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PAGE A THE CANADIAN STATESMAN. OCTOBER 17,2001 Grade 10 literacy test postponed after leak Test was left in sealed box in Toronto school BY JENNIFER STONE Staff Writer CLARINGTON - Local students and teachers may have been somewhat disappointed about the postponement of the provincewide Grade 10 Literacy Test, say school board officials. "Schools were well-prepared; the students students and teachers were well-prepared," says superintendent Trudy Lum of the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board, of the provincewide Grade 10 literacy literacy test, which had been slated for yesterday yesterday and today. The test was postponed Monday . when it became clear portions of it had appeared on the Internet over the weekend, weekend, after having apparently been stolen from a scaled box at a Toronto school. The theft came after suggestions, posted on the Ontario Coalition Against Poverty (OCAP) website last week, that students boycott the test. Last Thursday, "We had a group enter our office that claimed to be members of OCAP," says Nadia Temple, a spokesman for the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which administers the literacy test. She says that group had a copy of the test, which they tore up before leaving the building. "• Portions of the test were subsequently subsequently posted to the Internet. The matter is currently in the hands of police and there is "no link other than the fact that they claimed to be" members of OCAP, says Ms. Temple. But, an OCAP spokesman says there has been an arrest in the matter. "We do understand that a member of our organization, a young woman, has in fact been charged and has been released on bail a short while ago," said OCAP organizer John Clarke Tuesday. But he says the woman is denying the accusation accusation and his organization isn't claiming direct responsibility. Toronto Police Sergeant Rob Knap- per confirms an 18-year-old Toronto woman has been arrested in relation to the demonstration at the EQAO office last Thursday, and has been charged with mischief and possession of stolen property. property. Although OCAP isn't claiming responsibility responsibility for the incident, "we're not going to cry crocodile tears" over the postponement, says Mr. Clarke. "We view the test as something that's very offensive offensive and if it's something that now can't be implemented, we would be very pleased to see that." "Education Minister Janet Ecker said she and EQAO officials were "quite To have I your flyers delivered by Durham's #1 Carrier Force! Call 579-4407 [MÏviRTÏsÏNG 1 FLYERS Wednesday, October 17,2001 • Sport Chek* • McGregor IDA* • Business Depot* • Bay* •SAAN* • Sears* • Future Shop* • Sears Flooring* • Buenos Aires* * Plycr not necessarily in all papers Remember, all inserts, including those on glossy paper, can he recycled with the rest of your newspaper through your blue box Recycling program. angry at the selfish, idiotic action" that has disrupted the lives of over 100.000 students and jointly decided to postpone the test. "The important consideration here is the students' welfare because the test counts, and in order for it to count it has to be valid," she said. Ms. Ecker said the test helps to identify identify students who need extra help, and with the cancellation "kids could slip through the cracks." As a result of the theft, EQAO has decided decided to put off the test, which students must pass in order to receive their high school diploma, until a new test can be re-scheduled. The local public school board will "monitor the delay" to determine determine whether students will need additional additional preparation for the test, says Ms. Lum. "If an entire new test has to be developed, developed, there may have to be plans put in place in schools to come back to the necessary preparation and review it with staff and students," she notes. As part of the preparation for the exam, schools had been using sample questions to help students grow accustomed to the style and type of content expected on the test. The delay may make some people unhappy, says John Mackle, superintendent superintendent of schools with the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board. "It will be a big disappointment for kids and parents, because of the psychological psychological preparation they'd gone through," Mr. Mackle said Monday, as the board collected test materials from schools upon learning of the delay. "It's a tough one. 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