President of the TT Unified Teachers Association, Martin Lum Kin, is once again advocating for a thorough review of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination in Trinidad and Tobago. Lum Kin highlighted that a few years ago, there was an initial attempt to review the examination, but he expressed uncertainty about the outcome of that effort.
He emphasized the need for a comprehensive evaluation of the system and even suggested revisiting the Constitution in light of the high-stakes nature of the exam. Lum Kin stated that the current process places immense pressure on students, parents, and teachers alike and called for a more effective method of placing students in secondary schools.
Meanwhile, Walter Stewart, the chairman of the National Parent Teachers Association (NPTA), commended the students who undertook the exam, although a thorough analysis of the results by the NPTA was pending. He praised the Ministry of Education for facilitating seamless access to the exam results through the online portal, recognizing the challenges faced by students during the pandemic-induced disruptions.
The NPTA raised concerns about the mean scores in all subject areas falling below 60%, with only a minuscule percentage of students achieving scores exceeding 90%. Additionally, there was a decline in mean raw scores for English Language Arts. Despite these worrisome statistics, the NPTA noted improvements in average weighted scores at focus schools, indicating progress in certain areas.
This year, a total of 18,177 students – comprising 9,127 boys and 9,050 girls – took the SEA exam. The NPTA remains vigilant about the educational outcomes reflected in the results and the impact on students as they transition to the next phase of their academic journey.
