Madam Speaker, I thank the hon. Member for this PQ which will allow me to inform the House where matters stand regarding the proposed reform in the educational sector. There are a series of changes which have already been undertaken. Today, with the Foundation Programme which has replaced the Extended Programme, we are already giving nearly 2,500 students the opportunity to follow an academic pathway which suits them. We are also giving nearly 4,000 students with three and four credits the opportunity to do their HSC instead of heartlessly kicking them out of the system, like the previous regime. Obviously, this decision may impact on the quality of HSC results next year. Madam Speaker, while the former Minister of Education did not believe in participative or collaborative strategic policy development framework, I opted to act differently. That is why my Ministry undertook extensive consultations during the Assises de l'Éducation held during April and May 2025 in both Mauritius and Rodrigues to obtain stakeholders views on priority areas for reform in the education sector. Subsequently, a technical committee was set up to incorporate the feedback and recommendations into the blueprint for education intended to serve as the strategic policy framework for educational sector transformation. Madam Speaker, on 14 November 2025, the Government examined the first draft of the blueprint, and an inter-ministerial committee was constituted to further deepen the analysis of the specific recommendations made in the blueprint. Meetings of the inter-ministerial committee were convened on 18, 21 and 24 November 2025, respectively, and a report was submitted to Government on 28 November 2025. We know that the public at large, parents and stakeholders in general at not always at ease with abrupt changes in the educational system. We know that any major change in the education system will have far-reaching impact on the lives and future of Mauritians. Given that this Government believes in dialogue and consultations, it was agreed to hold further public consultations regarding proposals Options A and B as follows – Option A – Admission to Grade 7 in national and regional secondary schools based on the PSAC assessment together with the abolition of the NCE examination. Option B – admission to Grade 10 in national secondary schools following a review of the existing mode of NCE assessments. Madam Speaker, on 05 December 2025, Government was further informed that a communiqué would be issued on the same day, inviting public comments on the options proposed. These consultations were held from 08 December to 20 January 2026. The later date was subsequently extended to 13 February 2026. Madam Speaker, these public consultations were conducted through an online survey which was carried to seek the views of the public at large on the proposed options which includes – Proposals for admission in secondary schools; Grading system at PSAC, and Gender model for secondary schools. A consultative meeting was also convened on the subject on 15 January 2026 with Ministers, Junior ministers and Members of the National Assembly and Members of the Rodrigues Regional Assembly. Madam Speaker, in the month of February 2026, further consultations were held with other relevant stakeholders including Service Diocésain de L'Éducation Catholique, the Private Secondary Education Authority, the Mauritius Examination Syndicate, the MIE, the Special Education Needs Authority as well as the unions of the primary and secondary education sub sectors. Furthermore, on 05 February 2026, my Ministry engaged in a consultative meeting with students and parents on options mentioned above. On 11 February 2026, further consultations were held in Rodrigues, again, with students and parents. In light of all these additional consultations, my Ministry convened a meeting of the Interministerial Committee on 23 March 2025 to review the findings and formulate recommendations with regard to the preferred option for admission to secondary schools, the grading system for PSAC and the proposed gender model for schools. Madam Speaker, although we are no longer in the consultation phase, innovative ideas and new concepts continue to emerge. We care deeply for children. Under the current zonal system, for example, for admission in regional schools, a child may be required to travel from Grand Gaube to La Tour Koeing or from Beau Bassin to eastern part of the country simply to attend school. This is unfair. We are therefore seriously considering reviewing the zonal system. Moreover, certain decisions taken by the previous government adversely affected the curriculum for lower secondary. In practice, because students from the extended stream and mainstream were required to sit for the same National Certificate of Examinations, the curriculum was adapted to accommodate the extended stream. Unfortunately, this did not adequately serve those students preparing for Cambridge Examinations. The result as we all know speak for themselves. Madam Speaker, we have initiated serious discussions with Cambridge University regarding a new curriculum for lower secondary that is for grade 7 to grade 9 so that our students are adequately prepared to take the School Certificate Examinations in the future. Soon, the recommendations will be presented to the Cabinet and to the public. Thank you.

