Saffiyah Edoo
While the world is progressing by leaps and bounds, Mauritius is staying put in the swamp of mediocrity, if not getting deeper. As we watch Scotland break a couple of glass ceilings with the appointment of the new first Minister, Humza Yousaf, we cannot but feel helplessly angry at the status quo of more than half a century of our politics. A decade ago, we would have been able to remain fairly optimistic regarding any evolution of mindsets, political systems and political leaders. But today, we have to resign ourselves to the fact that Mauritius will always lag behind for several reasons…
For generations now, we have been in the stranglehold of a system that has become obsolete, for the simple reason that there has been no political willingness and foresight to be relevant to the times. We are at the mercy of a system based on decades old census, which in all probability has much evolved, which would warrant a departure from what forms the basis of the choice of political leaders. In today’s cosmopolitan world where cultures are mingling, and singularly respected at the same time, we remain stuck in a system which fiercely and relentlessly pulls us, citizens with a much wider view of society, into a regressive maelstrom every 5 years at the urns.
Unfortunately, the current alternatives do not give any cause for hope. The emerging parties do not offer much. A good few of them are headed by yesteryear lackeys who have suddenly been spurred by newly discovered enlightenment; they want us to ignore some of their questionable baggage, believe that they are here only for their sudden selfless urges of serving, after years of perpetuating the same old obsolete system. 
What are we to teach coming generations? We certainly do not want them to remain in this kind of archaic system. In any progressive country worthy of its name, leaders would have already set in motion an educational system whereby the coming generations would be equipped with intellectual and practical skills needed in the coming years. But once more, the public educational system shines by its mediocrity, its backwardness and outdated methods, were it not for the endeavours of certain forward thinkers in the pedagogical field, thankfully still present in certain institutions. However, these are few and not present everywhere. How does a Ministry of Education not tackle the problem of illiteracy at foundation years, and wait for children to reach 14 years of age to do so, only to come up with an astoundingly failing methodology? For instance, the issue of the Extended Programme had been examined extensively by Rajendra Sewpersadsing in the Forum Page of Le Mauricien. Furthermore, how does the Ministry not recognize that automatic promotion at mainstream primary level is the basis of academic problems in future years especially for those who have had trouble with the 3 Rs since they have started school?
Given the patchwork nature of our society, our educational system should have special focus on civic education, patriotism, nation building, to encourage a convergence among people from a young age, especially on common issues. But, as a recent conversation reminded me, in a country where local History has been scrapped from the university’s programs, we need to seriously begin to worry. While our children are witnessing unveiling of statues of personalities that have nothing to do with local history, and buildings and places being named after people who are relevant to their country of origin’s history, those in charge are perverting the notion of commemoration for youngsters. Today, the latter are very far removed from their history, that of their country and this poses a problem in that they will build their futures with what they have been perversely taught, unless as parents, as a society we make it a must to reclaim our history.
Many would ask, and rightly so, who has the time to do that, in a society where the price of basic necessities is through the roof and people have more pressing issues to worry about? But this is precisely what certain leaders want: to lure people away from real issues so that shenanigans can proliferate. How can we aspire to be democracy when power is locked in the hands of one entity, not to say one person? How can we expect institutions to run independently when their heads are nominated as thanks for services rendered, competence and integrity be damned? Why are we condemned to pay for the deficits, and by ricochet the mismanagement of the STC with unchanged price in petrol when the price has gone down worldwide? How can we expect that inquiries involving those close to power will succeed transparently when those in charge are answerable to the allegedly accused’s leader? How do we expect young girls to aspire to greater things when women are not given their due and remain unsupported in the workplace?
Ironically, we should not be the ones thinking about this, rather those in charge should be, but since nobody would change something that benefits them, we are ultimately left to ourselves to muster the courage to challenge this sad state of affairs. This is possible but let’s not kid ourselves, this is a super long process. It takes a change of mindset, a change in education, a willingness to move out of comfort zones, a recognition of the urgency to read, not only for pleasure but for insight and for moving ahead, to discover new roads, already taken by many far sighted, genuine leaders who have paved the way to a more solid future. It also takes a recognition that one’s time in the political limelight is over and that it is time to abnegate power or leadership, no matter how intoxicating it can be. It is time to give a chance to the youth, the more capable and the more competent of this country. Unless and until we, as a society can move towards more progressive directions, Mauritius will always lag behind.
