ETFO Calls for Two-year Moratorium on Grades 3 and 6 EQAO Testing

Overemphasis on literacy and numeracy robbing students of broad-based curriculum

August 16, 2010

TORONTO – Buoyed by new research, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) today called for the government to establish a two-year moratorium on grade three and grade six Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) testing to allow for public consultation on the uses, value and impact of the testing regime. The Federation says the standardized testing in its current form is a costly exercise that is failing students and forcing teachers to abandon key parts of a balanced education for too much of the school year.

“Something is very wrong when areas including science, history, social studies and the arts are getting sidelined in the race to get young students prepared for EQAO, which is focused solely on literacy and math,” said ETFO President Sam Hammond, adding that teachers are being buried by testing initiatives. Addressing over 500 delegates to the Federation’s Annual Meeting in Toronto today, Hammond unveiled new research and a video that documents significant teacher concerns regarding EQAO testing and its impact on education.

The Federation commissioned Environics Research Group to convene eight focus groups of ETFO teachers across the province to probe their experience with EQAO testing as well as other assessment tools and strategies they are using in the classroom.

“Teachers told us EQAO testing does little to improve learning. It was originally set up to test the system as a whole, but now it is driving what gets taught in the classroom,” added Hammond. “We’re asking for a moratorium and review of the testing regime and a reduction in the number of Ministry initiatives driven by the test so that teachers can have the time to get back to providing a balanced education for every student.”

Hammond also expressed concern that EQAO results are forming the basis for the School Information Finder, which real estate companies are using to rank schools and neighbourhoods. “Our teachers find it incredible that one-time tests on math and literacy are being used to assess a school, when the reality is that teachers in that school are focused on successfully meeting the broader academic, social and emotional needs of students.”

“This government is spending in excess of $100 million dollars on EQAO testing and the Literacy and Numeracy education bureaucracy,” said Hammond. “We’re saying that money could be much more wisely spent and we’re asking the government to listen to our concerns.” 

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario represents 76,000 elementary public school teachers and education workers across the province and is the largest teacher federation in Canada.