If you are a NEWCOMER to CANADA and would like to see how the Ontario School System is organized please click on this link from Settlement.org (LINK).  Your settlement worker is Amy Dagbey and she can be reached at adagbey@workingwomencc.org if you have any questions about life in Canada.

JOBS in Toronto:  For Workopolis (LINK) and Indeed (LINK) type in “High School Diploma” in the search bar and see the jobs that require at minimum an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).

 SALARY INFORMATION available by UNIVERSITY DEGREE of STUDY:  For Payscale (LINK) click on the appropriate field of interest to find out the type of job obtained after completion of University degree and how much it would pay.

DO UNIVERSITY or COLLEGE graduates get JOBS?  According to a post-graduate survey of Ontario Universities (LINK) close to 90% of students were employed six months after graduation and over 90% were employed after two years.  Salary data of University graduates are also included in this link as well.

 COLLEGE DIPLOMA vs UNIVERSITY DEGREE.  According to the Education Policy Research Initiative of Canada (LINK), students who choose University degrees earned MORE MONEY in the long run (LINK) year after year.  College diploma students also earned more money year after year (LINK).   University graduates earned the most, however.

WHICH UNIVERSITIES have the PROGRAM I want?  Click on this link to see a list of universities organized by program:  (LINK).   For a complete list of Ontario Universities click here:  (LINK).

WHY TAKE MORE ENGLISH OR HISTORY OR SOCIAL STUDIES CLASSES?  Successful students that graduate from University and get a job afterwards need to be able to read, write, listen and speak well:  (LINK).  The more literacy attainment a student has, the more likely the student will find employment.  Here is an article for the need for literacy in Canada:  (LINK)

 IF YOU WANT TO NOT TAKE SOCIAL STUDIES or other classes and want to PLAR for previous credits:    

 PLAR is a process where your previous education, training, work and experiences may be used to help you get your Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD). The PLAR process grants equivalent credits to meet the Ontario Ministry of Education graduation requirements. 

• In order for students to obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) they need to accumulate 30 credits.
• Through the PLAR process students can earn up to 16 credits for Grade 9 and Grade 10. Students can also earn up to 10 equivalent credits for Grade 11 and Grade 12.
• To obtain your diploma through PLAR you must have four senior level (Grade 11 or Grade 12) courses. Usually these courses are Grade 11 English, Grade 12 English, the Ontario Literacy Course (OLC4O1) and a Grade 11 or Grade 12 Mathematics course.
• There is no fee for processing the PLAR application.

If you are taking Grade 11 or Grade 12 courses contact a Guidance Counsellor to see if you qualify for PLAR.