Education systems in Mauritius among the best in Africa

One of the first things expats want to know about moving to Mauritius is what the education system is like. Let’s start with the stats. According to a World Education Forum report, the results of which were published by Bscholarly, Mauritius education ranks in the top four of 38 countries surveyed in Africa.

The aim of the report was to identify the finest education systems based on skills development. To that end, the World Education Forum factored in overall labour competence, the amount and quality of schooling in each country, digital literacy, interpersonal skills, and the capacity to think critically and creatively.

The island education system is highly rated for mathematics and science. In addition, the World Economic Forum places Mauritius in the top third of 140 countries surveyed for best vocational training. The Mauritius education system also has a similar status for staff training. Its students reportedly rank among the best candidates for Cambridge International Examinations worldwide.

Compulsory education

All learners must attend school up to the age of 16 and, ideally, complete their secondary education. The Government of Mauritius offers free transport to learners to encourage and support their attendance. School curricula are among the top internationally recognised programmes, with either English or French as the medium of instruction. In addition, the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation runs four different education channels to broadcast lessons for students in Grades 1 to 9.

 Many expat families in Mauritius have benefited from the world-renowned Montessori preprimary learning programme adopted in schools such as Little Judy in the south, l’Ile aux Enfants on the west coast, and Montessori Kids’ Paradise in the east.

Students who prefer primary tuition in English can attend the International Preparatory School in the north or Clavis International Primary School in Moka. Meanwhile, French-speaking students can enrol at Ecole Paul & Virginie in Black River or Lycée Labourdonnais in Curepipe, which is one of the top private French-medium secondary schools. Northfields International High School is a natural choice for English-speaking students whose families settle in the north.

International community

In 2020, there were 319 primary schools, 179 secondary schools, and 464 training institutions, including international campuses such as the University of Middlesex, Curtin University in Australia, and l’Université Paris-Dauphine on the island.

The number of international students in Mauritius has increased from 528 in 2007 to 3,300 in December 2020. The students hail from more than 70 countries, mainly India, Nigeria, South Africa, Madagascar, France, Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania.

Elizabeth Kitange of Tanzania shared her experience at the African Leadership University of Mauritius with the Economic Development Board (EDB): “I am privileged to be welcomed to live, intern, and study in such a diverse and welcoming country. My living and working in the education and training sector in Mauritius has helped me learn how to integrate with the Mauritian culture and people. I even wrote my final thesis on Mauritian higher education! I am constantly awed by the beauty of the country and its people. The Mauritian youth are some of the most talented I’ve met, and I’m excited to continue working with their learning development.”

Leading education hub

The government aims to position Mauritius as the leading education hub for the region, which aligns with its goal to develop the island as an innovation-driven economy. Transforming Mauritius into a knowledge-based island would require the contribution of a highly productive, skilled, and qualified workforce that would inspire further investment and maintain the country’s competitiveness.

Furthermore, the development of Mauritius as a regional hub for high-quality education and training in the knowledge industry will act as a catalyst for broadening the Mauritian economy and providing necessary support to existing and upcoming sectors.

The EDB promotes the unique study-live-play lifestyle, state-of-the-art campuses, internationally recognised qualifications, and Mauritius-Africa scholarship scheme – all essential components in its evolving education hub. They also offer a post-study work visa.

These are some excellent reasons to move to Mauritius if you have a young family with children starting their schooling phase or
entering the tertiary stream. Invest in your dream home on the island, and the motivation increases tenfold, especially if you qualify for a permanent residence permit.