The latest Ministry of Education data, including provincial exam results, show that the performance of B.C. students remains consistent with past years, Education Minister Shirley Bond said today.

"B.C. has a small, balanced program of required exams, and students generally do well," said Bond. "At the same time, we need to ensure all students meet with success, especially in math and science, which some students find challenging. I'm concerned that key performance measures for B.C.'s education system show that student achievement has levelled off."

Final pass rates for courses with required provincial exams ranged from 91 to 99 per cent, consistent with past years. In fact, the pass rate stayed the same as last year in seven of the 13 courses, while another four changed only by a single percentage point. The pass rates for the remaining two courses with required exams dropped slightly: BC First Nations Studies 12 fell two per cent and Français langue première 10 fell three per cent, both now at 94 per cent.

Applications of Mathematics 10 had the final pass rate of 91 per cent and Français langue première 12 had the final pass rate of 99 percent. Other languages, those with optional exams, registered equally strong results, including German 12, Japanese 12, Mandarin Chinese 12 and Punjabi 12.

Provincial exams are one of the main ways the Province assesses the performance of students and the education system. School completion rates are another way, and new data shows that the 2006/07 completion rates are also consistent with past years.

However, following in-depth discussions with officials in the Revelstoke and Victoria school districts, the ministry is now better able to track some students and calculates this year's completion rate at 80.4 per cent. This does not represent a significant change in the actual rate, which had sat at a record high 79 per cent for the past four years; it is simply a more accurate count of the number and percentage of students who successfully complete school. For example, in the past, some students who graduated did not have graduation records completed by their district before Sept. 15 and were not captured in the completion rate data; this has been corrected.

"This minister has challenged districts to really look at their results and see what more can be done, even if that means learning the stories of B.C. students, one at a time," said John Gaiptman, superintendent of schools for Greater Victoria. "When our district delved into it and found a discrepancy between our numbers and the ministry's, the ministry said they wanted to work with us to ensure the data was accurate."

"While we have reached record-high levels of achievement, one in five students still does not complete school, so we have to do better," said Bond. "At the same time, it's important to pause and recognize our students, parents, and education partners for the progress we've made together. Just last week, the results of PIRLS, another important international assessment, proved that B.C. students are among the best in the world."

The Province is working to further improve student achievement. Recent measures include LearnNow BC, the Province's virtual school, which provides students with more choices and first-rate tutoring no matter where they live. Also, new legislation makes boards of education and district superintendents accountable for specific student achievement goals that are set in achievement contracts. To help boards reach their goals, the Province has created new provincial superintendents of achievement to support B.C.'s school districts.