International students: Secondary and less share growing

Although not that surprising given the cuts to post-secondary international student levels, nevertheless striking how the share of secondary and less of all students has grown dramatically over the past number of years as per the following charts:

The numbers of secondary or less have stayed relatively stable, 2023-25, between 115,000 and 125,000. In contrast, numbers of post secondary fell from 544,000 to 263,000 and other studies from 47,000 to 21,000.

Unfortunately, appears to be few studies on this part of the education sector. ChatGPT did find this Global Affairs study that had the following conclusions:

“1. Global Affairs Canada – Elementary and Secondary Schools Sector Paper (2023)

This is probably the best national overview.

Key findings include:

• Approximately 92,000 study permit holders were at the “secondary or less” level in 2022.
• About 30,000 fee-paying international students were enrolled in Canadian public schools.
• Most international students are concentrated at the secondary (high school) level.
• British Columbia and Ontario account for more than 80% of K–12 international students.
• School boards reported increasing competition for spaces due to population growth and immigration. “

Unfortunately, can’t find the actual study on the GAC website.

Seems like there may be some good masters thesis possibilities in this under-covered sector.