It's no secret that math education in Canada is in trouble. The latest results from the OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) show a steady decline in Canadian students' math performance over the past two decades.

Since 2003, Canada’s overall math scores have dropped by 35 points - the equivalent of losing almost two full years of learning. Additionally, only 12% of Canadian students are achieving at the highest levels, far behind global leaders like Singapore (41%) and Japan (23%).

‍

This decline isn’t just about numbers on a test. Math is the foundation of problem-solving, logical thinking, and reasoning. It is necessary for access and success in the STEM fields, and a weak math education has been shown to limit future opportunities. Mathematics professors and numerous research studies report students arriving at university unskilled and underprepared. At the University of Toronto, first-year engineering programs report failure rates of 25-30% in courses like Calculus I and Linear Algebra.

As Herbert Gaskill, former head of math and statistics at Memorial University, put it in an interview with CBC News: “The impact of this is that they can't get jobs, they can't get into programs they want, and they are looking at a lifetime of unfilled dreams.”
‍
For the most part, schools struggle to provide the depth of understanding students need to succeed in higher education and in life.

Teachers may lack subject-matter expertise and as a consequence prioritize rote memorization over conceptual mastery. Moreover, curricula has been weakened with each major overhaul, with entire topics scratched out (e.g. Circle Geometry, Conics, Geometric Proofs, etc.) and others dramatically delayed (now the BC Curriculum requires students to know their multiplication tables by the end of Grade 7, whereas more successful countries' curricula require this by the end of Grade 3). This is a systemic problem causing our students to fall behind compared to their peers on a world scale. Unfortunately, many parents and students do not realize there is a problem until it is too late.

‍

Taking Math Education Into Your Own Hands

Parents cannot afford to wait. A strong math foundation starts early, and it’s up to them to ensure that their children develop both the skills and mindset necessary for success. The most effective way is through high-quality enrichment programs that focus on deep understanding of the concepts, rather than on memorization of procedures.At Math Potentials, we prepare our students for success through::

• Using the best curricula from around the world, centered on conceptual understanding and problem-solving.
• Instruction by expert math educators who understand the subject deeply and are passionate about conveying it to others.
• A whole-class interactive learning environment that nurtures communication, collaboration, and a positive mindset of perseverance, confidence, and appreciation of mathematics.Math is more than just numbers—it’s a way of thinking. A strong foundation today means limitless opportunities tomorrow. Let’s give our kids the education they deserve.