• Every year, thousands of children in Trinidad and Tobago are subjected to an unnecessary nation-wide competition to get placed in a secondary school. It is not just an examination of their ability to pass Mathematics and English and write an essay but it is a grueling and mandatory examination that forces them to fight for a place at a better-performing (and usually board-managed) secondary school. 

In 2023, a policy was presented for changes to be made to our education system but it overlooked the most critical change that needs to be made - the removal of the SEA examination. 

Our society is packed with adolescents and young adults who are now battling with anxiety and depression as a result of this linear examination that doesn't reflect the real readiness of our primary students to begin their journey through secondary education. 

Instead of removing the exam and looking at ways to provide a more nurturing, inclusive and holistic education model that allows our children to succeed in areas they are naturally gifted in ---- the Ministry of Education continues to focus efforts on adjusting the curriculum and increasing remedial efforts to continue pushing this SEA exam on our children. 

It is time to take a stand. 

If you wrote the SEA or its predecessor the Common Entrance Exam and you believe it impacted you negatively. Please sign the petition. 

If you are a teacher and you believe there is another way forward that would benefit students genuinely instead of shifting their last two years in primary school to a grueling competition for a place in a prestigious school - please sign the petition. 

If you are a parent of a child in our Primary School system and you would like this examination to finally be removed - please sign the petition. 

A petition done at this time will let our government know that the new policy presented is not in alignment with what we want for our children which is - a fair and equitable, holistic and progressive education model that truly nurtures the talents and abilities of all of our young citizens.