Africa-Press – Mauritius. The reviewed free pre-primary education Grant-In-Aid Scheme was presented, this morning, by the Vice-Prime Minister (VPM), Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, in a stakeholders’ meeting, at the University of Mauritius, The Core Building in Ebène.
In her address to the managers of pre-primary schools registered under the Early Childhood Care and Education Authority, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun stated that the Grant-In-Aid Scheme has been revised to accommodate the apprehensions and proposals of stakeholders.
Eighty percent of the 775 pre-primary schools in Mauritius and approximately 18,500 children will benefit from the grant, she pointed out. The VPM indicated that the deadline for registration as Grant-Aided School has been extended to 16 October 2023.
Pre-primary schools not joining the Grant-In-Aid Scheme will still receive the per capita grant of Rs 400, she further added. The rationale of providing grants to pre-primary schools, she highlighted, is to bridge the existing instructional disparities.
Also, she maintained that these educational institutions will be empowered with adequate resources so as to promote the interests of children through the provision of quality support and education in their foundational years (aged three to five years).
Research has demonstrated that every dollar spent on pre-schooling can help the country reap up to eight to 16 dollars later as the children will have a better grounding and will succeed in life, the Education Minister shared.
Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun moreover stressed on the need to adopt international standards when devising the Grant-In-Aid Scheme that will be operational as from January 2024. For every 15 pre-primary learners, there will be one teacher and one assistant teacher.
One manager will be responsible for every school having a student population of less than 100 and schools exceeding 100 pre-primary students will also have an assistant manager. Moreover, the ratio school attendant to children will be 1:50.
The teachers, assistant teachers, managers, assistant managers and school attendants will be paid on a monthly basis by the State provided that the staff entitlement as stipulated in the Grant-In-Aid Scheme has been respected, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun affirmed. In addition, she announced that supplementary funds will be allocated for rental fees for some 100 pre-primary schools.
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