Primary Education: Grants allocated to RCEA through Signature of Agreement

An Agreement providing for the payment of grants to 46 primary schools operating under the aegis of the Roman Catholic Education Authority (RCEA) was signed, today at the MITD House in Phoenix, between the Ministry of Education and Human Resource and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Louis.

Signatories were the Senior Chief Executive of the Ministry of Education and Human Resource, Mrs Shakuntala Devi Gujadhur Nowbuth, and the Bishop of Port-Louis, Mgr Jean Michaël Durhône.

The signing ceremony was held in the presence of several personalities including the Minister of Education and Human Resource, Dr Mahend Gungapersad, and the Executive Director of the Service Diocésain de l’Éducation Catholique, Dr Gilberte Chung Kim Chung.

In a statement, Minister Gungapersad highlighted the long-standing partnership between the Ministry and the Catholic Church in the field of education. He indicated that the Agreement provides for a grant of approximately Rs 90 million for each financial year for the running of the 46 RCEA primary schools.

The Minister outlined that the grant will cater for operational costs, compensation for the use of private buildings, minor renovation and maintenance of infrastructure, as well as pedagogical programmes for pupils. He clarified that the amount does not include the payment of salaries, which is catered for separately by the Ministry.

Dr Gungapersad further underlined that the partnership between the Ministry and the Catholic education authorities goes beyond financial assistance and encompasses pedagogical cooperation, exchanges and the sharing of good practices. He also observed that good practices implemented in Catholic schools are shared with the Ministry, and vice versa, so as to ensure the good development of our children.

It is recalled that, on 31 July 2026, Cabinet agreed to the renewal of the Agreement between the Ministry and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Port Louis for financial years 2025-2026, 2026-2027 and 2027-2028. In line with the policy of free primary education, Government provides grants to the RCEA based on an approved grant formula for the running of the primary schools under its purview.

22 September 2026

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Topics: Education