As from 2010, students willing to continue their secondary schooling after having obtained their School Certificate (SC) won?t be forced to follow the mainstream. A new program, called Higher School Certificate (HSC) Professional will be introduced.

The Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES) is working hard in collaboration with Cambridge International Examination to turn this project into reality. A draft of this new syllabus has been sent to the ministry of Education last month. The latter looked seriously into the matter and sent it back to the MES for further consideration. The MES is now waiting to officially present the project to stakeholders of the education sector.

Replying to a parliamentary question of Leela Devi Dookun Luchoomun last Tuesday, education minister Dharam Gokhool confirmed that he?s planning to introduce it by 2010. For a duration of three years (the third year aims mainly at offering a work placement to students), instead of two for the classic HSC, students will benefit from a mix of vocational and academic training.

Among the subjects offered, the MES could give several choices to students. Amongst them : fashion & fabrics, food & nutrition, art & design, tourism, information technologies or design & communication, accounts, Health Care. Banking and Finance should also be found between the subjects proposed. Some questions arise though. What will happen to students who opt for mainstream but choose from one of these subjects? ?If they opt not to go for HSC Professional, they will be given the normal certificate. But if they opt for HSC Professional, they will be awarded the HSC Professional certificate.?

?This new certificate will have the same value as the normal HSC. The biggest differences being the duration and the mix between studies and work placement. ?

This new certificate will have the same value as the normal HSC. The biggest differences being the duration and the mix between studies and work placement. ?It has a direct linkage with the world of work in that it includes a placement program for the students, encourages entrepreneurship and allows a clear focus on a professional line that a student could opt for?, says Dharam Gokhool.

He further thinks that this new program would help to reduce the mismatch between studies and work. A situation that has been severely denounced by the private sector. ?It would offer an attractive work appeal package and reduce the mismatch of work requirements and aptitudes of those joining the work environment.?

The program will be offered in several colleges but the MES also proposes a participation of the Human Resource Development Council (HRDC) and the Industrial and Vocational Training Board (IVTB).

The HSC Professional will also be recognized around the world and will give access to tertiary education. The minister confirmed in parliament last week that it would have the same value as a normal HSC and refused to change the name of this new program. Some members of parliament argue that the term HSC Professional could be confusing. The minister replied that it won?t be a good thing to change names because this program is known worldwide.

Mauritius won?t be unique in offering this HSC Professional. Several countries already offer it, but the MES and Cambridge are working together to offer something that corresponds to the local context.

The MES is confident about the success of this program. It thinks it could be of an interest for about 90% of the SC students. Before offering the possibility to all students, the MES recommends to start with a pilot project.