Pinoys urged to look at Canadian colleges for quality education

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos are urged to look at Canadian colleges and universities that offer quality education in Canada’s beautiful and friendly cities and university towns, to get more affordable international higher education.

Canadian Ambassador to Manila Christopher Thornley said that getting a university and college degree from one of Canada’s many quality tertiary institutions can also provide one with great opportunities to get employment in Canada, which he said was open to Filipino migrants, as well as other developed countries.

“Our consistently high level of education across the country, exceptional living standards, safe environment, and good access to global career opportunities have made Canada a popular study destination worldwide,” Thornley said.

The Embassy of Canada in the Philippines is organizing the first Study in Canada Fair 2013 on Jan. 25 at the Fairmont Hotel in Makati City and Jan. 26 at the Cebu Marriot Hotel in Cebu.

Representatives from 17 Canadian schools will be present to discuss opportunities for studying in Canada at the K-12, college and university levels.

“In 2011, close to 240,000 international students chose to study in Canada, taking advantage of an affordable education in a stimulating environment, while gaining academic credentials that are globally recognized,” he added.

It was learned that only around 1,000 Filipinos enrolled in a Canadian institution in 2011, and Thornley said that they want to increase this number.

With the Philippines still on the way to implementing a 12-year basic education curriculum (BEC) under the Aquino administration’s K (Kindergarten) to 12 BEC reform program from the current 10-year BEC with only six years of elementary and four years of high school, a Filipino high school graduate will have to take two years of college first to apply for admission into a Canadian college or university.

This is because Canada, like almost all countries all over the globe, has a 12-year BEC.

Canada is one of the top destinations among Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) member countries in terms of investment in public post-secondary and tertiary education.

Interested students and parents are invited to visit the fair at the Fairmont Hotel Makati on Friday, Jan. 25 from 3 to 9 p.m. and at the Cebu Marriott Hotel on Saturday, Jan. 26 from 1 to 6 p.m. Admission is free to attend this event.