12,000 go to five-year secondary schools

Shivan Ramlochan of the Montrose Government Primary placed first from among the 20,669 students who wrote the 2003 Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam. He attained full marks in each subject area.

Securing a place in five and seven-year schools were 11,627 students (5,516 boys and 5,771 girls), while 7,872 gained places in three-year schools. Acting Education Minister Colm Imbert visited the Newtown Girls’ and Boys’ Primary Schools, to present results to some of the students who placed in the top 100 positions of the exam. Minister Imbert in congratulating the girls said, “This school has done exceptionally well, you have run true to form.” Education officials accompanying Imbert included Chief Education Officer Paula Daniel and School Supervisor Avril Sampson. The SEA 2003 results are as follows: In the Creative Writing Paper, 2,394 students or 11.6 percent attained full marks. In Language Arts, 402 students or 1.9 percent scored between 96-100 marks, and in Maths, 711 or 3.4 percent of the students scored between 96-100 marks.

A total break-down of the placements are as follows: 20,669 students wrote the SEA exam at 542 centres in TT.
* 11,287 students (5,516 boys and 5,771 girls) were placed in five and seven-year schools.
* 7,872 students (4,109 boys and 3,763 girls) were placed in three-year schools.
* 1,237 students (513 boys and 724 girls) were placed into private secondary schools.
* 236 students (144 boys and 92 girls) were placed in Servol Life Centres.
* 37 students (31 boys and 6 girls) were placed at a Christ College Pre-Vocational Centre in the South Eastern Educational District.
* 2,146 students (1,596 boys and 550 girls) scored 30 percent and below in the combined total.

The Education Ministry would like to reaffirm that students were assigned to Secondary Schools based on the student’s performance (merit), parents’ choices, principal’s 20 percent selection (denominational schools) and gender. Student’s Performance Reports are available at the schools to which students have been assigned. Parents and guardians are to collect these reports upon registration of their children.