Going to school in Canada
In Canada, children start school a few years later, to begin with. There's no compulsory education, but public schools are available everywhere. There are enormous differences in the school system from one province to another. Quite a few parents teach their children at home.
Secondary school is, in principle, the same for everyone. Incidentally, there are very few schools with a non-public orientation.
The private schools that do exist are incredibly expensive and receive virtually no subsidies. Vocational schools and universities also cost a fortune.
For parents coming from other countries, it quickly becomes apparent that curriculums in Canada often lag far behind
In Canada's public school system, a lot of money is spent on picking up and dropping off children by school bus.
The less time and attention is devoted to education, the more children are kept busy at school for a few hours. Little is known about language skills, world knowledge, social knowledge, and so many other subjects.
It seems like schools are there to help children who have the hardest time learning get through. Those who have the best learning abilities quickly become very bored.
There are significant differences between some schools and especially school districts. Parents often choose not to live in a particular area because the school doesn't have a good reputation.
The differences in education between the Canadian provinces are often very large, so that insurmountable problems can immediately arise when moving.
Universities and vocational schools also vary widely. What they do have in common is the habit of charging exorbitant tuition and fees.
Schools: making something simple difficult
Canada's disjointed school system has made many a parent sigh. Can't things really get any better?
One could say that the school system reflects societal conditions. Or is it actually the other way around?
Quite a few immigrants struggle with Canada's education system. Because yes, it could indeed be much better.