The boards set budgets, hire and negotiate with teachers, and shape school curriculums within provincial guidelines. A broad federal role The federal government plays an indirect but vital role in education. In addition, it is responsible for the education of Aboriginals, armed forces personnel and their dependants, and inmates of federal penal institutions. Overall, the federal government pays over one-fifth of Canada's yearly educational bill. One important part of this contribution is the Canada Student Loans Program, which assists students who do not have sufficient resources to pursue their studies.
Provinces have complementary programs of loans and bursaries.
Another federal initiative, scheduled to take effect in the year 2000, is Canada Millennium Scholarships. This represents the largest single investment the federal government has ever made in support of universal access to post-secondary education. These scholarships could halve the debt load that recipients would otherwise face. In some provinces, children can enter kindergarten at the age of four before starting the elementary grades at age six. General and fundamental, the elementary curriculum emphasizes the basic subjects of language, math, social studies, introductory arts and science.