Michael Zwaagstra

Senior Fellow, Fraser Institute

Michael Zwaagstra is a public high school teacher and senior fellow of the Fraser Institute. He received his Bachelor of Education and Master of Education from the University of Manitoba and Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Liberty University in Virginia. He is the author of A Sage on the Stage: Common Sense Reflections on Teaching and Learning, and co-author of What’s Wrong with Our Schools and How We Can Fix Them. He is a frequent author of education policy research and newspaper columns across Canada. His research mainly focuses on curricula, teaching instruction and public education. Michael's research and commentary have been featured in radio, television and newspapers across the country. Michael lives with his wife and children in Steinbach, Manitoba. 

Recent Research by Michael Zwaagstra

— Nov 21, 2024
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K-12 Education Reform in British Columbia

K-12 Education Reform in British Columbia finds that from 2012/13 to 2021/22, per-student spending (adjusted for inflation) increased in BC from $13,839 to $14,767, but over the same 10-year period, student performance declined substantially. In fact, the average scores for BC students on the international Programme for International Assessment (PISA) tests in math dropped from 522 in 2012 to 496 in 2022. Scores also declined in reading (535 to 511) and science (544 to 519).

— Aug 22, 2024
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Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2024

Education Spending in Public Schools in Canada, 2024 Edition finds that despite common misperceptions, per-student spending on public schools increased in six of the 10 provinces over a 10-year period (after adjusting for inflation).

— Apr 25, 2024
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Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K–12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario

Canadian History Untold: Assessing the K-12 Curriculum Guides in British Columbia and Ontario finds that the amount of Canadian history being taught to Ontario and BC students in K-12 is limited. In Ontario, what little Canadian history is taught doesn’t follow a logical, chronological order, and in BC’s case, it is overly-focussed on discriminatory events in Canada’s past.