Ghiz asked to reconsider testing

The Eastern School District is urging P.E.I.'s premier designate Robert Ghiz to back down from his promise to close the books on standardized testing.

'Without some sort of measurement … we'd be flying blind.' — Sandy MacDonald, Eastern School District

During last month's provincial election campaign, Ghiz said he'd place a moratorium on Island-wide student assessments until schools are funded to the national average, but district superintendent Sandy MacDonald says schools need testing.

"I hope we don't completely do away with the measurement because we need to know on an ongoing basis how our schools are doing, how our kids are doing, so we can spend our own programming money effectively," said MacDonald.

"Without some sort of measurement and results to base it on, we'd be flying blind."

Funding followed pilot project

The Pat Binns government made its promise to bring in standardized testing across the Island following a pilot project in the Eastern School District last year. It set aside $750,000 in the budget it presented to the legislature in April for assessments in grades 3 and 9. An election was called before that budget was passed.

Ghiz said themoney for standardized testing willbe spent differentlyin his government's first budget.

"We'll definitely be making sure that that money is going to our education system and to our students," he said.

"That'll be something that cabinet and our new minister of education is looking forward to."

Ghiz said there's no point in testing unless there's money to fix potential problems.

Last summer, Statistics Canada released figures showing P.E.I. spends about $1,000 less per student than the Canadian average. Once the province reaches that national average in school funding, said Ghiz, his government would look again at standardized testing.

MacDonald is optimistic if given a chance to address the new cabinet on the merits of standardized testing the Liberals will change their minds.