Mauritius Education Blueprint: Parents Left in the Dark on 2027 Secondary School Admissions

As thousands of Mauritian primary school pupils prepare to sit the Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC) exams — scheduled to begin on 22 October — a cloud of uncertainty hangs over their next step: entry into secondary school. At the centre of the confusion is the government's Education Blueprint, a wide-ranging reform plan designed to overhaul the Mauritian education system. One of its most significant proposed changes concerns the way students are admitted into Grade 7 at national secondary colleges. But with a potential implementation date of January 2027 looming, parents say they still have no clear answers. **What is the Education Blueprint?** The Education Blueprint is a government-commissioned reform roadmap for Mauritius's school system. It proposes structural changes across multiple levels of schooling, including how students transition from primary to secondary education. Under the current system, PSAC results largely determine which national college a child attends. The Blueprint is expected to revise these admission criteria, though the precise details have not been officially communicated. National colleges — such as Royal College Curepipe, Queen Elizabeth College, and John Kennedy College — are among the most sought-after secondary schools in Mauritius, and competition for places is intense. Any change to how students are admitted carries enormous consequences for families. **Why parents are frustrated** A parent who contacted ION News summed up the mood among many families: "Parents, students and teachers remain in a state of uncertainty, due to the lack of official communication on the implementation of this reform." The core question families are asking is straightforward: will the January 2027 Grade 7 intake be governed by the existing PSAC-based system, or by new rules under the Blueprint? As it stands, the Ministry of Education has not issued any public clarification on the timeline or the specific mechanics of the new admission process. For children sitting the PSAC this October, the stakes could not be higher. These pupils and their families are being asked to prepare for a pivotal exam without knowing what criteria will ultimately determine where they go next. **What this means** If the Blueprint's new admission framework is introduced for January 2027, it would affect children sitting the PSAC in October 2025 — meaning those currently in their final year of primary school. Parents cannot make informed choices about school preparation, private tuition, or applications without knowing the rules of the game. Teachers, too, are reportedly unsure how to guide students if the assessment or admission goalposts are about to shift. Education reform in Mauritius has historically been a sensitive subject, with previous changes — such as the abolition of the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) and its replacement by the PSAC — taking years to bed in and generating significant public debate. Families are now calling on the Ministry of Education to issue a clear public statement detailing the admission criteria, the implementation calendar, and whether any transitional arrangements will apply to the Class of 2025. Source: ION News