Dear Editor,
The National Spanish Exam from the Expertisecentrum voor Toetsen & Examens (ETE) which was scheduled to take place on May 22nd, 2019 at all secondary schools on the Dutch side of the island and the Netherlands has been compromised. This is due to the fact that the exam was administered at St. Maarten Academy P.S.V.E. the day before on May 21st, 2019.
The implication of this is that the Spanish exams would have to be annulled for all other schools that took the exam on May 22nd, 2019 except for the St. Maarten Academy P.S.V.E. Unfortunately, all other schools would have to re-do this Spanish exam during the re-sit period in June-July. This ultimately means that there will not be a final result for those schools because of this situation in time for graduation.
The major setback is for the student because those who may have done well on the first exam, may not get the same results during the final exam. This is not fair to the students who prepared for the exam for that day. It is unfortunate that there is no announcement from the minister of education neither from the division of exams regarding this situation.
It is with complete amazement to know that a blunder like this can be made in this day and age with so many checks and balances. I am pleading with the Honorable Minister Wycliffe Smith to look into this matter. The question this remains, why would the principal of St.Maarten Academy P.S.V.E administer the National Spanish exam the day before it is scheduled?
Finally, I am writing this as a parent of a student at MPC who knew the exam schedule and was informed by my son that his friends at St.Maarten Academy P.S.V.E did the Spanish exam the day before. Obviously, the exam was discussed.
Mrs. A Lopez.