Lisa Scott
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 06/05) - Another set of national tests is in and Northwest Territories students have again scored well below the Canadian average.

The School Achievement Indicators Program run by the Council of Ministers of Education tested 13,900 13-year-olds and 11,800 16-year-olds from all provinces, including the Yukon and NWT in science in 2004.

Because of the NWT's size, all 13-and 16-year-olds from the NWT were tested.

Only half the younger group and half of the older group reached the level of comprehension expected of them on the 2.5 hour written test.

Testers expected the majority of 13-year-olds to reach level two and the 16-year-olds to reach level three. Nationally, students met those expectations, with 71 per cent of 13-year-olds reaching level two or higher and 64 per cent of 16-year-olds reaching level three or higher.

A level one result shows science knowledge at the early elementary level, while level five is typical of advanced and university entrance courses.

A third of the younger NWT students didn't reach level one.

In the higher levels, the NWT students were on par with the national average.

Alberta students led the way with the highest results in the country.

Charles Dent, minister of Education, isn't surprised by the results. NWT students finished second from last, just above Nunavut, in the 2001 SAIP mathematics testing. Nunavut didn't take part in the 2004 tests.

"It's clear we've got some challenges," says Dent.

Those challenges include difficulties in schooling in small communities, where student populations are small.

A challenge

"It's a challenge for a teacher there to deliver a kindergarten to Grade 12 curriculum," he says.

This is the first science test the territory has completed, but with these results, the NWT now has a baseline for comparison, says Dent.

An overhauled science curriculum coming into effect in all schools in the fall should improve results as well.

In-service training for teachers to implement and maintain the new curriculum will start at the same time.

"I'm hoping we'll see improvements," says Dent.

Extra efforts

"If not, we may have to put extra efforts into science."

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment mandated all districts to take part in bi-annual Alberta achievement tests as of 2004.

The January and June exams test students in Grade 3, 6 and 9 in math, science and english and French language arts.

Claudia Parker, assistant superintendent of learning for Yellowknife Catholic Schools, isn't concerned about the low scores.

Districts results aren't separated, rendering them unusable to anyone but the education department.

Yellowknife Catholic Schools and Yk No. 1 focus on Alberta achievement tests instead, which break down the results by school, grade and subject.

"We honestly pay more attention to our other results," says Parker.

Challenges in schooling aside, Dent is hopeful that the new curriculum and testing mandate raise the aptitude of the territory's students.

"The signs are good for the future," he says.