Educational Statistics
|Mauritius Times – 70 Years
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The Education Department Bulletin of January 1960 has revealed some interesting facts and figures about the number of candidates who sat for different examinations and about the number of applications for admission to various Government colleges. For example, there were 214 applications for 50 places at the Technical Institute; 734 for 90 places at Queen Elizabeth College; 1,032 for 90 places at the Royal College, Port Louis; and 1,080 for 80 places at the Royal College, Curepipe. In 1959, for the Junior Scholarship examination, there were 7,057 candidates compared with 2,689 in 1958; for the Standard VI examination, 24,096 compared with 13,120 in 1958; for the Cambridge School Certificate examination, 2,679 compared with 3,317 in 1958; for the HSC examination, 326 compared with 287 in 1958. For the GCE examination, 1,556 candidates sat in January 1960 compared with 923 in January 1959.
It will be noticed that for the Cambridge School Certificate examination, there was a decrease in 1959 instead of an increase over the 1958 figure. We think that the reason for this decrease is that the Minister of Education had received permission from the Cambridge Syndicate to publish the percentage of passes secured by each college at the 1958 examination. Since then, the Principals of our colleges have become more cautious and have allowed only the brighter pupils of their colleges to sit for the 1959 SC examination to ensure their percentage of passes might not be as low as that of the previous year. Certain principals have even held a “qualifying test” to select those candidates who are likely to succeed.
When the percentage table was published last year, parents and teachers were shocked to see that certain colleges, which were publishing impressive lists of successful candidates every year, achieved a very low percentage of passes for the 1959 examination. That wise decision of the Ministry of Education will no doubt raise the standard of SC teaching in the future. Both teachers and pupils will have to work hard now. The “Qualifying Test” will prevent certain colleges from allowing insufficiently prepared candidates to sit for the SC examination.
When the Technical Institute was opened, it was feared that many parents, who are more inclined to give their children an education that would lead to a white-collar job, would be reluctant to send their children to a technical school. But the number of applications received proved the contrary.
The answer to the challenge posed by the phenomenal increase in the population of the Island is, among other things, the industrialization of the country. One Technical School is not enough; the country needs a dozen of them!
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Schoolchildren’s Health
The School Health Service item of the January issue of the Education Dept. Bulletin reveals very interesting information about the health of schoolchildren covering the period April-August 1959. A survey conducted by school nurses shows that an alarming percentage of pupils have nits — 12.1% — and that 4% of pupils have no handkerchief or clean piece of cloth.
In light of this situation, we feel that much remains to be done in the field of health among our children and in the health education of the people. The responsibility for this alarming situation lies mainly with the parents, who are not providing the necessary care for their children regarding cleanliness. Though Gammexane is being supplied free to schoolchildren, it is clear that many parents are not taking advantage of the facilities offered by the schools to help children get rid of nits and lice. On the other hand, it is deplorable to note that many children are doing without handkerchiefs; the bad habit of wiping their noses on shirt sleeves should be stopped.
Teachers cannot always be blamed for this state of affairs, but something in the direction of better cleanliness among pupils can be instituted by teachers in their classes, and prizes can be awarded to the best class in terms of cleanliness. It must also be pointed out that more practical lessons should be conducted by teachers instead of mere theorizing about hygienic habits.
Another important point to note is the high percentage of new entrants requiring medical treatment — 20.1% — and entrants of poor general condition — 21.4%. These figures speak volumes about the poor health condition of our school-going population.
From this report, one can glean an idea of the low standard of living of our people, and it is time that something be done to raise the health standard of the people.
We are pleased to read that 1,209 non-government teachers have been X-rayed free by the Department. We wish to congratulate the School Health Service, which is doing laudable work. We regret that this interesting report has not been published in the local press, which, we believe, would have helped the public take cognizance of the state of health of our children.
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United States Youth Group Proclaims UN Year
The Afro Arts Theatre, a youth group in New York connected with Rotary International, has called on young people in other countries to celebrate 1960 as United Nations Year, commemorating the Organization’s fifteenth anniversary.
In collaboration with the City of New York and a district Youth Council, the Afro Arts Theatre is organizing a “Mister and Miss United Nations” contest in which a young girl and boy from each UN member country will come to the Organization’s headquarters in New York. An international children’s outdoor art exhibit is also to be held during the year. Here is also an opportunity for our boys and girls to take part in the contest. The cost of passage is a problem that will have to be solved.
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The Koran Published in Braille
UNESCO reveals that the first edition of the Koran to be printed in Braille has been completed in Cairo. The work was financed by the government of the United Arab Republic, which plans to distribute the publication to 23 Islamic states and other countries throughout the world.
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London Press Service & Cyclone Alix
The London Press Service in its “Calco” edition of February 9 carried an account of cyclone Alix, which ravaged Mauritius. Our country rarely finds space in publications of the UK. We must make Mauritius known to the outside world. The more we are known, the better it will be for us. The gentleman responsible for sending the report has rendered Mauritius a good service.
There are many papers and magazines that would like to receive articles on Mauritius. Those who can write should not miss any opportunity that might present itself to write for papers in any part of the world.
We reproduce below the story of Alix:
“Fifteen thousand people are now known to be homeless in Mauritius following the severe cyclone that struck the west coast of the British sugar-producing colony last month.
“For 36 hours on January 18 and 19, gusts of up to 100 miles per hour swept the Island, wreaking havoc with power supplies and communications, destroying 6,000 homes and damaging as many again, scattering the fishing fleets and flattening tobacco, sugar, and other standing crops. Damage to the sugar crop — by far the most important element in the island’s economy — cannot yet be reliably estimated, but first reports suggest that up to 40 percent of the crop has been destroyed.
“Immediately after the cyclone passed, relief centers were set up, and on January 28, the Governor, Sir Colville Deverell, announced that a relief fund was being opened. Administered by a representative committee headed personally by the Governor, it provides for the needs of those suffering hardship and distress, relying to a large extent on the charity and goodwill of sympathetic organizations and individuals.”
Maha Shivaratri Festival 1960
At a joint meeting of the Hindu Maha Sabha and the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temple Federation it was decided:
- To delegate the following gentlemen to be in charge of the Maha Shivaratree Procession throughout the Island:
Messrs Balramsingh Beeharry, K. Gokulsingh, H. Padaruth Ojah, J. Ruhee
- Mr Manilall Ramdin will be in charge for the accommodation and feeding of the pilgrims at Grand Bassin.
3. On their return from Grand Bassin on February 24, 1960, the pilgrims will meet at the Belle Village Tamil Temple, from where the Kanwarthees, grouping themselves in the order mentioned below, will march in procession until the end of their journey.
Pilgrims from:
- Laventure Temple
- Rivière du Rempart
- Gokhoola
- Riche Mare
- Grand Gaube
- Petit Raffray
- Triolet
- Plaine des Papayes
- Crêve Coeur
- Long Mountain
- Terre Rouge
- Vallée des Prêtres
- Vallée Pitot
- St. Denis
- Maupin
The Hindu Maha Sabha and the Mauritius Sanatan Dharma Temple Federation hereby make a special appeal to all representatives of Temples and other generous persons to help the pilgrims as in the past.
J. Ruhee
Secretary, Hindu Maha Sabha
7th Year – No 287
Friday 19th February 1960
Mauritius Times ePaper Friday 1 November 2024
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