<B>?He treated us as if we were university students?

?The teachers to whom I would like to pay tribute are those of Saint-Esprit College where I had my secondary schooling.

There are several teachers who really made a positive impact on me throughout my years at school. But I should say that what struck me most during that time was the overall atmosphere within St Esprit, especially the teachers who were very dedicated to their jobs. Indeed, I must say that they were all very professional in their ways of teaching. They were dedicated and they had the essential competencies.

Coming back to that great atmosphere which really impressed me, the most incredible thing was the flow of communication going on between the students and the teachers. The first person to whom I would like to pay tribute to is the rector of that time who was a priest by the name of Matthew Farrelly. He was more of an administrator than a rector. One should not forget that, in schools, you need not only rectors but managers too! I mean, Matthew Farrelly was a great manager in the sense that he was a good strategic thinker and he could ensure a good communication with the teachers, students and the people beyond the school premises.

Another teacher whom I would like to talk about is Maurice Lesage. I believe the two main reasons why I liked him were because of the subject he was teaching and obviously because of his great personality! He was teaching Greek and Latin.

Then, at that time there were priests. There was one teaching English literature by the name of Lewis. Although, there were only two of us in that class, I must say I really enjoyed his lessons. A private tuition teacher who has left his mark on me was a teacher who has been admired by many: Frank Richard. He was a real master of English Literature. My friends and I who were taking tuition with him were between 17 and 18 years old at that time. However, he treated us as if we were university students.

To come back to Maurice Lesage, he was the kind of man who seemed to be taking life in a very relaxed way in his own stride. He was very humorous. As far as I remember, he was always able to keep up this great sense of humour. For example, as he was involved in politics later on, he described an opposing backbencher who had had problems with the police as a ?chapardeur de gallinacée?. Such was his mastery of the French language.

Maurice Lesage knew how to inculcate an interest in the classical languages. He was a very cultured man as well. Furthermore, I must say I was lucky to be able to keep up a friendly relationship with him, even after school, when we had the chance to exchange views about the economy of Mauritius.

As far as I am concerned, I seize the opportunity to express our gratitude, on behalf of many Mauritian students of my generation, to the Irish, English and French priests who were also teaching at Saint-Esprit College at that time. They left their countries as missionaries, and were thoroughly devoted to teaching. Unfortunately, this is now a thing of the past. But one hopes that this dedication to teaching will be continued today amongst the teaching community in Mauritius.?