SC/HSC exam fees subsidy: Students and parents back on the streets

The saga regarding government subsidies for SC and HSC exams does not seem likely to end soon. In fact, despite a meeting with the Minister of Education on Tuesday, a group of students and parents are still opposing the deadline extension for the payment of exam fees for those who have not met with the 90% attendance requirement. They plan to forge ahead with their demands.

The exams are behind the door but some students and parents are still in uncertainty regarding the State subsidy. Following a week of confusion, students and parents have decided this week to take to the streets. Despite the deadline extension to the 31 December announced by the Minister of Education Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun on Tuesday, a large number of students and parents are still opposed to the payment of the fees for those who have not met with the 90% attendance requirement.

This Thursday, students from the Regrouped Students Movement, angry parents, members of Regroupman Travayer Sosyal, led by Dr Maharajah Madhewoo, and members of the Union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE), organised a protest march in front of the Government House, Port Louis. The aim was to not only to protest against the conditions attached to the State subsidy for the SC and HSC examinations but also to appeal to the government regarding the financial difficulties many parents are facing to pay those fees.

During the rally, students held signs demanding ‘right to free education, right to free examination’, ‘attack the root of absenteeism not the after effects’ among others. “We will not pay,” they shouted. 

Students and parents blamed the government for not fulfilling its electoral promise to grant 100% subsidy on SC and HSC exams. “The Alliance Lepep government has never said that there were conditions attached to this promise. They clearly said that they will grant the subsidy to all pupils irrespective of their social background. However it is the opposite that is happening now,” said Dean Baungalea, student and creator of the page ‘Bouze Zeness’.

Students also blamed the Ministry for its miscommunication and claimed that they are made to pay the price for loopholes in the system. In a circular issued Thursday 8 September, the Ministry of Education explained that candidates must have an attendance rate of 90 per cent from January 11 to September 9, 2016. However, in a first press release two weeks ago, the attendance rate was to be calculated from January to July 2016 only. This was at the origin of the wave of protests.

Muhammad Taki and Sheikh Hyath, members of the Regrouped Students Movement, argued that the 90% presence requirement should be abolished. “We believe that a 70% presence requirement is acceptable rather than 90 per cent, as it is not something feasible. The government must carry out studies to know the real reasons behind absenteeism. Many students stay at home to study and many help their parents in their work,” said Muhammad Taki.

“We demand the government not to discriminate. Poor families cannot afford to pay such an amount. Many parents don’t even have a job and don’t get bonus payment at the end of year. Other parents have confided to me that their children are greatly affected by this and have been admitted to hospitals. Parents are struggling and working day and night to get the money for the payment. The Ministry should first look into other major issues cropping in schools and later find solutions to motivate students to attend school. In addition, the schools, the rectors and the teachers were themselves wrongly informed about the attendance requirements. Sometimes they said that only 10 days were allowed, at other times 15. It was a big confusion,” said Sheikh Hyath.

Bhavna, SC student from Mahebourg, confided that her parents do not have the means to pay. “I exceeded the threshold by only one absence. However, I don’t understand why the school management has not accepted my medical certificate. My father depends on his pension and my mother is a housewife. I work in a supermarket every Sunday to help my family. My parents and I don’t have the means to pay for exam fees,” she stated.

A parent stated that she is against the attendance requirements and is disappointed by the government. “I am a social worker and a parent as well. It is not fair at all. Some parents don’t even have the money to buy bread every morning for their kids and others have to pay for two children at once. So how will they pay for the exam fees?”

Another woman confided that her sick nephew and his parents cannot afford the fees. “My nephew is a Form 5 student who suffers from epilepsy and he is often absent from school due to his health. His parents do not have the means to pay for his exams. The government should have informed parents since the very beginning,” she uttered. 

An anxious father confided that he has not been working for months. “I was working as a hawker but since the implementation of new regulations regarding hawkers, I have not been working for three months. I am worried and I am in a delicate situation. I do not have the means to pay for my daughter and son’s exam fees.”

The stressed students and angry parents demanded the resignation of Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomum as Minister of Education. “We will resist, we will not pay. We appeal to parents not to sign any paper from the school or the Ministry,” cried the students. However, in a function at Riviere du Rempart on Thursday afternoon, the Minister of Education declared that the chapter on SC and HSC examination fees is closed. 

“Now it is time for students to concentrate on their exams. They can do as they please but we will not come back on our decision. The presence rate requirement is not about putting pressures on them. Students must realise that they have responsibilities,” she said.