At the time of its independence, the Mauritian state had the ambition to increase the literacy of its citizens and made education its priority. It is therefore not surprising that it is now ranked third among African countries with the highest literacy rate.
Financed by a colossal budget released by the government and supported by the influence of the British education system, the Mauritian education system is today a guarantee of excellence for foreigners. Moreover, Mauritius is known for its political and economic stability, thus attracting expatriates who wish to settle there.
iKeys, specialised in luxury real estate investment, is now interested in the educational system of Mauritius and the reasons that make it so special compared to other African nations.
The structure and characteristics of the Mauritian education system
Higher education in Mauritius
Interesting alternative education options for expatriates
The structure and characteristics of the Mauritian education system
The structure
The education system in Mauritius is divided into two cycles.
The first cycle lasts 6 years. This first cycle is sanctioned by an examination called "Primary School Achievement Certificate" (PSAC) which takes place during the last two years of the cycle - the equivalent of CM2 and 6ème in a French curriculum.
The second cycle lasts between 4 and 6 years. At the end of the first 4 years, called "o-level", students will take a 6-subject School Certificate examination which will allow them to learn trades in a vocational school. If students wish to go on to higher education, the second cycle will continue for two more years, called "A-level", at the end of which they will take the Higher School Certificate exam - similar to the French baccalauréat.
The school year
The school year is based on the calendar year. It starts in January and ends between the end of October and the beginning of November. In Mauritian public schools, the school year is divided into three terms. Pupils attend 5 lessons of 60 minutes per day from Monday to Friday.
Languages of Instruction
The impact of British colonisation is still very much present in the Mauritian education system as most of the teaching is done in English. Although the choice of this language and the inspiration drawn from the structure of British education still attracts expatriates today, it did not always facilitate access to education for local populations. Indeed, it is rather Mauritian Creole that is spoken by about 90% of the local population.
Consequently, the Mauritian government is increasingly encouraging the use of mother tongues in education to facilitate learning.
Cost
Primary and secondary schooling is free. Pupils will also be eligible for free textbooks.
Higher education in Mauritius
Mauritius has no less than 60 institutions dedicated to higher education.
These include faculties of engineering, agriculture, natural and social sciences, humanities, law and administration. These faculties are modelled on the "LMD" model, i.e. they offer three years of Bachelor's degree and two years of Master's degree. There are also two polytechnic institutes. For these courses, a good command of English is a prerequisite.
Some private French institutions have also opened branches in Mauritius, such as the Institute of Political Science of Aix-Marseille or the Faculty of Medicine of Lille.
The Mauritian government opens the doors of its institutions and offers scholarships to foreign students who wish to study on the island.
In this respect, it is worth highlighting the particularly pleasant living environment that Mauritius offers and that students can enjoy, housed in furnished student residences equipped with various services (internet, parking, laundry, etc). The island also offers many opportunities for students to find odd jobs to supplement their income.
Interesting alternative education options for expatriates
French schools
There are several French-speaking schools on the island, accredited by the French Ministry of Education, whose teaching is well received both by the Mauritian government and by the local population.
Thus, French expatriates who wish to do so can send their children to these schools. This is all the more interesting if they plan to return to France at a later date. Indeed, the same curriculum is taught and the same pedagogical approach is adopted. The school calendar is also the same. It should be noted that all French schools have a school transport system organised in partnership with private companies.
Among these establishments, we note for the primary school the École du Nord (Mapou) and the École du Centre, the Collège Pierre Poivre (Moka), the lycées de La Bourdonnais (Curepipe) and des Mascareignes (Moka). It is important to bear in mind that each school has its own registration procedures. It is therefore advisable to contact the school in question to find out more about this.
International institutions
There are of course some excellent international schools, such as the American International Academy, Atlantis Business School, Cambrilearn, Wipschool and Lebocage International School.
In a word, the Mauritian education system stands out for the financial means implemented for its development, which today make it a guarantee of excellent education, modelled on the British model. However, it remains open to all thanks to its free education and its openness to mother tongues.
Aware of its attractiveness, the island has also been able to adapt to the needs of an increasing number of expatriates by offering quality international education.