Overview of the General Education System

British Columbia (BC) is Canada’s westernmost province. It is acknowledged internationally for its interestingly high-quality education system and high student outcomes. The province has a favorable climate, a developing economy, and vibrant cultural diversity, which makes it one of the most attractive destinations for learners. In fact, it has approximately 140,000 international students who choose to study in BC each year. The province’s educational system is supervised by the Ministry of Education and Child Care, which oversees curriculum standards, assessment policies, teacher certification, and school operations.

Public schooling is free for BC residents from Kindergarten through Grade 12. BC’ publicly funded K–12 system is consists of 1,571 public schools serving around 563,514 full-time equivalent students and is organized into 60 geographically based school districts. Each district is managed by under elected boards of education and must adhere with ministry regulations on curriculum delivery, class sizes, inclusion, and reporting.

In addition to public schools, BC hosts a variety of independent and international schools, as well as specialized programs for Indigenous learners, students with disabilities, and English Language Learners.

English is the primary language of instruction, but BC offers Francophone schools to eligible students in accordance to Section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. All students in Grades 5 to 8 must learn a second language as French is the default language unless the school board approves alternatives. Catholic schools are privately funded and therefore classified as independent.

The curriculum helps students to have foundational skills, critical thinking, and personalized learning. Foundation Skills Assessments (FSA) in Grades 4 and 7 evaluate literacy and numeracy. In graduation assessments, literacy and numeracy are required in Grades 10 and 12 for the Dogwood Diploma, which is BC’s secondary school credential. There is also a School Completion Certificate (Evergreen Certificate) for students on modified educational programs.

School attendance is mandatory for children from age five (Kindergarten) to age 16 or until graduation. Even when early childhood education before Kindergarten is not mandatory, it is widely available through licensed child care and preschool programs.

Moreover, BC’s K–12 structure is divided into elementary school (Kindergarten–Grade 7) and secondary school (Grades 8–12). Students must attain at least 80 credits during Grades 10–12. This includes mandatory courses in Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Career Education, Arts Education or Applied Skills, and Physical and Health Education, plus elective courses. To graduate with the Dogwood Diploma, students must also pass provincial literacy and numeracy assessments.

On the other hand, BC’s higher education system offers a diverse range of institutions. It encompasses 14 public universities, 11 public colleges, private degree-granting institutions, Indigenous-controlled institutes, and specialized schools such as the Emily Carr University of Art and Design.

Prominent research universities include the University of British Columbia (UBC), Simon Fraser University (SFU), and the University of Victoria (UVic). These are all internationally ranked universities for academic excellence. Other notable institutions include Royal Roads University, University of Northern British Columbia (UNBC), and Kwantlen Polytechnic University.

Higher educational credentials include bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees, applied degrees, diplomas, and certificates. Many institutions participate in the BC Transfer System, coordinated by the BC Council on Admissions and Transfer (BCCAT). The system allows students to move between institutions while retaining credit for completed courses. Admission to universities requires the BC Certificate of Graduation (Dogwood Diploma) with specific academic prerequisites. Colleges often have open or flexible admission policies for certain programs.

The Degree Quality Assessment Board (DQAB) is responsible for reviewing and approving all new degree programs in BC to ensure they meet provincial quality standards. BC’s higher education sector also offers apprenticeship training and industry certifications coherent with workforce needs to deliver partnership with the Industry Training Authority (ITA).