Education in Canada
Content
Education in Canada
The Canadian education system covers elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. Education in Canada is governed by each provincial and territorial government, so there are slight differences between the education systems in each province and territory. For instance, the grades at which each level begins and ends vary. All provinces and territories provide universal, free elementary and secondary schooling for 12 years, with the exception of Quebec where it is for 11 years. Education is compulsory to the age of between 15 and 18, depending on the province. However, education is important to Canadians, and standards across the country are uniformly high. There are 10 provinces and three territories, each with their own way of organizing education, but there are some generalizations that one can make about Canadian education. Most children attend publicly-funded schools which are run by the ministries, though some children do attend private schools. These private schools are run by independent operators who must conform to government guidelines regarding education. There are some children who are taught at home by their parents or tutors. These children are said to be "home schooled". Which school children attend most often depends on where they live. In the public school system, a certain school services a certain region; all the children who live within that region will attend that school. In some provinces, students from outside a school's region may apply to go to school there. This generally happens when a school has a reputation for excelling in a certain academic area. Students attending a private school may come from many different areas. The schools may have dormitories for out-of-town and overseas students to live in. The Canadian school years lasts from September to June.
Regional differences
Education is available in both English and in French in most places, provided there are enough students in that area speaking the secondary language. Provinces are separated into districts, from which school boards are derived. It is the responsibility of the school boards to make local policy and to implement the standard curriculum set forth by the province. As Canada has no federal department of education, the 10 provinces and three territories are, therefore, responsible for the organisation, delivery and assessment of education at the elementary, secondary, technical, vocational and post-secondary levels.
According to a report released by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, “While there are a great many similarities in the provincial and territorial education systems across Canada, there are significant differences in curriculum, assessment, and accountability policies among the jurisdictions that express the geography, history, language, culture, and corresponding specialised needs of the populations served”.
Types: There is the elementary school: Children usually enter kindergarten at age 5. Elementary school generally includes grades 1 through 6 in regions that then have 2 years of middle school or junior high school, and in areas without these, elementary school goes up to grade 8. In Quebec, elementary school is grades 1-6, and students then go straight into high school. Secondary : Secondary school-most often called high school-typically includes grades 9 through 12. In regions with middle school and junior high, it also includes grades 7 and 8. In Quebec, high school covers grades 7 through 11. Post-secondary: Post-secondary education includes career college (also known as vocational school), community college, university and grad school. Language programs: Language programs (English or French as a second language) are offered at middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities and private language schools.
Private schools
About 5.6% of students are in private schools. A minority of these are elite private schools, which are attended by only a small fraction of students, but do have a great deal of prestige and prominence. It is not unusual for the wealthy and prominent in Canada to send their children to public schools, especially in the lower grades. A far larger portion of private schools are religious based institutions. Private schools are also used to study outside the country.
Structure: School districts: Provinces are divided into school districts, and school districts have school boards (elected officials) which implement policy and curriculum set out by the province. A school district usually serves one or more cities or towns, depending on their size. Religious affiliation: In Canada, schools can be secular (no religious affiliation), Catholic or Christian (various Protestant denominations). Some provinces have separate school boards for religious and nonreligious schools. Public and private: Canada's education system includes public schools, which are free and funded by the government, and private schools, for which students have to pay. At the post-secondary level, public colleges and universities still require students to pay tuition, but it is substantially less than tuition at private universities.
The Canadian education system covers elementary, secondary and post-secondary education. Education in Canada is governed by each provincial and territorial government, so there are slight differences between the education systems in each province and territory. For instance, the grades at which each level begins and ends vary. All provinces and territories provide universal, free elementary and secondary schooling for 12 years, with the exception of Quebec where it is for 11 years. Education is compulsory to the age of between 15 and 18, depending on the province. However, education is important to Canadians, and standards across the country are uniformly high. There are 10 provinces and three territories, each with their own way of organizing education, but there are some generalizations that one can make about Canadian education. Most children attend publicly-funded schools which are run by the ministries, though some children do attend private schools. These private schools are run by independent operators who must conform to government guidelines regarding education. There are some children who are taught at home by their parents or tutors. These children are said to be "home schooled". Which school children attend most often depends on where they live. In the public school system, a certain school services a certain region; all the children who live within that region will attend that school. In some provinces, students from outside a school's region may apply to go to school there. This generally happens when a school has a reputation for excelling in a certain academic area. Students attending a private school may come from many different areas. The schools may have dormitories for out-of-town and overseas students to live in. The Canadian school years lasts from September to June.
Regional differences
Education is available in both English and in French in most places, provided there are enough students in that area speaking the secondary language. Provinces are separated into districts, from which school boards are derived. It is the responsibility of the school boards to make local policy and to implement the standard curriculum set forth by the province. As Canada has no federal department of education, the 10 provinces and three territories are, therefore, responsible for the organisation, delivery and assessment of education at the elementary, secondary, technical, vocational and post-secondary levels.
According to a report released by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, “While there are a great many similarities in the provincial and territorial education systems across Canada, there are significant differences in curriculum, assessment, and accountability policies among the jurisdictions that express the geography, history, language, culture, and corresponding specialised needs of the populations served”.
Types: There is the elementary school: Children usually enter kindergarten at age 5. Elementary school generally includes grades 1 through 6 in regions that then have 2 years of middle school or junior high school, and in areas without these, elementary school goes up to grade 8. In Quebec, elementary school is grades 1-6, and students then go straight into high school. Secondary : Secondary school-most often called high school-typically includes grades 9 through 12. In regions with middle school and junior high, it also includes grades 7 and 8. In Quebec, high school covers grades 7 through 11. Post-secondary: Post-secondary education includes career college (also known as vocational school), community college, university and grad school. Language programs: Language programs (English or French as a second language) are offered at middle schools, high schools, colleges, universities and private language schools.
Private schools
About 5.6% of students are in private schools. A minority of these are elite private schools, which are attended by only a small fraction of students, but do have a great deal of prestige and prominence. It is not unusual for the wealthy and prominent in Canada to send their children to public schools, especially in the lower grades. A far larger portion of private schools are religious based institutions. Private schools are also used to study outside the country.
Structure: School districts: Provinces are divided into school districts, and school districts have school boards (elected officials) which implement policy and curriculum set out by the province. A school district usually serves one or more cities or towns, depending on their size. Religious affiliation: In Canada, schools can be secular (no religious affiliation), Catholic or Christian (various Protestant denominations). Some provinces have separate school boards for religious and nonreligious schools. Public and private: Canada's education system includes public schools, which are free and funded by the government, and private schools, for which students have to pay. At the post-secondary level, public colleges and universities still require students to pay tuition, but it is substantially less than tuition at private universities.
