All tests are off.
Karen Casey, the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development announced today all provincial and school board level student assessments have been suspended.
Government Suspending Provincial Level Assessments https://t.co/XyQK6RWGJm pic.twitter.com/0HHYhKYUwd
— Nova Scotia Gov. (@nsgov) November 8, 2016
Casey says teachers have expressed concerns that time used administering the tests could be better spent in the classroom.
“In my conversations with teachers that standardized assessments both from the department and from the board are consuming time that they would rather spend on instruction with their kids. It’s been very clear.”
Casey says the department want to reduce overlap in the testing.
“Every time that there’s an assessment there has to be a valid reason for why that assessment is done. But over the years we have assessments that are coming from the boards and from the department and the duplication is a big issue that we need to address.”
Most of the board and provincial testing has already been completed.
There are just four tests that will be affected by the suspension.
Casey says a working group will look at which tests are most beneficial, will continue to be used, and whether the data entry and reporting are needed.
Meanwhile, Nova Scotia Teachers Union President, Liette Doucet, says the ministers getsure is symbollic in nature.
Doucet says she appreciates Karen Casey’s move to suspend provincial and board assessments.
But, she adds almost all provincial assessments for this school year are already done.
She says teachers have already been overburdened by the process.
Doucet says the union identified assessment and evaluation as an issue for teachers and believes a permanent solution can be obtained through collective bargaining.
