The HSC results are expected soon. As an ex-laureate, how do you react to the fact that many laureates don?t return to work here?

There are many reasons for this ranging from personal issues to better opportunities abroad. Higher salaries, good working conditions and advanced research opportunities attract laureates. The Mauritian government should make it a duty to provide proper jobs for highly qualified students, where they will achieve professional satisfaction. Including Mauritian History as a compulsory subject could also help develop patriotism in students. Giving them a sense of duty to the country could create a moral motivation to come back.

Why did you come back after your studies?

I never went abroad with the intention of staying there. I felt morally bound to come back to Mauritius since the State had paid for my studies. It was obvious for me that I had to serve my country in return. Moreover, I am at home in Mauritius, and, as the saying goes ?There?s nowhere like home!?

Do you feel that laureates who decide not to return should refund the State?

They should make it a principle to pay back the State if they decide to stay abroad, but there are genuine cases where personal issues (like marrying a foreigner) complicate the situation.

Is the laureate system beneficial or detrimental to students?

The heavy stress students go through may have a negative impact on them: making them individualistic and incapable of teamwork, which is essential to become professionally efficient. There is too much concentration on the academic aspect of education and it is detrimental to the personal development of students. Extracurricular activities, such as sports or theatre, are often neglected. On the other hand, the system seems to prepare them adequately for university studies since they tend to do well in foreign universities.

With the laureate system, a small elite is using up a large amount of funds. Don?t you think this money could be more useful if for example it is used to extend the University of Mauritius?

In theory the investment in laureates is to help propel the country towards excellence, supposing they come back? Meanwhile, the government is planning to sufficiently develop the University of Mauritius so as to attract students from Africa. This stage will be reached very soon, making the present situation dysfunctional. The State will be paying for students to study abroad while trying to promote its own tertiary sector in foreign countries! I don?t see why the laureates cannot follow an under-graduate degree here (if their field of study exists) and then maybe go abroad for a post-graduate. It would certainly cost much less to the State?

Nadia PEERUN

*Director of Centre culturel mauricien