Yukon high school students to write fewer exams

Yukon will continue to follow B.C.'s high school curriculum, as it cuts back the number of exams in favour of skill and competency "assessments."

It's part of a larger shift, emphasizing students'learning and thinkingskills over specific course content.

• B.C. students to write fewer provincial exams

• Yukon prepares for overhaul in school curriculum

"We have determined we would like to stay with British Columbia, because they are moving towards competency-based or skill-based curriculum, and we like this direction," said Nicole Morgan, Yukon's director of learning support services.

"It's the direction a number of provinces are heading in, and B.C. is certainly one of those leading provinces."

Students will still be required to earn the same number of course credits, but final exams will be phased out in many courses, such as grade 11 Social Studies or Civics.

Instead, students may have an assessment project to completewhen they feel they'reready.

"They'll have all of grade 10 through 12 to determine when they write that assessment," Morgan said.

Math and literacy exams to stay

There will still be at least two formal exams, however, testing students' math and literacy skills.

"What we are looking for is students to have foundational skills in certain areas, and we identified that we wanted literacy and math skills to stay central to the work our students do in schools," Morgan said.

"We know these twoareas are essential for setting them up for lifelong learning, regardless of what path they choose."

Morgan says Yukon teachers are excited about the changing curriculum, but also a bit nervous because it represents a "very different way to work."

She said the education department is still working to determine how and when the changes will be phased in,over the next few years.