Education

Universities | Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT)

The Ontario education system is based on publicly funded elementary and secondary schools administered by district school boards, which adapt provincial educational policies to local institutions. Theses district boards ensure the provision of adequate teaching and support staff and appropriate facilities. Elected members of the board, called trustees, represent the local community, providing a link between electors and the education system.

District School Boards operate using the boundary system. Based on home address, students will go to a designated school within the neighborhood. Also, most of the GTA District School Boards assist families and students new to Canada.

There are two parallel public school systems – one is non-denominational and referred to as the “Public” system and the other is for Roman Catholics and referred to as the “Separate” system. The separate system is designed to reinforce the teaching of the Catholic Church while adopting the same educational standards as the public system. Both systems provide full-time French immersion programs. The public systems are excellent and the vast majority of Canadian children attend these schools.

Elementary Schools (ages 4 - 13) offer primary school program from junior kindergarten to Grade 8.

Secondary Schools (ages 14 - 20) offer curriculum from Grade 9 to Grade 12 preparing the students for admission to universities.

The standards of primary and secondary schooling in the province are also recognized as high. The Third Annual International Math and Science Study (TIMSS), an international test that compares secondary school students, ranked Ontario students 4th among 21 advanced countries and well above their counterparts in the United States in mathematics. (Source: International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), Trends in Mathematics and Science Study, 2003).

Private Schools: there are many prestigious private schools within the Greater Toronto Area. These private schools offer a variety of primary and secondary school programs. Operators of private schools in Ontario are required to notify the Ministry of Education annually of their intention to operate. The Ministry of Education does not inspect health equipment or practices related to safety and staffing issues, but may inspect issues relating to the standard of instruction for secondary schools.

Some schools offer the International Baccalaureate (IB) program for advanced placement in universities worldwide.

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) is a non-profit international educational organization that was established in 1968 and is headquartered in Switzerland. The IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programs of international education and rigorous assessment.
The IBO offers to schools three programs of international education that span the primary, middle and secondary school years. The Primary Years Program (PYP) is designed for students aged 3-12, the Middle Years Program (MYP) for students aged 11-16, and the Diploma Program (DP) for students aged 16-19. Recipients of the IB diploma enjoy a high rate of acceptance at leading universities.

IB programs are offered by 1,468 schools in 119 countries around the world. In the Greater Toronto Area, there are 14 public schools and 5 private schools offering IB programs.

The Toronto region benefits from a superb level of undergraduate and graduate educational opportunities, provided by eleven publicly funded post-secondary institutions, including 5 Universities and 6 Colleges.

Universities

The Greater Toronto Area is home to five post-secondary institutions that deliver university degree-level programs and further the region’s reputation for academic excellence. Macleans Magazine regularly rank GTA Universities among the best.

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Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology (CAAT)

The Greater Toronto Area has six Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology, also referred to as community colleges. These colleges offer a great variety of degree programs, certificate programs, continuing education, distance learning, and co-operative programs. Some offer unique opportunities, such as Sheridan Institute’s world-renowned Computer Animation program.

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