[size=10pt][size=10pt][size=10pt][size=10pt][size=10pt]Education[/size][/size][/size][/size][/size]
Parents have the primary responsibility for educating their children. To assist parents, in Canada, provincial and territorial governments administer and regulate educational systems. There is no federal department of education and no national system of education. Instead, each province and territory has its own system of education. The educational systems are generally similar across Canada, with some variations between provinces and territories.
In some provinces and territories, there is only one ministry or department of education and in others, there are two: one responsible for elementary and secondary education and another responsible for post-secondary education. The ministries or departments of education in the province or territory where you live are your main sources of government information on all matters related to education (visit www.cmec.ca – click on the province or territory in which you are interested or click on “Canada-wide information” for an overview of education in Canada).
Overview of elementary and secondary education
Elementary and secondary education are the two basic levels of schooling for children and youth in Canada. Together, these two levels of education include up to 12 years of study. Education usually begins with kindergarten (which prepares children for the school environment), followed by grades 1 to 12 in most provinces and territories. Students go from primary to secondary school between grades 6 and 8, depending on the province or territory. Students who successfully complete secondary school receive a high school diploma.
The school year usually begins at the end of August and finishes toward the end of June. Children attend school from Monday to Friday during the school year (except during holidays). If you and your family arrive in Canada during the school year, contact your local school board to find a place for your children.
All children and youth in Canada have access to free, taxpayer-funded elementary and secondary education at public schools (although age and residence requirements may apply). Most students in Canada attend public schools, but in most areas there are also private elementary and secondary schools that offer an alternative to the government-run public schools.
Since Canada is a bilingual country, English-language and French-language schools are available throughout the country (even in areas where one language is more commonly spoken than the other). You should contact the ministry or department of education of the province or territory in which you will be living to learn more about English-language and French-language education options that may be available to you.
By law, children must attend school starting at the age of 5 or 6 and until they reach an age between 16 and 18, depending on the province or territory. Parents have the right, however, to educate their children themselves at home, rather than in a government-run public school or a private school.
School boards
Provincial and territorial governments are responsible for all aspects of elementary and secondary education, but they give “school boards” (sometimes called “school districts,” “school divisions” or “district education councils”) responsibility for managing schools within a particular local area. School boards are generally responsible for such things as administration, facilities, personnel and enrolment of students. The people who run a school board (called “trustees”) are elected directly by the public. They hold regular meetings where members of the public can express their views on how schools in their area are managed.
Additional information and enrolling students
For more detailed information on elementary and secondary education, contact the appropriate ministry or department of education in your province or territory. To enrol your child in elementary or secondary school, contact your local school board. You can get contact information for your local school board in the Blue Pages, from your provincial or territorial ministry or department of education, or at www.cicic.ca (click on “Education in Canada,” then “Elementary and Secondary Schools in Canada”).
Since school boards usually manage many schools, you may be able to choose the school that your children will go to. Because there are often waiting lists at popular public schools, make sure to enrol them well before the beginning of the school year at the end of August. If you are enrolling your children in a Canadian school for the first time, the school or school board will assess them to determine what level they should be placed at and whether they need free additional support (such as English or French language classes). Support is also offered through the presence of settlement workers in many schools.
Different aspects of school life in Canada
Teachers: Teachers usually have university education.
Mixed classes: In most schools, boys and girls learn together in the same classroom. However, some private schools are for boys or girls only.
School curriculum: Every province and territory has an official curriculum that outlines what students will be taught in each grade.
Religion: Canadians practise religion according to many different traditions and may wish their children’s education to include religious instruction consistent with their beliefs. In some provinces there are separate “Catholic” public schools, which students of any religion may attend. In most communities there are also a variety of private schools with religious affiliations. Because parents are ultimately responsible for their children’s education, they should not hesitate to talk to the teachers about the content of any religious information their children are receiving, whether at a public or a private school.
Textbooks and school supplies: Schools lend textbooks to their students. Parents are generally responsible for providing their children with school supplies (examples include pencils, paper and geometry sets).
Special needs: Students who have special needs because of a physical, cognitive, psychological, emotional, behavioural, linguistic or other difficulty may receive special support, either at a standard school or at a school specifically designed to meet their needs.
Report cards: Each school prepares report cards several times during the school year to inform parents about their child’s progress.
Absence from school: In Canada, children must attend school every day. If your child is absent from school because of an illness or for personal family reasons (such as a death in the family), you must inform the school.
Getting to school: Children can travel to and from school with their parents, by school bus (sometimes provided by the school at little or no cost to parents) or on their own (on foot or by public transportation) when they are older. Ask the school for information on school buses. You should consider travel from home to school when you choose a school for your children.
School closures: Schools sometimes close for one or more days in the winter because of snowstorms or severe cold. If this happens, announcements will be made through the school or on the local radio and television channels to inform parents that their children must stay at home that day.
Dress code: Schools generally have dress codes that describe the clothes that children may wear to school. Some schools (mostly private) require children to wear a uniform. If you have any questions or concerns about the dress code, contact the school.
Extracurricular activities: Extracurricular activities are activities that take place outside of school hours (before school, after school or during lunch). These activities include sports, arts, hobby clubs, etc. Each school offers different extracurricular activities to students. These activities can help your child make friends, get used to the Canadian school system and develop interests in areas outside of the school curriculum.
Field trips: Schools organize field trips outside the school for students to visit places that are relevant to their education (examples include museums, workplaces, cultural institutions and city neighbourhoods). Before and after the field trip, teachers will work with students on material connected to the trip.
Bullying: Bullying among children is an unfortunate reality, and sometimes racial prejudice can play a part in this. In schools across Canada, bullying should not be tolerated, so if your child faces such harassment, be sure to speak to their teacher or the school administration. If the response is not satisfactory, you may consider moving your child to another school.
