Manitoba could be getting a failing grade in the basics when compared to the rest of Canada.
As many as 20,000 high school students across the country participated in a study, the Programme for International Students Assessment. It found Manitoba is behind other provinces when it comes to test scores in science, reading and math. Of the ten provinces, Manitoba finished ninth in science, ninth in reading and eighth in math.
Manitoba's education minister says the province is working on a strategy to combat low test scores to be rolled out for the 2017/18 school year.
"We would like to see better results for Manitoba students," said Minister Ian Wishart.
In the short term, Wishart said staff are being assigned to help students in grades four to six who need the extra help in math and reading.
"It's not always about spending more money, we have enough resources in our school system, it's refocusing those resources to work with the students that are in need,” said Wishart.
Past chair of the Winnipeg School Division and current trustee Mark Wasyliw said it's no surprise Manitoba did poorly.
"The provinces that did the worst, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, have the highest rates of child poverty and those things are linked,” said Wasyliw.
Wasyliw said more money is needed to boost report card grades, especially in low income neighbourhoods.
"We need well-funded nutrition programs in our schools, we need full day kindergarten in our poor schools,” said Wasyliw.
Alberta, Quebec and BC finished in the top three in all three subjects.
