Mauritius Reschedules Grade 4, Grade 5 and NCE Exams in 2025

Mauritius has announced revised examination dates for three key national assessments: the Grade 4 evaluation, the Grade 5 evaluation, and the National Certificate of Education, commonly known as the NCE. At the same time, the secondary school calendar has been extended by three days.

The changes were reported by Le Defi Media and affect thousands of pupils and families across the country. While the specific new dates were not detailed in the original report, the announcement signals an official adjustment to the academic schedule that parents, students and schools will need to plan around.

In Mauritius, the Grade 4 and Grade 5 assessments are national evaluations held at primary school level under the Nine-Year Continuous Basic Education system introduced in 2017. These assessments replaced the former Primary School Achievement Certificate, known as the PSAC, at those stages. The NCE, also called the National Certificate of Education, is sat at the end of Grade 9, which marks the final year of the compulsory basic education cycle. It is administered by the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate, the national body responsible for public examinations at all levels.

The extension of the secondary school calendar by three additional days suggests that teaching time was disrupted at some point during the current academic year, requiring schools to make up for lost instructional days before examinations begin. Disruptions to the school calendar in Mauritius can occur for various reasons, including adverse weather events such as cyclones, or other exceptional circumstances.

What this means for families and schools: any parent or guardian with a child sitting the Grade 4 assessment, the Grade 5 assessment or the NCE this year should contact their child's school or check official communications from the Ministry of Education and the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate for the confirmed new dates. Secondary school students and teachers should also note that the academic year will run three days longer than originally planned, which may affect end-of-term arrangements.

Schools are expected to communicate the updated timetable directly to pupils. Official announcements are typically published through the Ministry of Education and the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate, which can be reached through their respective websites and social media channels.

Source: Le Defi Media