Reply: As regards part (a) of the question, I undertook an official visit to Rodrigues Island from 20 to 24 February 2026 inter alia to take stock of progress achieved in the implementation of the Foundation Programme in Literacy, Numeracy and Skills. During my visit, I participated in a roundtable discussion organised by the Deputy Chief Commissioner of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly and attended by the Departmental Head (Education), Rectors, Deputy Rectors and Senior Educators of the Secondary Schools. The deliberations focused on the philosophy of the Foundation Programme and the importance of the setting up of a Monitoring Committee at school level to monitor the teaching and learning of the programme. As for part (b) of the question, I am informed that two workshops/ consultations and two capacity-building activities were conducted with the local counterparts in Rodrigues by technicians of my Ministry along with Lecturers from the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) and officers from the Mauritius Examination Syndicate. A representative of the Service Diocésain de l’Education Catholique was also present during one of the workshops. It is to be noted that my Ministry has an ongoing collaboration with the Commission of Education of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. I am further informed that the teaching and learning materials for students of Grades 7 to 9 for all subjects of the programme, including electives, are available on the website of the MIE. 18 out of 40 student workbooks have already been printed and are currently being distributed to schools. The remaining workbooks are being printed and will be distributed to schools by the beginning of the second term of 2026. PUBLIC SECTOR RECRUITMENT – QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS – REVIEW