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Taking single-credit secondary school courses at private
schools such as the West Toronto School of Excellence (WTSE)
is becoming an increasingly attractive option for Martingrove
students.
With a tuition fee of $1500, the WTSE offers Ministry of
Education-approved credits that can be used towards an Ontario
Secondary School Diploma. Students often cite a variety
of reasons, for taking these courses including increased
flexibility of scheduling, convenience of location, and
more individualised attention.
Despite claims that median marks are higher at the WTSE,
Principal Alex Shenfield stated that the school does not
track class averages or medians, and that the classes are
so small that the sample size would be statistically invalid.
Classes range from approximately six to twelve students.
A Martingrove staff member argued, however, that multiple
sections of the same course would easily allow for the tracking
of the class medians that appear on public school report
cards.
Mr. Shenfield also stressed that students are given much
individualised support and attention, which contributes
toward raising the students' confidence and thus proficiency
in the course materials. He denied that marks are inflated.
Teachers at private schools are not required to have the
same qualifications as teachers in public schools. While
new teachers at public schools are required to possess a
Bachelor in Education and be certified by the Ontario College
of Teachers, these qualifications are not mandatory for
private school teachers, according to Ontario's Education
Act, which outlines the regulations under which all schools
in the province must operate. Of the fourteen WTSE staff
members, at least six are not certified by the Ontario College
of Teachers. Regardless, current full-time WTSE student
Stefan Graci expressed, "The fact that the teachers
aren't certified does not affect their ability to teach.
It's like private tutoring."
A single credit course taken at a private school will appear
on a transcript the same way as a credit earned at the student's
regular day school; however, it is possible to differentiate
these courses by the date they were earned, which is different
from those earned at the regular day school.
The MFP contacted the admissions offices of both the University
of Toronto and York University for comment on private single-credit
courses. Mytrang from the U of T's Admissions Office, who
declined to provide her last name, stated that the Faculty
of Arts and Science considers all credits equally, regardless
of where they have been earned. However, the Faculty of
Engineering does take a student's school into consideration.
Sarah, who also declined to give her last name, from York
University's Admissions Office, stated that all York faculties
evaluate these courses on equal terms with those taken at
regular day schools.
This concerns students such as Sophia Huda, an OAC student
at Martingrove. "Courses like [those offered as single
credits through private schools] give some students an unfair
advantage, in that universities disregard the importance
of taking a class as part of a full course load at a day
school. This turns into a matter of paying for an inflated
mark. There is no reason for the [WTSE] to deter its customers
by giving honest, sometimes lower, marks."
In contrast, former WTSE part-time student Suzanne Clarke
and current WTSE full-time student Stefan Graci both had
positive remarks for the school when questioned by the MFP.
Mr. Graci praised the school for its "individual attention,
especially for students who need it", while Ms. Clarke
commented that the instruction at the school is "very
student-centred; it is a completely different experience."
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