Education
There are abundant learning opportunities for newcomers to the Bay of Quinte region for both children and adults.
Educational Credential Assessment
If you are a newcomer and you want to work in Canada, you may need to get what is called an Educational Credential Assessment or sometimes known as an Academic Credential Assessment.
If you studied in a country outside of Canada, you may need to have your diploma or degree from high school, college or university compared with Canadian standards to see if it is equivalent to a Canadian diploma or degree. You will have to pay for this process and there are several different agencies that will do an Educational Credential Assessments (ECA).
If you want to apply for permanent residence through the Federal government, you will most likely need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) in order to qualify for an invitation to apply for the program.
Citizenship and Immigration Canada will only accept ECAs from certain agencies, so be sure to contact Quinte Immigration Services if you aren’t sure how to get an ECA. If you are applying for an ECA to get certain jobs in professional fields like nursing, teaching, pharmacy or other medical fields, you might need to go through the association of that profession to get an ECA.
Call Quinte Immigration Services (QUIS) for more information: (613) 968-7723
ESL (English as a Second Language
New Canadians can study English as a Second Language or the Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC) program through the Loyola School of Adult and Continuing Education in Belleville, part of Alonguin Lakeshore Catholic District School Board. This program is free for clients eligible for LINC. ESL classes may require a fee for newcomers of temporary or other statuses. The school provides newcomers with help in learning English as well as Canadian culture and customs.
Elementary and Secondary Schools
Elementary school in Ontario is for children ages 4 to 13. The grade levels range from Junior Kindergarten (JK) or Kindergarten (K) starting at age 4 or 5 up to Grade 8, for children age 13. Schools could be organized in different way. Some schools have enrolments from K-6 and others go from K-8. In some school districts, there are “middle schools” which have students from Grades 6-8.
Secondary School is often also called “High School” in Canada. The grade levels range from grades 9 to 12 with the age range for youth starting at 14 years old in grade 9, and usually ending at 17 years old in grade 12.
Elementary and Secondary School is mandatory in Ontario.
The attendance of children to elementary and secondary school in Canada is required by law until a child has graduated from grade 12 or reaches the age of 18.
Registering Children in School
Enrolling children in school in Ontario is a process that happens slightly differently at each school board. There is a process for enrollment that needs to be followed and may take longer than 1 day. It’s also important to have the right documents to register your children for school whether it’s elementary or secondary school.
Post Secondary Schools
Post-secondary education includes any schooling that is pursued after graduation from secondary school (high school) in Canada. This can include post-secondary certificates, colleges and universities. Youth usually attend post-secondary schooling after the age of 17.
Post-secondary school in Canada is not free, but students can apply for grants or loans to attend post-secondary education. Many adults also take post-secondary schooling at any stage of life.
Loyalist College is the primary public college in the region located in Belleville and offers more than 60 career-focused programs for post-secondary and continuing education students.
Queen’s University is the closest university to the region (84 km from Belleville), located in Kingston,Ontario.
Trent University is the second closest university to the region (110 km from Belleville), located in Peterborough, Ontario.
Fleming College is also a post-secondary college located in Peterborough, Ontario, (120 kms from Belleville).
Private Schools
A private school in Ontario, operates independently of the public school system. These schools offer an alternative to public education, often emphasizing specific educational philosophies, religious instruction, or specialized programs. You must pay for this type of education.
Albert College is an independent boarding and day school for students in Pre-Kindergarten to Grade 12.
Academy of Learning is a privately owned post-secondary college.
Quinte Region Christian Schools is an independent group of schools in the Quinte region, who seek to educate and inspire students to engage with the world in the way of Jesus, and to foster wholeness and a vibrant connection to their community.
Specialized Schooling
Sir James Whitney School for the Deaf in Belleville is one of the three provincial schools for Deaf students in Ontario, providing instruction for students from Kindergarten to Grade 12. American Sign Language (ASL) and English are the primary languages of study and communication.
Sagonaska Demonstration School in Belleville provides a one-year placement program for students diagnosed with a severe learning disability and resource support and consultation services for English district school boards to build capacity in teaching students with learning disabilities.
Quinte Ballet School
Quinte Ballet School of Canada offers a variety of dance classes and arts outreach programs for students in their professional training program and recreation dance programs. Past graduates of the professional training program have gone on to successful careers in both Canadian and international companies.
