Last year of CPE: Yes or No to private tuition

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</div> Amrita Danny: “There won’t be any change” Mother of a child who will join STD V next year, Amrita is very worried about the Nine-Year Basic Continuous Education, as it is very confusing to her both as a parent and as an educator. “For me, such a major reform dealing with the future of our little ones should have been done through a referendum. Up to now everybody I have talked to is against this project. As far as competition is concerned any intelligent and practical person will tell you that the rat race is not going to end. Instead competition will become harsher. I have my son who will be in form 3 next year. When he was studying for his CPE, he was stressed only during the third term because the actual revision started then, but with my daughter, I can see that she will bear the stress for two whole years because of the continuous assessment that will be introduced. Moreover, there will be no change in private tuition since most parents will try to get their child in the best regional schools. Besides, more parents will send their kids for private tuition as from grade 7 so as to prepare them for admission to academies. So where is the reduction of stress in all these,” she states. Surena Buckchady: “No CPE means less stress” Surena, who resides in the North, was quite surprised to know that there will be no CPE. “I am happy there will be no major exams. As such, there will be less stress and pressure. I will be more at ease while studying. I will be happy to stay with my friend in the same school,” she says.       Jyotsnee Danny: “I prefer the actual system” Jyotsnee is against the introduction of the Nine-Year Basic Continuous Education and from what she says, most of her friends are also against. They prefer the actual system. “It is my dream to be admitted to a national school, a dream which will never come true,” she reveals.       Abdullah: “No CPE means more years at the same school” Nine-year old Abdullah will be in Standard 5 in 2016. While he visibly seems totally unaware of the concept of ‘CPE’, he says that he prefers to have national exams at the end of nine years of schooling rather than in two years time. “I would not like to swap school so soon. So, if I am able to study a few more years at the same school, I will be happier,” he explains. Asked whether he feels more at ease with less pressure for CPE, he says that exams, whatever the type or level, does put some kind of pressure. “When there are exams, my parents do not let me play so much and I have to study more. No CPE means no pressure.” Jacques Mallier: “Indiscipline must be addressed” Rector of St Esprit College Jacques Mallier hopes that in 2016, students get good results in SC and HSC exams. “This year, we are hoping to get a better insight of the 9-year schooling project. There are many unanswered questions like how admissions will be done in colleges and what kind of system colleges should adopt. Everything is still blurred at the moment,” he says. According to him, the main issue to be addressed this year is indiscipline, vandalism, high absenteeism and juvenile delinquency. “Last year, we have witnessed cases of indiscipline which have shocked the country. So this year, with the support of parents and authorities, we must find solutions to these problems,” he adds. He also wishes that the problem of human resources is resolved this year. Madoo Ramjee: “Concentration on nine year schooling” The President of the Association of Rectors, Madoo Ramjee, believes that in 2016 the main question remains 9-year schooling. “Parents are worried and they have expressed their apprehensions regarding the 9-year schooling project. They want more precisions on the procedures, explanation on the new system adopted and how things will be in future,” he avers. As stated by Madoo Ramjee, staffing is an issue that needs to be addressed. “Staffing needs to be reviewed. Another problem is school buses. There has been no communication as to whether schools will be allocated buses. The government is putting a protocol to fight indiscipline and we request parents to support us,” he concludes. Vinod Seegum: “Issue of transfer of teachers” Vinod Seegum from the Government Teacher’s Union (GTU) argues that till now the preparation for the new academic year is going on smoothly except for some problems have risen concerning the transfers of teachers in the western region like La Gaulette. However, he maintains that there three main issues to be addressed this year. “Firstly, there need to be more consultation as there are certain elements which are still unclear. It is better to clear the doubts now. Besides, another issue is the alignment of salary of primary school teachers to that of secondary teachers. It is sad that since 2008 we have been fighting for this. We hope this year a solution is found,” he shares. Vinod Seegum maintains that 2016 marks the beginning of B.Ed for primary school teachers. “Since the 80s, recommendations were made to launch a bachelor degree in education for primary teachers and luckily enough this year, it is being launched,” he concludes.