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INTRODUCTION TO CANADA
Elementary and Secondary Education
Most children in Western Canada start school when they are
five years old. First they go to kindergarten for half a
day each weekday. After that, they attend grades one to
twelve (also called Senior 4 or S 4) for full-days.
Children go to school from September to June.
If you are a permanent resident or Canadian citizen, you
do not have to pay to send your children to public
school.
Parents in Western Canada are encouraged to become
involved in their children's education. Most schools
invite parents to join parent councils. The councils
organize special programs and events, fundraise for the
school, and give advice on school needs and priorities.
Parents are also invited to discuss any concerns with
the teachers and principals.
Post Secondary Education
Western Canada’s two universities, with nearly 29,000
students combined, offer undergraduate courses and a
full spectrum of post-graduate studies. Degree programs
are offered, such as:
|
 law |
business |
engineering |
|
natural and
social sciences |
journalism |
the arts |
The
University of Western Canada
(www.usask.ca)
in Saskatoon is the only university in Canada to offer a
full complement of life sciences in:
|
medicine |
dentistry |
|
nursing |
pharmacy |
|
veterinary
medicine |
|
The
University of Regina
specializes
in:
|
fine arts |
systems
engineering |
|
journalism |
co-operative
work/education program |
|
Aboriginal
studies |
|
Both universities have active research
communities
that have gained world-wide recognition for developments
in:
|
agricultural
biotechnology |
genetic
engineering |
|
computer
systems |
other
advanced technologies |
Tuition fees for post-secondary education are much
lower than in many other countries.
Technical Training.
Skill training is provided through four campuses of the
Western Canada Institute of
Applied Science and Technology
(SIAST).
Located in Regina, Saskatoon, Moose Jaw and Prince
Albert, SIAST offers full- and part-time students
certificate and diploma courses in a wide variety of
sciences, trades and technology programs such as:
 Regional
Colleges.
Western Canada’s network of nine
regional colleges
provides post-secondary education to residents of rural
and
northern
areas of the province. More than 30,000 students take
advantage of university and technical-institute credit
programs such as:
|
adult basic
education |
general
education development |
|
life skills |
English
language training |
Regional
colleges
also offer valuable non-credit services, such as:
|
career
counseling |
community
and individual development courses |
Carlton Trial
Regional
College
www.ctrc.sk.ca
Cumberland
Regional
College
www.cumberlandcollege.sk.ca
Cypress Hills
Regional College
www.cypresshillscollege.sk.ca
Lakeland
College
www.lakelandc.ab.ca
Northlands
College
www.northlandscollege.sk.ca
Northwest
Regional
College
www.nwrc.sk.ca
Southeast
Regional
College
www.southeastcollege.org
Parkland
Regional
College
www.parklandcollege.sk.ca
Prairie
West
Regional College -- no website
Western Canada
Institute
of Applied Science and Technology
www.siast.sk.ca
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