run institutions and the remaining 194 (21%), operating on Government primary school premises, were administered by the Early Childhood Care and Education Authority. 229. Pre-primary schools numbered 846 in March 2018 with an enrolment of 26,183 children of whom around 49% were girls. 230. As at March 2019, out of 846 pre-primary schools, there was an enrolment of 26,183 children of which 49% were girls. NINE YEAR SCHOOLING 231. The CPE system was replaced by the Nine Year Schooling as from academic year starting January 2017 in view of the fact that the CPE led to an elitist system by the nine-year schooling. The Nine Year Schooling emphasizes on the holistic development of the child and it is in line with the SDG 4, i.e, it focusses on the learner’s intellectual, socio-emotional, physical, creative and aesthetic potentials and promote their development through a range of activities. Moreover, the Nine Year schooling provides for the availability of alternative routes/pathways offering a wide range of options (academic, technical and vocational, amongst others) to students. The Nine Years of Continuous Basic Education (NYCBE) lays a strong foundation from which to build future learning. The Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC) has now replaced the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE). The first cohort of pupils sat for the PSAC in October 2017. 232. This reform is expected to eliminate dropouts in the system as it will keep the children at schools for a much longer time and will simultaneously, address the issue of street children as well. The three additional years (Lower Secondary) following the first six years in the Primary would be decisive for the student to develop his/her personality, critical analysis and skills. 233. One of the key challenges of the Mauritian education system concerns some 20% of children who do not make the grade at the end of their primary education, at the PSAC. Prior to 2018, these students were channeled to the Pre-vocational stream. A four-year Extended Programme has been designed that allows more time for these students to develop the essential competencies of basic education. The Early Support Program (ESP) as an innovative measure, meant to reduce learning deficits right from an early age, has been embedded in all primary schools as from 2017. 234. As at March 2018, there are 318 primary schools in the Republic of Mauritius with 89,642 pupils of whom 50.3% were boys. 235. Some 26 000 tablets have been distributed to students of Grades 1, 2 and 3 in all primary schools in 2018 /2019. 106