South school takes the lead in SEA; girls lead again

Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh congratulates the Principal of the Canaan Presbyterian School, Daniel Sahadeo

The top student in Trinidad and Tobago based on the results of the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) exams is Rebecca Jattan of the Canaan Presbyterian Primary. Rebecca will be attending Naparima Girls' High School in San Fernando at the start of the new school year in September.

Rebecca Jattan with her parents Robin and Stacey Jattan, and Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh

Shemiah Grant, a student at Atwell’s Educational Centre in Tacarigua, was second with Nishtha Mohan and Victoria Maharaj tied for third place. Mohan attends Freeport Presbyterian and Maharaj goes to Avocat Vedic school.

The girls are among 17,916 pupils who sat the SEA examination in May.

Express newspaper graphic shows the four top students

Commenting on the results, Education Minister Dr Tim Gopeesingh said students did better this year than in the past. He said it may be because children had an extra six weeks to prepare for the exam since it was shifted from March to May.

"It may not have reached the leaps and bounds that we may desire, but there has been an incremental increase and improvement in the academic performance of our students," Gopeesingh told local media. He added, "In 2010, 2011, it got better. In 2012, it's even better."

The minister said schools are doing better. "Last year, we had students in the first 200 places. This year, we have had a larger spread of schools, almost 81 schools, which have been successful in having students in the first 200."