TRURO - Newly released elementary math literacy results indicate children in Chignecto-Central Regional School Board are doing worse on assessment testing than previous years.
Nova Scotia has released the results of the first Elementary Mathematical Literacy Assessment. About 9,000 Grade 3 students were tested in 2006/07, and the percentage of students who met expectations in CCRSB was 69 per cent. The students, now in Grade 6, were recently retested and 61 per cent met the board's expectations.
"It is a concern. Results have declined and it's a pattern provincially ... we notice by Grade 12 there's a continuing decline in mathematics," said Vince Warner, the Department of Education's director of evaluation services.
"There are all kinds of reasons, including more complicated (testing) as they get further on in their education."
Students responded to questions about number and operation, patterns, measurement, geometry, data and probability.
Province-wide results showed that 63 per cent of students at English-language schools met expectations - a decrease of four per cent since their 2006/07 performance. Seventy-seven per cent of students at French-language schools met expectations - an increase of eight per cent since their Grade 3 testing.
To improve student learning, a new elementary math curriculum will be rolled out beginning in 2011, with Grade 7 and 8 students set to receive a new curriculum the following year. The department will also continue to enhance the skills of math teachers through mentoring, workshops, summer courses, guides and other training opportunities.
Other school boards in the province met the following expectations: Annapolis Valley (58), Cape Breton Victoria (54), Halifax regional (67), South Shore (63), Straight regional (73) and TriCounty regional (58).
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