Understanding De-Streaming

Previously, Ontario students were forced to pick an academic stream from the moment they started high school. They had to make a choice between taking Academic courses, which would allow them to take University credits later on, or Applied courses, which would send them on a path to college courses for their grade 11 and 12 years. However, the idea of making students choose an academic pathway as early as grade 9 has been heavily criticized.

A report, let by York University professor Carl James, found that racialized groups were being disproportionately streamed into the Applied level courses. As well, in a 2015 report by People for Education, it was found that “students taking applied courses in Grade 9 were much less likely to go to university and that students from low-income groups were more likely to enrol in applied courses.”

In an effort to make entering grade 9 easier and more equal among students, the Ministry of Education has decided to de-stream Grade 9 courses. By previously making students choose an academic pathway from the start, it would limit their options moving forward. Most students going into grade 9 haven’t even begun to think about post-secondary yet, and they shouldn’t have to. By de-streaming Grade 9 courses, it allows them more time to learn without having to make a decision right out of the gate.