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September 26, 1996
(Education)


Newfoundland's school system measures up to regional standards, Atlantic provinces "report card" gives province passing grades.

Newfoundland's school system got a passing grade this week as the Atlantic Province's Education Foundation (APEF) released its first report on the performance of the education systems in the Atlantic region. The 63 page report entitled Education Indicators for Atlantic Canada presents a picture of the school system in Newfoundland in relation to those of the other provinces in eastern Canada.

Roger Grimes, Minister of Education stated: "I'm delighted we had an opportunity to be part of the project. The report sets our achievements in education in a regional context and allows students, educators and the public to judge our status relative to the education systems in the other Atlantic provinces. It also points to some areas where we need to direct our attention."

"Overall I'm pleased with the report," the minister continued. "The commitment to improvement demonstrated by educators in this province is showing, although we all recognize we still have work to do."

  • Among the highlights of the report:
  • High school graduation rates in Newfoundland are on the increase and rose by seven percentage points to 72 per cent between 1990-91 and 1994-95. Graduation rates are still below the other Atlantic provinces, however, the rate of increase has been greater than in other provinces.
  • Students at the K-12 Level in this province have been very successful in progressing through the education system in the normal 12 year period. Eighty-five per cent of graduates in Newfoundland complete their program of studies in the requisite 12 years compared to only 73 per cent in the Atlantic region as a whole.
  • The annual dropout rate was calculated for the 1993-94 school year. In this province, at 11.4 per cent, our annual dropout rate was comparable to Prince Edward Island, higher than New Brunswick and substantially lower than Nova Scotia. The rate for males was higher for all provinces than females. In Newfoundland approximately 10 males dropped out for every seven females.
  • Over the five year period, 1990-91 to 1994-95, the participation rates of 16-year-old and 17-year-old students, in Newfoundland, increased by five and seven per cent, respectively, and are among the highest in the country.
  • Over the six year period 1989-90 to 1994-95 the pupil-teacher ratio (PTR) in Newfoundland was and continues to be the lowest in the Atlantic region. In 1994-95, our PTR was about 15 students per teacher compared to approximately 17 students per teacher in the other Atlantic provinces.
  • The level of university education completed by educators is increasing. Over the five year period 1989-90 to 1993-94, in the Atlantic region, there were fewer teachers in the 'no degree' category and a greater number who had completed a Master's degree or higher. In Newfoundland 22 per cent of teachers had Master's degrees; the highest percentage in the Atlantic region.
  • As measured by the Quality of School Life attitude survey, about four out of 10 Grade 8 students in Atlantic Canada indicate a level of dissatisfaction with school. About three out of 10 Grade 8 students surveyed say they do not feel safe in school and over half say school is a place where students pick on each other all the time. While attitudes, as measured by the this assessment, are generally comparable across the provinces, Newfoundland students tend to be more positive about their schooling experiences than students in the Atlantic region as a whole.

"The overall educational effort aimed at encouraging students to stay in school and improve overall education levels in the province appears to be paying off," the minister stated. "Increases in participation rates, graduation rates and levels of educational attainment indicate that efforts to keep students in school are producing a better educated population in Newfoundland."

The report was researched and prepared by evaluation professionals from the departments of education in the four Atlantic provinces under the umbrella of the APEF. The work was supported by the four provincial governments and the federal Department of Human Resource Development.

  • French Version of this report

    Questions and Answers

    Provincial Highlights - Newfoundland

    NOTE TO EDITORS: For a full media package including a copy of
    the report (The report is also available in
    French) or for additional information contact:

    Mr. Gerald Galway
    Project Manager - Indicators
    Evaluation, Research, and Planning
    Department of Education
    Confederation Building
    St. John's, NF
    (709) 729-4043

    Dr. Lenora Perry Fagan
    Director
    Evaluation, Research, and Planning
    Department of Education
    Confederation Building
    St. John's, NF
    (709) 729-3000

1996 09 26 1:30 p.m.

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