Fact-checking research claims about math education in Manitoba
In response to a Winnipeg Free Press article by Dr. Martha Koch, Associate Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Manitoba, we conducted a thorough review of the 22 references she provided to support her claims that recent amendments to the Teaching Certificates and Qualifications Regulation under The Education Administration Act in Manitoba are research-based. These amendments significantly reduced the subject-area expertise required for teacher certification.
Our analysis found that none of the references provided by Dr. Koch credibly substantiate her conclusions and some even contradict them.
Key concerns include assuming faulty premises, drawing unsupported conclusions, serious methodological flaws, and disregard of contradictory evidence within some of the cited articles.
Given the potential influence of these claims on public policy–including statements made by Manitoba’s Acting Minister of Education and Early Childhood Learning, describing the amendments as “based on research in math education, not opinion”– this is a matter of serious concern.
We recommend that Dr. Koch retract her Winnipeg Free Press article, as it gives readers the misleading impression that her claims are supported by research. We also urge the Manitoba government to consult more broadly, and to exercise greater caution when relying on education research to inform policy decisions.
