In defence of the South Eastern teachers

THE EDITOR: On Thursday January 13 the Honourable Minister of Education in a release to the print and electronic media indicated that based on the results of the 2004 National Tests the Tobago and South Eastern Education Districts were ranked the lowest achieving districts. As principals and teachers working in the South Eastern Education District we feel strongly that this is an unfair label with just a superficial analysis of the data. We wish to remind the minister and the national community that the South Eastern Educational District is the largest geographical educational district in Trinidad running from Iere Village in Princes Town to Marac, Guayaguayare, Ortoire, Tabaquite and Biche.

Within this geographical area are some of the most deprived socio-economic areas in Trinidad. (See CSO reports). With respect to the 2004 National Tests the following facts must be noted: The South Eastern Educational District is the only district where all schools did the test on the scheduled date. In other districts, reports indicated that a number of schools did not do the tests as scheduled and also there were reports of cleaners and other non-teaching staff supervising students due to the TTUTA industrial action. As a consequence data from these tests cannot be considered totally reliable.

Analysis of the data also indicate that North Eastern, St Patrick and Port-of-Spain and environs results were similar to the South Eastern Educational District in many areas. The positive impact of high performing private primary schools in Caroni, Victoria and St George East must also be noted when analysing data from these three districts. The positive results of the South Eastern Educational District must also be highlighted. In 2002 based on the results of the SEA, 360 students were placed in 1S classes, this was reduced to 230 in 2003 and 154 in 2004. In sport and extra co-curricular activities there were numerous successes in 2004 which were never highlighted by the Ministry of Education or the national media.

These are as follows: National Primary Schools 3K Champion (3rd Consecutive Year) Kendis Bullard — William Webb Memorial; Stern John Skills Competition — National Winners — Moruga AC; Coach of the Year — Mr Lee T I — Moruga AC; National Primary Schools Football Competition — National Runner’s Up — Moruga AC; National Primary Schools Cricket 2004; Girls Champion — Iere Government; Boys National Runner-up — Guayaguayare RC; Male Cricketer of the Year — I John — Guayaguayare RC; Flavourite Under 10 — Cricket — (integrating the Curriculum) National Champions — Elswick Presbyterian Teacher of the Year — Charmaine Pariag — T 1 Elswick Presbyterian; Mental Mathematics (National) 3rd place — Rio Claro Hindu; Republic Bank Agri-Science Competition (National) 3rd place — Tableland AC; 6th place —Libertville TML; National Choral Speaking Winners — Princes Town Presbyterian frist; National Red Cross First Aid and Quiz Competition Winner — Robert Village Hindu School; UNESCO Sandwatch Project — Participation at International Level — Mayaro Government.

We the principals and teachers of the South Eastern Educational Division have been using the results of the 2004 national Tests to guide our action plans for improving our students performance. However, we feel that by simply stating the data without the above facts can have a negative impact on all our stakeholders. We trust that all concerned will now have a better picture of education in the South Eastern Education District.

M SINGH
South Eastern Education District