Curriculum
Elementary:
Emphasizes basic subjects of language, mathematics, social studies, science, health and physical education, and industry arts; some include second-language learning.
Secondary:
Have some options. Proportion of options increases in the later years so that students may take specialized courses to prepare for the job market or to meet the differing entrance requirements of postsecondary institutions.
Diplomas are awarded to students who complete the requisite number of compulsory and optional courses. In most cases, vocational and academic programs are offered within the same secondary schools; in others, technical and vocational programs are offered separate
Elementary:
Emphasizes basic subjects of language, mathematics, social studies, science, health and physical education, and industry arts; some include second-language learning.
Secondary:
Have some options. Proportion of options increases in the later years so that students may take specialized courses to prepare for the job market or to meet the differing entrance requirements of postsecondary institutions.
Diplomas are awarded to students who complete the requisite number of compulsory and optional courses. In most cases, vocational and academic programs are offered within the same secondary schools; in others, technical and vocational programs are offered separate
Testing
Standardized testing similar to US
Standardized testing similar to US
Finance
In 2005-06, public expenditure on education from provincial, territorial, federal, and local governments amounted to $75.7 billion spent on all levels of education, which represented 16.1% of total public expenditures.
In 2005-06, public expenditure on education from provincial, territorial, federal, and local governments amounted to $75.7 billion spent on all levels of education, which represented 16.1% of total public expenditures.
- $40.4 billion was for elementary and secondary education
- $30.6 billion was for postsecondary education
- $4.6 billion was for other types of education such as special retraining and language training to newcomers.
Power and control
Responsibility:
There is no federal department of education and no integrated national system of education.
Within the federal system of shared powers, Canada’s Constitution Act of 1867 provides that “In and for each province, the legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Education.”
In the territories and provinces, departments or ministries of education are responsible for the organization, delivery, and assessment of education at the elementary and secondary levels, for technical and vocational education, and for post-secondary
Regional differences:
While there are 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 specialized needs of the populations served.
The comprehensive, diversified, and widely accessible nature of the education systems in Canada reflects the social belief in the importance of education.
Responsibility:
There is no federal department of education and no integrated national system of education.
Within the federal system of shared powers, Canada’s Constitution Act of 1867 provides that “In and for each province, the legislature may exclusively make Laws in relation to Education.”
In the territories and provinces, departments or ministries of education are responsible for the organization, delivery, and assessment of education at the elementary and secondary levels, for technical and vocational education, and for post-secondary
Regional differences:
While there are 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 specialized needs of the populations served.
The comprehensive, diversified, and widely accessible nature of the education systems in Canada reflects the social belief in the importance of education.
Special education
By law, all state schools in Canada must have a special education program. However, this is not possible in all schools and parents may have to enroll their children in private special needs schools. This can be difficult for some parents due to the cost, although some provinces/territories provide 100 percent funding in order for children to attend these schools.
Special needs schools are available for children with physical, mental, behavioral and communication disorders, as well as for gifted children
By law, all state schools in Canada must have a special education program. However, this is not possible in all schools and parents may have to enroll their children in private special needs schools. This can be difficult for some parents due to the cost, although some provinces/territories provide 100 percent funding in order for children to attend these schools.
Special needs schools are available for children with physical, mental, behavioral and communication disorders, as well as for gifted children
Levels of Education
Education in General
Government role:
Local Government
Schools and enrollments
Minority-Language Education:
Length of school:
Pre-elementary education – kindergarten
Elementary school
Secondary Education
Private schools
Education in General
Government role:
- Public education is provided free to all Canadians who meet various age and residence requirements
- Each province and territory has one or two departments responsible for education, headed by a minister who is an elected member of the legislature and appointed to the position.
- The departments provide educational, administrative, and financial management and school support functions
Local Government
- School boards, school districts, school divisions, and district education councils
- Members are elected by public ballot.
Schools and enrollments
- 10,100 elementary
- 3,400 secondary
- 2,000 mixed elementary and secondary
- The overall average is 350 students per school
- 2004-05: 5.3 million students enrolled in public elementary and secondary schools
Minority-Language Education:
- English and French are the two official languages.
- 85% of French speaking residents live in Quebec.
- Each province and territory has established French-language school boards to manage the French-first-language schools. In the province of Quebec, the same structure applies to education in English-first-language schools.
Length of school:
- Required attendance from age 6 – 16. Starts around 5 typically and ends with graduation around 18 from secondary school
Pre-elementary education – kindergarten
- 5 – year-olds are offered one year of pre-grade 1, non-compulsory education
- Depending on the jurisdiction, kindergarten may be compulsory or pre-school classes may be available from age four or even earlier.
- 95% of 5-year-olds attend pre-elementary or elementary school and over 40% of 4-year-olds are enrolled in junior kindergarten.
- Programs vary with full-day and half-day programs
Elementary school
- Covers about 6 – 8 years of schooling.
- 98% of elementary students go on to secondary level
Secondary Education
- Covers the final 4 – 6 years of compulsory education.
- Graduation rate in 2003 was 74%, with 78% of girls and 70% boys
- Dropout rate (defined as 20- to 24-year olds without a secondary diploma and not in school) had fallen 10% in 2004-05
Private schools
- Private schools are separate school systems that are protected constitutionally for religious education to be taught.
- Public and separate school systems that are publicly funded serve about 93% of all students in Canada.
Higher education
Post-secondary education is available in both government-supported and private institutions, which offer degrees, diplomas, certificates, and attestations depending on the nature of the institution and the length of program.
Canada has 163 recognized public and private universities and 183 recognized public colleges and institutions. 68 university-level institutions and 51 college-level ones operating as authorized institutions.
Tuition fees: average universities cost $4,524 in 2007-08 (international student fees for an undergraduate program averaging about $14,000 annually). College s and institutions (in the nine provinces outside Quebec), the average tuition was about $2,400 (Quebec residents do not pay college tuition).
Education is funded through the money that governments transfer to individual students through loans, grants, and education tax credits.
Post-secondary education is available in both government-supported and private institutions, which offer degrees, diplomas, certificates, and attestations depending on the nature of the institution and the length of program.
Canada has 163 recognized public and private universities and 183 recognized public colleges and institutions. 68 university-level institutions and 51 college-level ones operating as authorized institutions.
Tuition fees: average universities cost $4,524 in 2007-08 (international student fees for an undergraduate program averaging about $14,000 annually). College s and institutions (in the nine provinces outside Quebec), the average tuition was about $2,400 (Quebec residents do not pay college tuition).
Education is funded through the money that governments transfer to individual students through loans, grants, and education tax credits.
Grading system
Since each province has a different education system, the grading scale is different across the country. But most are A – F.
Since each province has a different education system, the grading scale is different across the country. But most are A – F.
Teaching Programs
Canada’s elementary and secondary school systems employed close to 310,000 educators in 2004-05, most of whom had four or five years of post-secondary study. This number includes teachers, principals, vice-principals, and professional non-teaching staff. Teachers are licensed by provincial and territorial departments or ministries of education. Most secondary school teachers have a subject specialization in the courses they teach.
Canada’s elementary and secondary school systems employed close to 310,000 educators in 2004-05, most of whom had four or five years of post-secondary study. This number includes teachers, principals, vice-principals, and professional non-teaching staff. Teachers are licensed by provincial and territorial departments or ministries of education. Most secondary school teachers have a subject specialization in the courses they teach.