Primary Program

Children in British Columbia spend their first four years of school in the primary program (kindergarten to grade 3). Children must be five years old by December 31st in order to enter their first year of school (kindergarten).

The Primary Program: A Framework for Teaching ( 4.6 MB PDF) (Le Programme du Primaire - 1.06 MB PDF), developed by the Ministry, is a resource for primary teachers. This guide to effective practice for K-3:

• provides a comprehensive overview of policy, curriculum, and information on classroom assessment, and refers to the BC performance standards
• provides pedagogical advice based on current research related to Grades K-3
• demonstrates how the prescribed learning outcomes of the IRPs at K-3 may be organized and presented according to the five areas of development
  • aesthetic and artistic development
  • emotional and social development
  • intellectual development
  • physical development and well-being
  • development of social responsibility and citizenship

Research information is given throughout the document and is included in research directions boxes to address issues of particular importance.

Copies of the Primary Program document (RB0109) can be purchased through Government Publication Services.

For further information, please contact:
Content and Achievement Unit
Ministry of Education

Note: PDF files require Acrobat Reader to view or print.