Secondary education, Cycle 1

According to the Quebec Education Program (QEP), the school must help all youth develop skills that will permit them to be cultivated individuals, committed citizens and competent workers, while continuing to transmit the knowledge of previous generations. To this end, the QEP for Secondary Cycle 1, like those that preceded it, is a product of previous efforts to implement the reform of the Quebec school system.

  • A central objective of success for all without lowering standards.
  • Advocates essential learning adapted to the early 21st century.
  • Aims at the development of both disciplinary and cross-curricular competencies.
  • It views language and culture as intrinsic to the goal of education.
  • It brings together all subjects as a whole, highlighting links between what is learned at school and life’s major challenges.
  • It emphasizes the engagement of students in a learning process which goes well beyond the mere accumulation of knowledge and makes them able to understand the world as well as to situate themselves and act in it.
  • It draws on the individual and collective expertise of school educators to design effective learning and assessment environments.
  • It promotes the use of efficient professional practices.

Structure of the program

Designed for a common basic education and as a continuation of the elementary school program, the Secondary Cycle 1 program is structurally similar to that of the three elementary cycles, and therefore has three compulsory components:

General knowledge that the student acquires throughout secondary studies in the following areas:

  • Health and Well-being
  • Career Planning and Entrepreneurship
  • Environment awareness and Consumer Rights and Responsibilities
  • Media Literacy
  • Community Life and Citizenship

Skills that students develop through their various subjects throughout their secondary studies:

  • Intellectual skills (use information, solve problems, exercise critical judgment and apply creative thinking)
  • Methodological skills (adopting effective working methods, using information and communication technologies)
  • Personal and social skills (realizing one’s potential, collaboration)
  • Communication skills (communicating appropriately)

  • Languages
  • Mathematics, science and technology
  • Social sciencesArts
  • Personal development
  • Professional development
  • Integrative project

Visit the Ministère de l’Éducation and Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur website