Education & training

Québec Education System

The Québec education system is composed of:

• A public network offering K-12 to university education;
• A network of private institutions accredited by the Ministry of Education offering the official educational programs;

Schooling Levels /Years

Junior and High School Education

Junior education comprises six years of study, excluding pre-school. High school education is five years of study. The total duration for junior and high school education is 11 years.

Starting from the 3^rd or 4^th year in high school, the student can choose to learn a trade. This training is sanctioned by a trade diploma (DEP – Diplôme d’études professionnelles).

The diploma associated with the completion of high school studies is a DES (Diplôme d’études secondaires). This diploma gives access to the first level of graduate training, provided here in Québec by a unique institution: CEGEP (Collège d’enseignement général et professionnel).

College Education

The college network offers pre-university and technical programs. The pre-university programs last two years and prepare for university. The technical programs last three years and lead to the job market as technicians, but can also lead to university programs. Students obtain a DEC (Diplôme d’études collégiales) following completion of either program.

The college network also offers short technical programs which lead to an AEC diploma (Attestation d’études collégiales). Enrollment in these programs are mainly for adults (18 years and over). Finally, some CEGEPs offer the international baccalaureate program.

University Education

University education comprises three levels:

The first level is the bachelor’s degree, obtaines after three or four years full time, depending upon the field of study. This diploma allows the student to access the job market or pursue a Master’s degree.

Programs of one year are offered and sanctioned by a certificate. These are offered at the bachelor level. Cumulating three certificates can in certain circumstances lead to a bachelor’s degree.

The second level leads to a Master’s degree after two years of full time study ending with a thesis or internship, depending if the Master’s degree is more research or practice oriented.

One-year programs sanctioned by a DESS (Diplôme d’études supérieures spécialisées) or a Master’s certificate are also offered at this level.

At the 3^rd level, the Ph.D’s (doctorate) studies usually lead to a career in research. Students can graduate at this level after three years of full-time study, including the thesis.

In the Mégantic Region

The region includes the Hauts-Cantons School Board which consist of 12 elementary schools, the Polyvalente Montignac for secondary-level training, the Centre de formation Le Granit (vocational training, business services and customised training), the Maison familiale rurale du Granit (training in agriculture and forestry) as well as the Centre d’études collégiales de Lac-Mégantic (pre-university and technical training). The latter offers a modern video-conferencing room that makes it easy to establish a virtual connection with other teachers and learning institutions (part of the Hauts-Cantons School Board).

Within the MRC territory, we also find two other school boards that provide educational services to four municipalities: the Beauce-Etchemin School Board for the primary schools in the municipalities of Courcelles, Saint-Ludger and Saint-Robert-Bellarmin and the Appalaches School Board offering services to the Stratford elementary school.

Within a radius of less than 100 km, employers and citizens of the Mégantic region also have access to other collegiate institutions such as the following CEGEP: Beauce-Appalaches, Thetford Mines and Sherbrooke. The École d’Entrepreneurship de Beauce also bears mentioning. Finally, three universities are also nearby : the Centre universitaire des Appalaches, the Université de Sherbrooke and Bishop’s University.

Below is an overview of educational institutions and their programs in the Mégantic region: