A curriculum recognized for its excellence
British Columbia’s education system is recognized for its excellence, with qualified teachers, modern infrastructure, and outstanding results on an international scale. The curricula are learner-centered, while also enhancing literacy and numeracy through concept- and competency-based approaches. The French language is valued and integrated into the curriculum, with flexible options to meet students’ needs. For more information, visit our page on the various French programs.
At the heart of British Columbia’s curriculum are the foundations of literacy and numeracy, essential learnings, and core competencies.
- Core Competencies: The disciplinary skills in all areas of learning are based on core competencies. These competencies are directly linked to the notion of an educated citizen, and therefore represent what we value for all students within the school system.
- Essential Learnings: Each subject’s curriculum includes the essential learnings for students, which are linked to society’s expectations of an educated citizen in British Columbia. The redesigned curricula are centered around key content, concepts, and skills, as well as big ideas that promote the high-level thinking required in today’s world.
- Foundations of Literacy and Numeracy: Literacy refers to the ability to understand, analyze, and create various forms of communication, including oral, written, visual, digital, and multimedia, to achieve personal goals. Numeracy involves the ability to understand and apply mathematical concepts to solve problems in different contexts. Literacy and numeracy are essential for all learning and apply to all areas, not just language and mathematics.
The British Columbia curricula are based on an integrated learning model structured around the concepts of “know – do – understand.” This model aims to promote an educational approach that connects content, disciplinary skills, and big ideas.
- Content, or “know,” includes the key topics and specific knowledge for each grade level.
- Disciplinary skills, or “do,” encompass the skills and strategies that students develop over time, which are also linked to the core competencies.
- Big ideas, representing “understand,” are the key principles and concepts that enable students to grasp fundamental notions beyond the yearly curricula, establishing a foundation for deep and continuous learning.
This flexible and personalized approach allows teaching to be adapted to individual student needs while promoting a comprehensive and integrated understanding of subjects. The curricula have been restructured to incorporate these elements innovatively, facilitating meaningful and lasting learning at all levels of the education system.
Schools in British Columbia aim to value diversity and meet the varied needs of students. The K-12 education system seeks to ensure that every student receives an inclusive, equitable, and accessible education. Teachers are encouraged to choose themes, activities, and resources that reflect diversity and support inclusion, highlighting positive images and themes such as respect and acceptance of family diversity, gender identity, and sexual orientation.
The school system fosters conditions conducive to the success of all students by providing equitable access to quality education, valuing diversity, and maintaining safe and welcoming school environments. Policies and practices support fair treatment and participatory decision-making processes.
To support a diverse range of learners, the curricula are designed for the majority, but teachers adapt their methods to meet individual needs. Government policies promote the inclusion of students with special needs or those learning English through specific educational adaptations. Adapted programs offer measures such as varied resources, assistive technologies, and modified assessment methods to help these students achieve learning standards and earn their credits.
British Columbia has long been committed to improving the academic success of Indigenous students by incorporating Indigenous voices into all aspects of the education system. This includes increasing the presence of Indigenous languages, cultures, and histories in the curriculum, as well as guiding practices informed by Indigenous expertise.
The new curricula build on lessons learned and incorporate Indigenous perspectives throughout the learning process, rather than only in specific courses or at certain grade levels. This means that from kindergarten through to the end of secondary school, Indigenous perspectives and knowledge will be integrated into student learning and will influence how students are assessed.
