High school students in Alberta have been informed by Alberta Education that they will not be required to sit for their provincial diploma exams in January. Instead, they have the option to take the exams in April or June. This decision follows a recent teachers’ strike that resulted in a three-week loss of course work for students.
Additionally, Alberta Education has decided to cancel provincial achievement tests for Grade 9 students. Students who opt out of the January exams will have their course marks based entirely on their school work. These students will receive a notation on their transcripts indicating that the exam was not taken, but this will not negatively impact their university or college admissions or graduation prospects.
The teachers’ strike, which took place from October 6 until being legally halted on Wednesday, prompted discussions on the fate of the upcoming exams. Jason Schilling, the president of the Alberta Teachers’ Association, supported the cancellation of the January exams, emphasizing that students should not be penalized for circumstances beyond their control.
Despite the challenges faced in making this decision, experts like Tim Coates, a retired director of diploma examinations for the Alberta government, acknowledged the lack of perfect solutions. Coates highlighted the importance of maintaining a common benchmark for student evaluation through standardized exams.
Some students, like Grade 12 student Rishmanjot Singh from Calgary, expressed relief at the province’s choice to make the January exams optional. Singh initiated a petition that garnered nearly 30,000 signatures, reflecting concerns from students and parents about inadequate time to catch up on course materials before the exams.
The province’s flexibility in exam scheduling has been a welcome relief for many students facing academic challenges due to the disruptions caused by the teachers’ strike.