The Mauritius College Saga continues. The Union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE) is fighting to ensure that the orders of the Private Secondary Education Authority (PSEA) given to the administration of the Mauritius Boys & Girls Colleges are respected by the latter. The denunciations are coming from all sides, be it teachers, staffs, parents, trade unionists and even, students. The UPSEE has announced that it will not back down from a strike if the matter is not settled by Friday 13 May.
“The orders of the PSEA are still being flouted by the new Manager, Benysingh Rajmun, even after our protest on 15 March. The complaints against him are still the same, so the problem remains, I prefer not to repeat myself on the various types of vile harassment on the female teachers! And even worse, there is the refusal to sign the 22 confirmations of eligible teachers. Secondly, the appointment of Mrs. Jaipalsingh as the Deputy Rector is unfair and unfounded. She operates with tyranny. The PSEA is not reacting, even though it is the first one concerned. We reiterate our demand that PSEA should take over the management of the two wings of this College, under Section 5A of the PSEA ACT, 2016, under the section ‘Powers of Authority’”, delivers Arvind Bhojun, UPSEE’s Secretary.
The grievances are manifold, and a multitude of letters have been sent to the PSEA and to the Ministry of Education. The most important of these are the 22 roadmaps served to those 22 teachers, who have already completed one year of service and who should be automatically confirmed under the Workers’ Rights Act. “PSEA says that Principal Rajmun was given yet another warning on 28 April. But where are the changes? We have been told that the situation is getting worse and worse. The Head of Management is in the process of dismissing teachers, even without the knowledge or approval of the PSEA, as required by the standard procedures, while there is a serious lack of subject specific teachers which has been decried for some time. There is no logic to this. According to the last count, this concerns about 40 teachers, mainly those who had to teach Extended Classes. The -parents of Grade 7 Extended students fear the worst as the exams approach. There are teachers who are in their third year and are still under the same conditions and salaries,” said the secretary.
The UPSEE says that all parties concerned are “fed up” and demand that the PSEA changes the entire management. The Union gives an ultimatum to the PSEA and to the Ministry of Education. “The two authorities are wasting too much time on this file, which is dragging on. We no longer believe in the impact of these famous Warnings. This management must be changed immediately for the future of the pupils, who can themselves testify of the quality of the education they are receiving. The teachers are frustrated, and this affect their work too. We expect this action to be taken by this Friday at the latest. Otherwise, we will consider a general strike. All the victimised parties are on board.” The announcement is made !
