INCA Education around the world
Canada : Internal school organisation
4.4.1 Organisation of teaching groups
4.4.2 Student progression through the phase
4.4.3 Class size
4.4.4 Teacher specialisation
4.4 Fourth phase: Senior high school (upper secondary), age 15/16 - 17/18 [see 3.2.4]
4.4.1 Organisation of teaching groups
Canada offers a secondary school system in which students can attend schools running both academic and general programmes. In most cases, students at the secondary (high school) level who are planning to proceed to university, to post-secondary studies or to find employment attend the same school. However, high school programmes, in general, consist of two streams. The first prepares students for university, the second for post-secondary education at a community college or institute of technology, or for the workplace. There are also special programmes for students unable to complete the regular programmes.20
Some jurisdictions have partially or entirely eliminated age-grouped classes. In general, the policy in Canada of open access to secondary education may be summarised as follows: although there is no automatic promotion, the school curriculum provides courses of studies at various levels so that differing abilities can be accommodated.15
British Columbia
While the Ministry of Education determines what students need to learn, districts and schools determine how they learn it. School administrators and teachers are responsible for each school's organisation and approaches to teaching and learning. Principals provide leadership for their schools and ensure that the schools' programmes, organisation (including timetables and staffing) and resources reflect the interests of students, parents and the community. Teachers determine the best teaching methods for students, the best way of grouping students for particular studies and the best way to present material to make it relevant and interesting.69
Ontario
Students in Grades/Years 9 and 10 (aged 14 to 16) in high schools in Ontario choose their 'electives' (subject choices) dependent on whether they intend to go into the workplace, a college 'stream' or a university stream in Grade 11 (age 16+).31
The workplace programme, which includes school-supervised work experience, prepares students to move straight into a job after high school. The work experience may take up as much as half the week for a year and students are assessed on it.31
College stream courses prepare students for Ontario's technical colleges, which award diplomas in areas such as massage therapy, tourism and business. University stream courses emphasise theoretical aspects of the subject under study. Schools have to offer courses that allow students to move between the different types of programmes, should they decide on a change of track.31
4.4.2 Student progression through the phase
Some jurisdictions have partially or entirely eliminated age-grouped classes. In general, the policy in Canada of open access to secondary education may be summarised as follows: although there is no automatic promotion, the school curriculum provides courses of studies at various levels so that differing abilities can be accommodated.15
At the secondary (high school) level, credit systems are the rule in Canada. As a result, promotion by subject rather than Grade/Year is prevalent.15
4.4.3 Class size
Alberta
Detailed information on class size in Alberta can be accessed at http://www.learning.gov.ab.ca/k_12/special/ClassSize.asp
Subsequent to a recommendation from the Alberta Commission on Learning that class sizes be reduced, additional provincial funding has been provided to allow schools to employ additional teachers for this purpose. The table below shows the Commission's guideline class sizes.150
|
Age range |
Commission guidelines - maximum average class size |
| Kindergarten-Grade 3 (ages 5-9 years) |
17 |
| Grades 4-6 (ages 9+-12 years) |
23 |
| Grades 7-9 (ages 12+-15 years) |
25 |
| Grades 10-12 (ages 15+-18 years) |
27 |
The above recommended guidelines compare with provincial average class sizes in September 2003 as follows: 150
| Age range |
Average class size, 2003-04 |
| Kindergarten-Grade 3 (ages 5+-9 years) |
21.7 |
| Grades 4-6 (ages 9+-12 years) |
23.9 |
| Grades 7-9 (ages 12+-15 years) |
24.9 |
| Grades 10-12 (ages 15+-18 years) |
24.9 |
Ontario
School boards are required to ensure that, on a board-wide basis, average class size in secondary schools does not exceed 22 pupils.50
4.4.4 Teacher specialisation
Alberta
Teachers in publicly-funded schools (and in accredited private schools) must hold a valid Alberta teaching certificate. Local school boards hire teachers and negotiate their contracts. Elementary school teachers are usually generalists.7
Ontario
Teachers in publicly-funded schools normally require an undergraduate degree, plus one year of teacher training. Secondary level teachers are usually subject specialists.52
See section 7.4 in addition.
