Canada stands third in the international math test
Jump to Page:
< Previous [ 1 ] [ 2 ] [ 3 ] [ 4 ] [ 5 ] [ 6 ] [ 7 ] [ 8 ] Next >
Posted on: 08-12-04 15:04:09
A above story is a welcome change after reading this news!
(Link does not work though it has been posted on CD. Got it from Google cache).
Ontario to fix school math after 74% fail
Grade 9 curriculum blamed for dismal results; new program won't be 'dumbed down,' minister insists
Lee Greenberg
The Ottawa Citizen
November 26, 2004
TORONTO - The provincial government has ordered a redesign of the Grade 9 applied math curriculum after nearly three-quarters of students failed standardized tests this year, Education Minister Gerard Kennedy said.
Mr. Kennedy blamed the system for the poor results, calling the students "curriculum casualties."
"There's no justification to have kids fail at this rate," Mr. Kennedy said. "This is pretty hard to ignore. A lot of kids (are) struggling."
The tests, administered by the provincial Education Quality and Accountability Office, showed 74 per cent of students in the Grade 9 applied program -- about 37,300 students across Ontario -- failed to meet the provincial standard.
Still, that's five points better than 2003, when only 21 per cent made the cut, which is set at 70 per cent.
Students in the academic stream fared much better, with 68 per cent making the provincial average, an increase of two points over last year's results.
The tests are administered twice a year and last almost three hours.
Teachers have the option of using results toward a student's final grade.
Mr. Kennedy said the Grade 9 applied program would be redesigned with an emphasis on core concepts and hands-on learning, and will be implemented by next school year.
He argued the course would not be "dumbed down," saying the change would lower dropout rates and allow more students to learn math.
"(Dumbing down) is a pejorative way to put it," Mr. Kennedy said. "There are people out there that are of different abilities and we're going to match their abilities. In fact, what we're saying is we're bringing the curriculum to the right level."
In general, students in Ottawa fared slightly better than the provincial average.
Ottawa-Carleton District Catholic School Board students were one point better than the average, with 27 per cent of applied students achieving the standard.
Jamie McCracken, director of education at the Catholic board, said students in the applied math stream are his greatest challenge. He said the board has increased teacher training to try to improve results.
"It's something that we're really focused on in the last year or two. The academic students are making gains, but the real challenge is in the applied level."
Applied math students at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board beat the provincial average by about three points, with 29 per cent achieving the standard.
In the academic stream, Ottawa Catholic students were two points below the provincial average, with 66 per cent meeting the standard. Academic math students in Ottawa's public schools fared better, with 72 per cent achieving the standard.
The academic stream is largely geared to university-bound students, particularly those who will be studying the sciences. Students who intend to go to college, or don't need math prerequisites for university, often take the applied course.
Earlier this year, Mr. Kennedy authorized boards to develop their own courses to serve as an alternative to the academic and applied streams. They replace the "basic" level courses eliminated by the Conservatives in 1999, he said.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Give free food http://www.thehungersite.com ||
Quote:
Orginally posted by rajcanada
A above story is a welcome change after reading this news!
(Link does not work though it has been posted on CD. Got it from Google cache).
snip
Try the following link:
http://www.opsba.org/
Note the comment that "of the 50,000 students in the Applied Course, 80% were successful in passing the test"
Quote:
Orginally posted by rajcanada
Ontario to fix school math after 74% fail
Grade 9 curriculum blamed for dismal results; new program won't be 'dumbed down,' minister insists
I saw that on City TV.....incredible for a country that stood 3rd in Maths.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.
BL,
It was not my intention to accuse a particular sect of people..but somehow reality popped out of my mind........
When I mentioned 90% of them would be of Asian Origin, I only wanted to highlight majority...........
Coming to your last point........that many of them would be "Canadian Citizens"..........In paper ..yes.....they have passport and citizenship card. But that neither hides their identity nor their natural traits.........
People of Indian origin will remain Indian for a couple of generations........because their brains worked well when their forefathers were in India and unless and until their kids are born and brought up in Canada and they get merged with the lifestyle, traditions and culture it will not change.........
By that time "The Good Old Soul" who migrated from India would not be there to impart the importance of education and family values.........and their grand kid at the age of 16 would tell his Dad of 2nd generation Indian that he wants be a "Dumpster" or wanna "flip the burger"........
While I appreciate the "Work Culture" of Canada..........I am really disappointed with the "education Culture" of Canada.........
At least Canada has something to learn from India..........Let some of them go to "Cotton Bishops" or "St Michaels Scool" to understand why do the students go to school...................
When western people proudly talk about "Quantum Physics" and "Boolean Algebra" ....do they care what their children study at school????????
Deep
Quote:
Orginally posted by BlueLobster
Quote:
Orginally posted by deepcb
They could get good jobs with their Accent/ skin color.......who cares about "Quadratic equation/ Laplace Transformation" ?????????
Accusing someone of racism...
Quote:
WOW...................UNBELIEVABLE.........
Canada coming 3rd in Math competition ????
I am sure 90% of them would be immigrants from Asia........
while perpetrating the same.
Would you plesae explain that, Deep? Even if 90% of the participants are Asian, they are Canadian now, aren't they? If we do not want ethnicity to ever be a factor while looking for jobs, why should we make ethnicity be a factor here?
-----------------------------------------------------------------
U win some...lose some...everything is not justified in this world.
Crenshaw,
It doesn't matter whether it was an assessment or competition........in my view ....competition is a modified version of skill assessment.
Coming to statistics........you are one step ahead of all.........hence I offer you some discount from the 90%...........
Deep
Quote:
Orginally posted by crenshaw
Quote:
Orginally posted by deepcb
snip
Canada coming 3rd in Math competition ????
I am sure 90% of them would be immigrants from Asia........
snip
Apparently reading skills are not necessarily a strong point for some desis.
A quick read of the article posted by the OP will indicate that this was not some sort of competition. Rather it was an assessment of math and other skills.
Canada's sample size was 28,000 students
The best results were from Alberta rather than Ontario (which is the primary destination for new immigrants).
Deep, you'd do well to explain how you determined your 90% statement
-----------------------------------------------------------------
U win some...lose some...everything is not justified in this world.
74% of students in that news article failed to achieve provincial standard (over 70% marks). 80% of the students passed in applied maths (means that they got over 50% marks) .
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Give free food http://www.thehungersite.com ||
Quote:
Orginally posted by crenshaw
Try the following link:
http://www.opsba.org/
Note the comment that "of the 50,000 students in the Applied Course, 80% were successful in passing the test"
10,000 failed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
I once made a mistake, but I was wrong about it.
