Rodrigues College’s Uncertain Future: 50 Years Down the Drain

In a dire warning, the Board of Management of the Rodrigues College has expressed deep concern over the precarious situation facing the institution, which has been in existence for over 50 years. The college, considered the star school on the island, is on the verge of closure due to a severe lack of financial resources.

For more than an hour, members of the administration council explained that the Private Secondary Education Authority (PSEA) funding is dwindling each year, making it difficult for the college to operate.

The institution’s financial struggles have been ongoing for three years, effectively suffocating the college.

The situation is grave, with the college’s survival hanging in the balance.

Aurèle Anquetil André, Jean-Marc Roussety, Nan Rock Perrine, and Azarias Baptiste, among others, have spoken out about the historical significance of the college and its current predicament.

The roots of the problem lie in new PSEA rules governing funding for private schools, which were decided and approved in Mauritius without considering the specific constraints faced by schools on Rodrigues Island.

The Rodrigues College, a pioneer in secondary education on the island, is now being left behind.

The institution is renowned for producing high-achieving students each year, both locally and nationally.

However, unlike other private schools like REDCO, it does not receive any allocation as support. The college’s leaders have called on PSEA to revise its funding rules to take into account the unique challenges faced by schools on Rodrigues Island.

“If we don’t receive any help from PSEA, we will be forced to close our doors symbolically,” said a member of the administration council. “This whole situation smells of discrimination.”

The college has received some financial assistance from local sponsors, such as the Regional Assembly of Rodrigues, but not from local authorities like REDCO. The authorities and PSEA are aware of the difficulties faced by the institution but have not taken any action.

The college’s leaders are willing to take bold steps to bring attention to their plight and seek change. They hold PSEA accountable for any future consequences resulting from its inaction.

As things stand, the fate of this esteemed institution hangs in the balance. Only time will tell if PSEA will revise its funding rules and provide support to this beloved educational institution.

Source: Le Mauricien