CTV.ca News Staff


Canadian kids are getting good grades when it comes to reading, math and science. That's according to an international study that placed Canada consistently in the top five, despite large class sizes.

The study, called "Education at a Glance," was put out by the Organization for Economic Cooperation & Development (OECD), an international think tank. It compared the national education costs, staffing and test results of 32 countries within the OECD.

While Canada spends significantly less on education than other countries, only Finland outperformed it on the literacy component of the test administered to 15-year-olds from OECD countries.

Canada did well in mathematics, trailing Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Finland. It also came in the top five in science, along with South Korea, Japan, Finland and the United Kingdom.

The results were surprising for several reasons. For one, class sizes in Canada are among the largest in the Western world. The student-to-teacher ratio in Canada's secondary schools in 2001 was 17.8 students per teacher. That is above the country mean of 13.9. In both primary and secondary schools in 2001, there were 55.5 teachers per 1,000 students in Canada.

Canada also spends much less on education than some other industrialized nations. For example, the U.S. spends $10,240 annually per student. That's compared to $7,764 US in Canada.

Despite the disparity in spending, the U.S. fared much worse than Canada on all measures. It placed 14th in science, 15th in reading and 19th in math.

The results of the OECD study were based on 2001 statistics and studies from 1995 to 2001.



Yup, sounds about right!

   

Doing more with less , eh?

   

That is the most likely explanation. The other reasons would have to be better genetic material to start with or something in the water!

   

Its nice to pat ourselves on the back and all but doesn't this show what we could really do with a little more money in the education system?

   

Yup. More money, more teachers, more post-secondary education too. I think that part of the reason we do so well with so little is that we, as a country, still read a lot. We also haven't fallen completely into that line of crap about teaching nothing but the basics...instead we teach kids how to think.

   

I think a good idea would be to have a class which teaches critical thinking. I'm biased in suggesting this, but certain books by Carl Sagan and other popular skeptics could be required reading in these classes.
I can imagine resistance though from government and industry if there was a majority highly educated, critically thinking and questioning population. Think about what would happen to the advertising industry and all kinds of products and services, and establishments. Example #1 : Our toothpaste gets your teeth whiter faster than any other brand." Critically thinking citizen : " Really ? Prove it." Example#2 Political leader :" The lord has called on me to serve ." Critically thinking citizen : Is that so , well I'd like to see some documentation because surely the almighty wouldn't just expect us to take your word only on something as important as leading a country , I mean after all, this ain't the 13th century."
I'm sure others can come up with more examples.

   

Yes, more critical thinking would be nice. But how can we expect this in our kids if most of the adults can't do it?

   

[quote="BadAssBookie"]Yes, more critical thinking would be nice. But how can we expect this in our kids if most of the adults can't do it?

Can't really do much about adults presently,they are pretty much set in their ways - but there's always the future.Today is kinda screwed,but that doesn't mean tomorrow has to be the same way.

   

i get what youre saying there electric. then, of course it goes bak to the education thing where if people dont get a proper education, instead of being less screwed up tomorrows goin to be more screwed. i look at some of my "young adult" neighbors n go "man.. i hope they dont end up runing this country".. then agin.. i do live in the states.. but lets not let that go public now ..

   

Are any of you guys still in school, if so what grade. Im in grade 10

   

I'm in grade 24, Hockey Guy...Never stop learning, it scares the crap out the guys in the blue suits.

   

rricky ? ? ? ? ?


Is that you?

   

Man. Just imagine how much ass we'd be kicking worldwhile if we actually had a better education system? It boggles the mind.

I think I'm the minority though. I'm mud.