Panafrican News Agency

COVID-19: Mauritius schools reopen 1 July 2020

Port Louis, Mauritius (PANA) – All schools - pre-primary, primary and secondary levels in Mauritius - will resume classes on 1 July 2020, after almost three months of closure due to the island's lockdown to prevent the spread of the coronavirus pandemic.

At a media briefing on Monday, Education minister Mrs Leela Devi Dookun-Luchoomun announced the new school calendar for academic year 2020/2021.

The second term will start on 1 July and end on 16 December 2020 with a one-week midterm break from 19 – 23 October 2020. The third term will start on 7 January 2021 and end on 26 March 2021.

Mrs Dookun-Luchoomun emphasised that a series of measures geared towards ensuring a safe environment will have to be adhered to by students, teaching and non-teaching staff.

This includes mandatory face coverings, daily temperature checks at school entrance, and staggered lunch breaks. Moreover, hygienic measures such as cleaning and disinfecting of classrooms regularly, increased frequency of toilet cleaning, access to liquid soap and alcohol-based hand rubs, will be reinforced.

Besides, prior to the school resumption, all teaching and non-teaching staff will undergo rapid testing for Covid-19.

-0- PANA NA/AR 15June2020