The Private Notice Question focused on the success rate of Extended Programme students who took part in the National Certificate of Education exams for the second time. It ended abruptly after the leader of the opposition refused to apologise as demanded by the Speaker.
However, in her answer, Minister Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun announced that as from 2024, practical tests will account for 40% of the results.
Replying to the first part of the PNQ, the Minister for Education indicated that the government has no intention of abolishing the Extended Programme. She explained that these students must be allowed to complete basic education. She added that even for technical jobs, a certain level of academic education is nowadays required.
In response to the second part, Minister Dookun-Luchoomun revealed that only 54 of the 335 candidates taking the NCE exams had passed.
For Xavier-Luc Duval, these figures contrast with the government’s policy of leaving no student behind. He added that only 128 of the 2019 Extended Programme cohort have passed the NCE exams.
The PNQ ended prematurely. There was a sharp exchange between the Leader of the Opposition and the Speaker. Sooroojdev Phokeer asked Xavier-Luc Duval to apologise for what he claimed was a threat to the Speaker’s chair. The PMSD leader refused.
At the start of the session, Sooroojdev Phokeer indicated that Shakeel Mohamed’s Motion of Disallowance against the re-registration of Sim cards was time-barred and therefore cancelled.
