The International Preparatory School (IPS) has been awarded full accreditation status by the Council of International Schools (CIS). How did you achieve this?

This has been the objective for which I have been working for ten years. I had the idea for quite a long time but I knew there were a certain number of criteria we had to abide by concerning the staff, resources and infrastructure. So, we felt we were ready to start the process in 1999 when we started putting everything in place. But it was only in 2004 that we applied our candidacy to obtain the accreditation. We had first to write a self-study on our school after which a team from the CIS came to visit the school. They then made a few recommendations about what could be improved in the school to meet international standards and we had to write another report to address those issues. And the last visit in November proved to be successful, as we were informed that we had received the accreditation on the 31st of January.

What does it mean to be recognised by the CIS?

To be accredited means that our school corresponds to international standards that can be validated externally. Children who leave here will be international students who will be recognised throughout the world. An external body will make sure that the standards of IPS will remain at international level. This implies a lot for the whole school in terms of curriculum, the professional development of our teachers, the grounds, accounts and auxiliary staff including gardeners and cleaners. It was a very complex system to set up and without the involvement of the staff and parents, I would not have managed it.

How did the teachers react when you told them you had succeeded in obtaining the accreditation?

They were over the moon. When I first mentioned what I wanted to do, teachers were quite sceptical; they were not sure whether they were capable of taking up the challenge. But they did and they have acquired so many skills in the process! It has been a huge amount of work but with will, drive, motivation and dedication, we managed to make it. Now, my worry is that my staff will be able to apply for positions abroad and leave me? (laughter)

You are the first primary school to obtain this accreditation in Mauritius? How do you feel about it?

I am very proud of it. I feel my baby has grown up. But I also feel this should be a source of pride for Mauritius. Despite the limits a small country may have, we have proved that we can be up to standard. We have proved we can adapt to the global world and I personally feel that this is my little contribution to my husband?s country. I was lucky to be educated in such a big country as Australia so I am happy to try and help Mauritius in some way! We will now have to make sure we keep up to international standards and continue to develop our school!