Marks Improve, Higher Achievement Still Needed

Nova Scotia students showed improvement in provincial math and English tests in the 2002-03 school year.

Results were released today, Feb. 27, in the third annual Minister's Report to Parents. The report is part of the province's Learning for Life plan to be accountable to parents and provide them with meaningful information on their children's progress.

"It's encouraging to see some improvement in our students' results, but there is more work for us and our partners to do together," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "Students will achieve higher marks in the future as we continue to roll out our Learning for Life plan with the help of parents, teachers, school boards and other supporting organizations."

A second elementary math program assessment was conducted with Grade 5 students in 2003. The first was in 2001. The provincial average increased to 50 per cent, up from 42 per cent in 2001.

The provincial average on the academic Grade 12 English exam rose to 58 per cent in 2003, up from 53 per cent in 2002.

There is no statistical change in the average marks for Grade 12 physics, chemistry and English communication. The provincial average on the chimie 12 exam, the chemistry exam written by French immersion students, was 58 per cent in 2003, down from 62 per cent in 2002.

Students' marks on Grade 12 exams count for 30 per cent of their final course marks.

"Measuring students' achievement is an important part of their learning," said Mr. Muir. "Provincial testing is one of the many tools classroom teachers have to determine how well students are learning the curriculum. It's the only tool that gives us provincewide information for deciding where more support and investment are needed. It also helps build a culture of high achievement and accountability for our education system."

Nova Scotia's testing program also includes the new Elementary Literacy Assessment. The reading and writing test was conducted with Grade 6 students in October 2003. Results will be provided to parents and released publicly this spring. The test is a Learning for Life commitment to ensure parents and teachers have more information to help struggling students catch up as they move into junior high.

Learning for Life was launched in September 2002. Some highlights include:

• smaller class sizes in the early years
• the Time to Learn strategy which increases the time students spend on reading, writing and math
• the Math Matters strategy which provides resources and professional development for teachers to help students improve math skills
• hundreds of thousands of books in classrooms to help elementary and junior high students grow stronger as readers
• a writing and grammar handbook for elementary students to use as a reference tool to polish their writing at home and at school
• information to help parents understand and enhance their child's education

"The support we've put in place with Learning for Life is only just beginning to have an impact on student learning," said Mr. Muir. "Improving our results won't happen overnight, but it will happen over time as students experience the full impact of this plan."

The 2003 Minister's Report to Parents was sent to parents through school advisory councils and other parent-school organizations. It is available at www.ednet.ns.ca .