The Government of Alberta has cancelled all January 2026 diploma exams due to instructional time lost during the recent teachers’ strike. Because the Northwest Territories uses Alberta’s diploma examination program, this cancellation also applies to all Grade 12 students in the NWT.

As a result, NWT students are automatically exempt from writing diploma exams in January. Students who wish to write an exam later in the school year will continue to have opportunities to do so.

What this means for NWT students:

• Automatic exemption: No diploma exams will be written in January.
• Future exam opportunities: Students may write their exam in April or June 2026.
• Final marks: Students who choose not to write at a later date will receive their school-awarded mark as their final course mark.
• No impact on graduation or post-secondary access: Transcripts will note that no diploma exam was written, which will not affect graduation status or eligibility for post-secondary programs.
• School-based finals: Some schools may continue to offer school-developed final assessments as part of their usual evaluation process. These assessments are separate from Alberta diploma exams.

The GNWT understands that this change may be unexpected for some students and families. Schools are prepared to support students as they consider their options and plan next steps. Students or parents with questions should contact their school principal and/or teachers.

For more information about diploma examinations in the NWT, visit www.ece.gov.nt.ca.

For media requests, please contact:
Agata Gutkowska
Manager, Public Affairs and Communications
Government of the Northwest Territories
agata_gutkowska@gov.nt.ca