<I>Former teacher, previously involved in curriculum reform</I>

<B> The ministry of Education is determined to bring changes in the school curriculum. Why should there be such changes? </B>

We are living in a world of constant change. Our schools have to adapt to the local and global environment. External events impinge on the socio-economic dynamics. Therefore, our school curriculum has to respond to the demands of a knowledge-driven economy and the social needs of the country. We have to admit that our secondary school curriculum does not really give the young Mauritian all the required skills to face the world of work and to follow higher studies properly.

<B>What are the key skills the school curriculum should aim at developing? </B>

Apart from key competencies related to academic disciplines, there should be more emphasis on the social and intercultural skills for us not to forget that we live in a multicultural society. Furthermore, the curriculum does not give much space to the development of communicative competences which are highly valued by employers. We must not forget that the young Mauritian has to develop the necessary entrepreneurial and creative skills to face future challenges. To embark on higher education, our secondary school students should be equipped with proper ?study skills? with emphasis on reflective and analytical skills.

<B> You have been in the field of education for a long time; what is your own experience of curriculum reform? </B>

I started teaching in the late seventies in the first major curriculum reform of post- independent Mauritius. This reform aimed at a realistic curriculum for the first three years of secondary education. It was a rich experience for the teachers, even if the reform was only a partial success. Through discussions with curriculum developers, I understood how important curriculum reform is.

<B>How do you think the ministry could ensure the success of future reform? </B>

The success of any innovation depends on the path adopted by decision-makers from the planning to the evaluation stages. For the curriculum reform to meet its objectives, each step of the process is as important as the design of the curriculum itself. For example, research is a key element and, if neglected, the whole reform could be jeopardised. Involvement of pupils and teachers is also important to avoid a top-down approach.

<B> From your own perspective as a lecturer in a tertiary institution, what is the importance of a secondary curricular reform? </B>

I am now involved in distance education activities at the Mauritius College of the Air. In distance education, the development of the learner is a key factor for success. Since the number of distance learners, namely in private learning organisations, is going up, it is highly probable that many school leavers will be distance learners. In this connection, we have to ensure the development of student autonomy as early as possible. The present curriculum does not encourage it in general.

<B>The ministry intends to introduce new subjects and change textbooks. How do you see these changes? </B>

There should not be a fragmentary approach. The proper ideological framework should permeate the whole curriculum. The development of necessary skills should cut across the whole curriculum. It is not only a question of adding subjects or changing textbooks but of innovative approaches to teaching and learning with a proper assessment framework. It is through the proper curriculum reform that we are going to prove that the motto ?world-class education? is not mere rhetoric but a tangible reality in our educational landscape.