The International Guide to Secondary School Programs in Canada, 1998

Jo-Anne Naslund is an education librarian at the University of British
Columbia Library.

The International Guide to Secondary School Programs in Canada, created
by Education International (EI), a commercial enterprise located in
Victoria, B.C., provides valuable information about Canadian secondary
school opportunities for international students.

The book begins with the top 10 reasons for studying in Canada. It then
gives a short overview of the Canadian education system, contributed by
the Canadian Education Association, followed by information about the
Canadian Education Centre Network, and financial tips provided by
Scotiabank. Thirty-eight schools and school districts across Canada are
profiled (more than half of these are located in British Columbia, and
only seven are private). “How to Read the Profiles” and a chart
entitled “Program Quick Facts” allow readers to compare programs and
courses using information such as grade levels, class sizes, housing
options, and international student tuition.

The profiles are organized by region across Canada and then separated
into public and private, accompanied by a description of the provincial
educational systems. Each two-page secondary school profile includes
pertinent information about the community, school/district’s program,
statistics, facilities, entrance requirements, tuition, address, and
telephone/fax numbers. Information used to compile the profiles was
obtained through program promotional literature and consultation with
program representatives. Tuition fees range from $8000 to $24,960 per
year for 25 to 40 hours of instruction per week. (It is little wonder
that Canadian schools and school districts would want their profiles to
appear in such a guide.)

Much of the information provided can be found on the Web, but this
affordable print guide consolidates the material in a reader-friendly
format.