EQAO results for 2021-2022 show most Grade 6 students are failing in mathematics

BY PAUL JUNOR

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) assessments have become benchmarks that parents, education officials, and teachers look forward to each year. The measurement of student achievement in: reading, writing mathematics against Ontario Curriculum expectations provide valuable information.

There have been concerns expressed before the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the declining performance of Ontario students specifically in EQAO Math results. The release of results on Thursday, October 20^th ,2022 revealed that the downward trend in their math performance continues. It was the first EQAO result since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In a press release from EQAO, details are released about the performance of Ontario students in Grades: three, six, nine and the OSSLT. Over 600,000 students from all over the province participated in EQAO assessments at both the elementary and secondary levels during the 2021-2022 school year at both the English and French-language school systems. Most of these students attended classes in-person compared to online.

The press release states, “EQAO data shows that Ontario’s student outcomes are similar to those of other jurisdictions, where the pandemic has had a more significant impact on mathematics than on literary achievement.” In addition, students were introduced to the new digitized and modernized assessments involving an online model, which contrasted with the previous paper-based assessment. It is important to note that EQAO data provide an independent snapshot that shows whether students are meeting curriculum expectations in: reading, writing, and mathematics at key stages of their education.

EQAO data indicates that Grade three students’ achievement shows a decrease in literary results although the performance in mathematics remains consistent, compared to results from 2018-2019. 59% of Grade three students achieved the province’s mathematical standard. For Grade six students, performance in reading and writing were stable, but there was a drop in their math performance. Only 47% of students met the provincial standards compared to 50% in 2018-2019.

For Grade nine students, 52% met the provincial standard, which is a reduction from 75% in 2018-2019, while 47% did not meet the standard. It is important to bear in mind that these Grade nine students are currently following the new destreamed curriculum that was introduced in 2019. Consequently, there is a smaller number of Grade nine students who participated due to unexpected issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic’s effects on: planning, organizing and supervising the test.

For Grade 10 students who wrote the Ontario Secondary Student Literacy TEST (OSSL), which is a graduation requirement, 82% of them were successful on their first attempt. This shows consistent improvement which is good news for parents.

Ontario Education Minister, Stephen Lecce blames the EQAO math results on the COVID-19 pandemic. “The pandemic took kids out of school and created mass disruption. In every region of the world, math and literacy are regressing. Learning loss is a real trend and phenomenon.”

A spokesperson for Minister Lecce stated, “The EQAO results underscore the importance of what we’ve been saying for months; students need to be in classrooms, focused on catching up, for the entire school year. While student learning due to the pandemic is a global challenge, Ontario has a plan that invests in expanded school and tutoring supports to ensure students can learn the skills they need to succeed for the jobs of tomorrow.”

The Ontario government has invested $365 million in a three-year math strategy that it hopes will improve the performance of students in mathematics. Minister Lecce reiterates, “We will do a whole lot of good so that every student, 100% of students, perform a whole lot better. That’s the vision.”