TORONTO: Ontario’s Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, has announced the release of a new Grade 9 math course, as part of the province’s four-year mathematics strategy to ensure all students can build the skills and confidence they need to succeed and excel.
The course includes mandatory new learning on coding, data literacy, mathematical modelling and an emphasis on financial literacy.
The new course also ends the practice of streaming Grade 9 students into applied and academic courses, a practice that has in the past disadvantaged some students. Ending streaming will keep options open for all students to pursue post-secondary education and training in any pathway they choose.
The Ministry of Education will also work with its education partners to ensure teachers and students are supported with the new math course. The course represents a major update that reflects emerging jobmarket needs, emphasizes realworld applications and responds to key recommendations provided by employers and education experts.
It represents the first update since 2005 – the same year YouTube was launched. The course builds on learning from the modernized and landmark Grade 1-8 math curriculum to better prepare students for more advanced math to allow students to pursue any postsecondary, skilled trade and pathway in science, technology, engineering and mathematics that they choose.