By Sue-Ann Wayow
AS important as the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) may be for primary school pupils, the health of all who are involved is more important.
The Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA) stated in an advisory to education professionals on Thursday that it was very concerned with both the physical and mental health of both educators and pupils at this time.
TTUTA’s president Antonia De Frietas said, “The union is not insensitive to the circumstances that would arise, should the SEA not be administered on June 10. However, TTUTA does not believe that anyone’s life should be put in jeopardy for an examination.”
The union listed several points which included inequities in the education system.
TTUTA is suggesting that due to the restrictions of the State of Emergency, certain educators would require passes or exemptions for them to be able to reach the examination centres in order for the SEA to begin on time.
“The movement of large numbers of adults and students on June 10 is counter-productive to the whole reason for the State of Emergency,” De Freitas said.
The opportunities for proper sanitation of the school facilities and for adequate social distancing of students and educators were not possible at this time, under the current public health regulations she added.
While vaccination was not mandatory but optional, TTUTA is proposing that vaccination of educators should be a priority especially with the broader plan to resume face to face classes.
De Frietas also said not enough support was provided by the Ministry of Education to alleviate Covid anxiety and fear for both educators and those being educated and added with that was a lack of proper communication with the union.
De Freitas said that no educator from any level will be putting their health and safety at risk by visiting any office of the Ministry of Education or any school compound, to engage in any activity that could compromise their health and safety.
She said, “TTUTA will defend its members and educators against any bullying or intimidatory tactics, to force educators to compromise their health and safety. We must all do our part to reduce the spread of Covid 19 in our country.”
The Ministry of Education on Thursday, announced that the new date for the SEA examination would be July 1.
