Port Louis — According to the returns of the Registrar of Associations as at December 2006, there are more lady members than malemembers in the main unions of the primary sector. The figures are the following:

Government Hindi Teachers' Union: 262 males and 299 females

Government Teachers' Union: 2022 males and 2452 females

Government Urdu Teachers' Union: 29 males and 39 females

Government Primary Teachers' Union: 638 males and 735 females

Therefore it is crystal clear that there is a tendency towards feminisation of the profession. Whatever the reasons for this, it is high time that certain tendencies be adjusted.

There should not be any discrimination based on gender as far as class allocation is concerned/

Due to family reasons, transfer exercise should undergo certain readjustments.

It is high time that maternity leaves be reconsidered.

Catering for lady teachers should not be wholly summarised as organising International Women's Day. It should go far beyond this. This feminisation tendency will therefore be one of the considerations of the next PRB report - such is the expectation among lady teachers. And both male and female teachers have high expectations on the next PRB report.