QUEEN’S PARK – Over 50,000 additional Grade 3, 6 and 9 students are meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in reading, writing and math, compared to seven years ago, according to the Ontario Government. “Parents want their children to learn the skills they need to succeed in life — these improvements in test scores show that our investments in education are paying off for students and families. I want to thank the students, parents and teachers who have worked so hard to make this possible,” enthuses Premier Dalton McGuinty.
For Grade 3 and Grade 6, 68 per cent of students are mastering the reading, writing and math skills that will lead to success in high school, postsecondary education and the workforce. This represents a 14 percentage point increase since 2002-03. English-language Grade 9 math scores have increased by more than 16 percentage points in the same period.
“Since 2003, the government has reduced class sizes in the primary grades, increased teacher training and raised the graduation rate. Across Ontario, 400 new, publicly funded schools have been built or are underway. And, this September, up to 35,000 four- and five-year-olds will be in full-day kindergarten at almost 600 schools,” adds McGuinty. “Helping students reach their full potential is part of the Open Ontario Plan. Students who achieve early success in school are more likely to perform well later in school and go on to postsecondary education. This ensures that Ontario will have the skilled workforce to compete in the global economy.”