Standardized math testing for Grade 9 students across the London region will not go ahead as Ontario's public secondary school teachers continue their work to rule campaign.
The Thames Valley District School Board initially announced students will write the EQAO Grade 9 math assessment throughout the week of January 20, but later amended its announcement.
"This week, the Minister of Education published an announcement regarding the Semester One EQAO Grade 9 Math Assessment. As a result of this announcement, TVDSB students will NOT participate in the Semester One EQAO Grade 9 Math Assessment at this time," the board said in a tweet on Thursday afternoon.
"The minister’s message included a requirement for semester one students to complete the assessment in June 2020. If this requirement becomes necessary, we will work with schools to develop an administration plan which will be communicated to students and families," a follow-up tweet said.
Students’ final marks will not be negatively impacted by the absence of this assessment. #TVDSB
— Thames Valley DSB (@TVDSB) January 9, 2020
The province had set aside two weeks -- January 13 to 24 -- as the window for schools to complete the assessments. However, Education Minister Stephen Lecce conceded Wednesday that not all students have been properly prepared to take the test due to the job action launched by the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation in November.
"I recognize that this important assessment may not take place in the majority of English-public high schools," Lecce said in a statement that left the decision to administer or delay the test up to school boards.
"For those high schools which are not administering the test in January, students will need to take the test during the June 2020 administration period, as it provides a valuable opportunity for individual feedback for students and families."
As part of the union's work-to-rule campaign, teachers within the public board halted all EQAO test prep for students.
Catholic school teachers could soon follow suit. The Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) announced earlier this week if contract talks with the province Thursday and Friday don't go well they could begin a similar work-to-rule campaign on Monday. Any job action by the OECTA would include teachers within the London District Catholic School Board.
