Mauritius Shuts All Schools and 100s of Nurseries Amid Heavy Rain Warnings

All educational institutions across Mauritius, from nurseries to vocational centres, have been ordered to close today, Thursday 22 January, following a heavy rain warning.

The Vacoas Meteorological Station issued the alert at 4:45 am this Thursday morning, prompting immediate action from government ministries to ensure the safety of students and young children.

Wide-scale Closures

The Ministry of Education and Human Resources has confirmed that there will be no classes today in any public or private institutions. This directive covers:

• Pre-primary, primary, and secondary schools.
• Special Education Needs (SEN) schools.
• Technical and vocational training centres, including MITD and ITET campuses.

Additionally, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare announced that all nurseries (crèches) will remain shut throughout the day to protect the welfare of the youngest children.

University Arrangements and Staff Duties

Higher education is also affected, with universities suspending all in-person teaching.

While physical campuses are closed to students, institutions have the discretion to conduct online classes where possible.

Despite the absence of students, the Ministry has instructed school heads and non-teaching staff to report to their respective schools or centres.

Their presence is required to conduct a formal assessment of the premises and take stock of any potential weather-related issues.

Note: These measures remain in place for Thursday 22 January 2026, following the official 04:45 am weather bulletin.

Source: Defi Media / Defi Media1 / Defi Media