Poste - Canadian Coalition for the Rights of Children

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C A N A D I A N C O A L I T I O N F O R T H E R I G H T S O F C H I L D R E N resources, this research focuses on education in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, Quebec and Nova Scotia. However, information on education in the other provinces and territories is included when it was made available to the project researchers and was relevant to articles 28 and 29. A full discussion of issues affecting children with disabilities, including education, can be found in “Children With Disabilities: Article 23.” A discussion of school discipline issues can be found in the corporal punishment section of “Child Abuse and Neglect: Article 19.” Background Section 93 of Canada’s constitution designates education as a provincial responsibility. Canada is the only industrialized country with no national department of education. 3 Every province and territory has a ministry or department of education responsible for elementary and secondary education. Provinces delegate authority for education to local school boards or other bodies. As defined in provincial and territorial statutes, the powers and duties of these elected boards and bodies are generally consistent throughout Canada. They are responsible for: • implementation of curricula; • operation and administration of school systems; • acquisition of needed financial resources; • proposals for new construction or other major expenditures; and • related staffing responsibilities. 4 The federal government is responsible for education in the territories as designated in the Northwest Territories Act and the Yukon Act. The federal government also supports provincial and territorial efforts to increase educational language opportunities for French and English minority communities and for Canadian students to learn English or French as a second language, as outlined in the Official Languages Act. 5 In 1867, the federal government enunciated its responsibility for status Indians, registered Métis and Inuit in section 91(24) of the Constitution Act. The Indian Act, first introduced in 1876, continues to outline the federal government’s legal relationship with registered Indians; sections 114 to 122 of the Act address the schooling of children. Article 28: The Right to Education In Canada, over five million children attend elementary and secondary schools, with five percent of that total 78 attending private schools. 6 There are 14,981 elementary and secondary schools in the country: 10,314 English, 1,419 bilingual and 3,248 French. Most schools (9,797) are in an urban setting, while 5,184 are rural schools. 7 Children from age five, six or seven (depending on the jurisdiction) to age 16 are obligated to attend school. All provinces have made it an offence in either education or labour legislation to employ a student during school hours. In most jurisdictions, public education begins with kindergarten for five-year-olds, followed by elementary school for five (Saskatchewan), six (in eight provinces/ territories), seven (British Columbia) or eight years (Ontario and Manitoba). Secondary schools usually continue from the end of elementary education to the twelfth year (except in Quebec, where it ends at Grade 11.) Eight provinces and territories include a junior high school or middle school between elementary and secondary levels, usually lasting three years. 8 All children are entitled to free public education until the end of secondary school, which is usually completed by 18 years of age. (Young people with special needs are entitled to attend school up to the age of 21 in most jurisdictions.) In Quebec, collèges d’enseignement général et professionnel (cégeps) provide a tuition-free intermediate level of education for two years between secondary school and university. Students in Quebec must complete a cégep program in order to qualify for university entrance. Cégeps also offer three-year career and technical programs similar to those provided by community colleges elsewhere in Canada. Education legislation in some provinces promotes the rights and interests of certain minority groups. For example, Nova Scotia supports heritage education for Mi’kmaq and African-Canadian children. New Brunswick has some special programming for Mi’kmaq and Maliseet children. The Yukon provides for the instruction of Aboriginal languages. Early School Leaving In contrast to the 1980s when only 66 percent of young people completed high school, approximately 86 percent of students complete high school today, either directly without study interruption or as returning students. 9 Secondary school participation rates have increased for 16- to 18-year-olds.
Percentage of population enrolled in school Early school leaving, however, is a persistent problem. As outlined above, in 1992-93 over seven percent of 16year-olds, 44 percent of 17-year-olds and over 65 percent of 18-year-olds were not enrolled in Canadian schools. The country’s highest school-leaving rates are in the Atlantic provinces and Quebec, while Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia have the lowest. 11 A 1993 Statistics Canada survey found that approximately 80 percent of high school graduates were satisfied with their courses and found them useful and interesting. However, those who dropped out of school were more critical of the relevance and quality of their education. 12 Some jurisdictions are working to make academic subjects more practical and relevant to labour market requirements. Other programs are in place to improve the education outcomes for children living in poverty or at risk of early school leaving or failure. 13 The Canadian School Boards Association reports that school programs for students living in poverty enables underprivileged students to progress at the same rate as their peers and to show intellectual and academic gains. 14 But Yude Henteleff , honorary counsel for the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada, argues that many more initiatives across the country are required to address the needs of children at high risk. 15 Education Spending Since the early 1990s, education spending as a proportion of public expenditures has remained fairly constant but has experienced significant cutbacks in terms of actual dollars. As a proportion of Canada’s gross domestic product, education spending has declined from about 8.5 percent in 1975 to about six percent in 1994. In comparison with Organization of Economic and Cultural H O W D O E S C A N A D A M E A S U R E U P ? school year 16-year-olds 17-year-olds 18-year-olds 1982-83 88.7 61.2 25.4 1992-93 92.4 66 34.4 Source: Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, Education Indicators in Canada 10 79 Development (OECD) member countries, however, Canada’s education spending continues to be among the highest. 16 In 1994, Canada’s total spending on education was $56.5 billion, with approximately $35.2 billion directed to the elementary and secondary levels, $11.5 billion to universities and about $9.8 billion to vocational and college programs. 17 According to the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, spending cutbacks have adversely affected transportation, pupil:teacher ratios, junior kindergarten, language training for immigrant children, special education, fine arts and staff development. “All of these changes impact upon students, parents and teachers,” says the Council. 18 The trend towards reducing the number of school boards has meant that there are fewer trustees to bring forward community concerns and as a result, not all factors are taken into account when funding formulas are determined. Development of the Child to Fullest Potential Personality and Talents, Mental and Physical Abilities All provinces are working to maximize children’s educational achievement. Quebec’s goal is to increase school completion rates so that at least 85 percent of young people graduate from high school before 20 years of age (currently 73 percent); at least 60 percent obtain a cégep diploma (currently 39 percent); and at least 30 percent receive a bachelor’s degree (currently 28 percent). 19 New Brunswick is emphasizing assistance for children in poverty, while Nova Scotia is ensuring smaller classes and more emphasis on the junior high school years. 20 Student Participation Student participation in education is encouraged through student governments, clubs, sports, committees, course selection and leadership classes. Peer helpers, peer tutors and reading buddies are another way students are actively involved in education. Some schools ensure that their activities are financially accessible to all students and make special arrangements to cover the costs for students
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THE UNCONVENTION ON THE RIGHTS OF T
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C A N A D I A N C O A L I T I O N F
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articles 13, 14 and 15 (cont’d)
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article 23 (cont’d) NEEDS DIALOGU
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article 28 and 29 (cont’d) NEEDS
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Article 13 The Right to Freedom of
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Page 114 and 115: Lack of appeal mechanism C A N A D
Page 122 and 123: Process and Protocols PROCESS: Key
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Positive Factor C A N A D I A N C O
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Concern C A N A D I A N C O A L I T
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This is aproject of the CanadianCoa
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