SC and HSC Exam Candidates Complain of No Clocks in Exam Halls

Students sitting this year's School Certificate (SC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examinations in Mauritius have raised concerns about the absence of clocks in certain exam halls, according to reports from Le Défi Media. Candidates say that in some venues, there were no wall clocks visible during their papers, making it difficult to manage their time effectively throughout the exams. For high-stakes national assessments, where every minute counts, the lack of a visible clock can significantly affect a student's performance and ability to pace their answers. **What are the SC and HSC exams?** The SC (School Certificate) and HSC (Higher School Certificate) are Mauritius's two most important national public examinations. The SC is sat by students at the end of Form V (roughly equivalent to GCSEs in the UK), while the HSC is taken at the end of Form VI (similar to A-Levels). Both are administered by the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES), a government body responsible for organising and overseeing national assessments. Results from these exams determine university entrance and career pathways, making them critical milestones for thousands of Mauritian students each year. **What candidates are saying** Affected students reported feeling disadvantaged compared to peers in other exam centres where clocks were available. Without a visible timepiece on the wall, candidates had to rely on invigilators to announce the remaining time — a practice that is not always consistent across venues — or depend on their own watches, which not all students carry. The complaints highlight an organisational gap that, while it may seem minor, can have a real impact on exam performance. Time management is a core skill tested in these papers, and students who cannot monitor the clock risk spending too long on one section and running out of time on others. **What this means** For current and future exam candidates, this issue serves as a reminder to wear a watch to exam venues, as personal timepieces are generally permitted under MES regulations, provided they are non-smart analogue or basic digital watches. Parents and school administrators may wish to raise the matter formally with the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate to ensure that all exam centres are properly equipped before the next sitting. The MES has not yet issued a public response to these complaints. It is not currently known how many exam centres were affected or whether the issue has been formally escalated. Source: Le Défi Media