18,000 students write for their future

Of that number, 9,193 are boys and 9,047 are girls .

In a statement to the media, the Ministry of Education said 546 primary schools will be used as examination centres and each centre will be managed by the school’s principal, while teachers from other schools will administer the test as assessment supervisors, assistant assessment supervisors and testers .

Officials from the ministry and the Division of Education in Tobago will be at the centres for quality assurance purposes and to ensure that the administration of the SE A is problem free .

Distribution and collection of test booklets will take place from 4 am .

The ministry said Amalgamated Security Services Limited has been contracted to transport the examination material to and from the various drop off points in the education districts .

The ministry also has drivers on standby in the event of any emergency .

After the examination, test scripts will be returned to the ministry’s head office .

Scripts will then be handed over to the Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) on May 8 .

Batching, marking and data capture will be conducted from May 8 to 21 after which CXC officials will return to Barbados with the scripts for processing of the results .