THUNDER BAY - After 15 years, students across Ontario will be learning from new math curriculum, which the provincial government said will help prepare them for an evolving and more competitive job market.
The provincial government announced on Tuesday that it is updating the elementary math curriculum across all publically funded schools in Ontario.
“Our students can no longer be left behind,” said Minister of Education Stephen Lecce. “It has been 15 years since the math curriculum was last updated. We must set our students up for success and real competitive advantage when they graduate.”
The new curriculum for Grades 1 through 8 will still include fundamental teachings on the basics of math, but also include a focus on financial literacy, coding and computer programming, and connecting mathematical concepts to everyday life.
“It’s clear a lot has changed since 2005 and it’s clear our children’s education needs to change with it,” said Premier Doug Ford. “Students will learn coding and financial literacy. Starting in grade four students will learn about spending and saving. From grade six onward, they will understand financial planning.”
The new curriculum has been in development for the past two years and created in consultation with parents, educators, academics, and math education experts.
It is also a response to declining math scores among elementary students across the province. According to Lecce, fewer than half of Grade 6 students and only 58 per cent of Grade 8 students met provincial standards.
“For the past decade, we have seen rather tragically, ever year, without exception, at best stagnation or real decline in math performance,” Lecce said. “We must take action immediately to improve math scores.”
“This is unacceptable,” Lecce said. “Parents have been clear, job creators have been clear, educators have been clear. We cannot delay nor hope for improvement unless we take decisive action.”
The province also announced it will be cancelling the Education Quality and Accountability Office testing for Grade 3 and 6 students in the 2020 and 2021 academic year.
“We want to make sure our students and educators and entire education ecosystem can embrace and learn the new curriculum,” Lecce said. “We want them to focus on adapting to this learning.”
The new curriculum will be instituted in September 2020. Parents and students can view the new curriculum on the province’s Curriculum and Resources website.