By Sandra Singh Saturday, July 5 2008

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PROUD ACHIEVERS: These are the smiling faces of infants of the Sacred Heart Girl's RC school at the end of the school term yesterday. These pretty las...

EDUCATION stakeholders and school officials said yesterday they disagreed with the decision taken by the Education Ministry to only honour the top 100 students in the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examination.

In 2006, the then Education Minister Hazel Manning secured Cabinet’s approval for students scoring 95 percent and over to be recognised for their achievements since the difference in marks among the students were sometimes extremely small. Manning also felt this move would have served as a motivating factor for the students. However, president of the Association of Principals of Primary schools Patricia Waldron-Adams said while the association has not discussed the matter as yet, she was not supporting the policy of honouring only the top 100 students.

“In my personal opinion, this top 100 list should be disbanded. This decision would only serve as a de-motivator for the students causing them to scramble like crabs in a barrel to make it into the top 100 list. More than 100 students perform well in the exam each year,” said Waldron-Adams. She added that many children were preforming exceptionally so it would be only be appropriate to celebrate the students making 95 percent as it would encourage the students to perform better.

“Also if the ministry is talking about education academically, holistically and aesthetically, students who perform well in sports and other areas should also be rewarded,” said Waldron- Adams.

National Parent Teacher Association President Zena Ramatali said she received mixed reviews from her association over the ministry’s decision.

“While the rewards are very motivating factors to get children to aim for greater heights, we really want to encourage the children not to lose the faith. Nothing is wrong with whatever could be done to encourage the children so that those who scored 95 percent and over should be honoured,” said Ramatali.

She however added that emphasis should be placed on those students who did not perform as well and needed attention. Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association General Secretary Peter Wilson who said that TTUTA would always support the position where students are encouraged to strive for excellence by achieving 95 percent and over.

Davendra Maharaj, of the Gandhi Memorial Vedic APS Primary school, told Newsday yesterday he felt honoured and really excited to know that he scored 95 percent and over. “I felt proud of myself. I knew I would perform well but never expected this,” he said.

Fellow classmate Ajay Rameshwarsingh who copped the top position as well as three other students from the school were acknowledged by the Education Ministry last Thursday for their achievements. Although Davendra scored 95 percent and over and placed 149th, he was not recognised by Ministry officials since he did not make the top 100 list.