Table 3.

Population, 15 years and over, by level of schooling attained, by age and by sex. (Canada, 1971 and 1976)

Post-secondary
Elementary School
partial or complete 		Secondary School
partial or complete		 (univ./non-univ.)
partial or complete

Age groups 1971 1976 1971 1976 1971 1976
15 - 19 years F. 10.5% 6.3% 76.1% 79.2% 13.4% 14.5%
M. 13.9 9.0 74.5 78.7 11.6 12.3
             
20 - 24 years F. 11.9 6.4 47.6 49.0 40.5 44.6
M. 12.2 6.9 42.0 46.9 45.8 46.2
               
25 years and over
F. 37.9 32.1 38.4 39.4 23.7 28.5
M. 38.2 33.0 30.5 33.6 31.3 33.4
             
Totals F. 31.0 25.5 44.7 45.9 24.3 28.6
M. 31.5 26.3 38.2 41.7 30.3 32.0





Source:

Statistics Canada, 1976 Census of Canada, "Population, 15 years and over, by level of schooling, by age, and by sex." Microfiche File SDDEMB 12.
   
 

Statistics Canada, 1971 Census of Canada, The out-of-school population, Catalogue 92-742; and The school population, Catalogue 92-743. (Ottawa: Statistics Canada, Census Information Services, 1971)




Comment:

Between 1971 and 1976, in all age groups, there has been a decrease in the number of persons with only elementary school education. The World Literacy of Canada has established a minimum of Grade 8 as the level at which functional literacy is reached. Therefore, the percentage of persons with less than Grade 8 is an indication of the level of illiteracy in Canada. In 1976, one person in four could be defined as functionally illiterate. The rate is higher for men than for women. However, this rate is decreasing rapidly in the younger age groups.

There has been an increase in the numbers of persons who have partial or complete secondary schooling. This increase is greatest for men in all groups.

There has been an increase in the numbers of persons who go on to post-secondary education. This increase has been greatest for women 20 years and over.


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