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PM’s Message to SEA Students
Posted On 07 May 2014
My dear young citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, despite the many challenges we have had to face in the last few days and my extensive schedule of responsibilities, I am mindful that tomorrow, Thursday 8th of May 2014, is a particularly important day in the life of your education and personal development as a young citizen of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
From sources of the Ministry of Education and the Trinidad and Tobago Unified Teachers’ Association (TTUTA), I have it on good account that infrastructural challenges have been addressed and all seems well to facilitate the Secondary Entrance Assessment (SEA) Examination to be written tomorrow, Thursday.
I am well aware that examinations can be stressful and formidable but I urge you, as Prime Minister, to not allow your nerves and concerns to overwhelm your resolve to prepare yourselves properly, plan your strategies well and get a good night’s rest and relaxation in order to ensure you realise your fullest potential in participating positively in the SEA.
You have prepared and learned and now it is the time to prove your worth and confidence after much commendable hard work and commitment.
Your parents, guardians, friends and family are rooting for you and supporting you with prayers and good feelings.
My advice is to wake up early, thank God for life and the opportunity to learn, nourish yourselves properly and then concentrate fully, all that you have learned over the past few months, into doing your best at this academic goal.
I wish to express my pride in each and every one of the 18,345 students participating in the SEA.
I am confident that you will do your best and extend my congratulations to you all on your efforts to excel. I am confident that in the near future you will all make outstanding citizens and contribute significantly to a better society. Go with God’s richest blessings and do your part in making Trinidad and Tobago a better place through your academic achievement.
I join with my Government and your families in praying for your overall success.
Honourable Kamla Persad-Bissessar, S.C., M.P.
Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
In your message to SEA students you said “You have prepared and learned and now it is the time to prove your worth and confidence after much commendable hard work and commitment”. It would be a pity that after all this hard work that in a couple years when they reach to apply for their national id, drivers permit, bank card, even national housing that they realize that someone has applied for it before them because someone used their PIN which the Ministry of Education insists on publishing in the newspaper to apply before them.
We speak to citizen-centric systems in accessing services provided by the government but if we fail to secure our citizens data we would be doing them more harm than good.
Please do not again publish our children’s information on the national newspaper. An interesting article on identity theft could be found on the following site.
Interesting brochure for you to examine http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10064.pdf