Quebec: Education System

The Quebec School system explained: click here

Secondary education

After six years of elementary education, students usually continue on to secondary or high school.

General studies

Successful completion of secondary studies, which last five years, leads to a Secondary School Diploma (SSD) and opens the door to higher education. The first cycle of secondary education, which covers the first three years, focuses on general studies. The second cycle allows students to continue, for a period of two years, their general studies while providing them with the opportunity to explore, through optional courses, various subject areas leading to collegial studies or vocational studies to train them to practice a trade.

Vocational studies

Vocational education programs lead to the practice of a skilled or semi-skilled trade. These programs lead to a Diploma of Vocational Studies (DVS), an Attestation of Vocational Specialization (AVS), or an Attestation of Vocational Education (AVE).

Entrance requirements are not the same for all vocational training programs and their duration varies from one to two years, depending on the program.

The School Board Network: a decentralised and local political institution

School boards are local democratic institutions which offer quality educational services adapted to the needs of youth, adults, businesses and organizations on their territory. School boards are governed by some 13 000 commissioners all elected through a general election. School boards organize pre-school, primary and secondary education along with vocational education for both youth and adults on their assigned territory. Their task also involves offering a variety of services to the community. They carry out a mission of prime importance, one which lies at the very heart of any community’s development.

The school board network is composed of:

• 72 school boards, 9 of which are Anglophone and 3  have a special status
• 2,361 public schools (pre-school, primary and secondary education)
• 187 adult education centres
• 193 vocational training centres
• 170 vocational training programs in 21 training sectors
• 1,010,000 registered students
• 175,000 employees