History of Northeastern College (NEC)

Northeastern College in Sangre Grande established in 1961, now has a present teaching  staff of about 80 and 1000 students with over 15,000 graduates. Northeastern College has been a beacon to the North Eastern part of Trinidad and Tobago in this beautiful town of Sangre Grande. The school started on its course of excellence under the leadership of the first principal Mr. Ralph Laltoo and a small but efficient staff. 

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Northeastern College initially named Sangre Grande Government Modern Secondary opened its doors to the students from Toco, Manzanilla, Mayaro, Tamana, Arima, Sangre Grande and environs on Tuesday, May 9, 1961 which was its first registration of students. A total of 105 students were registered. The parents were informed that the school had a three year status to which they objected and immediately formed a delegation to go to the Ministry of Education in Port of Spain on the same day of registration. On the 10th May, 1961, the school became a five year school and renamed Sangre Grande Government Secondary officially removing Modern from the name of the school. One year later on September 3rd 1962, the name was changed to Northeastern College by the very first principal Mr. Ralph. Laltoo.

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The school started with 3 form one classes Form 1-A, Form 1-B and Form 1-C with the form teachers Mr. Adams, Mr. Ramcharan and Mrs. Acque respectively. Maura Cooselal was the first head girl of Northeastern College. 

 

Initially Northeastern College's uniform were Gray Box Pleated Skirts and Blue Shirts for the girls and the boys wore Grey Short Pants with similar Blue Shirts as the girls. The boys also wore a silver/grey tie with silver/blue and grey diagonally stripes. This uniform was worn from 1961 to 1966. In 1966, the uniform was changed to White Shirts and Black Box Pleated skirt for the girls and Long Black Pants for the boys. For both boys and girls shirts were worn tucked into the skirts or pants. In 2015, the Principal, Mrs. Jesslyn Ramlal made another change to the uniform shirts to shirt jacks for the boys and blouses for the girls to be worn outside the skirts or pants.

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Northeastern College later added sixth form classes and was the first and only school in the North Eastern district to offer sixth form classes for a number of years.