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By Troy Gillard

Pandemic pause

Alberta makes diploma exams optional for October, November

Oct 13, 2020 | 11:01 AM

Alberta Education is making diploma exams optional for the months of October and November due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Some school boards in the province have moved to a quarterly approach to the 2020-21 school year, meaning diploma exams for the first term in those districts are scheduled to be written at the end of October and early November.

“As we continue to listen to students, parents and education partners, it’s clear that some students may not feel comfortable or be in the best position to write exams at this time,” Colin Aitchison, press secretary for Education Minister Adriana LaGrange, said in a statement. “We know these are challenging times, and that’s why we want to ensure students and their parents have the flexibility to make the best decision for their own situation this exam season.”

Aitchison said the province will continue to monitor how the school year progresses, and make decisions on the remaining exams prior to them being written.

Students in Red Deer Public Schools and Red Deer Catholic Regional Schools are scheduled to write diploma exams in January and June.

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Wednesday’s decision comes after several school districts across Alberta, including Red Deer Public Schools, urged the province to cancel diploma exams for Grade 12 students amid uncertainties due to the pandemic.

“Given the multiple challenges schools have faced this year, we are confident that in-class assessment by teachers will provide a true picture on student knowledge and understanding of course outcomes,” Superintendent Chad Erickson said last week.

Diploma exams have been made optional in the past, including in Calgary during the 2013 floods and in Fort McMurray during the 2016 wildfires.