Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Number of years of primary and secondary schooling in the minority official language in Canada

Definition

Number of years of primary and secondary schooling in the minority official language in Canada refers to the number of years of primary and secondary schooling in a regular French program in a French‑language school by residents of Canada outside Quebec or the number of years of primary and secondary schooling in an English‑language school by residents of Quebec.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Not applicable

Reported in

2021

Reported for

Total population

Question number(s)

Direct variable: Question 15 for residents of Canada outside Quebec and question 17 for residents of Quebec.

Responses

Number of years

Remarks

For the first time, in 2021, five questions on language of instruction were asked on both the short- and long‑form census questionnaires. The primary objective of this addition was to obtain the number of children eligible for instruction in the minority official language based on the criteria set out in section 23 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

"Minority official language" means English in Quebec and French in Canada outside Quebec.

The information collected through the new questions will be used in combination with other existing information from the census, such as first language learned and still understood (hereafter "mother tongue"), family relations between people living in the same household, and place of residence, to obtain the number of children who are eligible for instruction in the minority official language.

The question on the number of years of primary and secondary schooling in the minority official language in Canada was asked in two parts: residents of the territories and provinces, aside from Quebec, who reported primary or secondary schooling in a regular French program in a French‑language school in Canada, were asked about the number of years of primary and secondary schooling in French (Question 15). Residents of Quebec who reported primary or secondary schooling in an English‑language school in Canada, were asked about the number of years of primary and secondary schooling in English (including immersion) (Question 17).

The following additional instructions on how to complete question 15 were provided to respondents via a help button accessed in the electronic questionnaire:

• Question 15 should be answered by persons in dwellings located outside Quebec.
• Answer these questions for children who are currently attending school or for anyone who has attended school in the past. Report "No" to these questions for children who have not yet begun their schooling.
• The number of years defining "primary" and "secondary" education varies from one province to the other and one program to the next. For this reason, answer these questions based on the schooling you have done in a regular French program in a French‑language school. Include kindergarten and middle school as part of primary schooling, where applicable.
• For persons who completed a school year more than once, include all years.

The following additional instructions on how to complete question 17 were provided to respondents via a help button accessed in the electronic questionnaire:

• Question 17 should be answered by persons in dwellings located in Quebec.
• Answer this question for children who are currently attending school or for anyone who has attended school in the past. Report "No" to this question for children who have not yet begun their schooling.

More information on the variables related to instruction in the minority official language, including definitions, concepts and classifications, the questions from which they are derived and data quality can be found in the Instruction in the Minority Official Language Reference Guide, Census of Population, 2021.