As from next year, students will have to take up at least one science subject up to School Certificate (SC) level. Right now, science subjets are compulsory up to Form III.

However, before being generalized, the project will be implemented in a few state and private secondary schools.

Officially, the project ?is in line with the strategy for reform of the education sector and the new orientation of the economy, where it is imperative that a science literate citizenry is developed to meet the needs of an increasingly technological work environment?.

The project is long overdue. The Mauritius Research Bureau (MRC) first talked about the need for science to be compulsory five years ago in a report, called ?Science and Innovation Audit?, on the subject.

Until last year, the proposal had been totally forgotten. The minister of Education then took things in his own hands. But he wanted to go too fast by introducing a pilot project for compulsory science up to Form V a few months later, at the beginning of this current school year.

With the withdrawal of the private schools, who were of the opinion that the project was too vague, the ministry finally had to step back.

But this time is the good time, says a ministry?s official. ?Last year we were indeed too eager to go fast while we didn?t clear up everything. But now, the project is on solid grounds.? A major change occurred though. Not willing to make the same mistakes as last year, the education authorities have had regular consultations with the unions. The Secondary School Teachers? Union has been taken on board so have the Federation of Managers of Private Secondary Schools.

Last year, the Federation expressed strong doubts about the project, but seems to be more willing this year. The participating schools will have to submit regular reports to the minister of Education, commenting the progress in the teaching of the subjects and on the performance of students.

In the light of the analysis of the outcome of the pilot project, it will then be extended to other secondary schools in 2010 so that all schools are covered as from January 2011.

<I>?Not willing to make the same mistakes as last year, the education authorities have had regular consultations with the unions.?</I>

Today, less then 25 % choose a science subject up to SC. Not enough. Making it compulsory up to Form V would help to reduce the problem.

But another challenge would be to transform science classes from a boring event into an exciting one. And the only way to do it would be to adapt it to the local context.

?How to interest a youngster when the subject is so boring? It?s a real challenge. The only way to do it, is to have a more pro-active approach talking about science with teenagers is not easy unless you can turn it into something about which they feel concerned?, explains a science teacher form a state secondary school in the Plaines Wilhems.

For those who choose not to opt for the science side during their studies, the ministry will introduce a new subject called combined science, which will be a mixture of science, biology and chemistry.