Multiple choice, please

FINALLY, a date has been set. But in sharp contrast to the definitiveness of the appointment is the lack of consensus among the stakeholders in the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam.

There is disagreement over the date. There is disagreement over the stipend for teachers. There is disagreement over calling out staff during vacation.

It’s disappointing, though not surprising. Even at the best of times, it is a tall order to get unions, principals, teachers, parents and the Ministry of Education on the same page.

Having decided to go ahead with the SEA (as opposed to vacating it completely this year) it would be good to get this exam over with once and for all, to end the stress and anxiety.

But the ministry cannot simply set a date and leave it at that. It must give options reflective of the exigencies of this unprecedented situation.

For example, just as students come August 20 will have multiple choices to choose from in their exam scripts, perhaps parents should be given the option to decide whether or not their child will sit the exam this year.

Parents are in the best position to assess the well-being of their children. Not all are ready, under this year’s difficult circumstances.

Facilitating choice could cut class sizes in the new term and allow individuals sensitive to the trauma of exams a reprieve.

The short lead-time between the exam, results and the new academic year is also worth considering. Times are tough economically, adding pressure to the annual ritual of getting new books and organising uniforms – assuming they are in stock – and attending orientations.

As usual, the denominational boards are key. State-run schools have their own schedule of repairs, but we need a better sense of whether denominational schools will be able to stick to the timeline.

All the disagreement has meant deeper matters are yet to be addressed.

Where are the SEA students going after they sit the exam? How are new space constraints to be managed? Are schools going to run on shift systems? Will more schools be built? When? To what extent can we rely on online learning going forward?

Staging the exam now means there is more time to address the longer-term issues.

That said, with a general election looming, the possibility of the exam taking place under a “caretaker government” is a pertinent consideration.

The administration of the SEA, and the release of the results, are traditional highlights of the calendar for any education ministry, requiring leadership and steering. Will public servants, already under new constraints due to covid19, be able to attend to these matters effectively?

In all of this, the safety and well-being of students should be paramount.

Their voices should be considered too.