Canada is home to some of the world’s top educational institutions
Canada has a very strong and well- funded public education system. By area, Canada is the second biggest country in the world. The education in Canada is excellent, largely managed provincially. Consequently, some aspects of the education system can vary between provinces. There is both a public and private education system in Canada. In addition to public schools, there are lots of private schools in Canada. The Canadian government heavily spends more on education and subsidizes education from kindergarten through to the post- secondary level, spending on average almost six percent of its GDP on education.
Generally speaking, the education system is divided into three levels:
- Primary
- Secondary
- Post-secondary
Primary Education
Primary education or elementary school in Canada is mandatory for children, starting in grade 1, generally at the ages of 6 or 7, and goes until grade 6 at the ages of 11 to 12 years old.
Secondary Education
Secondary education in Canada has two levels: junior high school and high school. Junior high school or intermediate education follows immediately after completion of elementary school. It’s a 2-year stage of education that includes grades 7 and 8. High school is the last part of secondary education that comes when students reach grade 8, and they stay in this stage for 4 years, until grade 11 or 12. Students are required by law to stay in school until the age of 16, regardless of what grade they are in when they reach that age.
Post- Secondary Education
After completing the graduation from high school, Canadian students are given the opportunity to apply to colleges and universities. College in Canada generally refers to a smaller community college or a specific trade school. University in Canada provides higher education where academic degrees can be achieved in various subjects starting with bachelor’s degree, then Master’s degree and finally a phd as the highest level of education.
All college and university education in Canada is the responsibility of the individual provinces and territories. Provincial governments provide the majority of funding to their public post-secondary institutions, with the remainder of funding coming from tuition fees, the federal government, and research grants. Nearly all post-secondary institutions in Canada have the authority to grant academic credentials (i.e., diplomas or degrees). Generally speaking, universities grant degrees (e.g., bachelor’s, master’s or doctorate degrees) while colleges, which typically offer vocationally-oriented programs, grant diplomas and certificates. However, some colleges offer applied arts degrees that lead to or are equivalent to degrees from a university.
Canada has a large amount of migrants in its schools and it’s been found that new immigrants tend to quickly integrate themselves. This incredible success is due to the equality and fairness for migrant students that is seen throughout schools in Canada.