The Honourable Jeffrey E. Lantz, Minister of Education, discussed the 1999 School Achievement Indicators Program (SAIP) Science national results today with members of the media and education stakeholders.
The purpose of the annual SAIP tests is to provide information on how well the education system is meeting the needs of students and society. Each year the program assesses the performance of 13- and 16-year-old students in one of three critical subject areas: mathematics, reading and writing, and science.
"SAIP provides us with evidence of student achievement levels at the 13- and 16-year-old level," said Minister Lantz. "It provides data from across Canada and enables the education community in Prince Edward Island to plan for the future development of our science education program."
The 1999 SAIP Science Assessment consisted of a written assessment and a practical, or laboratory assessment, administered to students selected at random. The written assessment was administered to 1064 students in schools across PEI (599 13-year-olds and 465 16-year-olds). The two-hour written assessment consisted of questions that covered five levels of achievement. The practical or laboratory assessment was administered to 210 PEI students (195 13-year-olds and 105 16-year-olds).
In the past, SAIP assessments have collected contextual or background data on student learning. Social, educational and personal environment all contribute to student learning and therefore to performance on assessments such as SAIP. The 1999 SAIP Science Assessment was enhanced by additional contextual information collected through comprehensive questionnaires completed by teachers and school principals in addition to the questionnaires completed by students. This was the first time in the SAIP assessments that such extensive information was collected which described school environment.
Provincial SAIP Coordinator Howard Rodgerson said PEI results are very positive.
"Prince Edward Island students at both age groups compare favourably in levels of performance to those of Canada as a whole," said Mr. Rodgerson. "Sixteen-year-old students from PEI met or exceeded those of Canada at all five levels and 13-year-old students from PEI met those of Canada for levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 and are only slightly lower than the Canadian average at level 5.
Minister Lantz expressed appreciation to the many Island teachers and administrators who participated in the SAIP science assessment last spring and to the students for their time and cooperation.
"Island science teachers should be very proud of these results," said Minister Lantz." The results are proof that science teachers are providing a high quality of education to our students."
Copies of the 1999 School Achievement Indicators Program Report are available at Island Information Service, 368 4000.