With covid19 protocols in place for students writing the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) examinations on Thursday, three schools in San Fernando had smooth processes.
At Grant Memorial Presbyterian School at Carib Street, there was no congregating on or around the school compound. Students did not greet each other, and parents did not offer kisses, hugs, and comforting words as in previous years.
[caption id="attachment_898297" align="alignnone" width="928"] Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School SEA student Kaniel Ellis, 12, listens to some last-minute advice from his mother Khadine Yearwood, as they walk outside the school on Thursday morning. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
Instead, there was a drive-through in which vehicles entered the Susamachar Presbyterian Church next door, dropped off the students on the compound, then drove out. There was no assembly, and staff ushered students to different rooms after sanitising their hands and getting their temperatures checked.
[caption id="attachment_898296" align="alignnone" width="968"] A Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School SEA student walks to his classroom to sit the exam on Thursday morning. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
The school gates were opened shortly after 7 am.
There was a slight traffic pile-up on the compound for a few minutes as parents slowed down to watch the children walk inside.
One parent said, as far as he is aware, last year, because of the pandemic, parents dropped off the children outside the compound, and only the students were allowed inside.
[caption id="attachment_898295" align="alignnone" width="660"] Grant Memorial Presbyterian Primary School, San Fernando SEA student Neil Persad, 11, is accompanied by his mother Maria Persad. - Photo by Angelo Marcelle[/caption]
The Education Ministry estimated that about 19,645 students were scheduled to sit the examinations in the country.
Owing to the pandemic, the exam scheduled to take place on June 10 had been postponed to Thursday (July 1).
At San Fernando Boys' RC at Harris Promenade and at the nearby St Gabriel's Girls' RC, all protocols were observed, including santising pre-entry and onsite-monitoring.
[caption id="attachment_898293" align="alignnone" width="1024"] An administrator at the San Fernando Boys RC School, Harris Promenade, talks to an SEA student as he arrives at the school to sit the examination. - Photo by Lincoln Holder[/caption]
Parents dropped off the children at the Our Lady of Perpetual RC Church and school staff at the boys' school guided them into the school next door.
At the girls’ school, an official said the process was “smooth, smooth, smooth.”
The school’s Parent Teacher Action Team took to Facebook at 6.20 am to offer best wishes to students.
[caption id="attachment_898290" align="alignnone" width="1024"] A St Gabriels Girls RC School, San Fernando SEA student gets her temperature checked before entering the school.- Ph
