Report says Canadian students still feel pandemic's toll on learning

22h

Summary

A report released November 12, 2026 by the Royal Society of Canada, the Canadian Commission for UNESCO and the University of Ottawa says Canadian students are still feeling the pandemic's disruption to schooling.
Nearly three dozen researchers analyzed standardized test results and teacher-assigned grades in language arts and mathematics across provinces and territories, with Manitoba and Nunavut not participating.
The report finds declines in standardized test scores, notably in math, with girls' math scores recovering more slowly than boys' and younger students hit hardest.
Students in rural, remote and northern communities saw greater declines and are recovering more slowly than urban peers, while teacher-assigned grades rose even as test scores fell.
The report urges governments to support standardized testing, prioritize evidence-based help for disadvantaged students, and treat school closures as a last resort in future emergencies.

Report chair Tracy Vaillancourt forecast that the pandemic's effects on learning will be felt for generations to come and that recovery initiatives will be needed for years.
Canadian Teachers' Federation president Clint Johnston said the findings were no surprise to teachers and that addressing learning gaps requires new investment, not doing more with the same resources.
Quebec's English Parents' Committee Association president Katherine Korakakis praised the report for validating parents' worries and called for a clear plan with measurable progress.
Vaillancourt recommended that schools be the last to close and the first to reopen during future emergencies, provided it is safe to do so.

The pandemic massively upset student learning. A new report says its effects still linger today | CBC Newscbc.ca· 22h
A Royal Society of Canada, UNESCO Commission and University of Ottawa report says Canadian students are still feeling the pandemic's disruption to schooling, with test scores down notably in math, girls' math recovering slower than boys', and younger and rural students hit hardest. Report chair Tracy Vaillancourt predicts the effects will last for generations, and the report urges governments to support standardized testing, prioritize evidence-based help for disadvantaged students, and treat school closures as a last resort in future emergencies.