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Ontario’s Math Struggles Spark Provincial Review of Student Testing

Ontario’s latest standardized test results reveal that math achievement remains a serious concern across the province , with many students failing to meet expected benchmarks. The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) released its 2024–2025 assessment data this week, showing that only 51% of Grade 6 students and 58% of Grade 9 students met the provincial math standard , while Grade 3 students fared slightly better at 64%. Despite modest improvements compared to previous years, the results underscore a persistent gap in student performance. Education Minister Paul Calandra acknowledged that progress has been too slow, announcing the creation of a two-member advisory body to review Ontario’s approach to standardized testing and curriculum delivery . The review will examine whether current teaching strategies, resources, and assessment methods are effectively supporting student learning. The EQAO results also highlighted disparities among student groups and school boards ,...

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Brazen Shooting Near White House Leaves Two Guardsmen Critically Wounded

 

Police seal off the area at the crime scene where two West Virginia National Guard were killed near the White House in downtown Washington, D.C., on Wednesday.


Two members of the West Virginia National Guard were critically injured in a targeted shooting just blocks from the White House on Wednesday afternoon, November 26, 2025. The attack unfolded around 2:15 p.m. near the busy Farragut Square area, a location crowded with tourists and commuters ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Authorities quickly secured the scene and confirmed that a suspect, identified as Rahmanullah Lakanwal, an Afghan national, was taken into custody after being wounded in the exchange of gunfire. The FBI has described the incident as a possible act of terrorism, while Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser and FBI Director Kash Patel emphasized that the Guardsmen were deliberately targeted.

Initial reports mistakenly suggested the soldiers had died, but officials later clarified that both remain in critical condition at local hospitals. President Donald Trump, who was in Florida at the time, condemned the shooting as a “heinous assault” and “an act of terror,” pledging heightened scrutiny of Afghan nationals who entered the U.S. under humanitarian programs.

The attack has reignited debate over the deployment of National Guard troops in U.S. cities, a policy that has been contentious for months. The presence of soldiers in Washington, D.C., has drawn both support and criticism, with this incident likely to intensify scrutiny of security measures in the capital.

As investigators continue to probe the suspect’s motives, the nation remains on edge. The shooting, occurring in one of the most heavily guarded areas of the country, underscores ongoing concerns about domestic security and the risks faced by service members even on home soil.

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