It’s likely that I’m going to be moving (along with my family) to Trinidad and Tobago in September. Because it used to be a British colony, it apparently still uses the British school system. I’m hesitant to put my kids in the International School there (that follows the US educational system) because it’s incredibly expensive and my Trinidadian friends say “the students there are insufferable and spoilt.” I’m considering putting my 10 year old and 12 year old in the local Trinidad school. In the US system, my younger child would be entering 5th grade and my older child would be starting 6th. If they started in a British-style school, would they be facing daunting “common entrance exams” or something right off the bat? Can someone give a description of the terms used like “O Level,” etc.?
Jill
From Google:
I searcehed Trinidad Tobago Education System
Secondary education:
There are two types of secondary education: the traditional academic sector providing five or seven years of schooling and the new system providing three-year junior secondary and two- to four-years of secondary schooling. There are plans for these new system schools to be transformed into five- to seven-year secondary comprehensive schools. New-type schools offer a more diversified curriculum than the traditional schools. After five years, courses lead to the examinations for the Caribbean Examinations Council Secondary Education Certificate, and after a further two years to GCE ‘A’ level examinations. Technical and vocational courses are also offered in Business Studies; Engineering; Surveying; Home Economics; and Graphics and Applied Arts. In 1997-98, the regional examining body of CXC introduced the Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination (CAPE) which will replace the GCE “A” levels.
That’s your starting point.
It seems that they are diverging from the last but one English system- best to check out the Trinidad and Tobago sites properly.
Entrance exams are only used for entry into private schools and grammar schools ( academically selective schools). A ten year old would be starting Year 6. At the end of this year the child sits the Key Stage 2 SATS. ( In general a child should have his/her n+5 th birthday in Year n. So you have your 8th birthday in Year 3, your 11th birthday in Year 6 and so on).
In Year 9 children take the Key Stage 3 exams. Key Stages 1, 2 and 3 are for the information of parents and schools and the results do not have any long-term implications for the child. At the end of Year 11 children take their GCSEs, typically 8 to 11 of them ( depending on the child and the school) in subjects such as English, Maths, Science, History, Geography and foreign languages. These are public exams and the results of these affect university entrance and job prospects ( for people leaving school at 16). Those who stay in academic education will then embark on 2-year A-Level ( Advanced Level) courses. In the first year a student typically studies 4 subjects to AS [ Advanced Supplementary] level; 3 of these are then continued to A-Level standard. University offers are made on the basis of your best 3 A-Level results ( for medicine, or anything at Oxford and Cambridge, for example, you would normally need to get three A grades at A-Level, denoted AAA).
O-Levels [Ordinary Levels] were replaced by GCSEs in 1988.
Try phoning direct: PBX: 622-2181; FAX: 622-9484
It is a small country and probably the ministry will be very helpful.
I did O and A levels and US High school graduation.
O level is about Junior year of High School, A level is about first year of University.
[[It seems that they are diverging from the last but one English system- best to check out the Trinidad and Tobago sites properly.]]
I did, but didn’t find ages associated with the grade levels. I have other T&T resources, too, but like to ask here, too. I’ll probably call the Ministry of Education on Monday.