Latest news with #InternationalAssociation
CTV News
21-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Is Canada losing its education edge? Here's what experts say
Research shows Canadian students are scoring lower than before on international evaluations of education. (Pexels/SHVETS production) Canada's education quality has been facing a slow decline over the past few years, research has shown. The latest mathematics scores from Canadian students on an International Association for the Evaluation of Educational Achievement (IEA) test from last year show the country ranking 32nd out of 64 countries that were part of the well-known international standard test conducted every four years. The test is conducted at the Grade 4 and Grade 8 levels in six benchmarking systems, in which 65 education systems participated — 59 education systems and six benchmarking systems participated in Grade 4 assessments, and 44 education systems and three benchmarking systems participated in Grade 8. Furthermore, despite Canada continuing to rank among the top ten countries in the 2022 Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) survey — a programme that assesses the knowledge and skills of 15-year-olds in mathematics, reading and science — the country's national trends have consistently declined since the early 2000s, experts say. Around 690,000 students took part in the PISA survey in 2022, from 81 participating countries. More than 23,000 Canadian students from 867 schools participated in mathematics, reading or science tests. However, East Asian countries like Singapore, South Korea, China and Japan ranked at the very top in both tests. Canada has three major issues that need troubleshooting, John Richards, an expert on social policy and education and an author, told 'One is that we have declined in all three subjects relative to the benchmark that was organized in the beginning,' Richards said. 'Second point is the four big provinces — Que., Ont., B.C. and Alta. — their performance has been better. They have declined more slowly than the six small provinces, which have declined more quickly.' And the third is mathematics, he said. 'Which is where our biggest decline has been.' 'Summer learning loss' The solution for it may be rooted in how Canadian provinces are organizing the school year to maximize learning opportunities for students. A year-round school schedule is starting to catch the attention of provinces and educational institutions in Canada, with some electing to adopt this new form of school year so students can benefit from it. A commentary by the Fraser Institute from 2023 that supported the idea of provinces allowing schools to schedule their own school years noted that experts had coined a term for the learning loss that can occur during an extended summer break — 'summer learning loss.' Research says it's more beneficial for a child to have a year-round school system, rather than a long break over multiple months, Todd Cunningham, a clinical and school psychologist and an associate professor at the University of Toronto's Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE), told However, children can retain information and perform well even after a long break from school if they have adequate opportunities to learn at home and an environment that supports their skill development, Cunningham said. 'Those who have the means and the opportunities will continue to develop their skills, and those who don't have the means, opportunities or abilities to do it — they're not going to continue to develop their literacy skills, numeracy skills,' he said. 'With that, when you come back in September and you kind of measure those two groups, there's going to be a difference between where they're at.' School curriculums can sometimes be influenced by political factors rather than best practices in education, according to Cunningham. 'We're trying to help shift the understanding and knowledge base that teachers have to be more in line with what the evidence (shows) are the best practices for literacy and numeracy, and I feel that that's a key thing that we should be doing across Canada,' he said. According to Cunningham, teachers are facing a different set of challenges in the classroom, and there needs to be more investment in the training and upgrading of their knowledge and skills, along with additional support. Richards believes institutions like schools are composed of multiple elements, such as teachers' unions and provincial budgets. He notes that while better teaching practices can help, broader change won't come from a single solution. 'I don't think there's one silver bullet that will make Canada go back to where it was at the beginning of the century,' he said.
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Iowa task force names Muscatine firefighter Hazmat Technician of the Year
Lt. Spencer Ripperger of the Muscatine Fire Department (MFD) has been named the 2024 Iowa Hazmat Technician of the Year by the Iowa Hazmat Task Force, recognizing his outstanding contributions to hazardous materials response and training. He is the second MFD firefighter to receive this prestigious honor and will attend the International Association of Fire Chiefs' Hazmat Conference in Baltimore, June 12–15. 'Spencer has demonstrated exceptional skills and expertise in the hazardous materials field,' said Captain Pat Gingerich, who nominated Ripperger for the award. 'He has consistently produced outstanding work that has earned him a great reputation within the department.' Interim Fire Chief Mike Hartman agreed the award was well deserved. 'It is people like Spencer that make this place so special,' Hartman said. Ripperger joined the MFD nine years ago, earning his Hazmat Technician certification in 2017. He currently serves as a member and instructor for the department's Hazardous Incident Response Team (HIRT) and was promoted to Lieutenant in 2022. Since then, he has taken on a leading role in advancing the department's Hazmat capabilities. Gingerich, who received the same award in 2015, praised Ripperger for helping maintain the department's Hazmat program at a high standard. 'This is a well-deserved recognition,' he said. In his role, Ripperger oversees both shift and department-wide Hazmat training. He has coordinated specialized sessions, including a rail safety class with Canadian Pacific-Kansas City Rail and training focused on lithium-ion battery fires—both critical given the increased risks posed by rail transport and emerging technologies. 'Canadian Pacific brought their training trailer here, allowing our team to get two weeks of hands-on experience,' Ripperger said. The trailer includes a variety of valves, tank car components, and other equipment responders may encounter in rail-related Hazmat incidents. He also led a full reorganization of the Hazmat truck two years ago to improve efficiency and accessibility during responses. Beyond internal training, Ripperger is an active member of the Hazmat Outreach Program, delivering refresher training to volunteer fire departments across Muscatine, Louisa, Henry, Washington, and Keokuk counties. 'We set a date, travel to their location, and teach a four-hour class,' he explained. 'It's incredibly beneficial for these departments, and not many teams provide this kind of outreach.' Ripperger has also built relationships with outside agencies, including the Iowa National Guard's 71st Civil Support Team, which handles hazardous materials and WMD emergencies across the state. At the upcoming Hazmat Conference in Baltimore, Ripperger will engage in advanced training on a wide range of topics, from transportation safety to bioterrorism and mass decontamination. Captain Gingerich reflected on the similarities between his own path and Ripperger's. 'Spencer has followed a similar route to mine,' he said. 'He's incredibly dedicated and confident in his role, and we look forward to his continued leadership.' In 2015, Gingerich was nominated by Gary Ronzheimer after filling in for Ronzehimer when he was deployed overseas and was honored with the Iowa Hazmat Technician of the Year award. The award also recognized Gingerich for his work with the Iowa Hazardous Materials Task Force during the avian flu outbreak. Gingerich, along with other firefighters, assisted the USDA with monitoring bio-security, cleaning, and decontamination at infected sites and landfills. The Muscatine Fire Department is designated as the regional team for Region 16 and provides services to Muscatine, Louisa, Henry, Washington, and Keokuk counties in Iowa. CAPTION FOR PHOTO: Muscatine Fire Captain Pat Gingerich (left), the 2015 Iowa Hazmat Technician of the Year, and Muscatine Fire Lieutenant Spencer Ripperger, the 2024 Iowa Hazmat Technician of the Year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
