Hamilton school board cancels Grade 9 EQAO testing

The job action that has taken place between the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board and the Ministry of Education has led to the school board cancelling the Grade 9 EQAO math test. 

Due to job action, HWDSB has chosen to cancel the administration of the January 2020 Grade 9 @eqao Mathematics Assessment. #onted Learn more in Chair @Alex__Johnstone's Labour Update, January 8: https://t.co/c0Wwuvmfnm pic.twitter.com/0R3ooXCXxe

— HWDSB (@HWDSB) January 8, 2020

EQAO is an annual standardized test that is often used to show the math scores of students around Ontario and contributes to their overall math grade. The test was scheduled to start next Monday. 

Hamilton-Wentworth chair Alex Johnstone says that another method of evaluation suitable to the content will replace the test. Education Minister Stephen Lecce issued a statement that said the test provides valuable information about class performance to students, families and the province. 

Lecce also said that it is up to the school boards to decide whether or not the test should proceed, but students will be required to write the test in the June administration period if EQAO isn’t written in January. 

HWDSB chair Johnstone said the board is urging the ministry to cancel the testing in June as well, citing that students should be evaluated in the same manner as their peers in first semester.

Cancelling the EQAO test is another result of job action for teachers and administrators in Hamilton schools. Teachers and administrators have been on work-to-rule since the end of November. 

Share post

Tags

• education
• EQAO
• Hamilton
• HamOnt
• HWDSB
• Ontario
• school
• testing
• Youth