Republic of Mauritius- New school calendar for academic year 2020 revealed

The Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, made this statement, this afternoon, during a joint press conference  with the Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, at Port-Louis.

The VPM stressed that following the recommendations of the Ministry of Health and Wellness, based upon the current situation with no positive Covid-19 case among the population, the Ministry has reworked the school calendar as well as resumption of classes.

Instead of the phased resumption of schools as from 01 August 2020 as announced earlier,  all classes will now resume on 01 July 2020, she indicated. Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun emphasised that a series of measures geared towards ensuring a safe environment will have to be adhered to by students , teaching and non-teaching staff.

This includes: mandatory face coverings, daily contactless temperature checks at school entrance, and staggered lunch breaks. Moreover, hygienic measures such as cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms regularly, increased frequency of toilet cleaning, access to liquid soap and alcohol-based hand rubs, will be reinforced.

Besides, prior to the school resumption, all teaching and non-teaching staff will undergo rapid testing for Covid-19.

Referring to the new school calendar, the VPM stressed that the aim is to create an enabling environment that is conducive to skills development and acquisition of knowledge of learners.  Learning should be made at a good pace and within the best conditions, she added.

She also pointed out that online teaching for secondary students has been stopped as from today, up to 30 June 2020.  She expressed satisfaction as regards the contribution of educators who carried out their teaching sessions online, so that students were able to continue their learning activities during the lockdown.

As for Minister of Health and Wellness, Mr. Kailesh Kumar Singh Jagutpal, he underlined that the situation regarding  the propagation of Covid-19 has been under strict monitoring and the easing of the lockdown was carried out in phases as a preventive measure.

As regards the resumption of schools, the Minister underlined that decisions were made based on the evolution and impacts of Covid-19 on children as reported by the World Health Organisation , and from the observations and analysis of the situations prevailing in Mauritius and other countries. 

The Health Minister stressed that the resumption of classes will be made according to strict sanitary measures and urged parents not to send their ward to schools if they show any symptoms of illness, to ensure a safe environment for everyone.

New school calendar 2020-2021 (Primary and secondary schools)

·         The second Term for the 2020 academic year will start as from 01 July to 16 December 2020 and a one-week midterm break from 19 – 23 October 2020.

·         The third Term for the 2020 academic year will start as from 07 January to 26 March 2021.

Timing of assessments and Examinations

·         Modular assessment ( Science, History and Geography) for Grade 6  will be held in December 2020.

·         PSAC Assessment for Grade 6  will be held in March 2021.

·         Modular assessment for Grade 5 in March 2021

·         NCE Assessment for Grade 9 to be held in April 2021

·         SC/HSC international examination in April/May, June 2021