Ex-Prevocational Teachers: Govt Moves to Amend Scheme of Service

In a significant development for former Prevocational Teachers and Educators, the Government Services Employees Association (GSEA) has reported that a major milestone has been reached after more than five years of advocacy. This progress followed a meeting with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, just three days after Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth announced upcoming legislative measures.

During the meeting, Dookun-Luchoomun assured the union that the government has decided to amend the Scheme of Service for Educators.

The planned changes will include the introduction of a First Intake Note through an expedited process, designed to facilitate the recruitment of former Prevocational Teachers and Educators in the next teaching recruitment exercise.

The GSEA has expressed satisfaction with this outcome, noting that the meeting involved senior officials from the Ministry of Education.

In a statement to Le Mauricien, the GSEA relayed that the minister informed them that after consultations with various stakeholders, the government had arrived at this decision.

This amendment aimed to enable eligible prevocational teachers and educators to transition into regular educator roles as vacancies arise.

The situation is affectng approximately thirty civil servants who have been working in the prevocational sector prior to the launch of the new educational system, the Nine-Year Continuous Basic Education Program, introduced in 2017.

The GSEA has repeatedly called on authorities regarding their status, highlighting that as the prevocational stream has been gradually phased out, these officers have faced restrictions on their career advancement, despite some being asked to support mainstream education.

Additionally, the 2021 report from the Pay Research Bureau (PRB) had made recommendations concerning the redeployment of this staff.

The GSEA has persistently appealed to the Ministry of Education, the parent ministry responsible for implementing these recommendations, as well as to the Ministry of Public Service and the Ministry of Finance for attention to this issue.

However, these efforts have been met with little response, with the last communications occurring on July 17 and September 11, 2024.

At the October 7 meeting, the GSEA inquired about the future of individuals lacking the necessary qualifications to be recruited as Educators.

Dookun-Luchoomun reportedly encouraged those affected to update their qualifications as soon as possible to ensure their eligibility for future roles.

The GSEA emphasized the importance of this progress, stating, “We hope things will move fast,” and added, “We would like all members to be reinstated.

We will work together to find a sustainable solution for everyone.” The union has expressed its commitment to closely monitor the situation as it develops.

Source: Le Mauricien