NCE 2025: 15,000 Candidates, but Hundreds of Empty Seats

Since the commencement of the National Certificate of Education (NCE) 2025 exams, a concerning observation has emerged: numerous absences have been recorded during certain sessions.

The NCE examinations began on September 22 with French and Social and Modern Studies, concluding on October 16 with mathematics. However, behind the seemingly calm examination halls, a troubling reality is unfolding: hundreds of students are absent.

According to our sources, officials from the Mauritius Examinations Syndicate (MES) reported between 200 and 250 absences for some subjects. Notably, during the Art & Design assessment held on September 26, nearly 500 absences were recorded.

This situation raises concerns among organizers and school officials. Within the affected communities, there is a clear call to action: school heads, teachers, and parents must intensify their efforts to raise awareness among students about the importance of attending exams.

Indeed, the stakes are high for the January 2026 school year. The results will determine whether candidates will advance to Grade 10 at their respective colleges, join an academy, or need to repeat the year. For these young individuals, every exam counts, and each absence could jeopardize their educational future.