Easy SEA exam

Cries of “Freedom” and “It finally over” pierced the air as children left the examination room at the Richmond Street Boys’ Anglican School yesterday, following the four-and-a-half-hour-long exam which began around 8.30 am. Many of the students were greeted with big hugs by relieved parents who were interested in finding out whether they had completed the exam, which consisted of Composition, Maths and Language Arts. While many of the children revealed that they were looking forward to relaxing, liming, playing games and just revelling in free time without the pressure, the parents said this was just a momentary period and that “bigger things were to come.”

Although it is normal  to see eager and anxious parents gathered outside schools during the exam, many revealed that they had been asked by school authorities not to assemble anywhere near the school, in addition to not being allowed on to the school’s compound. When Newsday visited the Fatima RC School, on Bushe Street, Curepe, it appeared closed to the public, and if one could not see the children seated upstairs, they may have thought it was deserted.

The scene was repeated at the Holy Saviour Anglican School, also in Curepe, where a lone parent was seen speaking with the guard. At the St Joseph TML, a few parents were observed exchanging comments with one another. Principal of the Scared Heart Boys’ RC School told Newsday that “everything got off to a smooth start” at 8.30 am. He said he had been informed by some students during the half hour break that so far, the exam was “easy.”

However, he added, “that is something they say every year” but that the results would reflect whether the exam had truly been easy or not. He reported that no untoward incidents had occurred, either with the examination papers or students. The father of Stefan Alexander, a student of Richmond Street Boys’, said his son had appeared calm and focused before yesterday’s exam, and that there were no special plans for the upcoming vacation period. Stefan later told Newsday that he was prepared as the work taught at school had come in the exam, while his friends echoed that the Math section had been extremely easy.

Many students yesterday said they were looking forward to relaxing at home now that exams were over. Students who wrote yesterday’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam were treated to special offers at businesses including KFC, Movie Towne and Pizza Hut. The results will be released by the first week in July.