Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, as I have said, grade 12 graduation requires students to take departmental exams which we share with Alberta. We do get a comparison at the grade 12 level as to how our students are doing with a southern jurisdiction. To develop our own testing for ages 13 to 16 would be very expensive. The development of the tests would be expensive, administering them would be expensive. You are still left with only one test getting only a snapshot. It is much better to assess a students performance because of the different learning styles people have over the course of a year. That is why each of the divisional education councils and their superintendents are tasked with watching students' performance throughout the school year. To ensure they are meeting the levels expected that are set out in the existing curriculum. I think we have a relatively good system of assessing how our students are doing in the north. The amount of money it would take to set up a valid testing process, I would argue, is much better spent getting resources into the classroom. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Charles Dent on Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on February 25th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
February 24th, 1997
Page 855
See context to find out what was said next.