Canada is located in North America and has a highly decentralized education system. It is the only country in the developed world that has no federal office or department of education. Instead, education is under the exclusive jurisdiction of Canada's 10 provinces and 3 territoriess. Four of those provinces hold approximately 80% of Canada's 5 million students: Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta.
The ages for compulsory schooling vary from one jurisdiction to another, but most require attendance in school from ages 6 or 7 to 16 or 18. Public education is provided free to all Canadian citizens and permanent residents until the end of secondary school (age 18 in most jurisdictions).
After six to eight years of compulsory elementary education, students enter secondary education, which covers the final four to six years of compulsory education. Almost 98% of elementary students go on to the secondary level. Secondary programs include vocational training opportunities as well as academic opportunities. Vocational courses are typically offered during the last two years of secondary schooling, while the first two years are typically devoted to core compulsory subjects. The last two years entail more specialized programs of study in order to prepare students for the job market or to enter a postsecondary college, university or institution.
After successful completion of secondary school, students are eligible to apply to a college or university if they so choose. Canadian higher education is a constitutional responsibility of the provinces and territories, and post-secondary education is available at both public and private institutions. Most Canadian universities offer a complete range of programs, while others are more specialized and have developed areas of excellence. Bachelor's degrees require three or four years of study, depending on the type of program and the province/territory. Master's degrees require one or two additional years of study, and doctoral degrees usually require three years of study after a master's degree. There is no national accrediting body in Canada for evaluating universities or programs.