By LARA PICKFORD-GORDON Saturday, June 14 2008

WHILE THE official date for release of the Secondary Entrance Exam (SEA) results has not been released by the Education Ministry, primary school principals are concerned that there is not enough support for students who must repeat the exam.

Last April, the Ministry directed schools to allow Standard Five students who attained less than 30 percent to repeat the academic year.

Based on the Ministry’s estimate of the 17,850 who wrote the SEA examination last year, 1,785 would have to repeat. In an interview on Wednesday, General Secretary of the Primary Schools Principals Association Nanram Maharaj said he had no problem with students repeating if they were unable to make the required grade.

However, Maharaj said there should be “something in place” for students requiring special attention. He said although schools could refer students to the Ministry’s Student Support Services but, “the big question” was how effective is this system.

He said professional development of teachers was needed so they could help slow learners “and things can happen in schools.”

Maharaj said he supported continuous assessment and the National Tests which are administered to students in standards One through Four. The test will take place on June 24 and 25.

Pupils in Standards One and Three are tested in Language Arts and Standards Two and Four on Science and Social Studies. “The child is exposed to all areas that will be finally assessed in SEA.”

Based on the results of the tests which are provided by the Ministry, Maharaj said schools can analyse the results and “zero in on weaknesses”. Maharaj said he was hoping for the day when all the results of all the incremental assessments are used instead of one exam — the SEA, determining the child’s progress in the system.

A primary school principal in the East said students were repeating another year but not necessarily improving their performance.