by Mariana Morales

Ontario has released its progress report on education and it is showing much improvement and upgrades to ensure children get the best education as possible.

As early as 2003, schools were falling apart as there were too many children in classrooms, and too many days lost due to teacher strikes. Parents lost the assurance in public funded schools and would turn to private schools. However since then, Ontario has worked hard to ensure that students do not lose a school day during teacher strikes.

To ensure students get the best start to school as possible, Ontario will be putting full-day kindergarten in all schools by 2014. Just in 2012 alone, 900 schools will offer it. There will be more teachers, and smaller class sizes so that students will enjoy the time spend and gain skills for the future.

In 2002-03, the percentage of Grade 3 and 6 students who meet Ontario’s standards in reading, writing, and math came to 54%. In 2009-10, that percentage raised to 68%. Ontario’s next goal is to increase that number to 75%.

Ontario has a greater post-secondary education rate than the other 34 OECD countries. They are aiming to increase the number of people living in Ontario with a post-secondary education to 70%.  More students will be graduating as they are working towards a 85% graduation rate.

There are still things to be done throughout the province, and they are just getting started. Children are the future and changes begin now to ensure the best future possible.

Mariana Morales is a full-time student at Conestoga College studying Print Journalism. She enjoys photography and is a volunteer at the Snap KW newspaper. What makes her different? She loves video games. In her spare time, she writes articles for a gaming website called Hooked Gamers. She hopes one day to work in the video game industry.  Follow her on Twitter.