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Education: Should failing students be required to repeat a school year?
- January 19, 2011 11:44 AM |
- By POV
Research conducted by the Canadian Education Association has shown that holding back students who are failing can cause negative outcomes in academic and social achievement. (Michael Conroy/Associated Press)
Researchers have found that students held back a year due to failing marks are more likely to have difficulties with academic and social adjustment, according to the Canadian Education Association (CEA) and the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto.
Grade retention, also known as failing, has "consistently been associated with negative outcomes," according to a report by Metro News released Tuesday.
The CEA says research shows achievement is deterred when students are forced to stay back a year. Many of these students are more likely to drop out of high school and less likely to attend post-secondary education. The study also indicated that failing affects an individual's social and emotional development and produces lower employment outcomes.
Some provinces, such as Manitoba, are attempting to use no-fail policies in schools, according to a CBC News report from September 2010. In a press release, Ministry of Education Minister Nancy Allan stated that "decisions about passing and failing will continue to be made by educators in consultation with parents," but no policy has been set in stone.
A poll conducted by the Manitoba Teachers' Society in January 2010 found that out of 800 parents, 76 per cent of those surveyed were against a policy that doesn't allow educators to hold back failing students.
We're curious: Do you agree with no-fail policies in schools? Should retention be enforced for students who fail their classes? Take our survey and let us know in the comments section below.
(This survey is not scientific. It is based on readers' responses.)
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