How schools exacerbate inequality…

Today is the first day of the third semester of high school. In a few weeks it will be time for students who are at the end of the cycle to consolidate their knowledge and prepare for their exams. In this context we met Thibaut Walle, who is not an educator but wanted to invest in a social project for Mauritian youth, having taken a scalpel look at our education system for four years, which left most of the students dissatisfied. In a casual conversation he shared with “l’express” his ideas, his vision and his virtual project alaprann.mu, a learning innovation supported by mother tongues.. He is launching this week a revision course online for grade 9, marking the end of grade 9. «Nine-year education».

What are the main educational challenges facing Mauritius today?

Mauritius is a country rich in linguistic diversity, but its education system faces major obstacles. According to the latest data from the Mauritius Statistics Bureau (see table below), 926,120 Mauritians speak Creole at home, while only 7,013 speak English, the official language of instruction in our schools. This language gap is more than just simple preference, it directly affects students’ academic performance, creating a chasm between the language used in daily life and the language of instruction. Our proud bi/trilingualism remains a privilege for a small minority “The Happy Few” And the vast majority of people find themselves in a situation of academic failure, not grasping the basic concepts…

How do language barriers affect student achievement?

The consequences of this handicap are severe and worrying. Last year, only 19% of students achieved a high score (1 to 3) in English in the National Certificate of Education (NCE) examinations. Even more worrying is that only two to three out of ten students who start primary school complete the High School Certificate (HSC). These figures are not simple statistics; they reflect the shattered potential and stifled dreams of many young Mauritians who find themselves held back by an education system that does not take into account their linguistic realities.

How can English as a medium of instruction be a barrier for students?

Although English is the official language of instruction in our schools, paradoxically, it is one of the least spoken languages ​​at home. This situation creates a huge obstacle for students, especially when it comes to understanding basic concepts in subjects such as science, mathematics, and even language arts. For example, how can a student fully grasp the complexity of scientific principles if they do not understand the language in which they are taught? How can he succeed in an exam when the questionnaire is in a language that is unfamiliar to him on a daily basis?

Is this problem unique to Mauritius or is it more widespread?

This problem is not unique to Mauritius. According to a UNESCO report, up to 40% of students worldwide do not receive education in their mother tongue. The consequences are not only reflected in our national examination scores, but also in dropout rates and overall educational performance. While other factors such as a lack of qualified teachers, disciplinary issues and lack of adequate teaching materials also contribute to these challenges, the language barrier remains a fundamental issue that exacerbates all other problems.

What solutions does alaprann offer? mu to overcome these obstacles?

At alaprann.mu, we have spent over four years developing solutions to address these systemic issues. We offer an innovative approach to bilingual education that harnesses the power of educational technology. Our 9th grade revision program is at the heart of this initiative. It offers a complete curriculum taught in English with support in Creole, ensuring students can understand and master the content, regardless of their native language.

How does this bilingual and technological approach change education in Mauritius?

Our program does more than just cover the school curriculum; it does so in an accessible, engaging, and effective way. By offering content in both Creole and English, we ensure that students can keep up, understand key concepts, and build a strong foundation for their current and future learning. This bilingual approach is especially important for disadvantaged communities where parents often struggle to support their children’s education because of language barriers. In these communities, our program has the potential to change lives and provide students with the tools to break the cycle of educational disadvantage.

What role does educational technology play in this solution?

Our solutions go beyond simple language problems. We blend cutting-edge educational technology to create a flexible, personalized learning environment. Through our platform, students can access the entire curriculum anytime, anywhere, allowing them to learn at their own pace. We have also developed an interactive review program based on past ninth grade exam papers in certain subjects, with automatic answers, allowing students to quickly identify their strengths and weaknesses and focus their efforts where they are most needed. After each question, students can watch a detailed video answer, allowing them to fully understand the question, the necessary approach, and review the knowledge they must use to answer correctly.

How can teachers collaborate on this approach?

