The Ministry of Education has agreed to reverse its decision to change the award to be presented to the pupil who was identified by it as the top performer in the 2020 Secondary Entrance Examination (SEA) exam.
The ministry reversed the decision to award Ameerah Beekhoo the President Medal (Silver) instead of the President Medal (Gold) after lawyers representing her parents threatened to file legal action over the issue earlier this week.
In correspondence, obtained by Guardian Media, the family’s lawyers Anand Ramlogan, SC and Jared Jagroo, pointed out that in October 2020, the ministry informed Beekhoo, a former San Fernando TML Primary School pupil, that she had topped the examination.
They said the announcement was made at the ministry’s headquarters and Beekhoo, who currently attends Naparima Girls’ High School, was presented with a laptop, cellphone and a Bmobile internet contract.
However, in a subsequent letter sent on March 31 this year, Beekhoo was invited to attend an award ceremony at President’s House, next Monday, and was told that she would receive the President Medal (Silver).
The family’s lawyers claimed that they were “naturally confused” by the subsequent letter.
“We pause to note that at no time did our clients request a review or remark of their daughter’s exam script and/or placement and at no time were they advised that any such review would be conducted, nor did they authorise same,” Jagroo said.
Jagroo claimed that the switch in position would cause irreparable harm, as Beekhoo had been identified as the top performer publicly.
“The ministry, having publicly announced that Ameerah placed first in the SEA examination with an official awards ceremony which was covered by the media, cannot now, two years later, simply invite her to another awards ceremony hosted by the Head of State, Her Excellency the President of the Republic of T&T and casually indicate that she is to receive a prize for placing second,” he said.
“This violates our client’s legitimate expectation and is patently unfair. It also breaches her constitutional right to protection of the law and equality of treatment.”
Jagroo suggested that the ministry should have consulted before any change was made.
“Our clients are concerned that such conduct will undermine public confidence in the SEA examination and expose the ministry to charges of unfair, secret manipulation of the results,” he said.
Jagroo requested the disclosure of the reasons for the change and claimed that his clients may seek an injunction to address the issue.
In a letter sent to the principal of Beekhoo’s primary school, Wahida Mohammed-Narine, on Tuesday, acting Chief Education Officer Lisa Henry-David stated that the ministry had decided to rescind the previous correspondence and award Beekhoo the President’s Medal (Gold).
“The undue distress to Ms Beekhoo and her family is deeply regretted,” Henry-David said.
