Word that one-in-four Grade 10 students with the Rainy River District School Board failed to meet the provincial standard for the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test is troubling news.
Overall, the success rate of 75 percent declined by five percent from a year ago and continued a downward trend from the 82 percent who passed back in 2010.
True, the local results weren’t all bad. For instance, students enrolled in an Academic English course has a success rate of 97 percent—above the provincial average of 93 percent and the ninth-straight year the figure topped 90 percent. That is excellent.
The board also is quick to note the number of students who deferred taking the test dropped to two percent from six percent last year, which is something to applaud and which may account for at least some of the overall drop in the success rate.
The glaring number, and the one warranting the most concern, is that just 52 percent of students enrolled in an Applied English course managed to meet or exceed the provincial standard—a substantial drop from the 60 percent success rate in 2011.
It was just below the provincial average of 53 percent, but that’s certainly nothing to brag about.
The board acknowledges that figure has to change, and plans to focus its attention on students in the Applied level courses. It’s equally clear, however, that the root of the problem stems from the elementary school level if one-in-four kids haven’t mastered the expected reading, writing, and communication skills by Grade 10.
Part of the reason may be that too many youngsters are being passed from grade to grade without actually “passing.” Or perhaps, in this day and age of texting and tweeting, not enough emphasis is being placed on proper spelling and grammar.
Whatever the case, it’s evident our children’s overall literacy skills need improvement—and quickly.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
