Africa-Press – Mauritius. The outstanding performance of a cohort of 21 laureates for Additional Scholarships based on the Merit and Social Criteria who sat for the Cambridge Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations 2022, was celebrated, today, during a reception held at the State House in Réduit.
The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun; the Vice-President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Marie Cyril Eddy Boissézon; the Prime Minister, Mr Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun; and Lady Sarojini Jugnauth, were present on the occasion.
In his address, President Roopun, underscored that the ceremony holds a special significance as it is particularly dedicated to additional laureates who have earned a well-deserved recognition, with the unflinching support of their parents and teachers.
“The latter have been your unwavering pillars of support, constantly encouraging and motivating you to pursue your studies and giving that extra push when needed”, he observed.
He also made a special mention for all teachers who have worked tirelessly and selflessly to encourage the growth and development of children and instill, in them, a passion for learning.
Education, he emphasised, is the cornerstone of the progress of Mauritius while adding that the country has witnessed a successful transformation over time thanks to the capabilities of young and educated individuals.
“Access to education is a right”, he stated, and “Government is committed to providing equal and fair learning opportunities by making education free in Mauritius”.
He further encouraged the laureates to adopt sane and healthy habits, strong values and principles and determination in their never-ending learning process.
In his speech, Prime Minister Jugnauth, while congratulating the laureates and their parents for the commendable achievements, also observed that they have gone through a tough battle and sacrifice in the pursuit of excellence.
Hard work, sacrifice, perseverance, dedication and patience are prerequisite for achieving success, he said. He underlined that in the wake of crisis and the attempt to improve the standard of living of the country, it is crucial to strengthen the abilities of our young people to propel Mauritius to new heights of development.
Government, he stated, believes that it is necessary to provide equal learning opportunities to everyone including children from the weaker sections of the society.
“Our vision is to create a bright new future where technology and AI have an even more important role to play”, he stressed.
“In this knowledge oriented based area”, he observed, “our youth are agents of change to explore new areas that will enable the country to forge ahead in this ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation.
” Government, he indicated, has set up new institutions such as the Polytechnics to equip the youth with necessary technical skills to shape the digital future of Mauritius and make our country thrive on knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship.
The Prime Minister exhorted the youth to give their best in their academic pathway and their personal lives and adopt values such as compassion, community wellbeing and social cohesion so that they contribute to shaping a better tomorrow for the country.
The Merit Based and Social Criteria Scholarship, he pointed out, showcases the commitment of Government to equity, justice and fairness in the field of education.
He appealed to the laureates to serve the country while adding that he looks forward to seeing the laureates, after their higher studies, at the cutting-edge areas especially with the emergence of technology.
As for Vice-Prime Minister, she indicated that additional scholarships are awarded following the proclamation of the list of laureates to enable more deserving students to have recourse to fully funded scholarships, with the option of studying locally for graduate degrees or abroad for post-graduation.
She commended the laureates for their enduring investment, effort, and hard work in their educational path while highlighting that financial constraints should not act as a hindrance to learning.
To this end, Government, she underscored, has further expanded and democratised Scholarships Schemes such as the HSC PRO Scholarship and the Sir Anerood Jugnauth National Scholarship to create more opportunities for the youth regardless of their background.
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