Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Vice-Prime Minister (VPM), Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, held, today, a press conference at the seat of her Ministry, in Phoenix, to provide information about the resumption of classes for the second term of 2021.
The second term, which starts on 13 September 2021, will be extended by two weeks until 17 December 2021, she announced. During the press conference, the VPM also detailed the necessary arrangements made by her Ministry to ensure that students can complete their syllabus in the best possible conditions.
At the outset, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun underscored that, from 13 September to 15 October 2021, classes will take place under the same conditions as for the first term, that is on an alternate basis.
The Minister also stated that students of Grades 4, 5, 6, 9, EP 9+, 11 and 13 will attend classes on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, while those of Grades 1, 2, 3, 7, EP 7, 8, EP 8, EP 9, 10 and 12 will attend classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
As from 18 October 2021 and until the end of the second term, she outlined, classes will resume normally for all students, that is from Monday to Friday.
She further stressed that all precautionary and sanitary protocols, such as regular washing and sanitising of hands, wearing of face masks and social distancing, will still be thoroughly observed so as to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus among students.
VPM Dookun-Luchoomun indicated that this resumption plan has been discussed with all stakeholders while considering that students must be able to study in a safe environment.
According to her, the modular assessment for Science as well as for History and Geography for the Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC) will take place under same prevailing conditions at the end of the second term.
Moreover, the VPM informed that the last term will start on 10 January 2022 and will also be extended by two weeks to end on 29 April 2022, instead of 15 April 2022. The objective behind these extensions, she pointed out, is to enable students to complete their respective syllabus.
She further underlined that there will be a reprioritisation of the curriculum, thus resulting in a modification of the assessment syllabus for PSAC and the National Certificate of Education.
The holistic aspect of education would however be maintained, she added. As regards pre-primary and special education needs schools, they will also resume on a staggered basis from 13 September to 15 October 2021.
As from 18 October 2021, all students will attend classes from Mondays to Fridays and the same extensions of two weeks will apply for the second and third terms.
Same conditions will similarly apply for tertiary education students, who will have to be physically present for classes as from October 2021. For their part, Rodrigues and Agalega will still maintain their normal school calendar.
Furthermore, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun outlined that sensitisation campaigns will be carried out regularly in schools so as to ensure that students observe necessary sanitary measures.
She also stressed on the importance for students to resume school normally in order to complete their studies in the best way possible. Before concluding, she appealed to students to scrupulously observe precautionary and sanitary measures not only in schools but also at home. She also called upon parents, teachers and students to act responsibly so as to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus.
