Some parents might be less than thrilled when they find out their kid's perfect grade on a biology midterm was more of a participation trophy.
Driving the news: A group of grade 12 students at Ontario’s St. Maximilian Kolbe Catholic High School walked out of their biology and business midterms with perfect grades as the school board grapples with a teacher shortage that has left classes without full-time educators.
- Experts say that the length and cost of education programs are one factor driving the shortage, while others point to a lack of incentives for teachers to fill open vacancies.
- Ontario Education Minister Stephen Lecce said sick days are also part of the problem, with teachers taking an average of 16 days of sick leave alone per school year.
Why it matters: A larger teacher shortage affecting school boards across the country has forced some schools to not just hand out grades, but cancel courses, cut back on special education programs, and enlist people without any educational training to teach classes.
Zoom out: Students have been left at a disadvantage, particularly those in older grades who require certain credits to get into university and college. Plus, with grading still inflated from the pandemic era, it’s gotten harder to stand out to competitive post-secondary schools.—LA