Responding to a statement from Ontario's Education Minister, the president of the union that represents public high school teachers confirmed grade nine math EQAO testing would not likely go ahead as planned next week.
Stephen Lecce issued a statement Wednesday morning saying that because of "escalation by union leaders and the withdrawal of services by OSSTF, some secondary students will not be prepared for assessment this Monday."
"It is unfair that union actions are undermining student success -- school boards will make local decisions about whether the province-wide EQAO Grade 9 math assessment should proceed," Lecce said.
His statement came on the same day the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association announced it would start an administrative job action on Monday.
At the London District Catholic School Board, Superintendent of Human Resources and General Counsel Jim Vair told BlackburnNews.com, "A meeting with the parties will be taking place on Friday, and we are hoping discussion is successful. However, if unsuccessful, we understand the government is reviewing the matter and will make an announcement as soon as possible. We will act accordingly."
BlackburnNews.com has also reached out to the public and Catholic school boards in Windsor-Essex.
At the Windsor Essex Catholic District School Board, spokesman Stephen Fields responded, "Our tests were scheduled to run between Jan. 17-22, so this action will make it difficult to proceed with those tests and we may need to look at alternative dates."
However, Harvey Bishof, with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, clarified, "my members won't participate in administering EQAO testing."
OSSTF members have been taking part in a job action since last fall, along with their counterparts represented by the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. On Wednesday, members at some school boards took part in the latest one-day strike to protest the lack of progress at the bargaining table.
The walkout closed both public elementary and high schools in Windsor-Essex.
High school teachers with the St. Clair Catholic District School Board will not participate in EQAO related activities next week, according to Director of Education Deb Crawford.
The public school board in Chatham-Kent and Sarnia-Lambton also said Thursday afternoon that Grade 9 students in applied and academic math courses in semester 1 will not participate in the EQAO Grade 9 Assessment of Mathematics this January.
Lecce stated if the students did not take the test in January, they would have to in June. Bishof agreed, so long as the union can reach a tentative agreement with the province in the interim.
"The hope is that the government finally come to the table with proposals that are constructive," said Bishof.