CEGEP

A CEGEP (/seɪˈʒɛp/ say-ZHEP or /ˈsiːdʒɛp/ SEE-jep; French: cégep, pronounced [seʒɛp] ⓘ; also written CÉGEP and cegep) is a publicly funded college providing general, professional, academic or a mix of programs; they are exclusive to the province of Quebec's education system.

However, some private English schools in Quebec offer Grade 12 which does allow access to university without needing to earn a DEC.[4] Professional programs are typically three years in duration, with specialization in courses leading to a career right after graduation.

This common trunk of courses was designed as a rampart against excessive class divisions, and to democratize teaching of literature and philosophy.

An important advantage of the CEGEP system is the ability students have of changing programs without losing too many credits.

This ability to try programs without risking losing whole semesters of education allows students to change their minds and switch from an academic career path to a professional one, such as nursing, or mechanical technology, or vice versa.

The legislation was proposed following the Parent Report's recommendation criticising the difficult and discriminatory access to higher education and the under-schooling of French-Canadians.

One of the innovations of CEGEPs was the integration of professional and academic programs within the same institution, which was merged from existing schools, and which would be implemented throughout the province.

The first 12 CEGEPs opened in September 1967 are (in alphabetical order):[8] In 1993, the Robillard Reform launched a revision or programmes of study defined by the Ministry of Education.

First, several Quebec-based secondary schools have a specialized curriculum for students who wish to enter directly into out-of-province post-secondary programs.

In these instances, students may take one year of courses at high schools that offer this option in order to fulfill the grade 12 requirements of the institution to which they are applying.

Quebec colleges also offer three-year professional programs for students who wish to pursue a skilled trade.

It covers both the subject matter that roughly corresponds to the additional year of high school common elsewhere in Canada and the courses corresponding to those taken in first-year university in preparation for a chosen field in university (Sciences, Humanities, Commerce or Arts).

As this conflicts with the Quebec government's goal of promoting French language education, it is capping their enrolments.

Dawson student union voiced the view that English-language universities in Quebec will become elitist institutions, and that this would not be a positive development.