Manitoba education minister cancels Grade 12 exams this winter

Manitoba's education minister is suspending the province's Grade 12 exams this winter.

In a letter sent to multiple education stakeholders and obtained by CTV News Winnipeg, Education Minister Kelvin Goertzen announced the suspension of the provincial exams in January 2021.

"Concerns have been expressed that the blended learning environment, and possible transition to remote learning, compromises the equal access to instruction," the letter reads.

"While some students have returned to full in-class learning scenarios, many have not. The implementation of a provincial test in this context raises questions around the fairness to students and the validity of the data if the tests were to proceed."

The province announced in June it was suspending the collection of data with the Grades 3 and 4 assessments, along with the middle year assessment, for the 2020/2021 school year.

Goertzen writes the suspension of the exams will give teachers a chance to focus on recovery learning and adapt their classroom practices as the public health situation warrants and respond to the mental health and well-being concerns students have.

Related Articles:

• January exams cancelled for Grade 12 students in Manitoba (CBC)