ETFO Demands End to EQAO Testing Following Disappointing Scores

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) is urging the provincial government to abolish the Education Quality & Accountability Office (EQAO) testing program, advocating for the reallocation of its funding towards classroom resources. This call follows the release of recent EQAO results, which indicated a lack of significant improvement in student performance, particularly in mathematics.

Education Minister Paul Calandra announced the test results on Wednesday, revealing that only about 64 percent of Grade 3 students, 51 percent of Grade 6 students, and 58 percent of Grade 9 students met the provincial math standards. In the context of the Greater Essex County District School Board, math scores were reported at or just below the provincial average. In contrast, the Windsor-Essex Catholic District School Board recorded results above the provincial average in all categories, with the exception of Grade 9 math.

In response, Mario Spagnuolo, local ETFO President, emphasized the need to redirect funding to enhance classroom conditions. He stated, “We need to lower class sizes, we need to address workload, we need to address violence in the classroom, and we just need more special education supports. If you put those things in place, you will see a trend that we will improve student achievement.”

Spagnuolo highlighted the influence of socio-economic factors on educational outcomes, noting that poverty significantly impacts student success. He remarked, “It’s not just an education system issue… if poverty rates are high, those are barriers to student success.”

Looking ahead, Spagnuolo expressed concerns over potential government actions stemming from these results, suggesting that the minister may use the data to take control of more school boards and implement misguided reforms that do not involve classroom teachers in the decision-making process. He stressed the importance of consulting educators, who spend the most time with students apart from their parents.

Despite a slight improvement in province-wide results compared to two years ago, Calandra stated that the scores were still insufficient. He announced plans to appoint two advisers by early 2026 to conduct a comprehensive review of Ontario’s educational approach.

EQAO testing has been a part of Ontario’s education system since 1996, designed to assess student achievement across various grades. The ongoing debate surrounding its effectiveness underscores broader conversations about educational strategies and resource allocation in the province.