Thank you. Yes, hon. Jhummun!

Can the hon. Minister inform the House whether there is a timeline as to when all these changes will be implemented?

I wish to inform the hon. Member, with your permission Madam Speaker, that certain decisions which we propose to bring, we have already started but there are certain decisions that we will have to respect, the legal timeframe before implementing them. We need to give sufficient time to stakeholders before implementing these measures, depending which…

Yes, hon. Ramkalawon!

Apart from academic reforms, is the hon. Minister catering for any measure to tackle the severe problem of indiscipline amongst youngsters in schools?

Definitely, Madam Speaker, for the past 10 years, I will say, much was not done regarding – you are mentioning indiscipline – regarding proliferation of drugs, bullying, other forms of indiscipline. Last year, hon. Member, we conducted a workshop for nearly 10,000 members of the public, students, parents and so on, to sensitise them on bullying. This year we have already started sensitisation campaign on cyber bullying with the support of the hon. Minister of Information Technology – we have already undertaken it. We have sought the help of the police force in order to educate, sensitise, train our staff and students regarding the problem of drugs and what are the measures that have to be taken. Another important measure, Madam Speaker, is the emotional well-being of our kids. What are the factors that have to be taken so that we are not only focused on the academic side but the total development of our kids and especially at a time – let it be mentioned – when many kids come from broken homes, where there is domestic violence and so many toxic activities taking place. How do we look after our kids amidst that situation; all these are being taken care of by different members of my Ministry and other stakeholders, other ministries which are helping the Ministry of Education.

Okay! Yes, hon. Jhummun!

Thank you, Madam Speaker. One of the major reforms is the replacement of Extended Programme by the Foundation Programme. So, can the hon. Minister inform the House whether we are on the right track concerning the Foundation Programme?

Thank you very much for that question, hon. Member. I think it was yesterday that you accompanied me along with hon. Dr. Ms. Daureeawo to a secondary school in the South, if I am not mistaken, and we saw de visu, the good work of our kids. For example, I wish, with your permission, to inform the House, we saw our girls, Foundation Programme Girls, of Grade 8, who were doing plumbing and they presented their work. Also, given that we are talking about our import of food of 80% nearly, – hon. Minister Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries in Mauritius, will take note of that – how our kids of Foundation Programme are coming with hydroponics and how they are going for horizontal and vertical smart farming. So, it is on the right track and I wish to inform the hon. Member that for the Foundation Programme, soon we are going to recruit around 14 to 16 coordinators to look, to oversee the work that is being done by the Foundation Programme because we are giving opportunities, Madam Speaker, to students. If we were not in power, if this Government were not here, we would have kicked nearly 2500 students in the street by giving them a curriculum not adapted to their needs but, we, we are empowering these kids and gradually this may help at the various levels. For example, to address food security. But also, we are empowering these kids so that their skills can help in proper human resource management in the short and long term.

Thank you. We are going to stick with that question, as usual very interesting. Okay then, after that.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. As the hon. Minister is saying that opportunities are being given to students, will these students be given the opportunity to do Oriental languages and KM at the same time?

Oh my God! No, hon. Minister, we had that question last week. So, we are not going to go into that. We already had the question. Hon. Beechook, I think asked the question. He replied – it is like we repeating every Tuesday.

Madam, you have a sharp memory.

Of course, I am interested in the subject. Yes, Mr Etwareea!

Merci, Madam Speaker, this question is not a joke, it is a philosophical one. While we are talking about reforms, can we imagine that someday we organise all the examinations, not just Cambridge but we have it done here in Mauritius?

Oh, wow! Fantastic!

We need to reflect, okay! We cannot throw an answer like that, all right? And, there are some papers at least, hon. Member will take note, there are some papers which are marked, prepared by Mauritians. Alright!

Oriental languages?

… and other subjects also.

Okay with that question. Next question is First Member for Port- Louis Maritime and Port Louis East, hon. Juman! ANJALAY COOPEN STADIUM – OPERATIONALITY