Mauritius Revives NICE Civic Education Programme for 200 Teens

A recognition ceremony held on Thursday 5 June at the Sir Harilall Vaghjee Hall in Port Louis marked the official launch of NICE 2026, the National Initiative for Civic Education, bringing together NGOs, private-sector sponsors and government institutions to celebrate the partners making the programme possible.

NICE is a structured civic education initiative aimed at young Mauritians aged 12 and 13. After its first editions in 2012 and 2013, the programme is making a comeback more than a decade later, with organisers emphasising that passing on civic values is a responsibility shared across society, not just by schools or the state.

This year, 200 secondary school students will take part, split equally between 100 girls and 100 boys. Participants will be drawn from Mauritius, Rodrigues, and the remote island of Agalega, ensuring the programme reaches beyond the main island.

The programme runs from 16 to 28 November and is designed in two distinct phases. The first week is non-residential, allowing students to attend from home while engaging in structured learning. The second week takes place at a residential camp, giving participants a full immersive experience in a group setting.

Across the two weeks, students will work through 22 modules covering personal development, community life, national education and crisis management. The mix of topics reflects an ambition to prepare young people not just as individuals but as active, informed members of their society.

Funding comes jointly from the private sector and several government ministries, making NICE a rare example of cross-sector collaboration in Mauritius. The Thursday ceremony was designed to formally recognise the organisations and institutions that have committed resources and expertise to the initiative.

What this means: For families with children in the target age group, NICE 2026 offers a free, government-backed civic learning experience that combines classroom sessions with residential camp life. For the broader public, it signals a renewed national commitment to youth civic engagement, reaching even the most remote parts of the country. The involvement of private sponsors alongside multiple ministries also sets a model for how public programmes can be sustained through partnership rather than state funding alone.

Source: ION News