Study says Saskatchewan students behind in reading and math

Saskatchewan students are falling behind in math and reading, according to an international study by the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).

The report was based on results from 2022. It tracked the results of students between the ages of 15 years three months old and 16 years two months old.

The data was gathered from approximately 690,000 students in 81 countries. It revealed that Saskatchewan students ranked second-worst in math scores and third-worst in reading scores in all of Canada.

PISA is administered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

For math, Saskatchewan had a mean score of 468, which was tied with New Brunswick and ahead of only Newfoundland and Labrador (459).

For reading performance, Saskatchewan’s mean score of 484 was better only than New Brunswick (469) and Newfoundland and Labrador (478).

NDP Education Critic Matt Love is laying the blame on Premier Scott Moe.

In a media release Wednesday, Love pointed out the scores for both math and reading have dropped 17 points since 2018, which is when Moe took office as premier.

Love also blasted Moe for the implementation of the controversial pronoun policy, which became the subject of a legal case.

“As a parent and a teacher, I’m very worried that our kids aren’t being given the tools they need to succeed in life,” said Love.

“The Moe government has completely lost sight of the issues that matter most to parents. It’s about priorities, and they shouldn’t be wasting time and resources arguing about pronouns in court when our kids are over a year behind in their math and reading abilities.”

According to PISA, a 15-point drop in math is the equivalent of losing three-quarters of a year’s worth of learning, while a 10-point drop in reading is about the same as losing half a year of schooling.

“Although test scores like these don’t paint a complete picture of student academic success, this is just one more example of this Sask. Party government’s failure to provide our students and educators with the tools they need to succeed,” said Love.

“These test results simply tell us what teachers and parents have been saying for years. Our classrooms have been cut to the bone and our kids are not getting the education they deserve.”

In a statement emailed to 980 CJME, the Ministry of Education said the government was committed to improving student achievement, including in reading and math.

“Results from PISA indicate Saskatchewan students continue to be globally competitive,” the statement added. “Saskatchewan students performed above the international average in reading and science, and similar to the international average in mathematics.

“The development of a provincial assessment program to support the improvement of student outcomes is one of the actions in the Provincial Education Plan and we will be working with school divisions in the coming months to advance work on this program.”