October 7, 2014
Focus on Quality Teaching and Learning Pays Dividends
Students Make the Grade in Latest National Science Assessment
Newfoundland and Labrador students are first in Atlantic Canada and fourth in the country when it comes to performance in science, according to the 2013 Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) results, which focused primarily on Grade 8 science outcomes. This is the highest ranking achieved by Newfoundland and Labrador since PCAP was initiated in 2007. Newfoundland and Labrador also ranked first in Atlantic Canada in reading and third in Atlantic Canada in mathematics.
“Make no mistake, this did not happen by accident. This is a direct result of key investments in teaching resources, learning resources, technology, and targeted professional learning in areas. These key investments will continue through the new Department of Education and Early Childhood Development, which was created to focus on the continuum of learning from infancy through high school. The results of PCAP are a testament to the intense efforts of the Provincial Government, the dedicated teachers, administrators and district staff who have worked tirelessly over the past several years to enable our students to improve their performance. It is very gratifying to see our collective, long-term efforts produce such positive results.”
- The Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development
The PCAP results were released today by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), which administers the assessment every three years in the core areas of science, math and reading – alternating the primary focus of the study each time. The focus in 2013 was on science, although a smaller sampling was also used to determine results in mathematics and reading. The full report can be viewed at: www.cmec.ca 
.
“The good news does not end with the science scores. While science was the major focus of the PCAP testing last year, the province’s reading results were also very good, with Newfoundland and Labrador students out-performing all their Atlantic counterparts and placing fifth in Canada. In addition, while the province’s eighth place ranking in mathematics did not change, scores have improved – up 15 points – since the last iteration of PCAP in 2010. So that tells us students who have had the benefit of the renewed mathematics curriculum these past few years are achieving at a higher rate. We do, however, want to see these scores improve even more in the years to come.”
- Minister Sullivan
A full accounting of the province’s performance on the 2013 PCAP assessment in relation to other jurisdictions can be seen in the backgrounder below.
QUICK FACTS
- Newfoundland and Labrador students are first in Atlantic Canada and fourth in the country when it comes to performance in science, according to the 2013 Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP) results.
- The PCAP results were released today by the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC), which administers the assessment of Grade 8 students, every three years, in the core areas of science, math and reading. The primary subject area for assessment alternates each year.
- While science was the major focus of the 2013 PCAP assessment, the province’s reading results were also excellent, with Newfoundland and Labrador students out-performing all their Atlantic counterparts and placing fifth in Canada.
- The full report can be viewed at www.cmec.ca
.
- 30 -
Media contact:|
Jennifer Tulk Director of Communications Department of Education and Early Childhood Development 709-729-0048, 728-4014 JenniferTulk@gov.nl.ca |
BACKGROUNDER
Results of the 2013 Pan-Canadian Assessment Program (PCAP)
Science (Primary focus on 2013 PCAP assessment)
| Ranking | Province | Score |
| 1 | Alberta | 521 |
| 2 | Ontario | 511 |
| 3 | British Columbia | 501 |
| 4 | Newfoundland and Labrador1 | 500 |
| 5 | Nova Scotia | 492 |
| 6 | Prince Edward Island | 491 |
| 7 | Saskatchewan | 486 |
| 8 | Quebec | 486 |
| 9 | New Brunswick | 469 |
| 10 | Manitoba | 465 |
1 5th in 2007 (score of 485); 7th in 2010 (score of 487)
Reading
| Ranking | Province | Score |
| 1 | Ontario | 524 |
| 2 | Quebec | 503 |
| 3 | British Columbia | 502 |
| 4 | Alberta | 502 |
| 5 | Newfoundland and Labrador2 | 495 |
| 6 | Prince Edward Island | 494 |
| 7 | Nova Scotia | 488 |
| 8 | Saskatchewan | 487 |
| 9 | New Brunswick | 471 |
| 10 | Manitoba | 469 |
2 6th in 2007 (score of 464); 5th in 2010 (score of 486)
Mathematics
| Ranking | Province | Score |
| 1 | Quebec | 527 |
| 2 | Ontario | 512 |
| 3 | Alberta | 502 |
| 4 | Prince Edward Island | 492 |
| 5 | British Columbia | 489 |
| 6 | Saskatchewan | 488 |
| 7 | Nova Scotia | 488 |
| 8 | Newfoundland and Labrador3 | 487 |
| 9 | New Brunswick | 480 |
| 10 | Manitoba | 471 |
3 8th in 2007(score of 478); 8th in 2010 (score of 472)
2014 10 07 10:55 a.m.