Dictionary, Census of Population, 2021
Primary or secondary schooling in the minority official language in Canada

Definition

Primary or secondary schooling in the minority official language in Canada refers to residents of Quebec who have attended an English‑language school at the primary or secondary levels and residents of Canada outside Quebec who have attended a regular French program in a French‑language school at the primary or secondary levels.

A person is considered to have been schooled in the minority official language if they reported at least one year of schooling in the minority official language in Canada at the primary or secondary level.

Statistical unit(s)

• Person

Classification(s)

• Not applicable

Reported in

2021

Reported for

Total population

Question number(s)

Derived variable: Questions 13, 14 and 15 for residents of Canada outside Quebec and questions 16 and 17 for residents of Quebec.

Responses

Questions 13, 14 and 15 were asked of residents of Canada outside Quebec. Questions 16 and 17 were asked of residents of Quebec.

Questions 13 and 16 include mark‑in circles for "Yes (previously or currently attending)" and "No."

Question 14 response categories include: "A regular French program in a French‑language school," "A French immersion program in an English‑language school," "Both types of programs" and a write‑in space was provided to specify other programs.

Questions 15 and 17 include the number of years of schooling at the primary or secondary levels.

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.

Primary or secondary schooling in the minority official language was asked in three questions: residents of the territories and provinces, aside from Quebec, were asked whether someone in the household had primary or secondary schooling in French in Canada (Question 13), question 14 was then asked to specify the type of French program for those who reported schooling in French. Residents of Quebec were asked whether someone in the household had primary or secondary schooling in an English‑language school in Canada (Question 16).

"French Immersion programs" in Canada outside of Quebec are not considered as schooling in the minority official language (i.e., French), as these programs are second language programs offered in English‑language schools. However, "French immersion programs" are considered as schooling in the minority official language (i.e., English) in Quebec.

The following additional instructions on how to complete question 13 were provided to respondents via a help button accessed in the electronic questionnaire:

• Question 13 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.
• A French‑language immersion program is defined as a program in which French is the language of instruction for a significant part of the school day; that is, several or all subjects are taught in French, except for English language arts (reference: Statistics Canada, Elementary – Secondary Education Survey (ESES), Definitions Guide).
• Report "No" for French‑as‑a‑second‑language, intensive, extended and enriched programs that are part of regular programs in English‑language schools.
• Report "No" for French language programs that were attended outside Canada, summer camps, exchange programs, etc.

The following additional instructions on how to complete question 14 were provided to respondents via a help button accessed in the electronic questionnaire:

• Question 14 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.
• A French‑language immersion program is defined as a program in which French is the language of instruction for a significant part of the school day; that is, several or all subjects are taught in French, except for English language arts (reference: Statistics Canada, Elementary – Secondary Education Survey (ESES), Definitions Guide).
• In the "French immersion program" category, do not include French‑as‑a‑second‑language, intensive, extended and enriched programs that are part of regular programs in English‑language schools.
• In the "French immersion program" category, do not include French language programs that were attended outside Canada, summer camps, exchange programs, etc.
• Under "Other program - specify" include programs such as home schooling, adult education, programs in bilingual schools, programs delivered in sign language, etc.

The following additional instructions on how to complete question 16 were provided to respondents via a help button accessed in the electronic questionnaire:

• Question 16 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.

Information on primary and secondary schooling was provided in questions 15 and 17 on the number of years of primary and secondary schooling in the minority official language in Canada.

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.

Related 2021 data products

• Primary or secondary schooling in an English school in Canada by number of years of primary or secondary schooling and mother tongue: Quebec, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0538-01)
• Primary or secondary schooling in French in Canada by type of French program attended and mother tongue: Canada outside of Quebec, provinces and territories, census divisions and census subdivisions (98-10-0539-01)