School Examinations & Elections Overlap in Mauritius

The Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES) has sparked controversy by informing individuals involved in examination organization that they will not be granted permission to work during the upcoming elections. This decision, affecting many Resource Persons, is particularly contentious given the timing of the Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations.

On November 11, the same day the results of the legislative elections will be announced, only three HSC examinations are scheduled: Chinese Language, Biblical Studies, and Design and Technology.

The MES highlighted that Resource Persons, including Coordinators, Assistant Coordinators, Supervisors, and Assistant Supervisors, are expected to be committed to their roles in the examination process, which could be jeopardized by their absence.

Brenda Thanacoody, the director of MES, emphasized that the commitment of these individuals is vital for ensuring the smooth running of the examinations.

However, the timing raises eyebrows, as November 10 is election day, a Sunday, while November 11 only features three subjects, two of which have a limited number of candidates.

For the HSC exams on that day, the schedule is as follows: Chinese Language is from 8:00 to 9:30 AM, Biblical Studies from 12:00 to 1:40 PM, and Design and Technology from 12:00 to 3:00 PM.

Among these, only Design and Technology has a significant number of candidates.

Moreover, there are no School Certificate exams scheduled on that date, and earlier examinations like the National Certificate of Education (NCE) and Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC) will be completed by then.

Most affected Resource Persons are state school teachers, many of whom are also government employees engaged during the elections.

As was seen in 2019, the Electoral Commission may need to find alternative personnel to fulfill these roles.

The MES has already communicated this situation to the Electoral Commissioner.

The MES’s ruling has not garnered unanimous support among educators.

Many felt that the decision to disallow work on such a limited examination schedule represents a significant financial loss.

Reports suggested that during the two days of elections and result proclamations, a government official can earn between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000.

In contrast, an Invigilator overseeing the examinations earns only Rs 1,000 per day, including transportation costs, while a Coordinator/Supervisor can expect a remuneration of Rs 17,000 to Rs 20,000 for the entire examination period, and about Rs 20,000 for HSC exams.

Concerns Raised by UPSEE

The Union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE) has criticized the MES’s approach, labeling it discriminatory towards educators from private secondary schools.

In a letter addressing this issue, UPSEE President Arvind Bhojun stated, “The MES has unfairly and intentionally prevented the educators of the Private Secondary Schools and the Mauritius Education Development Company from applying for the post of Coordinator.”

Bhojun also expressed disappointment over the low compensation offered to Supervisors and Assistant Supervisors, who are being paid Rs 100 and Rs 80, respectively, for just two hours of attendance at examination centers before and after the tests.

Additionally, the UPSEE lamented that Coordinators are not compensated for the three hours spent collecting and delivering exam papers before and after each examination, contradicting the government’s philosophy of ensuring decent wages for educators.

Amid the ongoing debates and the financial implications for educators, the clash between the scheduling of examinations and elections remains a pressing concern.

Source: Le Mauricien