Government is constantly working towards promoting all our children’s best interests, as evidenced by the philosophy of the Nine Years of Continuous Basic Education Reform which is based on equity, inclusion, and quality.

The Vice-Prime Minister (VPM), Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, made this statement, today, during a press conference held at The Core Building in Ebène.

VPM Dookun-Luchoomun highlighted that work concerning the Reform started in 2017 at primary level with a series of programmes, such as amongst others, the Learner Development Profile, the Primary School Readiness Programme, and the Holistic Education for which more than 700 holistic teachers were recruited. She reminded that, in a spirit of equity, the Ministry ensured that all students are exposed to technology. For instance, children of Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4 already have their tablets while those in Grades 5 and 6 will soon receive theirs, she observed.

The Vice-Prime Minister remarked that the Early Support Programme was also introduced so as to accompany those children who need additional attention. She emphasised that all these programmes and measures have been implemented with the aim of ensuring that all children can succeed on the academic front.

Furthermore, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun reiterated Government’s endeavour of ensuring that every child benefits from nine years of continuous basic education. In fact, research has proven that children benefitting from same are mature enough for higher studies or technical training, she said. This education model has been implemented in several countries around the world and has yielded positive results, she reassured.

Speaking about the World Bank Report, she underscored that since its publishing to date, a lot of work has been carried out by her Ministry in order to ensure that all children can fulfil their potential along different pathways. She also stated that all the pedagogy around the Extended Programme aims at rebuilding the child’s self-confidence and motivation in order to be successful in the early years of their life.

It is recalled that in 2018, some 2,000 children of the Extended Programme undertook the National Certificate of Education examinations and most of them received an Attainment Certificate. Around 71 were admitted to Grade 10, while some 487 joined the Mauritius Institute of Training and Development. The progress of these children is constantly being monitored by the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology.