Manitoban students’ international test scores sag

WINNIPEG – Students in Manitoba posted declining results in mathematics, reading and science – all subjects tested – in a worldwide exam done by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.

Manitoba students’ scores were average across all 65 countries tested in the Program for International Student Assessment, but below the Canadian average.

Manitoba students aged 15 and 16 were tested with 2,1000 students from across Canada and about 450,000 more from around the world in 2012.

Manitoba scored poorly when compared to other provinces in all three tests, and the scores showed statistically significant declines since the test was administered in 2003.

Manitoba’s score dropped to 492 in math, which is considered at the OECD average of 494 – but dropped 36 points since 2003, when Manitoba students scored 528.

In reading, Manitoba students scored 495, again at the OECD average of 496, but the province’s score dropped 34 points since 2003, when Manitoba students scored 530. In 2003, Manitoba students tested above the OECD average in reading.

Similarly, in science Manitoba students’ scores dropped from above the OECD average in 2003 to average in 2012. Manitoba scored 503 in 2012, a drop of 21 points from the 524 scored in 2003.

Manitoba’s drop from 2003 to 2012 was the greatest among provinces in all three areas of learning tested.

“We take that very, very seriously,” said Manitoba Education Minister James Allum. “I find it quite unacceptable, so we want to go out and try to start making a difference.”

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Allum’s lesson plan includes smaller class sizes, updating math and language arts curriculum and better teacher training.

“What we want to do is stop the trend line from going down and slowly start to build it back up,” he said.

Across the country, the average Canadian score remained stable in reading, while in science and mathematics it decreased.

The following tables show the provincial results and the scores of the Top 10 countries in each subject. Canada did not score in the Top 10 countries for mathematics.

Provincial rankings in mathematics:

Top 10 countries in mathematics:

(Canada placed 13, tied with Poland, at 518 points. Estonia was 11^th at 521 points and Finland was 12^th at 519 points)

Provincial rankings in reading:

Top 10 countries in reading:

Provincial rankings in science:

Top 10 countries in science:

The scores are expressed on a scale with an average of 500 points attained across OECD countries in the base year (which varies by subject). In 2012, the OECD status for science was 494, the average for reading was to 496, and the average for science was 501.

Canadian PISA results can be found here. A snapshot of the international results can be found here. A more in-depth overview of the report can be found here.