Overwhelming Support
for “Money Skills” in High School
Plurality
believe government should invest more in education
Toronto, April 3rd
– In a random sampling of public opinion taken by The Forum Poll™ among 884 Ontario
voters, almost nine-in-ten (86%) support the government’s decision to introduce
financial literacy, also referred to as “money skills,” into the provincial
high school curriculum. Only (5%) disapprove, with (9%) responding that they do
not know.
Respondents most
likely to approve of the introduction include those with a college or
university degree (89%) or a post-graduate degree (87%), and supporting the
Green Party (90%) or NDP (89%).
More investment in education needed:
plurality
When asked if the government invests enough money into the education
system (44%) said no. Just over a third (36%) of the respondents say yes, the
government does invest enough, and (19%) report that they do not know.
Respondents most likely to say the government does not invest enough
include those aged 34 or younger (46%) or 35-44 (49%), females (50%), the least
wealthy (51%), living in the 905 (52%), with a post-graduate degree (49%), and
supporting the NDP (56%).
Respondents most
likely to say the government does invest enough include males (43%), earning
$80,000-$100,000 (44%), and the most wealthy (41%), living in Southwestern
Ontario (42%), and supporting the PCs (45%).
Ontario’s education system: not bad
The plurality of
respondents indicate that they consider the quality of Ontario’s Education
System to be average (39%). A third of respondents (TOP2: 33%) rate it above
average, with (25%) saying the quality is somewhat high and (8%) responding it
is very high. (22%) say the quality is below average, with (16%) saying the
quality is somewhat low (16%), and (6%) responding it is very low.
Teachers’ salary: fair
Almost half of all respondents say that
Ontario school teachers’ salary is adequate, with (48%) saying that they are
paid enough. (19%) percent believe they need to be paid more and (21%) they are
paid too much.
Respondents most likely to say they are paid
enough include those aged 45-54 (54%), males (50%), earning $40,000-$60,000
(59%), living in Northeastern Ontario (52%), with a college or university
degree (52%), and supporting the Green Party (58%).
Those who say they need to be paid more
include respondents aged 34 or younger (28%), females (22%), earning
$20,000-$40,000 (34%), living in Toronto (27%), with a post-graduate degree
(25%), and supporting the NDP (29%) or Liberal Party (28%).
Respondents who report that teachers are paid
too much include those earning $80,000-$100,000, living in Southwestern Ontario
(24%) or the 905 (23%), and supporting the PCs (30%).
School closures: slow down
Almost six-in-ten (59%) believe that school
closures should be frozen until a review of the government’s closure guideline
occurs. Only (18%) say that no, school closures should not be frozen, with (22%)
saying they do not know.
Respondents most likely to say yes to a
freezing of school closures include those aged 45-54 (65%), females (65%), the
least wealthy (68%), living in Southwestern Ontario (68%), with some college or
university (67%), and supporting the NDP (68%).
Those most likely to say no to a freezing of
school closures include those aged 35-44 (25%), males (25%), the most wealthy
(31%), living in Eastern Ontario (31%), with a university or college (22%) or
post-graduate degree (25%).
“Overall, public opinion on Ontario’s
Education System is positive. Most people think the system is average or better
and think teachers are paid fairly. One thing that’s quite clear is that the
introduction of financial literacy into the high school curriculum is a winner,
with almost nine-in-ten responding they approve,” said Dr. Lorne Bozinoff,
President of Forum Research.
Lorne Bozinoff,
Ph.D. is the president and founder of Forum Research. He can be reached at
lbozinoff@forumresearch.com or at (416) 960-9603.
