<B>THIS </B> concept, born five years ago after the social unrest that rocked the country, seems to have worked so well that the government is following the lead of the Catholic Church, which set it up. The fifth complementary school, a Church-State joint endeavour, was officially launched last Saturday. Catching-up classes for Cité Richelieu children will be held at La Tour Koenig State secondary school.

People from disadvantaged regions have to be helped to emerge from exclusion through education, the project leader, Jean-Noël Adolphe, explains. Catching-up classes help children from these areas to succeed in their primary and secondary education. It not only fights school failure, but it also helps total development of the person. Adults can also take advantage of those classes. The most senior pupil is an 80-year old woman. The project leader?s eyes sparkle when he speaks of the 2003 results.

The four complementary schools: La Confiance (Cité Barkly), St Esprit (Cité Kennedy and Bassin), Loreto Mahébourg (Cité la Chaud) and Loreto Port-Louis (Cité La Cure) welcome 2548 pupils, coached by 700 volunteers. The latter coach children in curriculum essentials after school hours. Each volunteer teaches a one-hour catching-up class. There are not more than 8 children per class so that each pupil benefits from personal attention. Brigitte Thomas, who is in charge of Cité Barkly complementary school, is as enthusiastic and devoted as the volunteers. She is very satisfied that the tteachers ?come regularly?. ?We always keep an eye on the children as some often miss classes. But this is precisely our role.?

Coaching classes are not the only way to improve the level of these children. Brian Pitchen, a volunteer living in Cité Barkly, explains: ?A class must not inevitably be held between four walls.? On the contrary, after a whole day inside school, pupils may be more enthusiastic when taught outside. Moreover, various methods of teaching - through theatre, football or dance clubs all make their contributions. As another way of achieving the ?integral development? that complementary schools aim at, the pupils have extracurricular activities - sports day, an educational or recreational day.

?The concept works.? Both the initiators of the project and the people of the cités agree on that. Jean-Noël Adolphe is fully satisfied with the achievements of these schools. On the one hand, children develop their personality and, on the other, volunteers feel useful to society. It is a ?win-win situation,? he points out. Brian Pitchen explains the team?s target. ?In 2008, volunteers should all come from the cités themselves.? The goal is to make them self-sufficient. He is also the leader of the ?scouts?, parents that are the link between the schools and the people of the cités. In Cité Barkly, 60 youngsters, who followed classes at La Confiance, are now part of the team helping other children of the area, which delights Jean Noël Adolphe.

The organizers wish they could do more. They realise that many people need such projects and some regions will need even more time and energy. However, financial means are the main obstacle. Although some private firms, such as FAIL, Rogers, MCB and soon Anglo Mauritius, fund the project, more money is needed to help more people.