All Crèches in Mauritius Closed This Tuesday, 13 October

All crèches across Mauritius were closed on Tuesday, 13 October, authorities confirmed. The closure runs alongside a wider shutdown affecting schools and vocational training centres island-wide on the same day. The decision to close crèches — early childhood care and nursery facilities for infants and toddlers — brings the youngest age group into the same public safety net as older students, ensuring no child is required to attend any educational or care institution on this date. This comes amid a tense atmosphere in Mauritius following civil unrest in the Sainte-Croix area of Port Louis, triggered by the shooting of Élodie Thomas, a civilian allegedly struck by a police bullet in the Camp-Levieux neighbourhood. The unrest led to blocked roads, police deployments, and widespread public concern, prompting authorities to shut all educational institutions across the island. **What This Means for Parents** For families with young children in registered crèches — whether private or state-run — no attendance is expected or required on Tuesday, 13 October. Parents should make alternative childcare arrangements for the day. Creches in Mauritius are regulated by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare and typically serve children from a few months old up to three years of age. Unlike primary and secondary schools, which fall under the Ministry of Education, crèches operate under different oversight — making a specific closure announcement for this sector necessary. The closure of schools was announced separately and covers all government and private primary and secondary schools, as well as MITD (Mauritius Institute of Training and Development) centres, which offer vocational training to young adults. Authorities have not yet confirmed when normal operations across all educational and childcare facilities will resume. Parents and guardians are advised to monitor official announcements from the relevant ministries. Source: Le Defi Media