The provincial government is reintroducing standardized public exams in seven Grade 12 courses this school year, a move officials say is intended to ensure a consistent provincial standard — but the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association cautions the effort will fall short unless schools receive additional supports.
Which courses will have exams
In an emailed statement, the Department of Education confirmed the return of mid‑term and final public exams for the following courses:
- Math 3200 and 3201
- English 3201
- Biology 3201
- Chemistry 3202
- Physics 3204
- Earth Systems 3209
The department said both mid‑term and final exams will count toward 15 per cent of a student's final grade in each listed course. Students in the province have not written provincial public exams since 2020.
Teachers urge attention to classroom conditions
Dale Lambe, president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association, said the return of standardized testing can be useful in gauging how students compare on national and international measures — provided the conditions needed to teach to those standards are in place.
"Government clearly feels that, you know, we need to see where our students stand on a national standard, and an international standard, so that they can contribute to our society. Making sure they have those foundational skills," Lambe said. "[But] it's very important [to have] those, you know, smaller class sizes. Those classroom conditions where teachers are able to get to those needs."
Lambe's comments underscore an ongoing debate in the province about whether standardized assessment should be paired with investments in staffing, professional development and resources that allow teachers to close learning gaps.
Courses no longer on the schedule
The department's list for the 2026‑27 school year does not include several courses that were part of the provincial public exam schedule in 2019. Notably absent from the reinstated schedule are French, World History and World Geography, according to the department's statement.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam weight | Mid‑term and final exams together worth 15% of final grade |
| Last public exams | 2020 |
| Courses reinstated | 7 Grade 12 courses (see list above) |
Education Minister Paul Dinn announced the return of the exams last week, framing the move as an effort to ensure a provincial standard is being taught — particularly in mathematics. The department has not released further implementation details in the statement provided to media.
Practical implications for students and teachers
For students, the exams reintroduce a standardized component to final marks in selected Grade 12 courses and will likely influence study and revision strategies this term. For teachers, the development raises questions about marking, exam administration and supports for students who have experienced learning disruption in recent years.
Teachers' advocates argue that assessment alone cannot improve outcomes without addressing classroom size and targeted programming. Smaller classes and additional supports are cited as necessary to allow teachers to identify and remediate gaps that standardized testing might expose.
What remains unknown
The department's announcement did not specify how exams will be developed, whether they will be centrally marked, or how accommodations for special needs students will be handled under the reinstated system. It also did not provide timelines for teacher training or additional funding to address the concerns Lambe raised.
As the school year progresses, parents, students and educators will be watching for detailed guidance from the Department of Education on logistics, sample materials and any measures designed to support successful implementation.
The return of public exams marks a notable shift in the province's approach to secondary assessment — one that may reshape classroom priorities and spotlight long‑standing debates over resources and equity in Newfoundland and Labrador's public school system.
