Mauritius Exam Minister Defends SC and HSC Assessed Marks Call
Education Minister Mahend Gungapersad hits back at calls for his resignation after SC and HSC exams cancelled on 13 October were replaced by assessed grades.
Mauritius is facing a sharp political row over the cancellation of this year's School Certificate and Higher School Certificate examinations, with the Education Minister defending his handling of the crisis against pointed criticism from his predecessor.
The SC and HSC exams, the island's main secondary-school leaving qualifications administered in partnership with Cambridge Assessment International Education, were cancelled on 13 October following social unrest and security concerns in several parts of the country. Rather than reschedule the affected papers, Cambridge confirmed it would apply a system of Assessed Marks, meaning students are graded using coursework records, mock results and other internal assessments rather than sitting new written exams.
Education Minister Mahend Gungapersad responded to his critics on Tuesday, speaking on the sidelines of a workshop held jointly with the Financial Services Institute at the World Hindi Secretariat in Phoenix, a town in the central district of Plaines Wilhems.
His remarks were directed at Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun, who held the Education portfolio before him and who launched a public broadside against his management of the situation at a press conference of the Militant Socialist Movement, known by its French initials MSM, on Monday 26 October. Dookun-Luchoomun called on Gungapersad to resign, accusing him of poor management, a lack of delivery and a failure of leadership. She also questioned whether a proper risk assessment had been conducted before the exams were held and asked at what point Cambridge had been informed of the disruption.
The former minister further argued that switching to Assessed Grades unfairly disadvantages candidates, noting that in previous difficult circumstances the exams had simply been postponed rather than replaced by an alternative grading model.
Gungapersad maintained that his decision was the right one in the circumstances, though the original article does not reproduce the full text of his rebuttal.
What this means: The SC and HSC are the gateway qualifications that determine university entry and career prospects for thousands of Mauritian students each year. Moving to Assessed Marks rather than rescheduling the exams is a significant departure from normal practice. Students and parents will want to understand whether Assessed Grades are accepted on an equal footing by local and overseas universities, and whether any appeal or review process is available to candidates who feel the system undervalues their ability. The political dimension of the dispute, with the previous minister now in opposition, suggests the controversy is unlikely to fade quickly.
Source: ION News
Frequently Asked Questions
What are Assessed Marks and how do they work for SC and HSC students in Mauritius?β
Assessed Marks is a system used by Cambridge Assessment International Education when written exams cannot be held as scheduled. Instead of sitting new papers, students are graded using internal school records such as mock exam results, coursework and teacher assessments. In Mauritius, Cambridge confirmed this approach after the SC and HSC papers were cancelled on 13 October 2025 due to social unrest.
Why were the SC and HSC exams cancelled in Mauritius in October 2025?β
The exams were cancelled on 13 October 2025 because of social unrest and security concerns reported in several regions of Mauritius. The Education Ministry decided not to reschedule the affected papers, opting instead for the Cambridge Assessed Marks system.
Who is Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun and why is she criticising the Education Minister?β
Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun is the former Education Minister of Mauritius and a senior figure in the Militant Socialist Movement (MSM). She held the portfolio before the current minister, Mahend Gungapersad, and has publicly called for his resignation, citing what she describes as poor management of the exam cancellation crisis and arguing that using Assessed Grades penalises students.
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