‘Significantly lower’: Manitoba Grade 8 scores below national average in science, reading and mathematics

A new study suggests Grade 8 students in Manitoba are underperforming other provinces in three key areas of education – reading, math and science.

Manitoba Grade 8 student scores lag behind the national average in all assessed subjects, according to a report released earlier this week.

The 2023 Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) report of science, reading, and mathematics found that Manitoba’s average scores in those disciplines were “significantly lower” compared to the national average.

The report by the PCAP—coordinated by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC)—is based on a spring 2023 assessment administered at random to over 30,000 students in all provinces. The assessment has been administered every three years since its inception in 2007, according to the program, and was postponed by one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In science—assessed on competencies in scientific inquiry, problem-solving, and scientific reasoning—Manitoba scored 476 points, ranking second-lowest among the provinces, ahead of only New Brunswick and below the national average of 501. Meanwhile, Alberta came in on top with 513 points, followed by Ontario.

Manitoba was specifically “below” the Canadian average in all tested science subdomains: nature of sciences, life sciences, physical sciences, and Earth sciences. However, the 175-page report notes that since 2013, Manitoba’s average science score has been increasing.

Manitoba also topped New Brunswick in average reading scores with 483 points but still fell short of the national average of 505 points. In math, Manitoba topped three other provinces with 483 points, while Quebec led with 522 points. The national average reading score was 510 points.

The report notes that Manitoba’s average overall score in math has seen a positive change since 2010, with no significant change in the overall reading score during the same time.

“Although Canadian students are performing well in science, reading, and mathematics, this report … helps identify areas that could be improved,” it reads.

“Over the coming months, CMEC, in collaboration with ministries and departments of education, will continue to analyze the results from PCAP in conjunction with other education indicators to better inform teaching and learning in the three core domains as well as related educational policies.”

The document also notes that explaining the reasons behind differences in provincial achievement is beyond the scope of the report.

‘Manitoba kids are just as bright as any other kid from any other province’: Minister Schmidt

Tracy Schmidt, Manitoba’s minister of education and early childhood learning, said she believes “Manitoba kids are just as bright as any other kid from any other province,” but claims barriers are having an impact on these metrics, such as child poverty.

Schmidt, whose NDP government took office after the 2023 PCAP assessment was administered, said this includes child poverty.

“The sector has been telling government for decades that you are never going to move the needle on PCAP or any other outcome here in Manitoba until you start addressing child poverty,” Schmidt said on Thursday afternoon.

The minister cited the NDP government’s universal school nutrition program as the “single largest investment in Manitoba history that’s going to start addressing that root cause of child poverty.”

“Our universal nutrition program gets kids into the classroom. It keeps them in the classroom,” she said.

Schmidt also said there are over 800 additional teachers in Manitoba since the NDP government was elected in October 2023, adding that the government is renewing the math and science curriculums.

“There’s a lot more work to do… But we believe that Manitoba kids can stand up to any other kid across this country.”

Meanwhile, Progressive Conservative (PC) education critic Wayne Ewasko said Manitoba ranked last in the nation in those three subjects when the PCs took office in 2016.

“The upward trajectory following the pandemic is encouraging, but more work needs to be done,” reads a statement from Ewasko in part.