What the Tests Found
Canadian 15 year olds continue to perform strongly compared to other countries on the OECD's Programme for International Student Assessment, known as PISA, which measures reading, math and science skills. But the latest results show a long-term slide in all three subjects, with reading and math scores dropping sharply in more recent test cycles.
Part of a Global Trend
The OECD says the decline isn't unique to Canada. Teens in many countries around the world have posted weaker scores on the same tests, a pattern that has been building over multiple testing cycles. The report does not attribute the drop to a single cause, but it adds Canada to a growing list of countries grappling with the same downward trend.
Why It Matters
PISA results are closely watched by provincial education ministries, since they offer one of the only standardized ways to compare Canadian students against their international peers. A sustained drop in reading and math scores raises questions for school boards across the country, including here in Ontario, about curriculum, pandemic-era learning gaps and how students are being supported in the classroom.
Source: CBC News
