Mauritius minister defends decision on cancelled exams
Education Minister Mahend Gungapersad responded to criticism over using assessed marks for SC and HSC exams.
Mauritius's School Certificate (SC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams, cancelled on October 13 due to social unrest and security issues, will not be re-organized. Cambridge confirmed the use of assessed marks for grading. Education Minister Mahend Gungapersad defended this decision yesterday at an event in Phoenix, addressing criticism from former minister Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun.
Dookun-Luchoomun had previously called for Gungapersad's resignation on October 26, citing "poor management" and "failure of leadership." She questioned the risk assessment and the timing of informing Cambridge, arguing that assessed grades penalize students. Gungapersad dismissed these criticisms as inconsistent, recalling a similar proposal when he was in opposition in 2021.
The minister stated that the current situation should serve as a lesson. He plans to review the agreement with Cambridge to establish specific mechanisms for exceptional circumstances. This review aims to prevent similar issues in the future and ensure better preparedness for unforeseen events.
Why it mattersStudents in Mauritius will receive grades based on assessed marks instead of taking the cancelled SC and HSC exams.