COMPULSORY
PRIMARY EDUCATION
YEAR
2009
PRE-PRIMARY/PRIMARY/SECONDARY/TERTIARY
– SCHOOLING
RATE
(27/10/09)
(No. B/1061) Mr M.
Dowarkasing (Third Member for Curepipe & Midlands) asked Dr the hon.
Minister of Education, Culture & Human Resources whether he will state the
schooling rate at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels respectively,
indicating the measures taken as at to date to enforce compulsory
education.
Dr.
Bunwaree: Mr Deputy Speaker,
Sir, the schooling rate is generally measured by the Gross Enrolment Rate (GER),
which is the proportion of enrolment at a given level (i.e. pre-primary,
primary, secondary or tertiary) to the population of that corresponding school
age. The GER for 2008 is as follows; I am adding pre-primary although the
question was not put -
- pre-primary level - 94%
- primary level including
repeaters - 101%
- secondary level, covering academic and pre-vocational - 74
%
- tertiary level - 41%
Education is
compulsory up to the age of 16. However, it is also a fact that, while we have
almost 100% enrolment at the primary level, it is in the secondary sub-sector
that a drop-out is significantly seen. It must be kept in view that compelling
parents by legal means to keep their wards in schools will imply the imposition
of fines upon parents who may already be low-income earners.
Consequently,
enforcement of legal action will unduly penalise parents. However, increased
motivation and incentivisation would yield better dividends than the enforcement
of the law.
It is in this
context that my Ministry has initiated, in collaboration with other
institutions, namely the National Empowerment Foundation and IVTB, a series of
measures, with a view to facilitating and increasing access to education
-
(i) Under the
Eradication of Absolute Poverty (EAP) Programme, some 500 children have been
identified and admitted to pre-primary schools. This has an incidence on their
transition to primary level.
(ii) The Second
Chance Programme, currently being implemented by the IVTB in Mauritius and
Rodrigues, has extended the possibility for youngsters below the age of 21 and
who are not attending any formal training or are not in full time employment, to
be equipped to participate in an economic activity. This training programme
covers life skills management, basic literacy and numeracy, and advanced
literacy and numeracy.
(iii) Under the
Special Needs Education Programme, my Ministry is also keen on the mainstreaming
of many of those children who do not attend school because of physical
impairments of some kind. This is also part of the inclusive education process.
Hence, relevant technological support as well as infrastructural additions, in a
move towards discouraging those with a disability from dropping out of
school.
Finally, I would
like to inform the House that, as part of the computerisation process of the
Ministry, we are developing the School Administration and Management System
(SAMS) which will facilitate, inter alia, the tracking of learners as
well as those dropping out at the grass root level.
The following
measures are also being taken to increase the enrolment rate at the tertiary
level -
(i) providing a
greater diversity of programmes;
(ii) providing
opportunities for students who do not have 2 ‘A’ levels to enroll for higher
education through foundation programmes;
(iii) setting up of
the Open University of Mauritius;
(iv) creation of
more infrastructure to accommodate students;
(v) increasing
enrolment of publicly-funded tertiary education institutions, and
(vi) establishment
of brand name overseas institutions or their affiliates/centres/branches in
Mauritius.
However, I wish to
point out, Mr Deputy Speaker, that, while we are making every effort to increase
access at tertiary level, yet, we are committed towards maintaining a quality
education at that level.
Mr Deputy Speaker,
Sir, it is also to be noted that the measures introduced in the last two Budgets
of this Government, namely the provision of scholarships and Government
Guaranteed Loans under the Human Resource Knowledge and Arts Development Fund,
have enabled the democratisation of access to tertiary education.
The policy adopted
by this Government for the maintenance of free education, free transport
facilities and supplementary food programme, as well as provision of textbooks
for needy students, are all contributing towards increasing enrolment
levels.
Mr
Dowarkasing: I thank the hon.
Minister for his reply. Let me come first to the primary sector. The hon.
Minister has stated that the percentage is 101%, including the repeaters. Can we
know the percentage without the repeaters?
Dr.
Bunwaree: It is between 98
and 100; more towards 100 than towards 98. But as for the exact figure, we’ll
have to look into and come to the House.
Mr
Dowarkasing: Therefore, my next
question is: if we retain the figures of 98 or 100, it means that we have more
than 4% to 5 % of the children who are attending preprimary and getting direct
access to primary education. Has something been done in that area?
Dr.
Bunwaree: I mentioned a list
of measures that are being taken. In fact, we believe it is a very important
thing at all levels, be it pre-primary, primary and secondary.
But, according to
us, the most important part is at pre-primary and tertiary.
Mr
Dowarkasing: Mr Deputy Speaker,
Sir, I just want to know from the hon. Minister whether any special measures
have been taken to address the issue in the poverty and extreme poverty zone,
where eventually we can see children loitering on the streets during daytime and
not attending schools.
Dr.
