Education in

Trinidad and Tobago Trinidad and Tobago (, ), officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, is the southernmost island country in the Caribbean. Consisting of the main islands Trinidad and Tobago, and numerous much smaller islands, it is situated south of ...

is free and is largely and primarily based on the British education system, compulsory between ages 5 and 16. Trinidad and Tobago is considered one of the most educated countries in the World with a

literacy rate Literacy in its broadest sense describes "particular ways of thinking about and doing reading and writing" with the purpose of understanding or expressing thoughts or ideas in written form in some specific context of use. In other words, huma ...

exceeding 98%. This exceptionally high literacy rate can be attributed, in part, to free tuition from Kindergarten (

Pre-School A preschool, also known as nursery school, pre-primary school, or play school or creche, is an educational establishment or learning space offering early childhood education to children before they begin compulsory education at primary scho ...

) to

University A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...

. The education system generally starts at Pre-School at the early age of two and a half years. This level of tuition is not mandatory but most Trinbagonians start their children's schooling at this stage as children are expected to have basic reading and writing skills when they commence primary school. Students proceed to primary school at the age of five. Seven years are spent in primary school (beginning from infants 1). During the final year of primary school (standard 5), students prepare for and sit the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA), which determines the secondary school the child is to attend. For most children and parents, this is a very stressful period. Students attend secondary school for a minimum of five years and their first major exam is the local NCSE ( National Certificate of Secondary Education) examinations, which is done in the third year of this system and administered by the Ministry of Education. The next major exam of the system which is done in the fifth year of school is CSEC ( Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate). Children with satisfactory grades may opt to continue high school for a further two-year period (6th form), leading to the

Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is an examination board in the Caribbean. It was established in 1972 under agreement by the participating governments in the Caribbean Community to conduct such examinations as it may think appropriate an ...

(CAPE). Both CSEC and CAPE examinations are held by the

Caribbean Examinations Council The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) is an examination board in the Caribbean. It was established in 1972 under agreement by the participating governments in the Caribbean Community to conduct such examinations as it may think appropriate an ...

(CXC). Public primary and secondary education is free for all, although private and religious schooling is available for a fee.

Tertiary education

Trinidad and Tobago offers free tertiary education to citizens up to the undergraduate level at accredited public and select private institutions. Both the Government and the private sector also provide financial assistance in the form of academic scholarships to gifted or needy students for study at local, regional or international universities.

References

External links

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Ministry of Education
- ''Official website''
Article
- ''Trinidad Guardian'' - 13 February 2009

Historical Analysis of the Development of Secondary Education in Trinidad and Tobago
"Historical development of education in Trinidad and Tobago".
{{Americas topic, Education in Society of Trinidad and Tobago

Tertiary education

See also

References

External links