1. In the context of the reform process in the Primary Education Sector, Cabinet has taken note that a report of the Mauritius Examination Syndicate, published last year on the performance of students in core subjects at CPE examinations 2004, indicates that -
“although there has been an increase in the pass rate this year, the quality of the performance of candidates has gone down. Few candidates have excelled, particularly in Section B…. Too many candidates scored 0 in Section B, adding weight to a general feeling that some candidates may not be prepared for Section B of the paper. They may have been trained and conditioned to score maximum marks in Section A”.
Cabinet has further taken note that with a view to raising the level of education and to providing a world class quality education, the Minister of Education & Human Resources is having consultations with all stakeholders, including trade unions both in the primary and secondary schools, Parent Teachers Associations and other parties concerned. In order to ensure an optimal learning environment, secondary institutions are being equipped with laboratories, computer rooms and other facilities.
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2. Cabinet reviewed the implementation of the free travel scheme for students since the resumption of studies in January 2006 and has viewed with concern that certain bus operators are not complying with the clauses of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with Government. Cabinet has agreed to the licences of bus operators, who fail to comply with the provisions of the MoU, being revoked. In this context, the Acting Prime Minister proposed to meet all bus operators that afternoon.
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3. Cabinet has taken note that following the recent heavy rainfall, the Ministry of Health & Quality of Life, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment & National Development Unit and the Ministry of Local Government, is carrying out an island-wide larvicidal campaign and fogging activities to reduce adult mosquitoes in high risk areas. Members of the public are strongly advised to drain water collections, particularly on roof tops, potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, during this period of heavy rainfall.
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4.Cabinet took note of the outcome of the mission of the delegation led by the Acting Prime Minister and comprising inter alia the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation, to Khartoum where they participated in the Sixth Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union from 23 to 24 January 2006. The Assembly took cognizance of the progress achieved in relation to the African proposal on the reform of the UN Security Council. It also made an overview of the conflict and security situation in the continent, including Comoros. The representative of Comoros expressed his gratitude to the African Union Commission and the Government of Mauritius for their commitment in furthering the national reconciliation process in Comoros.
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5.In line with its policy to make Mauritius an active member of the African Community of nations and ensure its full participation in furthering the development agenda of the continent, Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation at the 14th Summit of NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee and the 4th Summit of the Committee of participating Heads of State and Government of the African Peer Review held on 22 January 2006 in Khartoum. At NEPAD meeting, it was agreed that –
(i) Senegal would organize a meeting, within the next four months, to brainstorm on the future of NEPAD as well as its orientations; and
(ii) Member States should intensify their lobbying of development partners in favour of the Joint Action Plan in Africa’s Developments programs and priority needs which should be adopted at the next Meeting of the African Partnership Forum scheduled at the end of April or early May 2006.
With regard to the African Peer Review, which provides an excellent opportunity to assess a country’s situation on Human Rights and good governance, the Forum took cognizance of the main features of the plan of action in key areas of economic and political governance, such as the rule of law and promotion of constitutional democracy, economic governance and accountability, including efforts undertaken to improve the administration of justice and enactment of legislation to combat corruption.
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6.Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the mission of the Attorney General, Minister of Justice & Human Rights to New York where he attended the Fourth Resumed Session of the Assembly of States Parties to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on 26 and 27 January 2006. With a view to establishing avenues of co-operation in the judicial and human rights sectors as well as co-operation in the fight against criminality and possibilities of training at judicial and law enforcement levels, the Attorney General had, in the margin of the meeting, bilateral talks with –
(i) Mr Palitha T.B. Kohana, Head of the Treaty Section at the Office of Legal Affairs of the United Nations;
(ii) Mr Lees Flinterman, from Netherlands, Expert on the Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW);
(iii) Ms Shuala Koenig founding President of the People’s Movement for Human Rights Learning; and
(iv) Mr Bradford Billet, Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Mayor of New York City.
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7. Cabinet has taken note of the outcome of the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation in the 'Partnership Summit' in Kolkata from 17 to 20 January 2006 on the invitation of the Government of India. The theme of the Summit was "Shaping Growth, Nurturing Development", with focus on cooperation for global business and trade strategy (including the WTO negotiations) and on the necessity for growth to translate into sustainable development. The following issues were also discussed: the role of free trade areas and regional trade agreements, trade in services, cross border mergers and acquisitions and forging strategic alliances between countries or transnational cooperations, including regional blocks like the EU, NAFTA, ASEAN, etc. In the margin of the Summit, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade & Cooperation had meetings with the President of India, HE Mr A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, the Premier of Quebec and the former President of the Philippines.
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8.Cabinet has taken note of the promulgation of the Motorways and Main Roads (Amendment) Regulations 2006 with a view to classifying the Rose-Hill-Trianon Road, from its junction with the Vandermeersch Street through Ebène and the Cybercity up to its junction with the Motorway at Trianon as a main road (A 14) so that the Road Development Authority, as the highway authority for motorways and main roads, could assume the responsibility for the upkeep and maintenance of that road.