The Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) system has come under renewed criticism following an incident involving a student from Tobago. Opposition members, led by former education minister Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, have expressed concern over the public ranking of students, indicating it can lead to unnecessary distress.
Gadsby-Dolly referenced a specific case where a student who had excelled in the examination was not recognized at a ceremony. This oversight resulted in significant distress for both the child and their family. She argued that the SEA exam is meant for placement and not for ranking, cautioning that public comparisons can exert unnecessary pressure on children.
During her tenure as education minister, Gadsby-Dolly took steps to reduce such stress. These measures included the removal of public rankings and the provision for students to access their results privately online.
However, the opposition believes that the re-introduction of rankings has reopened past issues that caused emotional harm to students. They are now urging the Ministry of Education to review the current system, with a focus on safeguarding children from avoidable psychological stress.
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