While the Government prepares to welcome India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Trinidad and Tobago tomorrow, the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TUTTA) says teachers and parents are not pleased with the government's decision to disrupt school.
TTUTA President Martin Lum Kin questions whether government considered the fact that schools are currently in examination mode at this time, before deciding to dismiss school at 11:30 am on Thursday.
According to the Education Ministry, the early dismissal will minimise traffic congestion along the Churchill Roosevelt, Uriah Butler and Sir Solomon Hochoy highways, as well as other major roadways.
However, TTUTA isn't too sure doing so will help.
“This is the time when we are having end of term test and promotion tests too, and it is a disruption and the schools have to make adjustments,” the TTUTA president said.
“We're not too certain that even if dismissing school early will ease up any of the congestion on the nation's roads. It may,” he observed, “but we're not certain if it will be of any significance.”
Meanwhile, TTUTA says it also is concerned about the results of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) being released online tomorrow.
Lum Kin told Guardian Media there are many parents and students who will be at a disadvantage because of this decision.
“We're still concerned about parents who may not have a device or internet access,” he said. “They would be disadvantaged because those who have the access to the devices and the internet, they would receive their results way before.”
When Guardian Media reached out to Education Minister Dr Michael Dowlath, he said parents without internet access can receive physical SEA results slips at their children's schools.
He also added that there is adequate time before the term ends for schools to facilitate tests that may be disrupted tomorrow.
Dr Dowlath said students also will be allowed to gather along the roadways to witness the arrival of Prime Minister Modi.
