WINNIPEG – Standardized testing of Grade 8 students across Canada found Manitoba kids’ results were the worst in all three areas tested.
The Pan-Canadian Assessment Program found Manitoba students performed worse than students in any other province and significantly below the national average in science, reading and math.
More than 3,000 Manitoba students took the tests in spring 2013. The results were released by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada, on Tuesday morning.
“The mean score of Manitoba students who complete the PCAP 2013 Science Assessment is significantly lower than that of Canadian students overall,” the report on the tests says about the field of study that received the most extensive testing. The mean score for Manitoba students was 465, versus a Canadian score of 500.
Reading and science achievement in Manitoba are also “significantly lower” than the Canadian mean, the report says. The mean reading score in Manitoba was 469, while it was 508 for all Canadian students tested; the mean mathematics score in Manitoba was 471, while it was 507 for all Canadian students tested.
READ MORE: Canadian Grade 8 students doing well in science: study
In the last round of tests back in 2010, Manitoba students ranked second last in all areas.
Nancy Allan, the education minister at that time, said the results were unacceptable.
“We want to do better and we will do better,” said Allan back in 2011 when the results were released.
Fast forward a few years and the story sounds the same.
“We should do better, we can do better, we will do better,” said James Allum, Manitoba’s current education minister.
Allum made the comments Tuesday morning while outlining a five-point plan for improving education in Manitoba.
“This assessment tells us we all need to work together.”
The five things Allum promised to do are:
- Improve teacher education;
- Increase support for teachers and students in their early years;
- Focus on fundamental skills;
- Provide more supports for parents and students; and
- Ensure greater accountability.
FULL REPORT: Report on the Pan-Canadian Assessment of Science, Reading, and Mathematics (Manitoba section on pages 106-118)
Comments