The components of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme for free pre-primary education was presented, today, by the Vice-Prime Minister (VPM), Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology, Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, at the World Hindi Secretariat in Phoenix.
Representatives from 130 pre-primary schools with a school enrolment of 10 to 25 children were present. Presentations will also be made today for 126 schools with an enrolment of 10 to 25 children, and 167 schools with an enrolment of 25 to 50 children. On 25 August 2023, a total of 88 schools with an enrolment of more than 50 children will be present for the presentations.
In her address, VPM Dookun-Luchoomun underlined that early childhood care and education is the foundation of a child’s lifelong learning journey. These years are critical to ensuring readiness for schooling and success in future learning, she added.
She recalled that Government’s vision is to provide an inclusive, equitable and quality early childhood education and, in line with that conviction, the Prime Minister had announced during the celebrations of the 55th anniversary of the Independence of Mauritius that pre-primary education would become free as from January 2024.
Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun highlighted that Government is investing massively in the early childhood education sector in a bid to ensure that all children are immersed in a sound and conducive learning environment. ‘This will ascertain that they have a strong start in their education path, allowing them to unfurl their potential and contribute to their personal well-being’, she said.
Components of the Grant-in-Aid Scheme
The VPM thus gave an overview of the mechanism for operationalising the Policy. A Grant-in-Aid (GIA) Scheme has been devised to meet the recurrent costs incurred in respect of the running of the schools including staff cost and operational cost. Staff costs will cover salaries of Managers, Teachers, Assistant Teachers and School Attendants while operational costs will comprise expenditure with respect to educational materials, office equipment, utilities and minor repairs.
Staff entitlement of registered grant-aided pre-primary schools as per the GIA Scheme is as follows: one Manager per school; one Teacher for every 25 children; one Assistant Teacher for every 50 children; and one School Attendant for every 50 children.
The Vice-Prime Minister further stated that Government’s policy is to align the salary of Teachers on PRB recommendations. She added that as from the year 2029, Managers will be required to be holders of a Diploma in Early Childhood Management.
The yearly grant payable to pre-primary schools will be as per the enrolment band of each school. Disbursement of funds for operational expenses will be made in a quarterly basis.
As regards the eligibility criteria, schools opting to join the Scheme should be registered with the Early Childhood Care and Education Authority (ECCEA), have a full-time Manager, and have a minimum of 10 children aged three years up to entry to primary school.
She indicated that schools opting to join the GIA Scheme should submit the duly filled-in application form to the ECCEA by 07 September 2023. She also pointed out that the Scheme is for a period of three years and that every three years, the Scheme will be reviewed.