Bunwaree: Yes, Mr Deputy
Speaker, Sir, in fact, this is what I have mentioned.
The EAP Programme
is, in fact, that. One difficulty is to identify, especially at pre-primary
level, where are those children. As the hon. Member is saying, we do find
children here and there. We are even using the possibility of surveying through
the children who are in primary and secondary schools, asking them who are the
younger children who could be in their residence and who are not attending
schools. A survey is being carried out, so that we can identify
them.
But we have all the
possibilities to get them on track and get them to school, provided we know. I
appeal to all Members of the House and all stakeholders to try to help us to
identify these children. In many cases, they are not identified.
Mr
Dowarkasing: I am just putting
this question because I think it is very important.
Mr Deputy Speaker,
Sir, for years - and the hon. Minister will agree with me - the schooling rate
at the primary level has remained more or less 94%-95%. It goes around an
average percentage. We are still missing 6% of children into our primary schools
and that has gone for years. If you go for statistics you will see for 5, 6, 7
or even more years this situation is prevailing. This means that maybe the
measures we are taking are not addressing the issue.
Could we know what
new measures can be envisaged in order to get everybody on the school
bench?
Dr.
Bunwaree: I beg to differ,
Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir. I explained that we are giving the gross enrolment
ratio. But if I take the enrolment at pre-primary age 3 and 4 years, in
2004-2005, for example, it was 84.9% and in 2009, it is 91%. So, we have
improved significantly and we are going to continue to improve. We have taken
certain measures, we are going to continue along these lines.
Mrs
Hanoomanjee: The Minister has
just mentioned with regard to the tertiary sector the Government Guaranteed
Loan. Can he say up to now, from the time this scheme has been put in place, how
many have benefited from this Government Guaranteed Loan?
Dr.
Bunwaree: I have already
answered to this question previously, but I don’t have the figure. But I did
mention that for the loans, people must come forward to apply for the loans. We
are trying to mediatise further so that people be aware that this facility
exists.
Mr
Gunness: With regard to the
policy of constructing pre-primary classes in the premises of primary schools,
has this been stopped or are we going ahead with that? I don’t hear any
pre-primary classes being constructed in the premises of primary
schools.
Dr.
Bunwaree: We are going
forward, but there is a survey which is done regularly.
One thing I can say
is that we have not stopped, but we have to do it judiciously.
The Deputy
Speaker: Last question from
the hon. Third Member of Curepipe and Midlands!
Mr
Dowarkasing: Thank you, Sir.
From his reply the hon. Minister has stated that he does not favour the
enforcement of the law. May I know from the hon. Minister whether any parent has
been taken to court due to the fact that they are not sending their children to
school?
Dr.
Bunwaree: Not to my
knowledge, Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir.
SCHOOLS - CHILDREN – ATTENDANCE
(19/11/13)
(No. B/910)
Mrs L. Ribot (Third Member for Stanley & Rose Hill) asked the
Minister of
Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare whether, in regard to the
primary school going age children, she will state the measures, if any, taken by
her Ministry in relation to those who are not attending school.
Mrs
Martin: Mr Speaker, Sir, according to
the Education (Amendment) Act 2004
and in line with
Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child to which Mauritius is
signatory, education is compulsory for all children up to the age of
16.
In this context,
non-compliance to schooling is an offence as per the provisions made in the
Education Act. On conviction, a responsible party is liable to a fine not
exceeding Rs10,000 and to a term of imprisonment not exceeding two years.
Furthermore,
article 28 of the CRC provides for the parents or others responsible for the
child, the primary responsibility to secure within their abilities and financial
capabilities, the conditions of living necessary for the child’s
development.
Mr Speaker, Sir,
whenever cases of primary school going aged children not attending school are
reported by the public to the CDU outstations, including the child protection
services of Vacoas, these are referred to the Ministry of Education and Human
Resources for action at their level. In parallel, my Ministry also undertakes
social enquiries on the reported cases as appropriate. Cases are referred for
actions to relevant stakeholders depending on the child’s specific situation.
These are,
inter alia, the National Empowerment Foundation which implements projects
under its Child and Family Development Programme with a view
to increasing
school attendance amongst vulnerable children. The ministry of Social Security,
National Solidarity and Reform Institutions which pays a monthly allowance of
Rs750 to families listed on the social register of Mauritius on condition that
the children have at least 90% school attendance rate. The Mauritius Police
Force, including the Brigade pour la Protection des Mineures which
prevents loitering of children in public places during school
hours.
Moreover,
crackdown operations are carried out on a regular basis throughout
the
island with a
view to discouraging absenteeism. As regards cases of children who have not been
registered at birth, My Ministry issues a referral letter to the school
concerned to facilitate the admission pending arrangements being made for their
birth certificates. And in conformity with CRC, my Ministry is fully aware that
going to school form part of the socialisation process of the child. In this
respect, we are working with all stakeholders to safeguard the best interest of
the child.
