Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Johanne Prosper
Published on 2024-02-26 08:00:42
They are having difficulty meeting the criteria of a minimum of 150 students
For the 2024 school year, four private colleges have obtained provisional registrations from the Private Secondary School Education Authority (PSEA). This means that they risk having their subsidies cut off in the next school year. Last year, three colleges were already closed for failing to reach the minimum required number of 150 students to operate.
Nelson College in Saint-Pierre, Darwin College in Flacq, St Bartholomew’s College, and Alpha College in Port Louis are the four private secondary institutions that have obtained temporary registration from the PSEA for the 2024 school year. The reason being that they are having difficulty meeting the minimum criterion of 150 students to qualify for government subsidies.
In the sector, there are new threats of closure after five institutions were deprived of subsidies last year, taking into account the two departments of the Mauritius College due to tense industrial relations in recent years. The three colleges involved – Beau-Bassin High School, Merton College in Pamplemousses, and Medco Cassis – were penalized for failing to meet the minimum criterion of 150 students.
While it is true that the number of students has been decreasing, from preschool to secondary school, in recent years due to a demographic decline in that age group, school administrators also lament the way colleges are allocated after the PSAC exams. “Everyone knows that priority is given to state colleges. We, private colleges, only get what’s left,” says a school principal.
Ramdass Ellayah, president of the Federation of Private College Managers, regrets the lack of communication with the PSEA. “If we at least had meetings, we could have discussed the problems and found solutions. But there is no communication with the PSEA. Everything is done unilaterally. This is not good for democracy,” he denounces.
He also questions whether the criterion of 150 students is applied equitably to all institutions. “Some may not have this number of students, but they continue to operate, while others have had to close,” he points out. Private operators also have questions about certain regional state colleges, where the number of admissions is relatively low. “According to MES statistics for the 2023 HSC, Darwin College, which is on the PSEA red list, had 28 candidates, among whom 21 passed. In the same region, Camp de Masque State College had 26 candidates, and 14 passed. Elsewhere, it is also noted that Emmanuel Anquetil State College had only 16 candidates and Loreto Bambous Virieux, 8. So the question arises: how many students do these institutions have?” they wonder.
Other private institutions are on the borderline, even if they are not among those with temporary registrations. Some have revised their strategy by becoming co-educational, others have benefited from the redeployment after the closure of five colleges last year. For example, an institution in the upper Plaines Wilhems regions, which had privileged links with Mauritius College, saw the closure of the college as a windfall to fill its classrooms. A total of 900 students were redeployed following the closure of the five aforementioned colleges. There are also 144 teachers and 68 Non-Teaching Staff.
Bhujoharry College in Rose-Belle without water
Bhujoharry College in Rose-Belle is in a complicated situation after the PSEA refused to fund the replacement of a water pump. The one that was in service was damaged, and the college management requested the authority to purchase a new pump.
“According to the new regulations, everything must go through the PSEA. We must first obtain approval before making an expense. To my surprise, I was told that the water pump is not among the authorized items. However, water is an essential element for the school to function properly,” laments Ramdass Ellayah, the Manager.
The PSEA letter dated February 23 states, “According to items recommended for grant purposes under the CGF2024-2026, the Authority regrets to inform you that the water pump is not covered in the list of authorized expenditures. As a result, expenditures that are not specifically covered have to be met out of Compensation for Use of School Premises paid to the school.”
Candle Light for Kevin
The Union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE) plans a Candle Light event in memory of Kevin Ramlall. This former non-teaching staff member of Darwin College in Flacq died after falling from the college roof while performing waterproofing work.
UPSEE had denounced the fact that this task was not within its responsibilities. The union now demands “justice for Kevin.” The event, which was supposed to take place in the Plaza courtyard on Friday, has been postponed to a later date due to bad weather.
Read the original article(French) on Le Mauricien
