If you look at the numbers, provided below, it is interesting to see what the numbers are saying. Canada, on average nationwide, has gone by 5 points in Science and Math, and 10 points in Reading. Every single province has declined in every single subject, except Quebec in Math, and Nova Scotia in Science.
If we broke it down by subject, and used Stats Canada`s recommendation of statistical differences, meaning that there was a 5% difference in the numbers. When it comes to math, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Manitoba, Alberta, and British Columbia, all had significant declines. For science, only Manitoba experienced a decline. Lastly, for reading, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta had declines.
If we were to put this on a lowest ranking scale, of significant drops in all subjects. Manitoba was found in all three categories, therefore the lowest. Prince Edward Island and Alberta would be tied for second last.
I believe this shows numerous things about Canada`s education system. One, students are progressively doing worse in the subjects of math and reading. This can be due to preparedness for school, but a look at other tables, I believe shows that kids are prepared for grade school, but they are not prepared for University. Now this can be due to their own lack of interest in these subjects, or distractions in modernization, such as the TV, internet and social media. Two, science is still liked, and hasn`t suffered as much as the other subjects. This may be to the credit of computer science industry, and also advancements being made in science. Three, this isn`t to blame Canadian Educators, I believe they are doing the best they can with individuals who are being prepared well for school, but then home isn`t keeping up.
Finally, I took the liberty of adding up each provinces scores in each of the categories, and subtracted the current years results from the previous years scores, and came up with the following provinces to rank the provinces.
- Canada -22
- Manitoba -78
- Prince Edward Island -59
- Alberta -43
- Saskatchewan -39
- Newfoundland and Labrador -32
- British Columbia -33
- New Brunswick -15
- Quebec -14
- Ontario -13
- Nova Scotia -5
But don`t let me tell you about it, have a look at the numbers yourself.
| Combined reading scale | PISA 2000 | PISA 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| estimated average score | standard error | 95% confidence interval | estimated average score | standard error | 95% confidence interval | |
| Canada | 534 | 1.6 | 531 to 537 | 524 | 5.2 | 514 to 534 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 517 | 2.8 | 511 to 522 | 506 | 6.1 | 494 to 518 |
| Prince Edward Island | 517 | 2.4 | 513 to 522 | 486* | 5.5 | 475 to 496 |
| Nova Scotia | 521 | 2.3 | 517 to 526 | 516 | 5.6 | 505 to 527 |
| New Brunswick | 501 | 1.8 | 498 to 505 | 499 | 5.5 | 488 to 510 |
| Quebec | 536 | 3.0 | 530 to 542 | 522* | 5.8 | 510 to 533 |
| Ontario | 533 | 3.3 | 527 to 540 | 531 | 5.8 | 519 to 542 |
| Manitoba | 529 | 3.5 | 523 to 536 | 495* | 6.1 | 483 to 507 |
| Saskatchewan | 529 | 2.7 | 524 to 534 | 504* | 6.0 | 492 to 516 |
| Alberta | 550 | 3.3 | 544 to 557 | 533* | 6.8 | 520 to 546 |
| British Columbia | 538 | 2.9 | 532 to 544 | 525 | 6.5 | 512 to 537 |
| Science | PISA 2006 | PISA 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| estimated average score | standard error | 95% confidence interval | estimated average score | standard error | 95% confidence interval | |
| Canada | 534 | 2.0 | 530 to 538 | 529 | 3.0 | 523 to 535 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 526 | 2.5 | 521 to 530 | 518 | 4.0 | 510 to 526 |
| Prince Edward Island | 509 | 2.7 | 503 to 514 | 495* | 3.5 | 488 to 501 |
| Nova Scotia | 520 | 2.5 | 515 to 525 | 523 | 3.7 | 516 to 531 |
| New Brunswick | 506 | 2.3 | 502 to 511 | 501 | 3.5 | 494 to 508 |
| Quebec | 531 | 4.2 | 522 to 539 | 524 | 4.1 | 516 to 532 |
| Ontario | 537 | 4.2 | 529 to 545 | 531 | 4.2 | 523 to 539 |
| Manitoba | 523 | 3.2 | 517 to 530 | 506* | 4.7 | 497 to 515 |
| Saskatchewan | 517 | 3.6 | 509 to 524 | 513 | 4.5 | 505 to 522 |
| Alberta | 550 | 3.8 | 543 to 558 | 545 | 5.0 | 535 to 554 |
| British Columbia | 539 | 4.7 | 529 to 548 | 535 | 4.8 | 525 to 544 |
| Mathematics | PISA 2003 | PISA 2009 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| estimated average score | standard error | 95% confidence interval | estimated average score | standard error | 95% confidence interval | |
| Canada | 532 | 1.8 | 529 to 536 | 527 | 2.6 | 522 to 532 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 517 | 2.5 | 512 to 522 | 503* | 3.5 | 496 to 509 |
| Prince Edward Island | 500 | 2.0 | 496 to 504 | 487* | 3.0 | 481 to 493 |
| Nova Scotia | 515 | 2.2 | 511 to 519 | 512 | 3.0 | 506 to 518 |
| New Brunswick | 511 | 1.4 | 508 to 514 | 504* | 3.0 | 498 to 510 |
| Quebec | 536 | 4.5 | 528 to 545 | 543 | 4.0 | 535 to 551 |
| Ontario | 530 | 3.6 | 523 to 537 | 526 | 3.8 | 518 to 533 |
| Manitoba | 528 | 3.1 | 522 to 534 | 501* | 4.1 | 493 to 510 |
| Saskatchewan | 516 | 3.9 | 509 to 524 | 506 | 3.8 | 498 to 513 |
| Alberta | 549 | 4.3 | 540 to 557 | 529* | 4.8 | 520 to 538 |
| British Columbia | 538 | 2.4 | 534 to 543 | 523* | 5.0 | 514 to 533 |
See the entire release here on Stats Canada.
