PSEA Pushes Back on UPSEE Protest Claims Over Staff Rules

Mauritius' private secondary school regulator has issued a formal clarification in response to statements made by an education union during a protest march held last Saturday.

The Private Secondary Education Authority, known as the PSEA, published a communique on Wednesday 4 June addressing claims made by the Union of Private Secondary Education Employees, or UPSEE, during the demonstration. The protest had targeted both the PSEA and the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.

The PSEA is the government body that oversees and regulates private secondary schools in Mauritius. The UPSEE represents teaching and non-teaching staff employed in those institutions.

One of the key points of contention was the Memorandum of Understanding, or MOU, governing the redeployment of surplus staff. UPSEE had raised concerns about possible changes to this agreement. The PSEA was direct in its response: no decision has been taken to amend or alter the existing MOU signed between the union and the Ministry of Education. The authority confirmed the agreement remains fully in force and unchanged.

The second issue addressed relates to the mechanism through which union dues are deducted from employees' salaries, covering both teaching and non-teaching staff. The PSEA said it had received multiple complaints from employees who alleged that deductions were being made from their pay without their knowledge or consent.

To address this, the PSEA said it has introduced a revised procedure designed to strengthen transparency, accountability and proper record-keeping. The authority did not specify the exact details of the new procedure but framed the change as a matter of good governance rather than any interference with union activity.

The PSEA concluded by stating that all its actions are strictly aligned with established procedures and applicable regulations, and that the welfare of students remains its central priority.

What this means: For private secondary school employees in Mauritius, the PSEA's statement offers reassurance that the redeployment agreement protecting surplus staff has not been quietly changed. The revised union dues process, however, signals that the regulator is taking a more active role in overseeing how deductions are handled, which could affect how unions collect membership fees going forward. Staff who believe unauthorised deductions have been made from their salaries may now have a clearer channel to raise concerns through the revised procedure.

Source: ION News