Moving to Canada with children means you will want and need to understand Canada’s education system.
Canadian school systems may be quite different from what you have been used to in your home country. In some respects, the school systems in Canada can also be different from each other, depending on the province or territory.
Schooling is mandatory to the age of 16 in most provinces, and to the age of 18 in New Brunswick and Ontario (or until completion of grade 12). The Canadian school year lasts from September to June.
Regional Differences
Schools are funded and overseen at the federal level, provincial or territorial level, and on the local level, with chief policy making at the provincial level. 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 ad to implement the standard curriculum set forth by the province. Alberta allows for charter schools that are not subject to the school boards.
As Canada has no federal department of Education, the ten provinces and three territories are responsible for the organization, 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 specialize needs of the populations served.”
Kindergarten
Education, in most instances, begins with kindergarten. Junior kindergarten is available in British Columbia and Ontario, while in some areas, kindergarten is either not required or it is not available. Generally, children are five years old when they start kindergarten.
Elementary and Junior High/Middle School
Elementary school generally includes grades one through six (for students aged approximately six to twelve years of age), when there is a junior high school as the next step. In some areas, elementary school is extended through to grade eight. Middle schools and junior high schools provide the transition from elementary to high school, and encompass years seven and eight of the education system.
High School
High school runs typically through grades nine to twelve. In the Province of Quebec, high school ends in grade eleven, and is followed by CEGEP, a program that prepares the student for university or a technical field.
Community College, Vocational School or University
Beyond this, students can attend either vocational schools or enter a university. At a university they will first earn a Bachelor’s degree, and can continue studies to receive a Masters or a Doctorate degree. Vocational or community college students will earn certificates and diplomas that attest to their skills in various trades.
