Mauritius SC English Oral Postponed After Divali Holiday

The Mauritian government's decision to declare Monday, 9 November a public holiday in observance of Divali has forced a last-minute change to the national examination timetable — with the School Certificate (SC) English oral exam postponed, while Higher School Certificate (HSC) exams proceed as planned. **What happened?** Divali, the Hindu festival of lights, falls on Sunday, 8 November this year. The government subsequently declared the following day — Monday, 9 November — a public holiday, giving workers and students an extended celebration period. However, the announcement came after the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES), the body responsible for organising national exams, had already published its official timetable. The SC English oral examination, which had been scheduled for 9 November, can no longer take place on that date. The MES has confirmed the oral will be rescheduled, though a new date has not yet been publicly confirmed. **HSC exams not affected** For students sitting the Higher School Certificate — the equivalent of A-Levels, taken after two years of sixth form — exams scheduled for 9 November will go ahead as planned. No disruption has been announced for HSC candidates. **What is the SC and HSC in Mauritius?** The School Certificate (SC) is the national examination taken at the end of secondary school, broadly equivalent to the Cambridge O-Level or GCSE. It is administered by the MES in partnership with Cambridge Assessment International Education. Results play a key role in determining which students qualify for sixth form or vocational pathways. The Higher School Certificate (HSC) is taken two years later and is the primary qualification used for university admissions, both locally at the University of Mauritius and abroad. **What this means for students and families** For SC students who were preparing for the English oral on 9 November, the postponement means a new date must be found within what is already a tightly packed exam season. Parents and students are advised to monitor official communications from the MES for the rescheduled date. HSC students and their families can proceed without changes to their preparation schedule. The situation highlights how last-minute public holiday declarations — while welcomed socially — can create administrative challenges for institutions with fixed national calendars. The MES is expected to release updated guidance shortly. Source: Le Defi Media