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ARTICLE · 10 JANUARY 2022

Math Proficiency Test For Teachers Adds Up To Equality Rights Infringement

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In response to declining math scores from students and growing pressure from parents, the government of Ontario decided to test its teacher candidates' mathematics abilities.

CanadaEmployment and HR

In response to declining math scores from students and growing pressure from parents, the government of Ontario decided to test its teacher candidates' mathematics abilities.

Bill 48, the Safe and Supportive Classrooms Act, 2018, passed in 2019, led to teacher candidates being required to pass a standardized math proficiency test (MPT) to become licensed.

On December 17, 2021, the Ontario Divisional Court found that the MPT infringed the equality guarantee in section 15 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms (the "Charter"). The infringement could not be justified by section 1.

The decision, Ontario Teacher Candidates' Council v The Queen, 2021 ONSC 7386, means that the Ontario College of Teachers now must grant certification to teacher candidates who have not yet passed the MPT but have otherwise met all teacher certification requirements.

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