NAFCO Launches National Campaign to End Mauritius's 'Toxic' School Race

A Mauritian children's advocacy group has launched a national campaign urging an overhaul of the country's exam-focused education system, arguing that it is creating toxic levels of stress and anxiety among young students. The National Alliance for Children's Welfare (NAFCO) unveiled its "Ending the Rat Race" initiative this week, calling on authorities to rethink a system that, in its view, pits children against each other in a relentless competition that prioritises exam scores over well-being and personal development. **What is NAFCO?** NAFCO — the National Alliance for Children's Welfare — is a Mauritius-based non-governmental organisation that advocates for the rights, welfare, and development of children across the island. It regularly engages with government ministries, schools, and the public on issues ranging from child protection to education policy. **What is the campaign about?** The "Ending the Rat Race" campaign targets what NAFCO describes as a culture of "toxic competition" embedded in Mauritius's education system. The organisation argues that children are under enormous pressure from an early age to outperform their peers in high-stakes examinations — pressure that takes a serious toll on their mental and emotional health. Mauritius's primary school system culminates in the PSAC (Primary School Achievement Certificate) examinations, while secondary students sit for the SC (School Certificate) and HSC (Higher School Certificate) exams — qualifications that largely determine access to further education and career paths. Critics have long argued that this results-driven model leaves little room for creativity, emotional intelligence, or alternative learning styles. NAFCO is calling for systemic reform that would shift the focus away from ranking and scoring, and towards a more holistic model of education — one that values a child's overall growth, mental health, and individual talents. **Why does this matter?** Mauritius has a deeply exam-oriented school culture. Top scores in national exams are a source of family and social pride, and private tutoring is widespread — often beginning as early as primary school. While this has produced high literacy rates and a skilled workforce, it has also drawn increasing criticism from educators, psychologists, and parents who worry about the psychological cost to children. Concerns about student stress, burnout, and anxiety have been growing in Mauritius, particularly in the lead-up to national examinations. NAFCO's campaign puts these concerns into the national spotlight and formally demands a policy response. **What this means** For parents, students, and educators, the campaign signals growing organised pressure on the Ministry of Education to reconsider how success is measured in Mauritian schools. Whether it translates into concrete policy change will depend on how the government responds — but campaigns like this have historically influenced curriculum reviews and welfare initiatives in Mauritius. NAFCO says it plans to engage communities, schools, and policymakers across the island as part of the campaign. Source: Le Defi Media