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By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Grade 12 diplomas to be worth 20 per cent of final grade in 2022-23

Sep 26, 2022 | 4:40 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – High school students set to face their Grade 12 final exams this year can rest easy.

Education Minister Adriana LaGrange says diplomas exams for Grade 12 students in this academic year will only be worth 20 per cent of their final grade, falling from 30 per cent.

She explains that the change was made due to concerns from students, parents, and education partners about learning loss and well-being issues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Since June of this year, I have met with over 40 public, separate, and francophone school authorities and many other stakeholders and listened to their perspectives. Changing the weight of diploma exams will reduce the burden on students while still giving them valuable exam writing experience,” says LaGrange. “We’re making this temporary change to place less of a burden on students and improve their mental health.”

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While the ministry of education states in a media release that diploma exams are key to maintaining fairness and high standards for all students, the government recognizes the “unprecedented challenges students faced” during the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2020-21 and 2021-22.

College of Alberta School Superintendents (CASS) president Scott Morrison says this decision aligns with what they have heard from families.

“The CASS board of directors supports the ministry’s transitional approach to returning diploma exam weighting to pre-pandemic levels,” says Morrison. “This decision is reflective of a recommendation an ad hoc committee of CASS made during the pandemic and takes a balanced approach between a return to normal and meeting the social and emotional needs of students.”

In 2015, the weighting of Grade 12 diploma exams was reduced from 50 per cent to 30 per cent as a way of giving greater value to the coursework completed throughout the year.

It will return to a 30 per cent weight in the 2023-24 school year.