In this era of globalization, with a world population well above 6 billion on an unstretcheable planet, marked by the end of subsidised trade and of cheap fuel, do we have the choice, we in Mauritius, but to excel?

We are thus landed with the task of defining excellence, under it’s multiple facets. It would not be a bad idea to start our analysis with our top school leavers as they are contemplating what profession to go for, on grounds such as…how lucrative it will be?.. how prestigious?..how easy going?..what doors will it unlock?.. and, I guess,will it be fun for me to practice? None of these alone can be a real guide to achieving future professional excellence. What then can?

Take the child/youngster/ young-adult who has just finished UVI third year, with let’s say two A’s and one B and is convinced that the next immediate thing to do is to go to university! He or she would have just completed 15 years of non-stop schooling,from the age of 4 to that of 18. So? His or her mind, soul and body need a long rest,and what better rest at this age than a change of scenery and activity. In other words go do something as far remote to schooling at LCQB/QEC/LONDON or RCC/ST.ESPRIT/MAURITIUS as can be. Take a year off, go for the GapYear.

The gap year, as the name implies, is the time you take after “A” levels/HSC/BAC to, for example, cycle round India or treck across Africa or stay as an au-pair in the US or go as a volunteer to teach sports in Agalega or English in Mozambique. Or again,staying nearer home, work as a helper with an NGO in fields such as wildlife conservation, drug-abuse education, HIV-Aids prevention etc.,unless it is working as an apprentice in a textile factory or on a sugar-estate or with a newspaper!

Previous reports on the gap year experience show that it had “profound effect on the way we see the world”.To quote a specific example, youngster Emma from the UK said that her life changed as a result of her year’s placement in an African country and she was now considering “becoming a human rights lawyer” and not a literature graduate. Such placements must be planned with some care and are not without danger,but that’s part of the real world out there!

Another danger is like what happened to that young American who took a year off to go touring South America and seven years later is still touring ! What could be more different to living in La Marie while studying at Maurice Curé than, for example, “counting penguins in Antarctica” as a gap year volunteer.

All in all the gap year (specially for Mauritian Sixth-formers who have never travelled abroad ) will make the person better prepared to go to university and most importantly, know oneself better and thus choose more wisely what to study.This way we may increase the opportunity for young Mauritians to discover their real vocation, to be happy in what they do and thus run a better chance to become professionals of excellence, so sorely needed in every field.

<B>Dr Michael ATCHIA</B>