The Minister of Education, Steven Obeegadoo, in spite of his ?globally positive? start of school year, will still have to contend with a few thorns in his side. The nuisance value of Suttyhudeo Tengur in the State-Catholic education relationship is there to last.

His reference to the Inde-pendent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) of an alleged case of ?swindling of public funds? by the Bureau of Catholic Education (BEC)? has strained the already lukewarm relations between Church and State since the Privy Council verdict. The Minister has finally come out of his silence and he was to meet BEC?s new management team yesterday afternoon.

The BEC has not yet recovered from the blow of losing its appeal at the Privy Council on the use of religious criteria to allocate its 50 % reserved seats that Suttyhudeo Tengur has launched another offensive. The turbulent trade unionist has filed a complaint with ICAC that the BEC has ?fraudulently? applied to the State for a Rs 11,587,937 loan for renovation works. He maintains the latter is not entitled to the loan as it ?withdrew unilaterally from the Reform?. He alleges that ?no visible and tangible investments have been done?.

In a press release, the director of BEC, Father Hervé de St Pern, has refuted his allegations and explained that the BEC ?has not cashed any money yet? but that it had a verbal guarantee from government for DBM loans for extension works, starting in July 2002. However, with the suspension of their participation in the Reform pending the Privy Council verdict, they borrowed from commercial banks and were still applying for the DBM loan through the PSSA. They received a final agreement in a letter from the Ministry dated 2nd December 2003.

For the director of BEC it is clear that there is ?no case of swindling/defrauding of public funds?. He has also expressed his surprise at ?the silence of government authorities in the face of Mr Tengur?s allegations?.

This finally prompted an explanation from the Minister. He declared his ?silence was unintentional? because he thought ?Tengur?s allegations way-out?. He thus condemned the ?unjustified move? of the latter and confirmed BEC?s loan application was done according to the right procedures.

On the other hand,Tengur has reasons to rejoice. His long fight for the inclusion of Oriental languages (OL) in the grading for the Certificate of Primary Education has ended; this year, six subjects will be examinable and the five best used for grading, which has started another row. Parents are complaining that pupils speaking an OL at home will be advantaged. The minister has replied that ?special coaching courses? were set up in September 2000, that parents were warned and should have enrolled their children.

Last, but not least, Tengur is preparing for his next crusade on behalf of the Mauritian child: regionalization of admission. Minister Obeegadoo has said that he ?is ready for him?. This new episode of Tengur versus the World will show in time and place who is the most resilient?

Pauline Etienne