Saskatchewan government will discontinue Grade 12 provincial examinations as of August 2025, creating what officials call a fairer system for graduating students.
Currently, Saskatchewan is the only province that requires some Grade 12 students to write provincial exams, while others do not.
This change means the roughly 25% who were once obligated to complete these tests will now be evaluated through other methods.
Education Minister Everett Hindley says the decision follows years of input from school board trustees, teachers, and families.
"The discontinuation of Provincial Exams, starting in September 2025, aligns with feedback that I have received directly from school board trustees, teachers, and families all across this province," said Hindley.
"We are pleased that work continues on developing a Saskatchewan Student Assessment program that will help our schools and government in improving student success."
In addition to traditional high school settings, adults and home-based learners can still earn Grade 12 credits through the Saskatchewan Distance Learning Centre or qualifying post-secondary institutions.
Saskatchewan School Boards Association President Dr. Shawn Davidson applauds the announcement.
"School boards welcome this announcement and appreciate that the government has listened to feedback on this matter," said Davidson.
"Our membership passed resolutions in 2011 and again in 2021 that called for the elimination of provincial examinations for Grade 12 students. This is an important shift toward more meaningful assessment practices that take the needs of individual students into account while maintaining curricular integrity."
The Ministry of Education continues to partner with educators on the Saskatchewan Student Assessment (SSA) program, set to provide parents, students, and teachers with a snapshot of performance in key grades and subjects.
Scheduled for rollout after November 2024, SSA aims to offer a clear benchmark of student achievement and guide instruction to boost success in classrooms across the province.