Grade 12 Provincial exams have been officially cancelled for this semester.

The four comprehensive tests, collectively known as the Provincial Standards Tests, were suspended by the government of Manitoba Friday. That list includes English Language Arts, Essential Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, and Pre-calculus Mathematics.

The provincial tests are typically used to collect data on student comprehension and, as Hanover School Division Assistant Superintendent Leanne Peters understands it, they have been done away with because of how drastically COVID-19 would skew the results. Similar cancellations were made to the tests last spring.

“In terms of gathering provincial data, this is an unusual year. Our high school students are half in class and half learning remotely so they are getting a very different experience this year.”

She expects many student, who have endured more academic struggles than usual as a result of the pandemic will be grateful to hear the news.

“I imagine that their initial reaction will be a sigh of relief,” Peters offers.

With no provincial test to cap the semester, Peters says the subjects’ educators will be required to make their own summative assessments. She does not anticipate that will be a major problem.

“Certainly it is an extra task for them, but they certainly have the skill to take the various learning components and desired outcomes and put together a well-thought-out assessment.”

Friday’s announcement was not the first slash to Manitoba-wide testing this year. Provincial assessments for students in grades 3, 7 and 8 were eliminated before the fall semester began.