Ontario releases ‘back to basics’ kindergarten curriculum to take effect in September
CBC
Ontario released a new curriculum for kindergarten in the province on Thursday, but the shift away from “play-based” learning towards “academic rigor” is sparking concern from teachers and opposition.
The new “back-to-basics” curriculum will go into effect in the 2026-2027 school year. It contains changes to learning expectations including new requirements in math, science and language skills.
Current learning expectations for kindergarteners in the province follow the province’s 2016 Kindergarten Program which emphasizes learning through exploration and play.
Next school year, kindergarten learning will include “evidence-based, systematic, and explicit instruction in reading, as well as strengthened learning in mathematics, science and technology,” according to a Ministry of Education memo sent to schools this week.
Introduction to fractions, adding and subtracting to 10 and vocabulary and reading fluency are among some of the updated curriculum requirements.
Those skills are important to learn, said David Mastin, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), but the issue lies in whether the expectations are age appropriate for four-year-olds and whether the children’s individual development is being prioritized.
“[It’s] whether the needs that the children have are driving this or whether it's what we need from the children,” he said.
In an emailed statement, a spokesperson for Education Minister Paul Calandra said the curriculum "will support each child in developing foundational reading, writing and math skills, while maintaining play-based learning that allows students to learn through play.”
The release of the curriculum this week comes shortly after the province put out last year’s EQAO results showing that 64 per cent of Grade 3 students and 51 per cent of Grade 6 students achieved scores that met the provincial standard for math.
Mastin said the ETFO was not consulted when making the new curriculum, and they have "some concerns about a shift towards more academic rigor as opposed to a play-based program."
He said teachers will also need more guidance as to how these learning expectations will be measured in practice.
“Our members are very capable of delivering an amazingly high quality programming and curriculum, but they need to know what the expectations are from the government,” he said.
Training on the new curriculum will be done through a series of webinars starting in February, the memo from the province says.
Mastin said webinars do not provide an adequate setting for learning and it is unfair to expect teachers to complete them on their own time.
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