CPE Reforms: The Exam Questions May Changes from English to French

Students better understand the exam questions when they are asked in French or Kreol. This is one of the points of interest Vasant Bunwaree, Minister of Education. It wants to improve the system of the Certificate for Primary Education (CPE). He received all the education partners for consultation on Monday 19 December at the Cybertower 1, Ebony. 

Arline Couche, representative of the Office of Catholic Education (BEC) is proposing to change the language exams. She says the current system penalizes those who do not speak English. 

" Do not we look the other way, many Mauritians think in Kreol or French and then translated into English when necessary , "says she, adding that students who do not speak English are at the outset, penalized for exams. 

The teacher indicates that many students know the answers without being able to correctly answer the exams, since they include no issues. 

This proposal was welcomed by Vasant Bunwaree. He claims to have already thought about this and also found that 32% of students who can not succeed in their CPE face the barrier posed by the English. 

The education minister said, however, it takes a deep reflection on how to adopt this proposal. "There are procedures in place and we must see how to ask questions in French, while being careful not to further confuse the children , "says he. 

Others have also taken speak at this forum. Lindsay Collen of which Lalit, which proposes that there be national examinations at the end of primary school but the system of national competition be abolished. 

" The rating system should be done at the individual level, in primary schools. Thus, this national competition will be broken , "she advance.

Vinod Seegum, President of the Government Teachers' Union (GTU), proposed that the CPE is maintained, while organizing, in parallel, special examinations for ZEP school children. He also hoped that primary schools become more involved in physical education students. The conclusions of the discussions between the partners and managers of the Department are expected in late afternoon.