Special arrangements for students and for motor vehicle owners

These were announced, today, by the Vice-Prime Minister, Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, and the Minister of Land Transport and Light Rail, Mr Alan Ganoo, during the daily press briefing of the National Communication Committee on Covid-19, at the Treasury Building in Port Louis.

As at date, Mauritius has 147 positive Covid-19 cases, including 5 deaths.

Vice-Prime Minister Dookun-Luchoomun pointed out that as from 6 April 2020, the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation (MBC)will broadcast educational lessons on four channels for students from Grade 1 to Grade 9. These lessons have been prepared with the collaboration with the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE), the Open University of Mauritius, the Mahatma Gandhi Institute and teachers, she added.

The details are as follows:

Grade 1 to Grade 6

·         Lessons will be telecasted from 8 30 hours to 15 00 hours on four MBC channels

Grade 7 to Grade 9

·         Lessons will be broadcast as from 15 00 hours on four MBC Channels

·         Online lessons will be available on the Student Support Portal of the Ministry

Grade 10 to Grade 13

·         Two platforms have been put in place, namely Zoom and Microsoft 365 for teachers to conduct online classes and upload lessons.

Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun indicated that all information will be available on the website of the Mauritius Institute of Education and she called on teachers, parents to remain connected to the Ministry’s website for more updates. The MIE, she said, is also catering for pre-primary school learners and for students with special education needs.

As for the tertiary sector she said that courses are already being conducted online through different platforms.

As regards to the support provided to motor vehicles owners, Minister Ganoo announced that Government has decided to grant an automatic three-month extension to owners of vehicles whose Motor Vehicle Licence (road tax) is expiring this 31st day of March 2020.  This measure applies to private cars and public service vehicles such as taxis, contract buses/cars, public service buses and goods vehicles (lorries and vans).

According to the minister the payment of motor vehicle licence for any vehicle type has been exceptionally extended till 30 June 2020. When the Curfew Order will be over, upon renewal, the Motor Vehicle Licence, the Public Service Vehicle Licence or the Carrier’s Licence will be deemed to have taken effect as from the date of its expiry.  The National Land Transport Authority will not impose the 50% surcharge on road tax as provided by the Road Traffic Act, added the Minister.