“I have so much homework to do.” This is a complaint commonly heard by parents and teachers. There is quite a controversy over the load of work children should have to do at home - and even on the necessity of bringing work home, especially at the primary level. There is no doubt that homework has a specific pedagogic role but the load of work should be carefully considered depending on the age and level.

Historically, the French have always been opposed to the idea of homework, at the primary level at least. The ministry of Education issued a circular dated 23rd of November 1956 forbidding teachers to give homework to pupils at primary level. However studies show that more than two thirds of teachers today give homework to their pupils everyday because they feel “homework is an integral part of teaching”.

In fact, the authorities there realised that children could not afford too long working hours. Moreover, “written work done outside the classroom, without the teacher and in bad material and psychological conditions, only has a limited educational value”. So, the programme in primary schools was made lighter to allow teachers to give work to pupils in class.

In Mauritius, “giving homework is part of the policy,” states a head teacher of a ZEP primary school, who encourages his teachers to give homework. “It helps teachers to do a follow-up on what has been taught and helps pupils to consolidate what they have learnt . It can also help parents to follow their children’s education at home,” he points out. According to the head teacher, “it is a way for the teachers to see if their message has been understood or if pupils have difficulty assimilating it”.

Prem Bangaleea, acting head teacher at the Grand-Bay primary school makes it clear – “There is not enough time at school to do everything”. This is why pupils have to be given homework to “review what has been done in class and apply the knowledge through exercises”. Teachers will then check the homework and correct it the day after at school.

Homework is supposed to be the time students spend outside the classroom on assigned activities to practice and reinforce newly acquired skills and knowledge and to learn skills of independent study. Even if traditional homework assignments in the early school years are not very effective and should be given sparingly, the amount should be increased at secondary level. “There is general agreement that the amount of homework increases significantly as a student progresses through school,” revealed a US study.

Even if homework appears as a must during school years, a balance should be found for extra-curricular activities to encourage the child’s overall development …