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Menon Munien
<I>Rector of St Mary’s and member of Gref</I>
<B>Why is there a need to change the school curriculum?</B>
The existing curriculum matches neither the needs of our children for personal and emotional development nor the needs of the country for social, economic and technological development. This leads to young people without values, numerous examples of violence at home and in society and a mismatch at all levels, particularly in the world of work.
<B>Who would be involved directly or indirectly in the curriculum development process?</B>
All stakeholders of the education world should be involved: researchers, school administrators, teachers, students, employers, parents but also religious bodies and the media.
<B>As you know, the ministry of Education has been working on a new curriculum. What do you think of the new proposals? </B>
I am not aware of the proposals being made. Proposals should be child-centred and should emphasise the importance of the family and parents in the education of our children.
You have been involved in the setting up of a new association, GREF. What are its objectives and philosophy? What is your role within this association?</B>
GREF wishes to go back to all the stakeholders in education and galvanise the tremendous already existing educative force into a coherent dynamic action to implement an educational network in the best interests of all our children and our motherland.
<B>At your level within GREF, what conclusions have you reached as far as the curriculum is concerned?</B>
Our conclusion is that today we are all aware of the limits of our existing system, there have been many proposals to improve the system but we are all deep in discussion over unimportant details and incapable of focusing on the main issue. Meanwhile, we go for lip service in almost everything and we all expect some God to bring a solution and implement it while we live in chaos. GREF believes that this country is ours and it is our responsibility to decide how best to go forward. There is no foolproof system but we will all be responsible for our future, whatever it is. GREF will try to lead all educators into a fruitful and honest discussion on the issue of education.
<B>What could be the major constraints of a new curriculum within our schools?</B>
A new curriculum may be easy to write but is very difficult to implement if the teachers do not have the will and know-how to shift from one pedagogy to another, or the proper new educational write-ups are not ready, or else the parents do not understand the new trends and resist the implementation on grounds of tradition or that it is not the way they were taught.
<B>Finally, what are the proposed actions for GREF concerning the curriculum?</B>
The only way out is communication. We need to explain, explain and explain in a language that fits the persons we are talking to. We need to demonstrate that our proposals will not kill; they may even lead to a better world. We need to evaluate regularly because nobody holds the complete truth. We need to accept our limits because we are human beings. We need to constantly re-orient our action because things inexorably change around us and in us. We need to build up a trusting relationship because this is the only way forward. “I believe I can fly” should be the motto. Mauritius has a bright future.
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