HALIFAX — Nova Scotia’s auditor general says the province’s Education Department spends hundreds of thousands of dollars every year on student assessments, but it’s not using the results to improve their lacklustre performance in writing and math. Kim Adair released today an audit report that says students are consistently underperforming in writing in early grades and their performance in math is declining from elementary to junior high school. As well, it says Nova Scotia students consistently perform below the national average in reading and math. Adair says the department spent $700,000 in 2024-25 to administer and mark provincial assessments, but the department hasn’t been using the results to inform its decisions. The report recommends the department review results from all assessments to set targets for student performance and then determine if the targets are being met. Adair says the department has agreed to implement the report’s 11 recommendations. “Given the significant public resources and time invested every year, it’s important the department applies this information to make decisions and make changes,” Adair told a news conference Tuesday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 29, 2026.
