THE EDITOR: Open letter to principals, educators, parents and guardians.
I write to you with a profound sense of urgency and concern regarding the recent notification from the Ministry of Education about the TT National Learning Assessment (TTNLA) examination and survey. As members of The First Wave Movement and advocates for civil and human rights, we must critically examine the implications of this survey and the processes surrounding it.
Firstly, it is imperative to highlight the significant ethical and legal concerns raised by previous surveys conducted by the ministry. The lack of transparency in these initiatives has consistently undermined the trust between educational institutions and parents.
It is crucial to question the necessity of this new survey and why alternative, less intrusive methods of evaluation cannot be utilised. Are there not sufficient existing tools and assessments that provide insight into the educational needs and progress of our children without encroaching on their privacy?
The TTNLA survey requests that children include their name and ID, eliminating any semblance of confidentiality. This is a serious breach of privacy that should not be tolerated.
Parents have expressed significant concerns about the nature of the questions in previous surveys conducted in the first quarter of 2024. These surveys included profiling questions and invasive queries about mental health, economic status and other personal matters, which are wholly inappropriate for children.
Adding to our concerns are the partners involved in these surveys, who have questionable agendas that may not align with the values and beliefs of many families. These partners include:
• The Silver Lining Foundation: A youth organisation that champions anti-bullying in schools and promotes the developmental needs of LGBTQI youth.
• Womantra: An intersectional feminist organisation engaged in social justice actions, including initiatives to end gender-based violence.
• The Women’s Caucus of TT: A group providing peer social support and community service for women who love women.
• Say Something TT: A community action network focusing on gender-based violence and holding public officials accountable.
• TT Transgender Coalition: An organisation delivering services to transgender and non-binary individuals.
• Caribbean IRN: A network connecting activists, scholars, artists and other individuals and organisations working on issues related to diverse genders and sexualities in the Caribbean.
These organisations, while they may have commendable objectives within their own contexts, raise concerns when their involvement in educational surveys is not transparently communicated and justified to parents. The reluctance of the ministry to share the full contents of the survey with parents further exacerbates these concerns.
Transparency is not just a matter of courtesy; it is a fundamental principle that fosters trust and ensures that parents are fully informed about their child’s educational experiences.
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