Table 33: The CPE / PSAC pass rates
Year
2013
2014
CPE
2015
Pass rate %
81.0
80.3
81.2
2016
2017
PSAC
2018
81.2
81.2
78.8
Source: Ministry of Education, and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific
Research
THE “ZONE D’EDUCATION PRIORITAIRE ” PROJECT — ZEP Project
236. The ZEP project started in 2003 with a view to breaking the cycle of poverty through
education. Its main objectives are to combat social inequalities and ensure the provision of equal
opportunities for learning to all children of the Republic and thus improve achievement of both
the pupils and the schools. The two main indicators of the project are the pupil’s attendance rate
and the CPE pass rate.
237. Thirty-three primary schools were identified as low performing having a percentage pass
rate at CPE consistently below 40 percent for a number of consecutive years. The school
population in the ZEP region is on average slightly above 8000. These schools have poverty as a
common denominator.
238. Government recognises the nutritional and educational benefits of providing a balanced and
nutritious meal to pupils of primary schools, especially those coming from vulnerable areas. The
pupils of ZEP schools are provided with a meal comprising of bread with different vegetarian
fillings (consisting of green salad, jardinière legumes, vegetable burger, soya and cheese, amongst
others), a fruit and water at a rate of Rs 60/per pupil/day. Hot meals to pupils of ZEP schools is
envisaged in the future.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
239. As at March 2018, there were 178 schools providing secondary education in the general
stream. The secondary school enrolment was 110,715 of whom 48% were girls. Pre-vocational
education was dispensed in 111 schools in March 2018 with an enrolment of 6,243 students. Boys
pre-dominated in these pre-vocational schools, representing around 66 % of enrolment.
TERTIARY EDUCATION
240. Higher education is heavily subsidised in Mauritius. In January 2019, Government took the
decision to make tertiary education free for those students enrolling in public higher educational
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