At the core of our education system...

The international hearing on the harm done in schools by the suppression of the mother tongue organized by Ledikasyon Pou Travayer , saw some 47 testimony from a wide range of witnesses. Excerpts from the Findings delivered yesterday by the jury who had to analyse those experiences and specifically the ham resulting from the neglect of the mother tongue in the school.


*Mauritian Kreol appears to have established itself as the national language of Mauritius.
*Learning a second or a foreign language and at the same time learning other subjects through a second or foreign language makes the life of the young Mauritian child almost unbearable.
*The language policy adopted in primary education has dramatic consequences. The rate of failing after nine years of schooling is astoundingly high.
*Mauritius uses mainly English or French as the main medium of instruction, even if Kreol of Bhojpuri may be used orally. This is known as submersion education and it violates the right to education.

THE PRESENT EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM IN MAURITIUS OFTEN VIOLATES CHILDREN’S RIGHT TO EDUCATION.

IT OFTEN PREVENTS ACCESS TO EDUCATION.

IT DISCRIMINATES CHILDREN ON THE BASIS OF LANGUAGE AND IT DOES NOT GRANT CHILDREN EQUAL PROTECTION OF THE LAW.

IT CAN CAUSE AND OFTEN CAUSES SERIOUS HARM TO CHILDREN; THIS HARM CAN HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEM DURING THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.
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em>IT ALSO HAS NEGATIVE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, IN TERMS OF LACK OF DEVELOPMENT AND USE OF THE FULL POTENTIAL OT ITS PEOPLE IN TERMS OF COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL AN EDUCATIONAL CAPABILITIES AND CREATIVIT AND IN TERMS OF BOTH DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

We shall publish excerpts from the list of Recommendations, tomorrow.

Salam,