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Ceremony of handing over of rewards to school-based CATs

Following the CATs? Convention in April 2006, 16 out of 40 schools followed up on their CATs? projects and implemented the actions proposed at the convention from April to September 2006. The NPCC called these schools at the Cyber Tower on Thursday 7 December to reward them.

Two audits were actually conducted to determine the best implemented projects. The first one was carried out by the NPCC staff during one week as from the 25^th September. Following this exercise, five schools were short listed namely Loreto College Mahebourg, Thanacody College (Souillac) , Hindu Girls College (Curepipe), St Mary?s College and Royal College Curepipe. They underwent a second audit on the 9^th and 10^th October by the judging panel represented by Mr. Mario Ponen, Human Resource Manager, New Island Clothing, Mr Hiranand Boolchand Dansinghani, Director Educational Reforms and International Relations, Ministry of Education and Human Resources and Dr Satyadev Rosunee, Associate Professor, University of Mauritius.

The St Mary?s College won the jury?s approval and will proceed to the 10^th ICSQCC (International Convention for Students? Quality Control Circle) in December 2007 in Lucknow, India.

According to the Executive Director of the NPCC, classrooms need to become more experiential, collaborative and creative so that every child learns deeply and meaningfully. ?The focus of schools has to change from simply preparing children for exams to assisting them in skills development which they will use later in their lives? added Dr Krishnalall Coonjan.

The Chairman of the NPCC stressed on the innovative initiatives applied by the organization to enroll more schools in the CATs project-the e-learning platform was set up in February 2007. In July this year a training of facilitators was conducted in a blended mode, both face-to face and  distance learning.

For the Minister of Education and Human Resources, school management need to assess which projects will help the school more in its quest for excellence. ?My Ministry is working on some recommendations to help school prioritise their extra curricular activities as from next year? said Honourable Dharam Gohkool.

The NPCC benefited from the sponsorship of the following organizations for this presentation of rewards: The State Bank of Mauritius, La Plantation Hotel, Parc Aventure Chamarel and  Precigraph Ltd.