Challenges Faced By a School Leaver in Mauritius

When a youngster leaves school, he may actually be at the crossroad of his future. At this point of time, he has to take major decisions as to what to do in the future. Given that each time the pass rate at the SC and HSC level is around 75 %, it presupposes that one out of four students failed. These youngsters along with poor results might have financial issues resulting which he may not have a future clothed with prospects ahead.

Paradoxically, it has been noted that even brilliant students face many difficulties after leaving school.

Family background? Is it a determining factor for the future of a child? Yes. A student originating from a low income bracket family is undecided whether to pursue his further studies or work to eke a living to meet his family’s needs.

The financial constraints often limit the choice of a prospective university student. For example, the MBBS course is much more costly than an Engineering course. Someone from an influential family may be forced to undertake the same career path as his parents by thus crushing his own dreams and ambitions. Following this trend, one has to decide which type of education he/she will choose; foreign, local university or distance learning, part time course or full time.

Mauritius being a small economy with limited job prospects provides a thorny path for emerging students. Youngsters are the future builders of the country but ironically it is becoming a stark reality that unemployment is taking an ascending trend among youngsters. One has to asses the job market critically before undertaking any course.

The major worry of many students is that most of their desired courses are already saturated. The present trouble is that of fresh doctors finishing their MBBS. Mauritius is saturated with doctors and more doctors are expected from China in the following years. The Ministry of Health & Quality of Life has already predicted that more than 250 doctors will be unemployed in 2015.

Looking for jobs

Hence, it is a conspicuous verity that these students take up other jobs which do not tally with their qualifications or either remains unemployed as a financial burden on the budget of their family. Both the unemployed and the underemployed ones become wasted assets since their potentialities are not exploited.

Mauritius does not undertake many research projects which discourage science students from imparting their knowledge. In other countries such as USA, Canada, France and Germany invest massively in their intellectuals. So, the school leavers sometimes have to give up their cherished dreams of becoming a scientist or a researcher due to lack of research facilities.

Mauritius is a country where politics spread its tentacles in almost all walks of life. Most professionals are coerced to do what politicians dictate them. Witnessing this, many students view this political interference as a violation of professional ethics owing to which they prefer to emigrate in rich countries where they would pursue a degree and afterwards obtain job satisfaction and the freedom to operate professionally in the national interest without any external influence of politicians. Equal opportunities and transparency are not manifested in Mauritius due to their race, creed, colour, caste and political colour in terms of qualifications, recruitments, scholarships and promotions.

Other issues our fellow school leavers need to tackle are also love matters or even the urge to earn money. The idea of making money overnight without a degree may be the option of a school leaver. This can be dangerous or even beneficial. It is risky if the person chooses the wrong path and indulges in illegal activities but it is profitable if one exploits his capabilities and set up a business. Also, one may be overwhelmed and blinded by the notion of love and opt to get married and settle down immediately after school. Familial problems, health issues and even psychological affairs are pivotal tools which decide the lot of a school leaver.

Mauritius having no natural assets is gifted with manpower. Unfortunately, it is unable to optimize on the human resources as a result of massive exodus of their best brains to greener pastures abroad. This exerts adverse setbacks on the development of the country, if not bring it to a standstill. Initiatives have to be motioned to guide a school leaver so that he feels privileged in his own country and do not face any trouble while making the most important decision of his life-his career. Alternatively, the government should provide research facilities and opportunities for higher studies to its gifted, talented and outstanding citizens.

By Varsha Gheeseewonee. – Related Article by this author: Emergence of non-star colleges in Mauritius

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