Karim: All’s set for SEA

All is set for next week Tuesday’s Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exam next week, says Minister of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education Fazal Karim. “All the necessary conditions are in place for a successful SEA examination,” he said. He said 17,327 pupils would be writing the examination—8,787 boys and 8,540  girls. He was speaking at yesterday’s post- Cabinet media briefing at the Diplomatic Centre, St Ann’s. Karim said the three areas pupils would be assessed in were mathematics, language arts and creative writing. He added that in preparation for the examination, the Ministry of Education had focused on several areas, including suitability of examination centres, training of examination people, security arrangements for storage and return of exam materials, and monitoring of administration of SEA.

The exam centres were also prepared, he added. “Students are required to write the SEA exam at the primary schools they attend,” the minister said. This year, a total of 541 primary schools, comprising 477 government and 64 private primary schools will be used as exam centres. “An assessment of all schools to ensure adequate lighting and the physical facilities, including the toilet facilities and availability of a supply of water, has been completed, and they have been approved as exam centres by school supervisors,” he said.

The minister said arrangement for security  and transport for SEA participants had been made as in previous years.  He also said school supervisors assigned to distribution points would manage the delivery of exam materials to examination supervisors. He said provision had also been made for students with medical conditions, sensory disabilities, learning disabilities and other challenges.