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
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