Trinidad And Tobago Education

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Trinidad and Tobago’s education system reflects the country’s British colonial past through its current school structure. Following their conquest, the British remodeled the Caribbean school system after their own.
Are Girls Treated Equally and Fairly?
Boys and girls are treated equally and fairly. In fact, all students are expected to perform well during school and they are given an equal opportunity to excel. There are also alternatives for students who are having challenges in traditional academia. In high school, students choose subjects based on their future career path. Though some classes are typically male or female dominated, there are no restrictions when students select classes (T. Phillips, M. Sebro, personal communication, August …show more content…

Although this level of instruction is not required, most students start school at this stage since learners are expected to have basic reading and writing skills when they begin primary school. Students then proceed to a primary school at the age of five where they spend seven years (Infant Years 1 and 2, then Standards 1 through 5). During the final year of primary school, students prepare for the national examination known as the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA). This determines the secondary school each student will attend. Students attend secondary school for a minimum of five years (Forms 1 through 5) and their first major exam is the National Certificate of Secondary Education (NCSE) examinations. This test is taken in the third year of high school and administered by the Ministry of Education. The Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate (CSEC) or Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is taken in the fifth year of high school. At this point, only students with acceptable grades may continue high school for an optional two-year period called 6th form. The Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) is the last set of examination for these students. Completing this level of education is considered the same as receiving an associate’s degree in the United States (America.gov, 2011; UNESCO & International Bureau, …show more content…

There may be fees involved for religious schools, but they still receive financial assistance from the state. Private schools usually receive little or no subsidy from the state. All citizens of Trinidad and Tobago pursuing tertiary education in approved local and regional institutions can benefit from the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) program. Undergraduate students receive free tuition and postgraduate students can access grants to cover up to a maximum of 50% of their tuition fees. The Ministry of Science, Technology and Tertiary Education’s Higher Education Loan Programme (HELP) also offer soft loans to fund any aspect of students’ tertiary education. This caused a significant increase in the tertiary enrollment rate (UNESCO & International Bureau, 2010).
Curriculum Development in Trinidad and Tobago
Within the Ministry of Education, the curriculum development division is in charge of curriculum matters. State officials refer to all matters concerning curriculum and instruction in schools. Educational leaders and educators must abide by the federal government’s standards (Ministry of Education, 2013)
Trinidad and Tobago’s Educational

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