NON-STATE ACTORS IN EDUCATION
2.2 Non-state education provision
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
- Early childhood care and education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Primary and secondary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
- Tertiary education (Entry/Establishment ○ Financial operation ○ Quality of teaching and learning ○ Equitable access ○ Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability)
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
The 1966 Education Act (as amended in 2012), governs all education levels from early childhood to tertiary level in Trinidad and Tobago and categorizes educational institutions into public, assisted private, and private educational institutions. The 1966 Education Act (as amended in 2012) refers to a ‘private school’ as a school provided and maintained by some person or authority other than the Government, while an ‘assisted school’ is defined as a public school. The Board of Management of each assisted school receives the public funds for building, extending, or rebuilding the school or for the equipment and facilities provided by the school.
2.1 State education provision
State schools
In Trinidad and Tobago, most education at primary (ages 5-12), junior secondary (ages 12-16) and upper secondary (2 years, ages 16-18) levels are provided by state schools. Education is compulsory from age five to 16 and free in the public system from pre-primary to tertiary level. However, the national policy requires that children have student permits issued by the Ministry of National Security before they can enrol in the education system; foreigners must provide student permits to attend schools.
Non-state managed, state schools
No information was found.
Non-state funded, state schools
The Ministry of Education (MOE) created the program ‘Adopt a School Program,’ which invites corporate citizens of Trinidad and Tobago and individuals to contribute to the most immediate need to schools such as supplying devices and further assistance.
2.2 Non-state education provision
Independent, non-state schools
Private schools are independently owned, managed and financed, charging student fees for attendance. Private schools must follow the national curriculum but may offer additional subjects.
State-funded (government-aided), non-state schools
Government-assisted schools are categorized as public schools in the national statistics. Assisted schools are run by private bodies but receive financial assistance from the state, and are administered by a Board of Education, jointly with the Ministry of Education. According to the National Consultation on Education 2020, the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is responsible for the construction of schools throughout Trinidad and Tobago. After construction, however, the ownership and right of direct control, governance and management of all denominational primary and secondary schools are entrusted to the denominations’ Board of Education (BED). Denominational Schools are schools established by the Concordat of 1961 through a state-church partnership; these schools receive state subsidies, grants and state covering costs, and staff salaries and pensions. In 2020, there were 340 denominational primary schools and 44 denominational secondary schools in the public school system. According to the National Child Policy, privately owned schools and those controlled by church/denominational boards represent 63%. Of these, approximately 51% are owned by religious denominations, are government-assisted receiving financial aid from the Government and are jointly administered by the Ministry of Education.
Contracted, non-state schools
No information was found.
2.3 Other types of schools
Homeschooling
In Trinidad and Tobago homeschooling is permitted. In 2020, classes transitioned to online modalities to ensure that students remained safe and still learning. The Ministry of Education (MoE) in collaboration with various stakeholders, developed the program ‘No Child Left Behind,’ which was established to ensure that children in need are provided with the necessary equipment to access virtual learning.
Market contracted (Voucher schools)
No information was found.
Unregistered/Unrecognised schools
No information was found.
Migrant Education
‘Equal Place’ is a joint effort offered by UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency, UNICEF, Living Water Community, and TTVSOLNET (Trinidad and Tobago Venezuela Solidarity Network) to assist asylum-seekers, refugees, and other eligible children in need to access accredited education. The programme, anchored in the national curricula, makes content available through an e-learning platform available to all primary and secondary-level children who cannot access the local formal system.
In Trinidad and Tobago, the national education system (for all levels of education) is centrally governed and regulated by the Ministry of Education (MoE). At the early childhood care and education level, the MoE through the Early Childhood Care and Education Division oversees both public and private ECCE centers. Higher Education is under the governance of the Accreditation Council, responsible for overseeing quality and accountability mechanisms across the tertiary education sector and conducting the accreditation and recognition of post-secondary and tertiary education.
Vision: According to the 2020-2030 National Child Policy, ‘to achieve positive outcomes for our children true partnership is required. There should be collaboration and coordination within and across government ministries and between the government and civil society, and between development partners, the private sector, civil society, and government ministries.’ The Draft Education Policy Paper 2017-2022 established that ‘the Ministry will facilitate private sector engagement in support of the needs of the education system.’
3.1 Regulations by distinct levels of education
In Trinidad and Tobago, early childhood care and education (ECCE) is divided into infant and toddler care (ages 0 - 3) and early childhood education centers (ages 3 – 6). ECCE is delivered through (i) government-assisted centers that are generally either state-run or government partnerships with NGOs or denominational groups; (ii) SERVOL centers funded by the Government; and (iii) private centers owned and managed by entrepreneurs or institutions. However, ECCE education is mostly provided by non-state actors, including NGOs, church-base, private centers, and SERVOL, a community-based and parent-center nursery school.
