While the international trend inclines towards a holistic approach in education, perception in Mauritius remains that education is bookish. With the worsening results in the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE), it appears urgent to look at the system and see how a more open curriculum could help improve these results. This was one of the main objectives of the National Curriculum Framework prepared by Pritam Parmessur when the new government took over in 2005. But it is still waiting for implementation although it contains ?proposals that go in the right direction,? according to the pedagogue Surendra Bissoondoyal.

?It is a pity that the curriculum remains restricted because the child does not have the opportunity to develop his/her full potential,? said the pedagogue. The reform started by the former government made room for subjects such as music, art and citizenship education for instance. ?Although these subjects have never been examinable, teachers were opening up the curriculum by integrating them into the classroom because there was no more competition ? as ranking had been abolished ? and they had time to do it,? he added.

The integration of such subjects into the classroom could not only gradually help break the taboos in society but is also a way of making children find more interest in what is being taught. ?Our approach to the ?teaching? of Human Values, Human Rights and Education for National Unity is rooted in the conviction that the values they embody can best be ?internalised?, not by being ?taught? as separate ?subjects?, but by being integrated in subject domains cutting right across the curriculum. This approach, in addition to being in line with modern pedagogical thinking, makes it possible to plan a comprehensive curriculum which must be constructively deloaded to make schooling a joyful experience in the lives of all our children,? states the report.

Pupils must be given the opportunity of opening up their minds and take advantage of the multicultural society in which they are living. But this is not possible with such a competitive system.

?Just look at what is happening in private schools. They are learning oriental and occidental music and dance in a very natural way. It helps them develop their personality and this helps make school more attractive,? Pritam Parmessur commented. However, he immediately insisted that these schools could do it ?because they have time. These pupils do not go for private tuition in a systematic way and do not have any fierce type of competition at the end of primary level?.

For the author of the report, the development of the curriculum should be made ?in accordance with the local context?. Of course, the objective would not be to eliminate main subjects such as mathematics, science or French.But the CPE exam does not allow pupils to ?acquire the aptitudes and qualities that the child should develop. We can?t limit the development of the child to four or five subjects. We should extend the school programme to have a more comprehensive basis. The programme should be taught in an integrated way?.

The report also mentions the ?deloading of the curriculum?. ?While the broad learning areas at the primary level remain the same, the academic content will be restructured and re-adjusted to encourage children to be involved in activities in domains such as the arts, health and physical education and other life skills,? it states.

Pupils must be given the opportunity of opening up their minds and take advantage of the multicultural society in which they are living. ?But this is not possible with such a competitive system,? he pointed out. ?Music, poetry, literature, manual work and social interaction and respect are all really important skills and education should be able to remove society?s prejudices,? he added. ?Education must be about the integration of knowledge and its application,? he said highlighting the fact that this approach should actually start at pre-primary level.

Pritam Parmessur also laid emphasis on the fact that teachers must be trained in order for them to develop a philosophy where there is no taboo. In a conference organised by the Mauritius Institute of Education (MIE) just after the presentation of the reform, the MIE lecturer Anita Curpen commented that ?this reform should not be something that is imposed on teachers; teachers should own their reform.?