Minister of Education Dr Nyan Gadsby-Dolly said there will be no cancellation of the date of the 2021 Secondary Assessment Examination (SEA).
However, she said depending on the spread of COVID19, there is consideration for a postponement.
Gadsby-Dolly said the ministry was aware of the were mixed views about postponing SEA. However, she said the intention was not to prolong the agony for students, parents and teachers, but to ensure that all students, including the most vulnerable, got the best chance at success.
On Monday, izzso spoke to the National Primary Schools Principals Association, (NAPSPA) who confirmed that they were in favour of postponing the date, but said the exam had to be held within the window of this term.
However, a Guardian Media report yesterday, said that the National Council of Parent Teachers Association (NCPTA) was calling for the cancellation.
Gadsby-Dolly said “The education stakeholders, with whom we met last week are of the view that the best scenario involves the students getting at least three weeks of face-to-face preparation for the exam. With current restrictions ongoing until May 16, the earliest possible time for physical SEA classes to begin in some form would be May 17; and this, of course, is not certain unless the situation is deemed safe enough.”
Gadsby-Dolly told GML moving the exam to a possible date of July 1 would allow more time for the numbers to stabilise and may give students the best chance for some face-to-face preparation time.
But, as she pointed out, the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) was responsible for administering SEA and if any date changes or alternate arrangements were to be made, they would have to be made with CXC soon, as the current schedule was based on a June 10 date.
She said the ministry planned on meeting with the Health Ministry this week to discuss the way forward.
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