“No to Indiscipline in Our Schools” Symposium Convened in Ebene

A symposium titled “No to Indiscipline in Our Schools” was held on Tuesday afternoon, July 23, at Ebene, organized by the Federation of Education Unions (FEU) in collaboration with the University of Mauritius Staff Union.

The event brought together various stakeholders in the education sector to discuss ways to counter indiscipline in schools.

The Vice-Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, praised the initiative and emphasized that indiscipline in schools requires a deep discussion.

“We cannot just come with sanctions. We need to understand why the student is behaving badly and offer alternatives.

There is positive discipline. We must be creative in addressing students with problematic behavior.

There are reasons behind a student’s bad behavior, and we must go to the root of the problem and find solutions,” she stressed.

The Minister also emphasized the importance of involving students in the discussion, as they may have valuable suggestions.

She assured that her ministry is open to receiving recommendations and exploring ways to improve them.

During her speech, she highlighted the autonomy of school principals to manage their institutions, as each case of indiscipline is unique.

She also underscored the importance of supporting teachers, who are the most important actors in the educational system. “We must develop a more open attitude towards students,” she said.

Yugeshwur Kisto, President of FEU, noted that organizing such a symposium was necessary given the latest statistics on indiscipline in Parliament.

“We are trying to gather as many ideas and information as possible to tackle the problem of indiscipline we are facing,” he said.

Several proposals were put forward by professionals present at the symposium. Most agreed that having a psychologist on staff at each school would be beneficial for both students and teachers.

Additionally, revising the teacher-to-student ratio would allow educators to establish disciplinary measures without constraints.

Collaboration with parents, community members, and education partners was also deemed essential.

Yugeshwur Kisto also highlighted the negative influence of technology and social media on student behavior. Didier Moutou, Rector of Bhujoharry College, emphasized the importance of family guidance.

“We have children who have no one at home to motivate them. Let us try to guide them at school so they can become good citizens, compassionate and understanding of others,” he said.

Aneeta Ghoorah, Ombudsperson for Children, stressed that all partners must work together for the benefit of children. Iqbal Sheik Abbass, President of United Bus Services Employees Union, suggested reintroducing police services for school transport, citing difficulties at the North Bus Station.

Arvind Bhojun, President of UPSEE, pointed out that today’s educators are not teaching; they are searching for solutions to various discipline problems. He emphasized the need for teacher training efforts.

Soomdress Sawmynaden, former Rector, offered practical advice to educators.

“Teachers should be role models within schools towards students,” he said. “Students must love what they do at school.”

Finally, Mahend Gungapersad, a deputy, criticized the Extended Programme.

He argued that it is illogical for children with no foundation in literacy and numeracy to follow the same educational program as others and take similar NCE exams.

Source: Defi Media