The Ministry of Education is thirsty for data: it has been two years since students took these tests due to the health context. Without the results of these exams, Ontario can hardly quantify or estimate how far behind students across the province are.
” It is certain that there will be shortcomings. There will be a drop in results, and a loss of learning among students, but it will not be a surprise. »
The director general of the Franco-Ontarian Association of Catholic School Boards, Yves Lévesque, would have preferred to wait another year before resuming these exams, due to the high absenteeism rate that characterized the 2021-2022 school year.
Each year, EQAO publishes a portrait of the academic performance of certain students.
Photo: EQAO
He is not the only one: several school boards have asked the government to postpone the holding of the tests until next year.
However, Education Minister Stephen Lecce flatly refused, according to Waterloo School Board President Scott Piatkowski. He did not respond to us in writing, but was adamant when asked about it in a teleconference.
The standardized tests have been controversial since their inception in 1996. Some, like Karen Brown, president of the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario, believe the process should be abolished.
The reviews of theEQAO are not good tools to really understand what is happening in classrooms
estimates the one who is at the head of the union representing the 83,000 elementary school teachers in the province.
Standardized tests are mandatory and can be done on the province’s new virtual platform, rolled out for the first time this year, or with paper and pencil. (Archives)
Photo: The Canadian Press
Kelly Gallagher-Mackay, assistant professor at Wilfrid Laurier University, supports this finding. It’s not the ideal tool.
she admits. But what would be the alternative?
No data, no problem, no solutions
Gallagher-Mackay led the Education Sector Disruption Study for the Ontario Scientific Advisory Group on COVID-19. One of the main recommendations of the study concerns the need for more data to understand the impact of the pandemic on students.
” We do not have data in Ontario. We are significantly behind, especially when compared to other regions and other countries. »
At the moment, the only tool we have to get an overall picture of the system is the standardized test ofEQAO
adds Professor Gallagher-Mackay.
However, she believes that things could be done differently. If every student has to take the test, couldn’t we consider doing a sample instead?
EQAO’s standardized test covers reading, writing and math skills. (Archives)
Photo: iStock
When the ministry suspended these tests at the start of the pandemic, it did not provide other ways to collect data on student progress.
she explains.
” We need data or we won’t know the extent of the problem; and consequently, the resources and solutions required. »
Another year of break claimed
There have been so many absences, gaps and delays in teaching this year
laments Ms. Brown. We want to use the time left in the school year to focus on the program.
For teachers, it’s a lot of extra pressure. They must teach the program in less time, while preparing students for tests
she argues.
Yves Lévesque is the director general of the Association franco-ontarienne des conseil scolaire catholiques (AFOCSC).
Photo: Radio-Canada / Screenshot – Google Meet
Yves Lévesque agrees. We ask a lot of the school system. There really is no respite for students, teachers and administrators.
Choosing to take the tests this year is a political decision, not an educational one.
according to him.
Reference-ici.radio-canada.ca