Que. ministry exams will be 50 per cent of students' grades again
Quebec's education minister had a message for high school students Tuesday – he’s telling them to be well-prepared for their ministry exams this year, as they’ll once again account for half of their grades.
It’s a return to pre-pandemic weighting for the standardized exams. To make up for virus-related stresses and unpredictable school closures, ministry tests were made to only account for 20 per cent of students’ grades.
At the time, students also only received two report cards, instead of three, and teachers were afforded three extra days in the school calendar to plan and train.
But, with the virus largely at bay, those changes to testing are about to end.
Education Minister Bernard Drainville made the announcement during the opening of a new school in Saint-Lucien, Que., near Drummondville.
He also said about 80 per cent of vacant teaching positions have been filled, in part due to increased recruiting incentives.
“Last year, there were close to 3,000 retired teachers who came back to lend us a hand,” he told reporters.
However, schools across the province are still missing more than 300 full-time and nearly 1,500 part-time teachers.
Drainville said the ministry is holding course on its plan to rehire retired teachers and extend qualifications requirements to include university graduates without teaching certificates.
“The financial incentives are very interesting. Those (put in place) last year have been renewed,” he said.
“So, if you want to come back and help us, you’re going to make a difference.”
He said he hopes graduates with bachelor's degrees in subjects other than teaching will be inspired to get their education licenses.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Hackers release corporate data stolen from London Drugs
Retailer London Drugs says cybercriminals who stole files from its corporate head office last month have released some of the data after it refused to pay a ransom.
Toronto man falls off his chair after seeing $70M Lotto Max win in his bank account
A Toronto man who won $70 million in a recent Lotto Max draw literally fell off his chair when he saw the funds in his bank account.
Montreal-area high school students protest 'sexist' dress code
Approximately 50 Montreal-area students — the vast majority of them female — were suspended Wednesday after their school deemed the shorts they were wearing were too short. On Thursday, several students staged a walk-out to protest what they believe is a "sexist" dress code that unfairly targets girls.
'Looking over our shoulders': A killing looms large in a little B.C. town
Something shifted in the pretty little village of Lumby, B.C., after Tatjana Stefanski vanished. It used to be the sort of place where parents let their kids roam free or play in the local creek, but everything has changed.
Remaining wrongful death lawsuit filed after deadly Astroworld concert has been settled, lawyer says
The one remaining wrongful death lawsuit filed after 10 people were killed during a deadly crowd crush at the 2021 Astroworld music festival has been settled, an attorney said Thursday.
What is 'slapped cheek disease' and should parents be concerned?
Despite its rough name, experts say most cases of 'slapped cheek disease' are mild and not a cause for concern.
'I won't stop,' Celine Dion says in trailer for upcoming doc about her health woes
Celine Dion's fans are getting a first glimpse of the superstar's struggle with a rare neurological disorder in an emotional trailer for an upcoming documentary about her career and life.
Rapper Sean Kingston's home raided by SWAT; mother arrested on fraud and theft charges
A SWAT team raided rapper Sean Kingston's rented South Florida mansion on Thursday and arrested his mother on fraud and theft charges that an attorney says stem partly from the installation of a massive TV at the home.
Hidden risks: Why ultra-processed food may be hurting our brains
Ultra-processed foods are quick, convenient and hard to avoid, but there is growing evidence that eating these products can have an impact on brain health, leading to cognitive decline and stroke.