Ontario Education Ministry Wins Appeal Over Claim That Math Test for Teachers Is Racist

A lower court had ruled in favour of a teacher advocacy group that argued ‘racialized candidates’ didn’t do as well as other candidates on the math test.

Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce waits for his introduction before speaking to the media at an Etobicoke library, in Toronto on April 16, 2023. Chris Young/The Canadian Press

The Ontario Court of Appeal has overturned a lower court ruling that said the province’s Math Proficiency Test (MPT) for teacher candidates hindered “racialized candidates” from getting jobs.

The original lawsuit was brought by the Ontario Teacher Candidates’ Council against the Ontario Ministry of Education, saying “racialized candidates” did not do as well as other candidates on the test, which is required for teacher certification.