Teaching in the Quebec context
Learn about the historical context and values that shape Quebec's unique education system in North America.
Quebec's structure of school and higher education
Other jurisdictions in North America have elementary school (grades K to 5), middle school (grades 6 to 8), and high school (grades 9 to 12), then higher education.
Quebec structures things differently.
- Pre-school - Quebec provides subsidized daycare and has a recommended curriculum for the youngest children. Kindergarten education is universal, starts at age four and runs for two years.
- Elementary school spans from grades one to six divided into three cycles:
- Cycle 1: grades 1 and 2
- Cycle 2: grades 3 and 4
- Cycle 3: grades 5 and 6
- Some students continue to university and start their programs in year 2, completing their university studies in three years. Students who complete a university degree earn their bachelor’s degree.
- Other students complete a program of study in the CEGEP. Most of these programs are professionally focused.
- High school (also called secondary school) spans from grades 7 to 11 in other jurisdictions. The levels are referred to as Secondary 1 to 5.
- Students graduate high school after Secondary 5 (corresponds to grade 11 in other jurisdictions).
- After high school, CEGEP (Collège d'enseignement général et professionnel) encompasses grades 12 from high school and the first year of university.
- Some students then move to university and start their bachelor’s programs in year 2. They would complete their university in three or four years, when bachelor’s degrees in other jurisdictions are typically four or five years.
- Other students complete a program of study in the CEGEP. Most of these programs are professionally focused.
All students completing CEGEP earn a diploma called a DEC (Diplôme d'études collégiales).
Central values of the Quebec education system
Certain values are central to the Quebec education system.
- Accessibility - The entire educational system should be accessible to all potential students regardless of their personal circumstances, especially economic ones.
- Approved and common curriculum - All elementary and secondary schools teach the Quebec curriculum, called the Quebec Education Program (QEP). It was introduced about two decades ago and is regularly updated to reflect evolving developments.
- French language - The French language is central to Quebec identity and the official language of the province is French. Quebec is not a bilingual province but does have a high percentage of the population that is bilingual.
- Nearly all students in Quebec’s educational system study in the French language.
- In primary and secondary education, only those whose parents were educated in English and in Canada are entitled to study in English schools. All others go to French schools.
- Quebec has 5 English CEGEPs and three English universities (Concordia is one of the three).
- Secularism - Although religion might be a subject of a class, public schools are not intended to provide religious education. Quebec also has a law regarding secularism in the schools. Among its tenets are restrictions on the wearing of religious symbols by teachers. Learn more about Bill 21.
Quebec does provide financial support for private schools, including ones that do provide religious education. In exchange for the financial support, the institutions must teach the Quebec Education Program and pay their teachers at the same scale as public school teachers.
Competencies for teachers
Teachers in Quebec are expected to master several competencies. All of our teacher education programs are built around these competencies. Examples of the competencies (but not the full list) include act as a master the language of instruction, plan teaching and learning situations, and cultural facilitator when carrying out duties.
Our BA and B.Ed. programs connect the competencies to each of the internships. Our Graduate Diploma programs provide students with individual assessments on each competency, and devise action research projects for teachers to meet or exceed basic competence in each of these competencies.
Requirement for workplace learning
Quebec requires that all employers who have payrolls of $2 million or more to pay at least 1% of their payroll costs for training their employees. Employers who fail to meet this minimum level of spending pay a tax on the difference between 1% and what the employer actually spent. The funds raised through this tax are used to support training and development of all workers in the province.
This law, called both the 1% tax and Law 90 (after its original name), ensures that employees have current skills and maintain their employability.
Resources about Education in Quebec
Applicants to our programs are encouraged to learn more about education in Quebec, and we recommend exploring these resources.
Education since Quebec's Quiet Revolution
A digital exhibition from Musée Pop about the foundations of the modern educational system in Quebec in the context of the Quiet Revolution.
The Quebec Education Program (QEP)
Access Quebec's official programs of study in preschool, elementary and secondary education and the pedagogical tools that support them.
Competencies for teachers in Quebec
Familiarize yourself with the framework of educator competencies in Quebec.