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From Archives Issue No.3 - Feb 02 |
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Links to prior Education features
Jan 02 - India - Fundamental Rights for 6 - 14 year olds
Dec 01 - Learning Difficulties
Mauritius - investing in Education
Some of the recent news headlines on Mauritius surround the government's latest mission to improve their economy further and move into higher value sectors particularly information technology. How has Mauritius succeeded where many parts of Africa have failed? Education plays a big role in the equation, but before this is considered some facts on Mauritius and its history are examined
Constitutional establishment in Mauritius underwent development from its first establishment in 1825 to introduction of the ministerial system and general elections in 1959. These systems were further amended prior to independence in 1968. A democratically elected government and political stability have remained constant since independence and these factors have been vital in allowing the economy to flourish.
The economy itself has been based around successful exportation of sugar, textiles, clothing and the development of appropriate tourism. Mauritians have enjoyed an average growth rate of 5.4% for the last 20 years, well above the majority of African countries. It is the leading exporter of manufactures in sub-saharan Africa. A recent report from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) highlights the success of Mauritius but advocates the need to turn towards financial services, and information technology.
In line with this, the government has proposed its plans to invest heavily in developing information technology. It aims to create what it terms "cyber cities" through investment in infrastructure, training, housing and communications. This will lessen the reliance on sugar exportation and will prevent excessive pressure on the tourist industry which is governed by strict environmental regulation.
The success of the economy is intertwined with 3 vital components; political stability, social cohesion and education. The importance of education and the investment shown by Mauritius is apparent. Education statistics offered by the Ministry of Education for 2001 demonstrate the following:
From these statistics it can be recognized that both pre-primary and primary education are highly valued and of significant priority in Mauritius. Although there is a fall in percentage for the number of pupils attending secondary schools this can be partially equated for by those attending technical or vocational schools, plus the falling off of pupils staying on to take the Higher School Certificate Examination in the last 2 years of schooling (lower IVth and upper IVth).
There are also a smaller number of state-administered secondary schools in comparison to state administered primary schools and this causes intense rivalry and pressure on students to perform in their CPE exams so to gain a place in the best state secondary schools. According to a report from the Ministry of Education & Scientific Research in 2001, it is proposed that to alleviate some of this pressure, approximately 50 new state schools are to be built by 2006. This should facilitate an increase in the number of pupils in secondary schooling in Mauritius.
If education statistics from NewAfrica.com are analyzed and Mauritius is compared with some of its closest neighbours; Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Madagascar, the emphasis and success of education in Mauritius is further highlighted.
The government's latest initiatives for higher order industry and the move into a greater service-based economy will inevitably lead to the need for a more highly skilled educated workforce. This in turn will mean that the already solid educational foundations within Mauritius will have to be further strengthened and should result in increased public and private expenditure on education. The demand within Mauritius for a skilled and educated workforce will act as a significant encouragement for pupils to continue with their studies. Higher Education is already catered for with such institutions as the University of Mauritius which has a range of academic programmes from undergraduate to PhD.
With uncontrollable natural phenomenons like the recent cyclone Dina which hit Mauritius in late January causing wide-scale damage to the sugar cane crop and devastated the tourist industry, the need for an alternative source of economy is very apparent. Venturing further into the high tech and financial industries is a positive pathway to continued economic and educational success.
When most people think of the country Mauritius their first thoughts are to idyllic white sands, turquoise waters, everpresent sunshine, a tropical paradise. And, they are right. Mauritius is a stunningly beautiful island in the Indian Ocean and features many upmarket resorts for the tourist industry. However, what most people are unaware of unless they have been fortunate enough to visit the island, is the economic development, political stability and educational commitment of the country.
Mauritius is a volcanic island and has a population of 1.2million made up of Europeans, Asians and Africans. It was first settled by the Dutch in 1598 who subsequently abandoned it in 1710. France had a brief takeover in 1715, it was then seized by the British in 1810. Mauritius gained independence in 1968 and became a constitutional monarchy. 24 years later, it achieved the status of a Republic on 12 March 1992.
Pre-primary Education
Primary Education
Secondary Education
Technical/Vocational Education
Statistics
Mozambique
Tanzania
Madagascar
Mauritius
Pre Primary Enrollment Ratio
Not Available
Not Available
4%
104%
Primary Enrollment Ratio
60%
67%
92%
106%
Secondary Enrollment Ratio
Not Available
6%
16%
65%
Adult Literacy
43.2%
74.7%
65.7%
84.2%
Pupils per teacher
58
37
37
Not Available
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Sources/Further Information
New Africa
Ministry of Education
Africa Online
World Bank