The Chagossian Welfare Fund, operating under the umbrella of the Prime Minister’s Office, organised, on Saturday 11 November 2023, at the Marie Charlesia Alexis Chagossian Community Centre, in Baie du Tombeau, a scholarship ceremony to reward Chagossian students who succeeded in the Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC) exams, the National Certificate of Education (NCE) exams, and the School Certificate (SC) exams.
The Chairperson of the Chagossian Welfare Fund, Mr Louis Olivier Bancoult, and other officials of the Prime Minister’s Office were present at the ceremony.
In his address, the Chairperson recalled that the Welfare Fund provided, among others, for the enhancement of the social and economic welfare of members of the Chagossian Community in the Republic of Mauritius. In this respect, Mr Bancoult explained that since 2001, the Fund followed closely the educational path of Chagossian students by providing a scholarship for successful students at primary, secondary and tertiary levels.
According to the Chairperson, the scholarship not only recognises the efforts and achievements of the students but also assists families in, among others, purchasing school supplies. Some 250 students have benefitted from the scholarship since its inception in 2001 for which the Chagossian Welfare Fund disburses around Rs 400,000 annually.
It is noted that the best candidates of the Chagossian community who successfully succeed in the PSAC, NCE and SC exams receive, each, a scholarship amounting to Rs 8,000. A sum of Rs 10,000 is provided for Chagossian students undertaking tertiary studies.
