Education and Schools in Canada
Expat parents will find the standard of education in Canada high, and the sheer assortment of schooling options impressive. In fact, even just the number of organisations charged with organising, ranking and evaluating the schools in Canada is a force to be reckoned with; Canada prides itself on its transparent systems and education is no exception.
It makes sense then, that concerned parents moving to this monstrous nation with their little ones can stop worrying and start sifting through the resources that can help them make an informed decision. For those parents who'd like to do a little "sizing up" of their own, the Fraser Institute annually issues both public and private schools in each province their own report card, measuring and comparing schools' academic performances.
Parents should note that Canada has no nationalised system of education, and instead grants the responsibility of execution and assessment to the thirteen individual provinces and territories. As a result, the systems in each region will be largely similar, but they won't be identical; expressing differences in curriculum, language, methods of evaluation, and accountability policies. The compulsory education age range is also controlled by the individual jurisdictions, and may vary; though most demand attendance between the ages of 6 and 16.
Once expats have decided in which province or territory they'd like to hanker down and make a home, they'll need to be more pointed in their research and consider whether a public or a private school will best suit their international student. Both have their pros and cons, but cost and curriculum are often the factors that carry the most weight in the decision making process.
As mentioned previously, public schools in Canada are subject to the steady hand of each respective province or territory. It follows that curricula are an accurate reflection of that area's population; corresponding with the geography, language, history and culture of the surrounding space.
For example, as the province of Quebec claims a predominately French speaking population, the primary language of education is French; whereas, in all other provinces it is English.
Some schools may also offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum, but this is certainly not the norm.
Expat students with a residence permit can attend Canadian public schools for free, but those without will need to pay the tuition fee appointed by their province/territory; usually ranging from 8000 to 14,000 CAD.
As in most nations, the standard of public schools varies from one the next; some boasting exceptional reputations and others blacklisted by parents for years. Consult each institution's report card for a better idea of its performance.
Furthermore, as students attend Canadian public schools based on catchment zones, parents may want to pick their neighbourhood based on the school that corresponds with the area.
Though the majority of Canadian citizens utilise the free, public education system, expats who can afford it may also want to consider private schools for their children; including international schools, military schools and special-needs schools.
These institutions are primarily funded by student tuition and private donors, and as in many nations, it's assumed they boast better facilities, a more diverse and comprehensive range of extra-curricular activities, smaller class sizes and an elevated standard of education.
Furthermore, each school can establish its own curriculum, some claiming different language affiliations, teaching styles and religious value systems. This point in particular, may be important to those expats who'd prefer their children continue learning in their home language, home curriculum, or according to a distinct philosophy.
Such liberties are not without a price tag, however; private schools in Canada are far from free, though the range of tuition costs is considerable. Inexpensive and government subsidised institutions can cost as little as 4000 CAD annually, while the prestigious boarding schools can be as much as 40,000 CAD per year.
Religious schools tend to have the most reasonable annual fees, but they also integrate an affiliated value system into their curriculum.
It makes sense then, that concerned parents moving to this monstrous nation with their little ones can stop worrying and start sifting through the resources that can help them make an informed decision. For those parents who'd like to do a little "sizing up" of their own, the Fraser Institute annually issues both public and private schools in each province their own report card, measuring and comparing schools' academic performances.Parents should note that Canada has no nationalised system of education, and instead grants the responsibility of execution and assessment to the thirteen individual provinces and territories. As a result, the systems in each region will be largely similar, but they won't be identical; expressing differences in curriculum, language, methods of evaluation, and accountability policies. The compulsory education age range is also controlled by the individual jurisdictions, and may vary; though most demand attendance between the ages of 6 and 16.
Once expats have decided in which province or territory they'd like to hanker down and make a home, they'll need to be more pointed in their research and consider whether a public or a private school will best suit their international student. Both have their pros and cons, but cost and curriculum are often the factors that carry the most weight in the decision making process.
Public schools in Canada
As mentioned previously, public schools in Canada are subject to the steady hand of each respective province or territory. It follows that curricula are an accurate reflection of that area's population; corresponding with the geography, language, history and culture of the surrounding space.
For example, as the province of Quebec claims a predominately French speaking population, the primary language of education is French; whereas, in all other provinces it is English.Some schools may also offer an International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement (AP) curriculum, but this is certainly not the norm.
Expat students with a residence permit can attend Canadian public schools for free, but those without will need to pay the tuition fee appointed by their province/territory; usually ranging from 8000 to 14,000 CAD.
As in most nations, the standard of public schools varies from one the next; some boasting exceptional reputations and others blacklisted by parents for years. Consult each institution's report card for a better idea of its performance.
Furthermore, as students attend Canadian public schools based on catchment zones, parents may want to pick their neighbourhood based on the school that corresponds with the area.
Private and international schools in Canada
Though the majority of Canadian citizens utilise the free, public education system, expats who can afford it may also want to consider private schools for their children; including international schools, military schools and special-needs schools.
These institutions are primarily funded by student tuition and private donors, and as in many nations, it's assumed they boast better facilities, a more diverse and comprehensive range of extra-curricular activities, smaller class sizes and an elevated standard of education.Furthermore, each school can establish its own curriculum, some claiming different language affiliations, teaching styles and religious value systems. This point in particular, may be important to those expats who'd prefer their children continue learning in their home language, home curriculum, or according to a distinct philosophy.
Such liberties are not without a price tag, however; private schools in Canada are far from free, though the range of tuition costs is considerable. Inexpensive and government subsidised institutions can cost as little as 4000 CAD annually, while the prestigious boarding schools can be as much as 40,000 CAD per year.
Religious schools tend to have the most reasonable annual fees, but they also integrate an affiliated value system into their curriculum.
