PEI's 13- and 16-year-old students performed as well as their counterparts in Atlantic Canada in a national mathematics assessment last year. The 2001 School Achievement Indicators Program (SAIP) Math national results were released earlier today by the Canadian Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) in Toronto.
"The report shows that while we are performing below the Canadian average, we are performing at the same level as other provinces in Atlantic Canada," said Education Minister Jeffrey E. Lantz. "Given the results of previous mathematics assessments, the results were not unexpected. However, we are making strides to improve learning outcomes in this subject area and are committed to providing the best possible education for our students."
The Minister noted that the Government of Prince Edward Island has invested significant funding in a new mathematics curriculum for all grades. The implementation of that curriculum will be completed during the next school year. When the SAIP Mathematics III assessment was written in the Spring of 2001, only a small number of 13-year-olds and no 16-year-olds would have been introduced to this new curriculum.
The purpose of the annual tests is to provide information on how well the education system is meeting the needs of students and society. Reading and Writing and Science are the other subjects that are tested through SAIP.
Ken Gunn, Senior Director of Public Education with the Department of Education said the 2001 mathematics results are consistent with past SAIP mathematics assessments in 1993 and 1997 as well as last year's Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA).
"One of the dynamic aspects of the new math curriculum implementation in Prince Edward Island is a mentorship component involving Island educators," said Mr. Gunn. "During this current school year there were six math mentors who worked with Island math teachers from October 2001 to March 2002."
Minister Lantz said officials within the department will be analysing the results of this assessment in the coming weeks.
"The Government of Prince Edward Island places a high value on learning," said Minister Lantz. "We know that the road to improved learning outcomes involves several key areas – literacy and numeracy are chief among them."
The SAIP mathematics report can be accessed online at the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC) Web site at www.cmec.ca or by contacting the Department of Education at 902-368-4690.