During the ‘Rodrigues Regional Assembly’ (RRA) sitting on 22 June, several issues of public interest were discussed and the poor performance of students who sat for ‘National Certificate of Education’ (NCE) exams for academic year 2020/2021 was discussed amongst others. The Minority Leader Franceau Grandcourt addressed a question to the Chief Commissioner, Serge Clair, who is also the Commissioner for Education, pertaining to the matter. The reply received was that needful is being done to remedy the situation so that this does not occur next year. Serge Clair listed some examples of the measures being taken. The next sitting is scheduled for 30 June at 10hrs30.
Franceau Grandcourt asked the Commissioner for Education to explain the poor performance of the students during the NCE exams that took place for the first time. Serge Clair said that the main reason concerns the mathematics test paper that was quite difficult. Furthermore, the Minority Leader wanted to know whether the Chief Commissioner is aware that in several schools and colleges, students have resumed classes without books and school materials, and that the National Empowerment Foundation has not issued school materials to students coming from vulnerable families, as it is normally done every year. Serge Clair replied that he is well aware of the situation and that his commission has granted money to the different ‘Parent Teacher’s Associations’ for the purchase of books which are available on local market. As Nicolas Von Mally wanted to know whether provision has been made for those students who have failed, Serge Clair answered that they can resit for exams and afterwards join technical institutions.
In reply to Nicolas Volbert’s question regarding the prevalence of cancer in Rodrigues, the Commissioner for Health Simon Pierre Roussety gave some figures. « In 2018, there were 30 deaths due to cancer, 31 deaths in 2019 and 39 for year 2020. My commission is working in collaboration with the University of Mauritius in order to carry a study that will determine the increasing trend. We also made a request to the Ministry of Health in order to have a full-time oncologist posted in Rodrigues and the request is still under consideration. Cancer screening is done at the hospital, the different health centres and also at the level of community centres in villages », he said.
At the end of question time, several members from the minority side made statements, namely Nicolas Von Mally who talked about the decision of the central government to restart flights on 15 July, in spite of the continuous propagation of the ‘COVID-19’ virus in Mauritius. He wanted to know what the decision would be as far as Plaine Corail airport is concerned. The Deputy Chief Commissioner, Nikolson Lisette informed the house that a protocol has been set up in Mauritius for the partial opening of the air border there. « And as far as Rodrigues is concerned, we cannot afford to stay isolated, as the closure of the airport is a financial burden for the RRA. As at date, 20 % of our population have been vaccinated but we expect to reach 60 % by September. We want ensure to have a strict protocol already established in Rodrigues when the flights will resume, to have strict control, so that Rodrigues maintains its’ COVID-free status », he indicated.
