Africa-Press – Mauritius. The Vice-Prime Minister (VPM), Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, gave an overview of the achievements of her Ministry for year 2022, today, during a press conference in Ebène.
Representatives of the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology and of other institutions were present on this occasion. VPM Dookun-Luchoomun highlighted that since 2016, a transformation of the education sector has taken place so as to enhance the local system.
The aim, she pointed out, was to attain equity, better quality and equal opportunities for all. She conceded that the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the education system for the past two years but the Ministry nonetheless adapted to the situation and ensured that students remained connected to their studies via online platforms.
She underlined that the school calendar was also extended so as to ensure that students complete their syllabus before sitting for exams. Speaking about achievements of her Ministry, the VPM underscored that, as far as the pre-primary sector is concerned, the curriculum has been reviewed so as to lay more emphasis on science and human value, amongst others, and ensure the development of young learners.
She also observed that child psychologists will be recruited next year to better support young learners, while the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) has formed more than 200 Educators.
Her Ministry, she added, also collaborated with the Rodrigues Regional Assembly to restructure the pre-primary sector in Rodrigues. With reference to the Special Education Needs (SEN) sector, the VPM outlined that the Special Education Needs Authority has registered some 70 schools to date.
She further pointed out that an international symposium on inclusion and special education needs was held this year. Moreover, government came up with, amongst others, a grant of Rs 100,000 per SENs institutions for enhancing the quality of education and facilities they provide.
The Ministry is also coming up with brail notes for those having sight problems and a Special Education Needs Resource and Development Centre will also be set up in Rodrigues, she added.
Regarding primary education, the VPM stated that some 481 support teachers have been trained by the MIE under the Early Support Programme, and this number is expected to increase next year.
The Early Digital Learning Programme, she indicated, will now be extended to Grades 5 and 6, with the support of India, while the After School Sports and Fitness Programme has been implemented.
In addition, she stated that the Academy for Education Professionals has been launched in a bid to ensure that teachers and heads of schools can prepare adequate programmes for students. The concept of healthy living will also be introduced at primary level, she shared.
As for secondary education, Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun affirmed that students of Grades 9, 10 and 11 will be able to pursue their Mauritian Creole studies and that the MIE has already produced textbooks for Grades 10 and 11.
The Technology Stream is likewise being worked out with the collaboration of stakeholders from Canada and Malaysia. She recalled that the Outdoors Education Programme has also been implemented on a pilot basis with the aim of encouraging students to go outside and be familiar with, for instance, historical sites in Mauritius.
She emphasised that massive investment is still being made at the secondary education level, while some Rs 5.1 billion has been contributed in forms of grants from Government to private secondary schools.
Furthermore, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun observed that much progress has been made as far as tertiary education is concerned. She stressed that more than 33,000 tertiary level students benefitted from free tertiary education. The University of Mauritius (UoM), she added, also ranked first on the Shanghai Global Ranking System for courses in Hospitality and Tourism.
She likewise indicated that the Université des Mascareignes has set up its laboratory for robotics, and that it has, along with UoM, the Open University of Mauritius and the University of Technology Mauritius, registered an increase in the number of students enrolled.
It has also been noted that foreign students are more and more present in Mauritius. Moreover, some 3,000 scholarships are available through a collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning.
The Ministry, she stressed, is coming up with the Institute for Curriculum Development, in collaboration with the Indian Government. Moreso, the VPM underscored that more than 3,500 students registered with Polytechnics Mauritius and that a first batch of graduates are already employed.
A new Technical Education Institution is being built in Beau Vallon and will soon be inaugurated, she further announced. As for the Association for the Development of Education in Africa Conference, she pointed out that it was held in Mauritius from 19 to 21 October 2022 on a hybrid mode and saw the participation of more than 800 participants and 12 Ministers from different countries.
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