Teachers can benefit from our platform as well. With our technology, they can track student progress in real time, identify learning gaps early, and intervene before those gaps become insurmountable. This allows them to focus on what matters most: supervising, advising, and guiding students toward academic success. In this new role, teachers are no longer just instructors, they become mentors. They become mentors who help train future citizens. Additionally, we believe that students who have mastered the concepts can also help their peers understand the material under the supervision of their teachers, creating a collaborative learning environment where everyone wins.

What lessons have you learned from working with NGOs and conducting workshops in rural areas?

The need for a bilingual approach to education was further reinforced by our experience working with NGOs and conducting workshops in rural areas. We found that students who were disengaged from the traditional system due to language barriers had difficulty understanding even basic concepts when taught in English. This awareness strengthened our commitment to providing solutions that meet the needs of these students, giving them a second chance to succeed.

Does the “Extended Plan” meet the needs of vulnerable groups?

Expansion PlansIt is an interesting initiative that aims to equip young people with the basic literacy skills they need to become independent citizens. However, in order to achieve this goal, instruction must be delivered in a language that students understand. Providing education is not enough; it must be understandable and meaningful to the students we serve. Our Revision Program also caters to the needs of students in the Extended Curriculum.

After four years of testing, what are the results of your audit program?

After four years of beta testing, we are confident that our review program is effective, and we have received a lot of overwhelmingly positive feedback. We are most proud of helping our students succeed. Our bilingual teaching approach has been proven to be effective, and we are ready to expand its reach. For students who have difficulty being independent, we offer a structured learning journey where daily exercises are designed to cover all the essential skills and knowledge required to pass the NCE exam. We also make sure to review essential concepts from grades 7 and 8 before tackling grade 9 content, giving students a solid foundation.

This looks promising, but do you have evidence of the reliability of your procedure?

Of course, we receive feedback from students and parents every day, so I am sharing with you one of the last comments I received recently.

Claudine BF- :* “Last year, towards the end of her second semester, my daughter found herself struggling with a program that she had not yet fully completed. Looking for a solution, we turned to alaprann.mu. The platform’s well-organized courses provided her with a comprehensive overview of the material she needed. Mr. Cotter’s clear, structured teaching methods proved to be particularly effective in enabling my daughter to understand complex subjects. We are grateful to be able to track her progress, which shows us how far she has come in the course.”

“The live sessions in the days leading up to the ICT test were particularly beneficial. They gave her the confidence she needed to achieve an exceptional result: she received an A*. We are very grateful to Mr Cotter for his support in helping our daughter regain her confidence and achieve an excellent result. Based on this positive experience, we have now enrolled our son in an NCE course to help him revise. Alapuram. mu has proven to be a valuable resource for our family.”

What are your next steps to expand this solution to disadvantaged communities?

We are currently working with schools, NGOs and social workers to be able to spread our solutions to disadvantaged communities. However, our program is not just for the disadvantaged, it is for the underprivileged. It is designed for every Mauritian student who wants to succeed. We invite those who are interested to check out our carefully designed review program which is currently being launched on alaprann. mu/nce, or contact our professional team at 5 500 38 88 for a 7-day free trial.

What action do you call for to overcome language barriers in education?
Mauritius is not the only country that faces the challenge of language barriers when teaching in a language other than the mother tongue. So it is time to rethink our approach. Shouldn’t we allow all students, regardless of their achievement level, to be educated in their mother tongue? Shouldn’t we ensure that they master Creole, English and French by the end of their studies, giving them the language tools they need to succeed in a globalized world?

The time for change has come. Together we can bridge the language gap in Mauritian education by providing all students with an education adapted to their linguistic and cultural realities, paving the way for a better future for them. I am excited to engage with all stakeholders in the education system, share my perspectives and findings, while being open to new issues and understanding how technology and alaprann.mu can help overcome them. We also want to expand our network of schools and NGOs, but most importantly, we need decision-makers in the public and private sectors to scale our impact and provide more young Mauritians with the opportunity to succeed and embrace their futures with confidence.