Madam Speaker, the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate has released the results of the National Certificate of Education Examinations 2025 on 2 December 2025. A total of 15,047 school candidates comprising both mainstream and Extended Programme students were examined for the NCE examinations which were conducted from 22 September to 16 October 2025. Out of the 15,047 candidates, 1,460 are from the Grade 9+ Extended Programme. Madam Speaker, with regard to the Grade 9+, that is, the Extended Programme, I am informed that only 78 out 1,460 students who were examined, met the requirements and were

39 awarded the NCE. I have noted with much sadness that out of these 1,460 students, 1,382 did not succeed, representing a staggering failure rate of 94.7%. These students are left without any results or certificate to bank upon to pursue their education afterwards. Therefore, asking these students of the Extended Programme, on the mission to attempt the NCE, was not fair to them. Madam Speaker, this year’s failure rate for the Extended Programme, unfortunately, does not come as a surprise. If we look at the previous years, the failure rate has ranged between 92-97%, demonstrating a persistent and alarming trend. It is clear, therefore, that the Extended Programme has failed lamentably to deliver. The previous government was well- aware of this situation, but was driven by political pride and unwillingness to acknowledge the Extended Programme’s deficiencies. They did not take the required remedial measures, much to the detriment of our students. Madam Speaker, let me refer to the Mid Term Evaluation of the Extended Programme 2018-2019 by the World Bank and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource. Let me quote from the report – “At the end of primary, the majority of EP [Extended Programme] students failed to reach to minimum requirements in English, French and Mathematics, with most students not obtaining the minimum score of 30 required in the PSAC assessment. More than half of these Extended Programme students come from low socio-economic background, from families with limited educational achievement and unstable families.” The report also refers to the curriculum which was not adapted to the needs of these children. The report highlights the need to focus on life skills and basic literacy and numeracy during the foundation years and beyond. Madam Speaker, this is what we did when we came with the Foundation Programme which answers to the multiple needs of these children. While the self-esteem of these children is respected, they are being supported so that they acquire basic literacy and numeracy skills, life skills and values which will help them in life. In some cases, Madam Speaker, underlying learning difficulties such as dyslexia or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder may go undiagnosed and unsupported, further affecting performance.

40 Madam Speaker, our government, since its assumption of office, has taken the decision that this year’s cohort of Extended Programme having sat for the NCE Examination is the last one. The students who have failed will not be abandoned. Government has already put in place necessary support measures to ensure that they have a viable pathway for their future. Madam Speaker, indeed, as from January 2025, the Extended Programme was replaced by the Foundation Programme for Literacy, Numeracy and Skills for Grades 7, 8 and 9 students. The FPLNS is competency-based and provides a more adapted approach students who are otherwise disadvantaged by the traditional academic approach. At the end of three-year Foundation Programme for Literacy, Numeracy and Skills, successful students will be awarded a certificate, the National Foundation Certificate of Education, which is pitched at Level 2 of the National Qualifications Framework. The certificate will enable them to enrol on a specialised NC3 courses at MITD training centres. However, the students who do not achieve the minimum requirements of the NFCE can enrol on a specialised NC2 courses at the MITD training centres. Madam Speaker, let me repeat it again, the Extended Programme has been a failure because the previous government did not recognise the different types of learners that we have in the education system. And that is why it was important to provide them with different educational pathways that meet their needs. Thank you.

Your question now!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, the Extended Programme was called at a time, in 2023, when the…

No statement!

It is not a statement. I will refresh the memory of the hon. Minister. It is a crime against children, and he agrees. I want to clarify the important part of his answer that says that those who have failed – the 95% who have failed – will be given vocational training. I want to clarify whether they have a guaranteed seat at the MITD or any other vocational training centre, as well as those children in Grade 8, the other thousands of children, who are also going to face the same difficulties today?

Is that what you said?

41

Yes. Rest assured, hon. Member, that students will get a seat in those training centres.

Can I ask the second question?

Yes, second question!

Madam Speaker, the MITD has had a bottleneck issue with lack of capacity in the past before being able to take onboard the thousands of children which the Minister now plans. May we know from the Minister the plans that have been implemented, and if he can give us the numbers? Is it 12,000 children under the EP now? How many children are now undergoing the EP and will they all be guaranteed a place?

Hon. Member, apart from the MITD, it is good that you take note that there will be the ITET also which will cater for the needs of these students, depending upon the wish of the students as to what they want to do when they reach that level. It will depend on what they want to do, either at the MITD or ITET.

And the number?

I cannot give you the number at this level.

Not immediately.

May I clarify? The number of children currently in Grade 8 and the 1,500. The total that are in the Extended Programme that will be doing their NCE exams under the old system.

From memory, I can tell you it is around 2,000 per year. They seek admission in those centres, but Grade 8 has the possibility to continue with the Foundation Programme next year. That is, in Grade 9, they are continuing with the Foundation Programme whereby they are being prepared in skills development so that after one year, that is, after Grade 9, they will apply for either MITD or ITET.

When you say skills, do you also include life skills?

Yes, one of the components of the Foundation Programme, Madam Speaker, is life skills.

42

Okay. Yes, hon. Beechook!

Madame la présidente, I wish to congratulate the Minister for having replaced cette boucherie, cet abattoir qui était l’Extended Programme. In line with the answer by the Minister, I wish to know what is being envisaged to tackle what is considered as the backward socio-economic factors that are affecting the education of the kids? Secondly, is there any mechanism that is being put in place so that we can detect the learning disabilities earlier instead of waiting for the NCE exams?

I referred earlier to the Mid Term Report on Extended Programme, and that is what the previous government did not do, hon. Member. One of the requirements was to involve parents in the education of their children. Secondly, they said it is important to have a curriculum which is adapted to their needs. Thirdly, they said it is important to have proper teacher training in order to provide proper education for the students. Fourthly, they asked to review the class size. So, all these things are being taken care of with these kids now.

Ok, Monsieur Beechook? Very good question! If I am not mistaken, hon. Apollon! PUBLIC SCHOOLS (CLOSED) – DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS