The number of students reading for joy in Ontario is on decline, says a new report published by the parent-led advocacy group People for Education.
“Literacy–alongside writing and math–has been at the centre of Ontario’s educational agenda for more than a decade,” says the report.
“And while Ontario students’ literacy scores have improved during that time, something unexpected has also happened: There has been a dramatic decline in the percentage of Ontario students who report that they ‘like to read.’”
Surveys show that the percentage of grade 3 students saying they enjoy reading has declined from 76 percent in 1998/99 to 50 percent in 2010/11, and the number of those in grade 6 is down from 65 percent to 50 percent.
The report bases its findings on surveys taken by Ontario’s Education Quality and Accountability Office.
While the rise in students’ reading scores in the province should be applauded, the decrease in the love of reading is a cause for concern, the report says.
“This significant decline may have an immediate and lasting impact on Ontario students,” the report says.
“When children read well, they have a solid foundation for learning in every subject and they are able to open the door to possibilities and adventures that go far beyond their own experiences.”
According to the report, the focus placed on test score targets and on the “mechanics” of literacy might have contributed to the declining trend of reading among students.
