Date: Fri, 2 Jun 2000

On Friday 2 June, 2000, I attended a briefing at the Department of Education on the results of the 1999 Science results of the School Achievement Indicators Program (SAIP). Denise Pike has previously reported on the Expectation Setting and general background in the Federation's Annual Report for 1999-2000

In summary, we have our fair share of high-achieving students in science, but we have more than our fair share of low-achieving students in science.

Some 31,000 students aged 13 and 16 took part across Canada, including 2,000 in this province (some 1 in every 8 students in those age groups). The samples were statistically sound random samples of students.

Since the previous Science assessment in 1996, Canada generally showed considerable improvement, at both ages (13 and 16 years) and in both components (written and practical).

Five levels of achievement are specified.

The average 11 year old should be able to achieve level 1 or better.

The average 13 year old should be able to achieve level 2 or better.

The average 16 year old should be able to achieve level 3 or better.

A smaller proportion of students in this province are achieving level 1 or better (and 2 or better) than the national average, but we match the national average at level 5.

For level 2 or better, our 13 year olds fell from 12th to 14th place (out of 18 populations into which Canada was divided). For level 3 or better, our 16 year olds rose from 16th to 13th place.

Results so far are available on a province-wide level only, not district by district or school by school. A review of SAIP might change that restriction in the future.