FSD 33 - Education Assistance at a Lycée in Canada

Scope

Introduction

Recognizing that the availability of French language education while serving outside Canada is often limited to the French National curriculum and that this curriculum is unique and requires continuity throughout a child’s schooling in order to obtain French language education abroad, the intent of this directive is to provide financial assistance to career foreign service employees while serving in Canada in enrolling their dependent children in a lycée in Canada.

Directive

33.1 Application

33.1.1 The provisions of this directive apply to career foreign service employees who:

1. have chosen to have their child educated in the French National curriculum;
2. have demonstrated to the deputy head their intent to accept an assignment abroad during their child’s elementary and secondary education years; and
3. have demonstrated to the deputy head their intent to register their child in a French language school when they are on assignment abroad.

33.1.2 Subject to subsection 33.1.1, the deputy head may authorize payment of the cost of tuition, prescribed textbooks and school supplies as determined under the provisions of the definitions of FSD 34 – Education Allowances incurred at a lycée in Canada in respect of children who:

1. were registered in the French lycée system during the previous assignment of the employee abroad;
2. commence kindergarten in the lycée system during the assignment of an employee in Canada following an assignment abroad; and
3. are enrolled in a lycée in Canada where an employee has not been offered an initial assignment outside Canada.

33.1.3 With respect to subsection 33.1.2, a child must qualify for assistance in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 34.1.1(a) of FSD 34 – Education Allowances, that is, the child must be aged 3 years and 8 months as of September 1 of the school year.

33.2 Duration

33.2.1 Payment authorized in accordance with subsection 33.1.2 shall normally be limited to a period of a maximum of six years immediately following the employee's assignment to Canada from abroad or the date on which the employee commences rotational employment, whichever is most recent.

33.2.2 The deputy head may consider on an individual basis one exception to the limitation prescribed in subsection 33.2.1 of one assignment in Canada due to operational requirements or extenuating circumstances beyond the employee’s control. The discretion extends to situations where an employee is assigned to or from Canada during the academic year. The use of the discretion would not normally apply where the child will complete the schooling during or at the end of this additional assignment.

33.2.3 Notwithstanding the provisions of subsections 33.2.1 and 33.2.2, the appropriate foreign service interdepartmental coordinating committee may consider additional requests in exceptional circumstances.