The EQAO has been paused for students in grades 3, 6, and 9 for the past two school years. Since that time, students in Ontario have been facing the full brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic including regular interruptions to their learning and lower-quality, crisis learning in the form of a remote virtual option.

As a result, there is a real issue of students overall who are trying to catch up on their learning. Restarting the EQAO test will largely be an exercise in futility – confirming what educators already know: students need more supports, public education requires more funding and staff in order to address the learning needs of Ontario students.  

We are therefore calling on the provincial government, specifically Premier Ford and Education Minister Lecce, to end EQAO testing for students in grades 3, 6, and 9 for 2022 and going forward. 

Whereas there have been too many interruptions to student learning due to the COVID-19 pandemic; 

And whereas the EQAO is not a reflection of learning, nor is it an equitable form of evaluation; 

And whereas the EQAO does not account for different learning styles; 

And whereas funding dedicated to EQAO should be used in other areas of need, exacerbated by pandemic conditions, such as to reduce class sizes and for special education supports in Ontario’s schools; 

And whereas the EQAO does not promote learning, well-being, social emotional learning or a strong sense of self – all pieces developing young minds need to see, feel and experience; 

And whereas amidst this pandemic, those making decisions on behalf of students should be working to decrease student stress and improve their mental health; 

And whereas Ontario’s Conservative Government under Premier Ford and Minister Lecce insist on piloting an on-line EQAO for students in 2022; 

And whereas access to technology and other required resources such as training and staff for such an endeavour is limited and unorganized; 

And whereas classroom assessments better support student learning, assess the whole child, and consider contextual factors that may affect testing results; 

And whereas no research exists that shows EQAO testing benefits the students, the educators, nor the schools; 

We, the undersigned, call on the Ontario government to end EQAO testing in any format, including through electronic devices, for students in grades 3, 6 and 9.