Budget 2026–2027 Drives New Investments in Quality and Inclusive Education

Government has reaffirmed its commitment to prioritising quality and inclusive education so that no child is left behind with the introduction of a range of targeted measures announced in Budget 2026-2027. A total of Rs 2.6 million has been earmarked as the combined budgets allocated to the Ministry of Education and Human Resource and the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research.

To enhance the learning environment, Rs 824 million will be invested in the improvement and expansion of infrastructure and amenities across educational institutions, from pre-primary to tertiary levels.

As part of the efforts to strengthen Foundation Programme for students to tap into their full potential, some Rs 133 million will be provided for the acquisition of textbooks and learning materials and the setting-up of three new MITD multi-sector Training centres to deliver the Foundation practical programmes for children in Grades 7 to 9. In addition, a Basic Literacy and Numeracy Programme for Grades 1 and 2 to address Learning Gaps at an early stage will also be introduced.

Special Education Needs Sector

Guided by the principles of compassion and inclusiveness, Government has announced an increase in the budget for Special Education Needs (SEN) learners from Rs 562 million to Rs 619 million. This will cater for:

· Creation of a specialised early intervention unit in primary schools for children aged 3-5 years old;

· Recruitment of occupational therapists, speech therapists and physiotherapists to be posted in SEN institutions;

· Acquisition of specialized equipment and upgrading of classrooms;

· Increase of 20 percent in the sessional fee for Specialist Support Services attending to SEN learners; and

· Additional SEN Regional Development Centres.

Secondary Education

Government will introduce a Technical Education Applied Pathway in Grades 10 and 11. It will provide practical, competency-based subjects aligned with labour market needs and help reduce disengagement and dropout risks.

In a bid to intensify efforts against bullying in schools, some Rs 10 million will be rolled for an anti-bullying campaign.

Tertiary Education

The National Strategy for Higher Education, Science and Research 2025-2035 is centred on transforming Mauritius into a globally connected, innovation-driven knowledge economy. On this score, a new framework will be introduced to allow world class universities to operate domestically with full university status from day one. Other measures include:

· Launch of a Centralised “Study in Mauritius” Portal to streamline and facilitate the application and admission process for domestic and international students;

· Enabling foreign students to take up employment on a part time basis for up to 30 hours a week during school holidays instead of 20;

· Organising higher education fairs in targeted countries by the Ministry in collaboration with the Economic Development Board and Embassies/Consulates; and

· Developing an Online Student Visa on the National Electronic Licencing System of the EDB.

To address skills mismatches, the Mauritius Qualifications Authority Act will be amended to make the registration of trainers in the Technical and Vocational Education and Training sector contingent upon competency, teaching skills and relevant industry experience.

Harnessing Artificial Intelligence in Education

Government also intends to accelerate the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across the education sector in a safe and responsible manner. Around 8,000 secondary school teachers in Mauritius will be trained and enabled with access to a personalised AI teaching tool to support them in lesson preparation, classroom teaching, assessment, feedback and student support. Moreover, 12,000 Grade 9 students will be supported with access to AI-enabled learning tools.

23 June 2026

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Topics: Education