Provincial school exams proceed as scheduled

NEWS/ SCHOOLS — The B.C. Ministry of Education has issued a reminder to students and parents that despite the B.C. Teachers’ Federation (BCTF) strike, provincial exams for Grades 10 to 12 are proceeding as scheduled and Grade 12 students can expect to receive their Official Transcript of Grades as per normal schedule and practice.

The B.C. Public School Employers Association (BCPSEA) applied to the Labour Relations Board (LRB) last week to designate provincial exams and final marks for students in senior grades as essential services. The LRB announced its decision on June 12, 2014.

The Kamloops-Thompson School District issued a notice that electronic versions of provincial exam times may vary, so parents should check their school’s website for the provincial exam schedule for that school, or call the school board office at 250-374-0679.

The reminder issued by the Ministry of Education on Tuesday is as follows:

For Grades 10 to 12 students:

Expect secondary schools to be open only for the purpose of administering provincial exams.

Provincial exams are proceeding as scheduled

Students writing exams are entitled to a picket-free entry into their schools.

Normal school bus service will continue for the purpose of transporting students to provincial exams.

For Grade 12 students only:

Grade 12 exams will be marked in July and the Official Transcript of Grades will be provided to students by the end of July as per normal practice and schedule.

For Grades 10 and 11 students only:

Report cards are not deemed an essential service and parents should not expect the usual year-end reporting.

School districts will determine how to best convey relevant information about students’ progress, available class marks, and provincial exam results.
BCPSEA is seeking further clarification from the LRB on the submission of class marks.

Expect delays in the receiving information about final course grades.

It is expected that Grades 10 and 11 provincial exams will be marked by school administrators and the deadline for marking has been extended from June 26 to July 2, 2014.

Provincial exam courses to be administered June 16-26, 2014:

June 16-26*: Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10 Foundations of Mathematics and Pre-Calculus 10 * Schools may schedule these sessions at any time during the week.

June 18: Science 10 (only for schools that require an early session) Apprenticeship and Workplace Mathematics 10.

June 19: B.C. First Nations Studies 12.

June 20: English 12 English 10 First Peoples Communications 12 Français langue première 10.

June 23: Français langue seconde-immersion 12 Français langue première 12 Science 10 Civic Studies 11.

June 24: English 12 First Peoples English 10 Social Studies 11.