The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently announced the results of the 2022 PISA test, and it’s not good news for Canada. The PISA exam is used by many OECD countries to evaluate the performance of students in math, science, and reading. It focuses on skills-based tests rather than content-based assessments.
For years, Canada has been emphasizing “discovery learning” as the new way of teaching, believed to be effective for learning skills. However, this approach has always been controversial, with critics arguing it produces poor learning outcomes in subjects like math. Despite this, the government has continued to push discovery learning into the curriculum.
Unfortunately, the recent PISA scores show a decline in all subjects. Math proficiency dropped 35 points, reading scores fell 27 points, and science scores decreased by 20 points. This downward trend was predicted by many education experts who warned about the negative impact of discovery learning. Without proper content, there is less learning and skills development.
The consequences of this decline go beyond the classroom. It will affect the future opportunities and careers of Canadian children, the mental health of students, and even the nation’s democracy, economy, and culture. The decline in public school learning would also impact other industries and government sectors. Therefore, it’s time to reevaluate the effectiveness and benefits of “discovery learning” and consider alternatives that are more effective for students.