In an endeavour
to further encouraging school attendance and detecting prolonged
absenteeism of
children, my Ministry is involved in the following: conducting information,
education and communication campaigns through the school child protection clubs,
empowering parents under the école des parents programmes, strengthening
the surveillance mechanisms through the District Child Protection Committees and
Community Child Watch Committees and networking with Ombudsperson for Children’s
Office.
Under the
Working-Together Committee, a protocol of collaboration between my
Ministry and the
Ministry of Education and Human Resources was signed on 25 October 2012 with a
view to rationalising, improving and enhancing services in child protection and
development.
Furthermore, I am
informed that the Ministry of Education and Human Resources has put in place the
student tracking mechanism to ensure that children between five to sixteen years
attend school and that Educational Social Workers have among their duties, the
responsibility to identify children of school going age who are not attending
school and conduct parent education programmes for necessary
guidance.
Mrs
Ribot: Mr Speaker, Sir, in her speech
on the Budget on 16 November 2012, the hon. Minister said that the
Working-Together Committee is supposed to define clearly the responsibilities of
each stakeholder involved. I would like to know from the hon. Minister in what
way is the Ministry of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare
addressing the issue? Is the responsibility of the Ministry only to transfer the
matter to the Ministry of Education and Human Resources?
Mrs
Martin: I have lengthily explained in
my answer, Mr Speaker, Sir, how the
Ministry develops
mechanisms to work with all the different stakeholders in order to make sure
that children go to school. As far as possible, we are ensuring that there is
collaboration between the different stakeholders concerned so that children can
go to school.
Mrs
Labelle: Mr Speaker, Sir, when we go to
the website and look at the mission of the Ministry, it is stated: to design and
implement policies and programmes geared towards, amongst others, protecting the
rights of children. Children have a right to education, Article 28 of the
Convention, and the hon. Minister has just mentioned it. My question is: what
are the policies and programmes that have been designed and implemented to
protect the right to education of children who are being deprived of this
right?
Mrs
Martin: Mr Speaker, Sir, I have
explained again to the hon. Member, I say it in my answer that the Ministry
works together with other Ministries with a view to implement the necessary
conditions so that children of school going age can attend and do attend school.
It is not only my Ministry which works towards this goal.
However, with the
networking that we create - two of which I have mentioned,
different
facilities are provided by different institutions such as the Police, the
National Empowerment Foundation, the Ministry of Social Security, National
Solidarity and Reform Institutions and especially the Ministry of Education and
Human Resources with whom we have signed a protocol to be able to better
streamline the way in which we can ensure that the children can benefit from the
right to education.
Mrs
Ribot: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to
know from the hon. Minister if she could spell out the policy of her Ministry
regarding children in shelters who do not attend school?
Mrs
Martin: Actually, Mr Speaker, Sir, we
do try at the maximum to send all
children who
reside in shelters to school. However, because of some conditions, sometimes the
children are very behind in their schooling or they necessitate special
attention. These children are, in fact, sent to specialised schools or
otherwise, there are qualified teachers who come into those shelters and ensure
that the children follow schooling programs until they can integrate the
mainstream.
Mrs
Dookun-Luchoomun: May I ask the hon.
Minister whether any survey has been carried out by her Ministry to find the
root causes why these children do not go to school? What are the reasons the
students fail to attend school?
Mrs
Martin: There are different reasons why
children do not go schools...
(Interruptions)
No. There are not
surveys carried out per se, but what we do is usually when we have a
case, as I have mentioned, there is a social enquiry that is carried out on
every case, and, as appropriate, the children are referred to relevant
institutions.
And they are
also, in certain cases, followed so that they may attend school as quickly as
possible. For example, when there is the problem of tardy declaration of birth
like I have said, if there is a case like that, my ministry will follow. If ever
there are questions of poverty, it is the NEF that will follow and the Social
Security as well will give the necessary support.
Mrs
Ribot: Mr Speaker, Sir, I would like to
know from the hon. Minister whether her Ministry has carried out a survey or a
study of the correlation between children not going to school and those engaged
in prostitution, child labour and larceny, for example?
Mrs
Martin: I must say no, Mr Speaker,
Sir.
Mr
Jugnauth: May I know from the hon.
Minister what initiative her Ministry has
taken in order to
assess the number of children who are not attending school right now and who are
concerned?
Mrs
Martin: What I must say, Mr Speaker,
Sir, is through the networking
mechanisms that
we have put in place, there are several reporting of cases which come to
us.
For example, with
regard to the number of cases which have been referred through the different
District Child Protection Committees and Community Child Watch Committees, for
example, there is an average in the different Community Child Watch Committees.
I can see that there are 32 of them. There is an average of about four to five
cases that are being reported through those different 32 Community Child Watch
Committees through their meetings and reported to the Ministry. And once it is
reported to the Ministry, according to the different requirements of the case,
we follow up on the case.
