonia, has also expressed considerable interest in OER. However, interest in OER appears at an early stage.

e) Government entities

Ministre de l'Éducation nationale

Ministère de l'enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche

Vice-Rectorat de Nouvelle-Calédonie

Direction de l'Enseignement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (DENC)

f) Associations and networks

Chambre de Commerce et d’Industrie de Nouvelle-Calédonie (CCI)

g) Distance education journals

None identified.

Interesting Distance Education Initiatives

New Caledonia is a world away from most Pacific islands in terms of its access to online distance education. This gap is best typified by the Académie en ligne (Academy Online) initiative. The Academy is a free online educational resource site produced by the CNED and now available to students in New Caledonia. The site is intended for the use of parents who wish to assist their children’s study and for students engaging in self-directed learning. Academy Online takes students from their first year in primary school up to the baccalauréat. Searchable by subject, level or keywords, the site provides multimedia learning resources in a wide variety of disciplines, including languages, materials science, economics and literature.

Quality Assurance

The standard of education in New Caledonia is under the overall authority of the Vice-Rectorat Nouvelle-Caledonie.

Quality assurance in the higher education sector in New Caledonia is the responsibility of two metropolitan French agencies. These are the Agence d'Évaluation de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur (AERES) and the Commission des Titres d'Ingénieur (CTI).

Regulatory and Policy Framework

Responsibility for education in New Caledonia has been largely devolved to local communes and provinces in the territory. However, the Government of New Caledonia exercises overarching control through a number of supervisory agencies, including the Direction de l'Enseignement de la Nouvelle-Calédonie (DENC). In addition, the Vice Rectorat represents the Ministre de l'Éducation nationale in New Caledonia. The UNC itself falls under the responsibility of the French Ministère de l'enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche.

a) International regulatory and policy frameworks

Higher education in New Caledonia is under the aegis of the European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education (ENQA). Membership of the Association is open to quality assurance agencies in the signatory states of the Bologna Declaration.

Education for All (EFA)

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

United Nations Literacy Decade

UNESCO’s Four Pillars of Education

United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (2005-2014)

b) Regional agreements and policy

Pacific Islands Forum Basic Education Action Plan (FBEAP)

Pacific Regional Initiatives for the Delivery of Basic Education (PRIDE) Project

Pacific Education for Sustainable Development Framework

Pacific Education Development Framework (PEDF) 2009-2015

The Pacific Plan (the Pacific Plan Task Force is managed by the Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General)

c) National regulations and policy

New Caledonia is legally part of metropolitan France. As such the administration of education in the territory is determined by the Education Code of the French Republic. Specific provisions of the Code relate to the delivery of education in New Caledonia and the role of the Vice-Rectorat.

d) State/District regulations and policy

None identified.

e) University policies

The UNC is currently a small teaching university. The future of the institution is likely to be quite different. UNC is intended to become a larger institution with an expanded research role, serving the French overseas territories in the South Pacific. The UNC aims to increase its participation in regional scientific cooperation, as well as its appeal to overseas students. As part of the move to greater autonomy, the UNC is in the process of establishing a research centre in higher education. The proposed Pôle de Recherche en d’Enseignement Supérieur (PRES) will enable the UNC to better coordinate its research activities, including its masters and doctoral level programs.