Most children in Kiribati grow up with Te Kiribati as their first language. Central and Southern dialects are generally understandable to one another, although island-level language experience can differ. The national curriculum covers language learning from early childhood care and education through primary, junior secondary and senior secondary school in both Te Kiribati and English. Early reading and writing normally begin in Te Kiribati, while English starts orally and later becomes a bridge to more extensive written and subject learning. A published NCAF model describes a gradual shift from mostly Te Kiribati instruction in preschool and the first school years toward a larger English share in later years; the current percentages are not independently confirmed and may change through curriculum revision. The Ministry of Education sets syllabi, learning benchmarks and assessment arrangements, while schools, teachers and families support language development and monitor progress. English exposure is stronger in and around Tarawa, especially through government and commercial communication, whereas learners on outer islands may encounter English mainly through school, work, media or digital resources. Kiribati Teachers College prepares teachers through its Advanced Diploma of Teaching, including English, English for academic purposes, TESOL, content-and-language teaching and Te Kiribati pedagogy; its usual pathway includes two years at college and one year of internship, with an English entry level of CEFR B1 and a completion level of at least TELPA B2. Kiribati Institute of Technology offers English communication and proficiency training for everyday life, vocational education and work, including CVs, job interviews and technical texts; courses commonly run for four to eight terms, and a Certificate II English course has five units of about 80 hours each. USP Kiribati Campus provides face-to-face, cohort, flexible and distance study, with English among its study and community-education options. The Kiribati Learning Passport provides English and Te Kiribati resources for early childhood, primary, secondary, teacher and parent learning, although registration or login is required. KITES, launched on 19 May 2026, supports a four-year digital reform with model schools, solar-powered systems, connectivity and devices for remote islands. No current nationwide foreign-language system or current Chinese-language offer is verified; Chinese provision is documented only historically. Verified course fees and a general legal entitlement to adult language courses are not established, so access and cost must be checked with the relevant school, provider or institution.
Languages in Kiribati
Te Kiribati, also called te taetae ni Kiribati, is the main language of everyday life, parliament and culture in Kiribati. English is the second official language and is especially used in written government, business and education. Language learning in Kiribati therefore builds Te Kiribati literacy first and develops English progressively for further study, work and international communication.
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