Registration and approval: To operate a non-state ECCE service in Trinidad and Tobago, individuals, partnerships, churches, non-governmental organizations, or companies must register with the MoE (through the Education Officer responsible for Early Childhood Care and Education Division). According to the Registration of Private ECCE Centres, providers must be in operation for at least one month before submitting their application with the written approval of other governmental agencies, including the Fire Services, Water and Sewerage Authority, Electrical Inspectorate, Nursery Association of Trinidad and Tobago, and the business registry with the Ministry of Legal Affairs. According to the 2005 National Policy on Early Childhood Care and Education, once the ECCE Provider has registered the Centre, the provider will be given five (5) years from the date of registration to complete the licensing procedure, thereby upgrading the Centre to a fully licensed ECCE center endorsed by the Ministry of Education, as meeting the requirements of a quality ECCE facility. All ECCE centers must be registered with the Ministry of Education ECCE Division. Application for registration must include documentation on the number of rooms, operating hours, ECCE ownership and must include at least one qualified teaching staff. The Education Authority then conducts an inspection to determine whether the minimum requirements have been met, including staffing and their qualifications, health and safety practices, facilities, and infrastructure, including toilets, room area, and ground accommodation.
Licence: The licensing process has not yet been implemented. Licenses are granted for three years by the Ministry of Education and must pay for the fee for licensing. According to the 2000 Children’s Community Residences, Foster Care and Nurseries Act (as amended in 2012), a person who manages a nursery without a license is liable to a monetary fine.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: The Public/Private Partnership initiative is an MoE initiative to increase universal access to ECCE, in which the government pays private providers for spaces in their ECCE setting, subsidizing ECCE centers both managed by NGOs or church-based providers. For a private provider to be considered for the PPP initiative, they must comply with the governmental criteria after assessing the provider.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Private ECCE must cover the areas and objectives covered in the national Early Childhood Care and Education Curriculum Guide. Furthermore, the National Policy on Early Childhood Care and Education provides general guidelines and standards to plan, include, and design the curriculum.
Teaching profession: There must be at least one certified teaching staff with the minimum certification qualifications from a recognized Tertiary Institution. All staff members must get legal clearance through a police certificate of good character to work at an ECCE center and should employ an adequate number of qualified staff to meet individual needs of teacher-child ratio in each center. ECCE centers must have written personnel policy, setting out their recruitment and selection procedures.
Sanctions on center/school closures: According to the 2000 Children’s Community Residences, Foster Care and Nurseries Act (as amended in 2012), if a provider breaches any license authorization requirements, the Educational Authority may revoke the nursery license.
Fee-setting: According to the Education Policy Paper 2017-2022, government-assisted centers do not charge a tuition fee, while private ECCE center fees vary.
Admission selection and processes: Any child between the ages of three and five can be enrolled in an ECCE center. However, each center has its enrolment policy.
Policies for vulnerable groups: No information was found.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Reporting requirements: Providers are required to complete and submit to the ECCE Division the Annual Statistical Returns Data Form to the Research Department of the ECCE Division.
School inspection: Any authorized person may enter the premises of the institution to assess compliance with the requirements for licensing.
Child assessments: No information was found.
Registration and approval: According to the 1966 Education Act (amended in 2012), all non-state educational institutions in Trinidad and Tobago must be registered and licensed by the Ministry of Education. All applications must be submitted to the Ministry of Education with the written approval of Water and Sewerage Authority, Regional Health Authority, Fire Services and Electrical Inspectorate. In addition, all applications must provide the course outline and a list of the teaching staff and their qualifications.
Licence: All private schools must be registered in the Register of Schools (1966 Education Act amended in 2012).
WASH: All private educational centers must comply with the requirements and certifications of the Ministry of Health and the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA).
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: No information was found.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: All schools (primary and secondary) must follow the national curriculum, but may offer additional subjects and extra-curricular activities.
Textbooks and learning materials: No information was found.
Teaching profession: Teachers must be registered on the Teachers’ Register to be employed in a private school. Teachers must comply with the academic qualifications to which they must attest when applying to the Teacher Registry. If a teacher in a private school is found to be guilty of misbehavior or any conduct that unfits him for employment as a teacher, the Minister may cause an inquiry, and if the teacher is found guilty the Minister may cancel the registration and remove the name from the Teacher’s Register. According to the 1966 Education Act (as amended in 2012), teachers in assisted schools are members of the Teaching Service when they are not employed for a specific period, or its terms and conditions are inconsistent with those of a person who holds office in the Teaching Service.
Corporal punishment: Corporal punishment in schools and community residences is prohibited.
Other safety measures and COVID-19: No information was found.
Admission selection and processes: Private schools are allowed to organize and structure their admission process. Government-assisted schools at the secondary level may admit up to 20% of their incoming class at the principal's discretion and the Ministry of Education assigns the remaining 80% based on the student's performance on a secondary school entrance exam (SEA) and a list of school choices.
