GED testing in New Brunswick ends next month, questions remain about replacement

On May 3, General Education Development testing, more commonly known as theGED, will end in New Brunswick.

The GED is an equivalency test for adults who did not complete high school.

Itwill be replaced with a new Canadian-based test developed in Alberta,the Canadian Adult Education Credential.

Butwith less than a month until the end of theGED,Laura Burris of the Central Valley Adult Learning Association in Oromocto saidshe still has unanswered questions, including when the replacement will be available.

"Even though May 3is the date, we don't have a date yet for when tests will be up and running. It could be June, it could be July. We are hoping it will be fairly close."

WATCH | 'The biggest question is when testing is going to be up and running':

A new high school equivalency test is coming to New Brunswick

6 months ago

Duration 1:16

GED testing ends May 3 and a Canadian-made replacement is on the way. But questions remain about the new Canadian Adult Education Credential.

Not knowing what her students will be tested on means she doesn't know what classroom material will be needed, Burris said.

"If you're looking at resources for the classroom, we're going toneed another 15-20 books per classroom.At about $100 a book, that's significant."

There is also uncertainty about whether the new adult education testwill be recognized as a high-school equivalentthroughout the country.

While many provinces, including Prince Edward Island, Manitobaand Alberta are onboard, others, such as Ontario,have yet to announce plans to adopt the new test.

The GED consists of five tests: reading, writing, social studies, science and math. The new test will consist of the same five modules. Until May 2027, students who have completed sections of the GED will be able to carry over their credits to the new system.

Learning centres seeimprovements

Shilow MacDonald, executive director at Saint John Kings Adult Learning,saidwhile the transition for teachers has beensmooth, she is still waiting to find outexactly what material will be taught in class.

"I think the teachers need to kind of know what areas they should focus on, when you're looking at science and social studies, so they can find the right learning materials."

Both MacDonaldand Burris are hopeful the new testing program will be recognized throughout the country but not knowing from the onset is creating some concern among students.

CBC News has requested an interview with the New Brunswick Department of Post-secondary Education, Training and Labour regarding these concerns. The department declined the request but saidmore information will be shared in the coming weeks.

Burris is hopeful that ultimately the new adulteducation program and test will benefit students by focusing onsubject matter more relevant to Canadians.

Burris said the GEDwas created in the United States,so there is little control overtesting material.The tests used in New Brunswick aremore than20 years old.

"They are goinghave tests that are more Canada-relevant, whereas the GED now, it's all around the U.S. culture and history."

MacDonald agrees that the new test should be more applicable to Canadiansand she hopes with more ownership over the content, it will be easier to make adjustments.

The new test shouldbe an improvement for students who have French as their first language, said MacDonald, because although GED testing is available in French, the online portal is not.

Burrissaid she also hopes the new test will be more adaptable for Canadians whose first language is not French or English.

"We don't have confirmation but right now they are looking at things like having more flexible accommodations to meet the needs of more Canadians."

Currently, the GED accommodations focus on physical or mental disabilities and not a language barrier. Burris saidsome students understand the material but just need slightly more testing time if English or French isnot their first language.

Another possible improvement is that the new test is expected to let studentstransfer existing high school credits.

"It would be nice if someone was successful in, for example, in mathematics, you know, they got their Grade 10-11 math successfully, then it would be nice to be able to recognize that," Burris said.

"This is a process and there may need to be adaptations to make this successful but the end goal is going to be a program that is better than what we have now, and that's exciting."