Cognitive Skills of Canadian Educators
An Analysis of PIAAC Data
The purpose of this study was to conduct national and cross-country analyses to provide insights about educator cognitive skills in literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving within Canada and across nineteen countries using the PIAAC data. MANOVA results of profession differences within Canada demonstrated that educators outperformed other professions in general programs, health and welfare, and services but underperformed the professions in science, mathematics, and computing in all three domains. MANOVA results of educator differences across countries showed that educators in Canada outperformed those in Denmark, Estonia, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom in literacy, outperformed the United Kingdom in numeracy, and outperformed Denmark, Estonia, and the United Kingdom in problem-solving. Finally, multiple regression analyses identified statistically significant indicators of Canadian educators’ literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving proficiencies. The results of this study reveal and suggest that the cognitive skills of Canadian educators have the potential to be enhanced.