Fee-setting: Assisted schools may not impose a charge of any kind on pupils in a public school except with the written permission of the Minister (1966 Education Act amended in 2012).
Policies for vulnerable groups: According to the National Child Policy 2020-2030, the GoRTT provides targeted assistance and social safety net programmes to students.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
School management/board: Assisted private schools are required to establish a Board of Management as the governing body in charge of control and management of the educational institution. The Board of Management is responsible for receiving, disbursing and accounting for the expenditure of public funds allocated to them.
Reporting requirements: All private schools must submit on an annual basis the number of days the school was open and the number of students enrolled (1966 Education Act amended in 2012).
School inspection: The Minister, or any authorized public officer, may enter and inspect the premises of any assisted or private educational institution during school hours.
Student assessments: National assessments are administered at the primary and secondary levels for public and private schools.
Diplomas and degrees: No information was found.
Sanctions: According to the 1966 Education Act (amended in 2012), if in the opinion of the Minister a private school ceases to fulfill the requirements for operation, the Minister may cancel the registration.
Registration and approval: According to the 2004 Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago Act, post-secondary and tertiary education providers must be registered at the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) to operate in Trinidad and Tobago. Providers must submit their request to the ACTT and meet the minimum requirements in seven categories in which they are evaluated; (1) Legal, Policy and Regulatory Requirements, (2) Governance and Administration, (3) Quality Management System, (4) Resource Management, (5) Teaching-Learning Process, (6) Review and (7) Continuous Improvement. Institutions that meet the criteria for registration must pay a Certification Free and be provided with a Certificate of Registration and placed on the Register of Post-secondary and Tertiary institution. Institutions may be required to obtain ACTT’s authorization to use the title (“university,” “community college,” “technical institute”) they wish to be registered under. Foreign or translational programmes may apply for Recognition of Translational Programmes and comply with the requirements stated by Law.
Licence: The Board of Directors of the ACTT is responsible for deciding on the registration request after considering the External Evaluators’ Site Visit Report. Registration is awarded for a maximum of 3 years, after which the institution must re-apply to maintain its status. Institutions are required to pay an annual registration fee and are eligible to seek accreditation by ACTT.
Profit-making: No information was found.
Taxes and subsidies: Approved private tertiary institutions may benefit from the GATE Programme, which provides financial assistance to the citizens of Trinidad and Tobago to attend tertiary education, including private institutions.
Quality of teaching and learning
Curriculum and education standards: Tertiary institutions in Trinidad and Tobago must request programme approval from the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT). According to the General Conditions of Registration for Post-Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, institutions must possess academic standards for qualification at levels equivalent to programmes to develop nationally, regionally and internationally.
Teaching profession: According to the General Conditions of Registration for Post-Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, the institution’s faculty must possess appropriate qualifications to the level of qualifications being awarded and in the areas appropriate and relevant to the programmes they deliver.
Fee-setting: No information was found regarding the fee setting of private tertiary education. However, the Future of Tertiary Education and Skill Training 2015-2025 dictates for the Committee to develop a more objective and comprehensive method to determine tuition fees for programmes delivered by private tertiary level institutions.
Admission selection and processes: According to the General Conditions of Registration for Post-Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, institutions must have clear policies defining admission, graduation, and withdrawal policies for all its programmes.
Quality assurance, monitoring and accountability
Management/board: According to the Criteria, Standards and Examples of Evidence Required for the Conferment of Institutional Title, an institution must have a well-organized and legally constituted governing body/board congruent with the mission and purpose of the institution.
Report requirements: Institutions are required to submit an annual report on a prescribed form with information about student enrolment, changes in ownership, opening or closures of sites and/or campuses, changes in any criteria evaluated in the registration process. In addition, institutions can voluntarily seek accreditation from the ACTT, for this they must meet the five categories in which quality is evaluated and recognised; (1) mission and purpose, (2) governance and administration, (3) teaching and learning, (4) Preparedness for Change, and (5) Commitment to Continuous Improvement. Furthermore, institutions may undertake external validation of the quality of their programnes from the ACTT for programme approval, before the programme is run for the first time.
Inspections: According to the General Conditions of Registration for Post-Secondary and Tertiary Institutions, registered institutions must facilitate a visit if requested by the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) to monitor the institution’s activities and investigate any complaints against the registered institution.
Student assessments: No information was found.
Diplomas and degrees: HEIs must have the Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT) approval to use the appropriate titles in their diplomas.
Sanctions: The Accreditation Council of Trinidad and Tobago (ACTT), may suspend, revoke or cancel any institution’s registration if an institution fails to comply with the conditions for registration or any applicable laws, fails to submit annual reports required, non-payment of fees, or in the case where information contained in the application is found to be false, misleading or incorrect. An institution that had its registered status revoked may re-apply for initial registration no less than one year after the revocation was enacted. An institution may also voluntarily withdraw or terminate the registered status.
3.2 Supplementary private tutoring
No information was found.
Financial operation and quality
No information was found.
No information was found.
