Mauritius to Cut Grants to St Bartholomew's and Royal Holloway Colleges from 2027

Two private secondary colleges in Mauritius — St Bartholomew's College and Royal Holloway College — are set to lose their government subsidies from January 2027, according to a report by Le Défi Media. The Mauritian Ministry of Education funds a number of private colleges through a subsidy system, helping them cover operational costs in exchange for offering places to students who qualify through the national examination system. These grants have long allowed private institutions to keep fees affordable while maintaining academic standards aligned with the public curriculum. However, the government has now signalled that St Bartholomew's and Royal Holloway will no longer benefit from this financial support as of January 2027. No detailed official statement explaining the specific reasons for the suspension has been published at this stage. **What Are These Colleges?** St Bartholomew's College and Royal Holloway College are private secondary schools operating within Mauritius's mainstream education system. Like other aided private colleges, they follow the national curriculum and participate in Cambridge examinations administered locally. Students typically gain entry following their results at the Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) or the current Primary School Achievement Certificate (PSAC) level. State subsidies to such colleges are administered through the Ministry of Education, which sets conditions around staffing, enrolment, and academic performance in exchange for public funding. **Who Is Affected?** The decision has direct implications for the colleges themselves, their teaching staff, and most importantly their students and parents. Without government grants, institutions typically face pressure to raise school fees to cover salaries and running costs — a burden that falls on families. Parents of current students, as well as those planning to enrol children in the coming years, will want to seek clarity from college management on how the funding change will affect fee structures and the availability of places under the national placement system. Teaching and administrative staff at both institutions may also face uncertainty, as subsidies often underpin salary contributions made by the government on behalf of aided institutions. **What This Means** The suspension of grants to these two colleges is a significant policy move that could reshape how they operate. If the schools choose to continue independently without state support, they may transition to a fully private, fee-paying model — potentially making them less accessible to students from lower-income households who rely on the subsidised placement system. It also raises broader questions about the criteria the Ministry of Education uses to evaluate continued subsidy eligibility, and whether other aided institutions could face similar reviews. The government has not yet announced a transition plan or support mechanism for affected students and staff. Parents and educators are advised to monitor official communications from the Ministry of Education for further guidance ahead of the January 2027 deadline. Source: Le Défi Media