allAfrica.com: Mauritius: World-class education ? third-world administration (Page 1 of 2)

The saga of the Eastern University (Mauritius Branch) is a good example of how Mauritius treats the education and future of our young people. It takes one step forward and ten backwards. The leader of the opposition is increasingly showing that the Tertiary Education Committee (TEC) is a puppet tied to ministerial strings and is not able to address what education should be about and how it should be regulated. The TEC Board is a bunch of nominated political affiliates whose loyalty lies somewhere else. I

t has not put rigour first. Rigour is the fundamental and cardinal principle in education. The TEC appears to have failed in this endeavour. The chairman and the executive director of the TEC should examine their conscience now and resign from their offices before they are accused of issues that are more serious.

The first private university fails at the first hurdle and, with it, the credibility of the TEC has gone down the drain. As the paperwork and administrative procedures are unravelled and made public, the integrity of the TEC is further eroded, downtrodden and 'caput'. The TEC is the highest authority in education regulation in Mauritius and is now suspected of failing to protect the exploitation of tertiary education by those who might be motivated by a quick buck or might have connections at ministerial level.

The opposition is right to demand a full public enquiry and the chief executive of Eastern University must do so too. It will go some way towards restoring the credibility of the university's administration.

If the rigour is lacking at the very conception and inception of the university, what guarantee do we have that there will be rigour in the employment of quality lecturers and maintenance of academic standards? On the other hand, would a quality lecturer want a post at this university if the initial administration is so tarnished and is seen to have influenced and prejudiced decisions at the highest level? Would there be intellectual independence for academics to excel in their subjects and motivate their students to become independent critical thinkers? This is university education where such independence must be protected, cherished and championed.

The ultimate question is whether the education of our youngsters will be safeguarded at this university. Will the diplomas and degrees obtained at this university have any recognition either in or outside of Mauritius? There are certainly question marks if a university is not recognised by the UGC in its home country. This speaks volumes. We see many Indian degrees/ diplomas that are not recognised on the international arena. The best advice for prospective students is to contact by email British, Australian and Canadian universities and enquire whether an Eastern University Degree will give them entry to a Masters course.

This will at least protect students and put one aspect in perspective for the future before enrolling in a rush at Eastern University. If this is far-fetched, students should write to the University of Mauritius asking whether it would recognise Eastern University degrees and allow holders to enrol for Masters and Doctorate degrees as the TEC seems to be without conscience and impotent in protecting students and standards. Prospective students must protect themselves, as our regulatory body appears to be letting them down.

The slogan is 'protect yourself as no one else will.' Parents who will pay the high fees of Rs 40,000 per year must invest their money in a credible future for their sons and daughters. Our youngsters do not need degrees and diplomas that are not worth the paper they are printed on. Parents must battle for this credibility by asking questions and demanding guarantees.

The opposition parties are right to demand a full public enquiry and the chief executive of Eastern University must do so too. This enquiry will go some way towards restoring the credibility of the university's administration. Refusal to have such an enquiry can only leave serious doubts about the credibility of this university, which does not appear to be highly rated in India. Now, the cry is 'there is no smoke without fire'. The leader of the opposition will serve the country well by not letting this issue go. He should engage his entire team and party to help him find its underlying cause. Young Mauritians will be forever grateful to the opposition for ensuring they go to a credible university. The key questions on the horizon and on the lips of Mauritians are:

Is Eastern University a future haven of employment for some of the ministers after politics and some members of the TEC Board?

Are our elected politicians using their public portfolio (public service) to feather their own nests? Do you recall the mantra 'meritocracy at Hull University and nepotism at Banaras Hindu University'?

Have the TEC policies and procedures not been adhered to because of academic posts promised to those in power? This happens because many ministers find themselves as directors of companies after their ministerial office ends. Is there any brown envelope with promissory notes lurking in the coffers of some ministers and TEC officials?

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