Prime Minister Dr Navin Ramgoolam and  President Mr Dharam Gokhool have strongly appealed to all the HSC 2024 lauretes to come back after their studies to serve their country. They were speaking at a reception hosted this morning in honour of the 2024 laureates at the State House.

The Prime Minister, Dr Navinchandra Ramgoolam, the Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Jean Robert Yvan Hungley, the Minister of Education and Human Resource, Dr Mahend Gungapersad and several personalities and family members of laureates were also present.

Addressing the laureates President Gokhool, himself a former Education Minister in a previous government, congratulated them for their outstanding accomplishment. He highlighted that laureates will embark on a new chapter of their life at a time when unprecedented changes and challenges are transforming their surroundings. As the world is being shaped by Artificial Intelligence, climate change, social transformation and tensions of conflicts, it is our collective challenge to navigate with confidence, resilience, compassion and courage, he said.

University studies, he underscored, are a wonderful opportunity to deepen the intellect, shape the character and widen the overall vision of the world. He recalled that the ecosystem in which laureates will evolve calls for new attitudes and mindsets given that the world is now a global village.

Furthermore the President urged laureates to embrace the world with an open mind, curiosity, responsibility, courage and compassion. Their talents and resourcefulness, he emphasised, are necessary to shape a better future and a better Republic for all. He also cautioned that they will sometimes face setbacks, failure and difficult situations, but nonetheless he encouraged them to be resilient and patient in all situations.

Prime Minister Ramgoolam, for his part, underlined that there can be no success without hard work, discipline and perseverance. He commended the laureates for their achievements, as well as teachers and parents for their continuous support. Higher education, he pointed out, is a unique opportunity for both professional and personal development. As such, he urged laureates to strike the right balance between social enrichment and academic studies.

The Prime Minister also called upon laureates to have an open and curious mind while pursuing their higher studies as learning is an ongoing process. “Encouraging you to always ask questions and think for yourself is one of the greatest gifts that education can bestow”, he remarked.

Dr Ramgoolam pointed out that Government is investing on laureates for their studies. He appealed to those studying abroad to return to the country and put their acquired knowledge and innovative ideas at the service of the country to contribute to its development. Government is creating an environment where talents can flourish and where youth can have a fruitful career to further develop the country, he added.

As for Minister Gungapersad, he outlined that laureates need to be praised for the efforts they have put in throughout the years. He also commended parents and teachers for their support and called for laureates to serve the country after completing higher studies.