Concerns Grow Over Declining Education Standards in Canada
In recent years, the decline in education quality in Canada has become increasingly evident, with the impact now reflected in international assessment results. According to a study by the International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA), Canadian students ranked 32nd out of 64 countries in mathematics tests.
Although Canada still performs relatively well in overall rankings, data from the OECD’s 2022 PISA report confirms a continued long-term downward trend. Education expert John Richards notes that the decline is particularly pronounced in smaller provinces, with the most significant drop observed in mathematics.
Experts suggest that restructuring the academic calendar may be part of the solution. Year-round schooling is being considered as an alternative to mitigate “learning loss” during long summer holidays. However, students with limited learning opportunities at home may struggle to benefit from this model.
Educational psychologist Todd Cunningham emphasises the importance of equipping teachers with practices grounded in up-to-date research. He also highlights the need to strengthen teacher training institutions to better support this approach.
Experts agree that addressing the decline in Canada’s education system will require not a single solution, but a broad and multi-faceted reform effort.
Country: Canada Keywords: Education Quality, Canada, Math Performance, Summer Learning Loss