Nine thousand seven hundred and seventy-one (9,771)   boys and nine thousand five hundred and seventy-three (9,573) girls across Trinidad and Tobago will write the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam on August 20th.

A statement from the Ministry of Education on Saturday once more affirmed government’s commitment to the August date for the exam, despite heavy kick back from the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers Association (TTUTA), which lobbied for the exam to be held in October. 

“In the best interest of students, the exam held on this date will allow for the Form One intake to enter secondary school without losing the full first term of the academic year.” the Education Ministry said in its statement.

The Ministry is now urging TTUTA to act in what it says is the best interest of students, by coming out to classes from July 20th- to give the children one month of class time preparation before the August 20th exam.

“The government saw it as critical to have these specific teachers at school with their classes as it would aide in the psychological and emotional preparedness of students who would have developed specific relationships with these teachers over the average two (2) year period spent together,” it said, adding that “the Ministry of Education and all required agencies will each do what is needed to have the infrastructural, sanitary, health and safety needs met before school personnel return to the compounds.”