Suspension of Two Schoolboys - School Indiscipline: A Legal Framework Reform Announced

The suspension of two schoolboys due to violent incidents has prompted the Council of Ministers to announce the establishment of an inter-ministerial committee. The goal is to reform legislation deemed ill-suited to address increasingly early disruptive behaviors.

This school incident, notable for its duration and seriousness, has escalated to the highest levels of state. At the Saint-Pierre Roman Catholic Aided (RCA) primary school, two boys enrolled in Grade 4 and Grade 5 (aged eight and nine) were suspended by the Minister of Education's decision. They are suspected of creating a climate of 'terror' at the school for the past three years, marked by repeated episodes of violence.

Behind the administrative decision—a temporary suspension from March 26 to April 3—lies an institutional crisis: how to balance the inalienable right to education with the safety of other students? In light of repeated misconduct cases in various institutions, the Council of Ministers, which met last Friday, has approved the creation of a specialized ministerial committee. This committee will mobilize the entire state apparatus (see below). Its mission is to review proposals for amending the Children’s Act, the Education Act, and other legal texts.

The goal is to legislate on increasingly complex issues: extreme violence, sexual violence, abuse related to social networks, substance use, and school bullying. For Education Minister Mahend Gungapersad, the urgency lies in establishing a 'rehabilitation school,' a transitional structure that allows for professional monitoring between school and home for struggling children.

However, this crisis management approach is not universally accepted. The Ombudsperson for Children, Aneeta Ghoorah, who is following this case classified as 'serious behavioral concerns,' criticizes the delayed decisions. She reminds us that in Mauritius, school is compulsory until the age of 16, with fines or imprisonment for parents who fail to comply.

"No child should be expelled. We need to provide support. We must find alternative methods. It is unfortunate that we will have many cases like this due to broken families in our society," she states.

Aneeta Ghoorah proposes a hybrid approach to the committee: a few days of suspension followed by two to three days a week of support from professionals at a specialized institution, with the remaining time spent at school before a permanent return.

On the ground, parental concern is palpable. The trauma extends beyond typical schoolyard squabbles. A mother recounts needing to visit the police station to fill out a Form 58—the official injury report—after her Grade 4 child was hit on the head and back.

As schools have been on break since last Friday, uncertainty looms over the start of the second term, scheduled for April 20. The Ombudsperson emphasizes the need to determine the fate of these two children before this date. "Other children do not want to return to school because they are scared," confides a father. The committee now has a very short deadline to propose suitable care mechanisms.

Specialized Committee: Mobilization of Several Institutions

• Ministry of Health and Wellness;

• Ministry of Social Integration, Social Security, and National Solidarity;

• Office of the Attorney General;

• Ministry of Gender Equality and Family Welfare;

• Ombudsperson for Children;

• Police Force;

• Probation and After Care Service.