Today marks the official start of the school year 2011 both for the primary and secondary education sectors. Some 16,603 new pupils enter primary schools while 15,871 join secondary schools. Other students head back to school tomorrow.
For this academic year in the Republic of Mauritius, pre-primary schools will accommodate some 30,400 children; 116,000 pupils are to attend the 277 primary schools and 115,000 students will be going to the 179 secondary schools. The number of students in the prevocational sector for 2011 revolves around 8,000. 4,200 teachers in primary sector and 2,900 teachers of secondary schools will work with, and follow the progress of, our students.
For 2011, action in the education sector will be geared mainly towards the implementation of the Education and Human Resources Strategy plan 2008-2020, in line with Government's commitment to bring about fundamental reforms in education.
The Enhancement Programme (EP), which advocates an innovative approach to learning aimed at enabling the overall development of children and which was implemented in standard IV in 2010, will be extended to standard III in all primary schools. The EP implies the application of differentiated pedagogical techniques and attention to the varied learning needs of children through the reinforcement of the academic component of school curriculum and the consolidation of the learning experience through a diversity of activities such as drama, music, painting, SLAM, sports and physical activities, among others.
To put an end to the practice of private tuition in standard IV, the Education Act will be amended at the next parliamentary session to regulate the control of private tuition. Moreover, the Sankoré project, a highly innovative initiative that will enable students and teachers to interact through enhanced computer capacity, will be implemented, with primary schools being equipped with the interactive tools and the introduction of contextualised e-learning materials.
The Minister of Education and Human Resources, Dr Vasant Bunwaree, has also announced that the ‘Zone d'éducation prioritaire’ (ZEP) project which facilitates improved educational participation and performance by poor children through education reform and community empowerment, will be revised. Consultations are also scheduled as regards the revamping of the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE).
It will also be recalled that in the secondary sector, concerning the H.S.C laureate scheme, the number of additional scholarships is to increase from 12 to 50 with 24 of the new scholarships for pupils from families with modest income. The new grant scheme for the S.C and H.S.C examination fees will support a larger number of students.
Physical Education will be offered as an examinable subject at O-level as from this year. In addition, the ministry is planning sensitisation campaigns on combating alcoholism and is working in collaboration with the Action Familiale and the Mauritius Family Planning and Welfare Association to improve the sex education component of the curriculum.