On May 30th, 2024, the Ontario ministry of education announced a number of new requirements and changes to the way students earn their high school diplomas.
Summary of requirements/key changes:
- Financial Literacy Requirement: Introducing a new financial literacy graduation requirement to equip students with both literacy and practical financial skills.
- Life Skills and Home Economics: Integrating important life skills and reintroducing home economics education.
- Math Competency for Teachers: Requiring new teachers to demonstrate basic math competency by passing a Math Proficiency Test as of February 2025.
- Guidance and Career Education Revamp: Undertaking the first major update in 13 years, guidance and career education will better correspond with local labor market needs.
- Career Coaching Funding: Allocating up to $14 million in 2024-2025 towards career coaching for Grade 9 and 10 students, which includes an exploration of STEM and skilled trades opportunities.
- Student Exit Survey: Reinstating the student exit survey to measure the success of reforms to gather feedback, with a focus on guidance.
A key aspect of the points listed above is the new financial literacy requirement. Prior to this, the grade 9 math course had been heavily revamped. Not only was it de-streamed, but they had also added financial literacy into the curriculum.
However, many students, particularly the students enrolled in the grade 9 math course in the 2021-2022 school year, say that “the course was rushed,” and “did not give nearly enough emphasis on the financial literacy aspects of the curriculum.” After all, most math teachers did not know how to teach financial literacy to their students to begin with, and resorted to using self teaching tools instead.
That said, students have also mentioned that the financial literacy aspect of high school mathematics should either “be taught in a dedicated course of its own,” or “be integrated within the grade 10 Careers course.” Students believe it is imperative to learn personal financial literacy. Unfortunately, they are unable to voice their concerns about the changes ahead to the ministry of education, and when they do, there is no way to confirm if action is being taken on their remarks.
That is why we call upon the ministry of education to invite not just parents and teachers, but students to the conversation. Let us prove that our thoughts on our own education are based on fact and result. Students are ready to give everything they have to earn the ministries trust, all they need now, is the opportunity to do so.
Students hope the ministry will not take our comments in a negative light, but a constructive one. Let us work together, so all requirements of the parties involved are met.
P.S. To the Ministry of Education for Ontario; thank you for taking a step forward and modernizing our learning. As students, we hope you will continue to work hard to do so. Your job is not easy, and we students understand that, so please, let us aid the decision making process, even if that means only putting ideas on the table.
Questions from students about the new requirements:
- If one receives a grade of under 70% in grade 9 math, will that be regarded as the new pass/fail threshold instead of 50%? And will students have to take credit recovery/redo the course?
- Will math teachers in Ontario be trained on how to teach financial literacy?
- Will there be any more changes/adaptations to the curriculum of this nature in the close future?
Sources:
Government of Ontario:
Minister of Education (LinkedIn):
Quotations:
Grade 11 students attending J. Clarke Richardson Collegiate.
