Meet the Business Contenders Transforming the U.S. Economy

Furthermore, Canada admitted a record-breaking 550,000 overseas students in 2022, many of whom enrolled in Ontario universities. It is projected that more international students will enroll in Ontario universities this year. Their higher tuition fees make them desirable candidates, and they frequently secure slots in the province's most competitive programs.Many parents send their children to private schools, expecting that the school's good reputation and high grades will provide them an advantage in the application process. However, recent evidence from the University of Waterloo reveals that private school education does not always ensure academic achievement.UWaterloo examined Canadian high schools, both public and private, to determine which were inflating their kids' grades and to what amount. They discovered a school-specific "adjustment factor" by comparing admitted students' final Grade 12 results to their grades at the conclusion of their first year of university. This adjustment factor allows them to change students' incoming grades as they see fit, thus a 95 may turn out to be an 85 or, in certain situations, closer to a 75 after modification.Interestingly, some parents of public school pupils have opted for private education, having their children abandon lessons at their current school and enroll in the same course through an accredited private organization. Students choose this option when they understand that the grades needed for their program and university of choice are not achievable at school, so they pay to achieve them.

However, to my knowledge, the UWaterloo system 

does not account for students who continue to attend a specific school yet take classes outside of that institution. As a result, if their school has a favorable adjustment rate, their paid-for 95 may avoid UWaterloo's measures. It is worth noting that other major Ontario universities have yet to publicly announce anything similar to UWaterloo's grade adjustment mechanism.Most Ontario high school students struggle to attain the marks required for admission to the province's top programs. Many students, whether in public or private institutions, work persistently to get the 80s and 90s required for their preferred programs. However, private courses have resulted in an uneven playing field in the Ontario university admissions process. What were previously credible firms that helped kids with various learning styles have evolved into "grade factories."These grade mills are well-known for producing inflated grades in order to ensure their students' admittance to their preferred universities while also establishing a portfolio of good testimonials. These organizations charge fees ranging from $600 to $7,300 each course, depending on parameters such as online or in-person instruction, class size, and location, and guarantee great scores even if students put in little effort.

In a 2020 CBC piece, one student said that they 

"barely showed up but ended up with a 90" in their Grade 12 English class. That same student referred to the private courses he took as "a joke," claiming that everyone in his classes received unjustified 90s.Nonetheless, many public school students enroll in private classes, whether online or in person, for genuine reasons. They may demand smaller class sizes, individualized instruction, or self-directed learning. These kids should be concerned about the flood of students who do not need the available resources, disregard their obligations, and yet obtain high grades, so exploiting a system that has helped many.Similarly, students attending private schools, along with their parents, should be aware of these grade factories. Not only do public school students who take out-of-school courses potentially take spots away from their children, but they also enter the private education world during Grade 12, paying a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for the same grades that actual private schools charge tens of thousands of dollars for over four years or more.These students and the companies that offer private courses are largely to blame for the current grade inflation in Ontario high schools. Expecting students to routinely score above 95 in any one subject is ridiculous, yet it does happen. In my experience, these grades are not gained by the brilliant, front-row seated teacher's dogs, but rather by people who would have failed the identical subject if taken in public school.

One of the most alarming elements of this issue 

is that private classes are not new, and institutions have likely been aware of them for many years. Universities must know which students have taken private courses and which classes they have completed, as shown on their transcripts.According to data from the University of Waterloo, the transition from high school to university is already tough. Consider the students who cheated in high school and manipulated the university admissions process—are they being prepared to succeed in their first year of university?The fundamental injustice is that these students are stealing highly sought-after program slots away from those who have completed their schoolwork and actually learned. They could have taken online classes, but they didn't want to drop out of university; they wanted to study. Many students are being denied admittance to programs they have wanted to attend for years for no legitimate reason. If the playing field was level, their efforts would be reflected in their results. The current scenario is the exact reverse. These factories have a direct negative impact on our country's future. By punishing integrity or praising lying, we are preparing students for failure.