Second edition of Learn-AI Innovation Challenge and National Essay Competition launched

As part of the celebrations of the National Day 2026, the Office of the President in collaboration with stakeholders launched yesterday the second edition of the Learn-AI Innovation Challenge and the National Essay Competition at the State House, Reduit. The President of the Republic of Mauritius, Mr Dharambeer Gokhool, the Acting Director of Secondary Education, Ministry of Education and Human Resource, Mr Neerunjun Beegun, Director of the Tertiary Education and Scientific Research Division of the Ministry of Education, Tertiary Education, Professor Kiran Bhujun, the Head of AI transformation at Mauritius Telecom, Mr Vasenden Dorasami; and other personalities were present on the occasion. In a statement, President Gokhool recalled that the Learn-AI Innovation Challenge and the National Essay Competition were introduced on a pilot basis in 2025. The competitions attracted strong student participation and were considered a great success, he highlighted. Consequently, the Office of the President decided to launch the second edition of the competitions to further inspire young innovators and prepare the next generation to contribute to Mauritius’ digital transformation through the responsible and impactful use of artificial intelligence. The competitions also aim to rekindle young people’s interest in reading about the history of Mauritius and to encourage writing among the youth. The Learn-AI Innovation Challenge 2026The Learn-AI Innovation Challenge 2026 is a joint initiative of the Office of the President, the Ministry of Education and Human Resource, and the Ministry of Information Technology, Communication and Innovation, in collaboration with Mauritius Telecom, Dayforce, Doracrea, and other AI flagship partners. The programme aims to promote innovation and strengthen digital skills among Grade 10 and Grade 12 students across Mauritius. It offers a competition-based training experience focused on artificial intelligence, with the objective of introducing students and educators to the fundamentals of AI while enhancing problem-solving, research, and critical-thinking skills.Through expert training, mentoring and hands-on experience with AI tools, participating teams will gain knowledge of AI concepts, ethical practices and technology project development. Schools may register teams consisting of up to five students and one educator. Teams will be required to develop AI-driven solutions addressing national challenges such as education, healthcare, cybersecurity, sustainable development and smart mobility.The deadline for project submission is Monday 12 May 2026. National Essay Competition 2026The National Essay Competition 2026 is organised by the Office of the President in collaboration with the Ministry of Tertiary Education, Science and Research and the Ministry of Education and Human Resource. The competition is open to all students across the Republic of Mauritius. The theme for this year is “Unity, Inclusion, and Innovation: Pillars for the Next Phase of Nationhood of Mauritius.”Participants will compete in four categories: Category A: Grades 5 and 6 Category B: Grades 7 to 9 Category C: Grades 10 to 13 Category D: University students The deadline for registration is 18 March 2026.

10 March 2026

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Topics: Education