The Forgotten Demographic: Assessing the Possible Benefits and Serious Cost of COVID-19 School Closures on Canadian Children

— Sep 7, 2023

The Forgotten Demographic: Assessing the Possible Benefits and Serious Cost of COVID-19 School Closures on Canadian Children is a new study that finds prolonged COVID school closures imposed across Canada from 2020 to 2022 will impose life-long costs on affected children, despite evidence available to policymakers early on that closures wouldn’t slow the transmission of COVID-19, including learning loss, increased inequality, and a spike in mental health problems.

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2023 Edition

— Aug 29, 2023

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2023 Edition is a new study that finds annual spending in public schools in Canada increased by $7.8 billion more than was necessary to account for changes in enrolment and inflation between 2012/13 and 2020/21.

Where Our Students Are Educated: Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2022

— Apr 26, 2023

Where Our Students Are Educated Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2020

Where Our Students Are Educated: Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2022 is a new study that finds the share of K-12 students enrolled at independent schools across Canada increased in every province over a recent 19-year period, while the share of students enrolled in government schools declined. Nationwide, the share of students enrolled in independent schools in 2019/20 ranged from 13.2 per cent in B.C. to 1.0 per cent in New Brunswick.

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2022 Edition

— Oct 6, 2022

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2022 Edition finds that despite common misperceptions, spending on public schools across Canada increased in seven out of 10 provinces between 2012-13 and 2019-20, before COVID-related spending began.

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The foundation of the Fraser Institute’s current research on education policy was built thanks to a very generous grant for an initiative in the name of Barbara Mitchell from the Weston Family Foundation.

Recent Education Commentaries and Blog Posts

Alberta government closed schools during COVID despite contradicting data

Paige MacPherson

Appeared in the Calgary Sun, September 13, 2023

Early in the pandemic, we knew that COVID cases in children were mild and fatalities were very rare.

Training teachers—education courses are basically useless

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Epoch Times, September 12, 2023

It makes sense to create an alternative certification process that focuses on classroom practicum.

Ontario government closed schools even after reality of COVID became clear

Paige MacPherson

Appeared in the Toronto Star, September 11, 2023

By December 2020, a large body of research showed that children represented two per cent or less of COVID.

COVID school closures likely caused significant learning loss in Alberta and beyond

Derek J. Allison

Appeared in the Edmonton Sun, September 6, 2023

Better organized and operated schools are likely better able to help students recover from temporary learning loss.

B.C.’s new curriculum will shortchange students

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Globe and Mail, September 5, 2023

There's a direct relationship between background knowledge about the topic of a book and one’s ability to understand it.

B.C. teacher union wages wrongheaded war on student testing

Derek J. Allison

The province's Grade 4 students suffered learning losses due to pandemic disruptions.

Don’t believe teachers' unions that say Ontario schools are underfunded

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Financial Post, August 29, 2023

Ontario union leaders claim public education is underfunded and students are suffering as a result. But the data tell a different story.

Reading skills on the wane in Canadian schools

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Epoch Times, August 21, 2023

Without systematic instruction in phonics, students are unlikely to become proficient readers.

Woke ideology destroying diversity of thought in schools

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Post Millennial, August 3, 2023

In a public statement, Richard Bilkszto's family blamed his death on how he was treated by the Toronto school board.

Provinces should allow schools to schedule their own schoolyears

Michael Zwaagstra

Appeared in the Western Standard, July 19, 2023

The summer break began in cities where wealthy families and other suburbanites fled the summertime heat.

Research Experts

Vicki Alger

Research Fellow, Independent Institute
Derek J. Allison

Professor Emeritus, Faculty of Education, The University of Western Ontario
Jason Clemens

Executive Vice President, Fraser Institute
Stephen T. Easton

Professor of Economics, Simon Fraser University
John M. Krieg

Professor of Economics, Western Washington University
Paige MacPherson

Associate Director, Education Policy
Deani Van Pelt

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute
Michael Zwaagstra

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute

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Education Policy

The Forgotten Demographic: Assessing the Possible Benefits and Serious Cost of COVID-19 School Closures on Canadian Children

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2023 Edition

Where Our Students Are Educated: Measuring Student Enrolment in Canada, 2022

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2022 Edition

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Research Experts