Last Friday, while T&Ts adults were still reeling from the crime film-style gunning down of Dana Seetahal, the country's children were being knocked right over by the Secondary Entrance Assessment examination (formerly the 11-Plus), a single morning of their childhood which affects their adult lives far more directly than even Trinidad's crime rate entering hyperspace: pass the SEA for one of T&T's few "prestige" secondary schools and the illusion that you're living in a civilised place can be stretched for another five years.Pass for any other school and the shocking, boldfaced crime affects you directly, personally and daily the moment you walk through the school gate and have your lunch money taken by a boy with a bandana on his head, a child-mother on the side and a knife in his school bag. (In the East-West Corridor, replace "knife" with "Nines.")
In sympathy with people whose whole lives may have been decided at an age at which they haven't had their first pimple, I begin my own 51-Plus exam today, doing as much as I can figure out of the maths section.Next Friday, I'll try what used to be "English" and is now "language arts" and finish with the essay the following Friday. These questions come from a recent Guardian SEA practice test, with the usual million thanks and praises to Bernadette of the Editor-in-Chief's office.
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