ETFO Says Teachers Assess Students Better Than EQAO Tests

TORONTO, Aug. 30 /CNW/ - The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) says that teachers, not EQAO tests, are best able to assess student performance and growth and provide the feedback students need to succeed. The statement comes as the Ontario government today released the 2010 EQAO province-wide results.

"Our teachers are observing and assessing students every day of the year so they are able to provide thorough assessments that are far more meaningful than the EQAO regime," said ETFO President Sam Hammond. "Teachers can assess how well students are doing without $100 million of testing and bureaucratic management that is being spent on these standardized tests."

ETFO recently called for the government to establish a two-year moratorium on grade three and grade six 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 forcing teachers to neglect key parts of a balanced education for too much of the school year. Hammond added that ETFO's call for a moratorium is timely, considering that EQAO test results are plateauing.

"Teacher assessment provides immediate meaningful feedback for both students and their parents, unlike EQAO testing which only provides a score," said Hammond.

Standardized testing was the subject of considerable discussion at the federation's annual meeting this month, during which ETFO released a video on teacher concerns with EQAO testing. The video can be viewed at www.etfo.ca or on YouTube.

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.

For further information:

Valerie Dugale, [phone] (cell); [email protected]