Why education in Canada is attractive, by Gauthier

Parents and their wards that are interested in tertiary education outside Nigeria would have a wide variety to choose from, at the Canadian Education Fair, which begins at the Lagoon Restaurant, Lagos tomorrow. The Abuja version took place yesterday.


According to the Deputy Canadian High Commissioner, Mr. Jean Gauthier, about 30 Canadian institutions and agencies, including Universities, Colleges and secondary schools will be at the fair to share information about their capabilities and programmes available for Nigerian students.
Enthusiastic but cautious parents, who need a great deal of compelling evidence on why they need to send their wards to Canada for academic studies, would be well received at the fair by representatives of the various Canadian institutions who will be waiting to unveil the various advantages, Guathier affirmed at a briefing in Lagos last week.

Besides, representatives of the Canadian High Commission will also be present to explain the Study Permits and Visa processes. Some Nigerian banks will showcase products available to international students.

One of the most compelling attractions for opting to study in Canada is the low cost of tertiary education, when compared to other countries. According to information provided by the High Commission, a prospective candidate who wants to study Medicine in Canada would need about US $20, 775 for tuition yearly, rather than $28, 985 needed for tuition the same course per year in the United Kingdom (UK), or $ 26, 814 in the United States. For undergraduate studies in Information and Communication Technology (ICT), a student opting for Canada would need to pay $10, 431 tuition fee yearly, whereas, he could be required to pay $18, 301 in the UK or $27, 445 in the USA for the same programme.

Gauthier also explained other advantages of studying in Canada: safe, secure environment; cutting edge technology and research laboratories; opportunities for cooperative education and internships, work on and off campus; practical programmes designed with employers, which, in the end, could offer work placements too.

The Commission's Media Consultant, Mr. Ogie Eboigbe also listed several advantages that come with studying in Canada. Apart from the comparatively cheaper tuition, Eboigbe pointed to the cultural diversity of Canada, and the high number of Nigerians living there, which combine to make Canada's atmosphere homely.
Canada is the second largest country in the world, has 33 million people in three territories and 10 provinces, with a stable parliamentary democracy. It spends more per capita on its education system than any other industrialized country.