ADDRESS BY DR THE HON VASANT K. BUNWAREE,
Minister of Education & Human Resources
On the occasion of the 35 th Anniversary of the MGISS &
Prize Giving Ceremony
MGI - 17 June 2010 – 9 a.m
Hon. Suren Dayal, Government Chief Whip
Mr. R. Dwarka, Chairman, MGI & RTI
Dr. Mrs. V.D. Koonjal, Director, MGI & RTI
Director Schooling, Mr. Leckraj Mungur
Mr. Panray Bhugwant, President of MGI & RTI, PTA
Distinguished Guests
Dear parents,
Dear students,
Ladies and Gentlemen
The Mahatma Gandhi Institute Secondary School (MGISS) is celebrating its
35 th year. When it started operations in January 1975, I am told, there were only 105 pupils and the premises were still under construction. The school grew gradually and on average the school has a yearly student population of about 750. The first year MGI students sat for Higher Schools Certificate
(HSC) examinations was in 1982 and the school came out with I am told 3 laureates. Over the years the MGISS has had 23 laureates in all and numerous students who have ranked just after.
Since its inception MGISS has been co-educational, the chairman has been talking about it, and this has proved to be a success during its 35 years of existence. This has led to its replication in the other Mahatma Gandhi
Secondary Schools (MGSS’s and RTSS). The MGISS is the only National
School in Mauritius which is co-ed. So this is an aspect to reflect upon.
The school puts a lot of emphasis on Growing Up and Values Education and this helps in the social integration of the students. The school involves itself and many of the students in community service and providing care to
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the needy. This is a very laudable initiative and we have to encourage it more and more. Students at the MGISS participate in many activities which help to inculcate Gandhian values and principles. This year has been earmarked the Year of Respect and Discipline at the MGI. In that context, activities were organized under the theme Respect and Patriotism. The scripts were written by a pool of teachers of the respective schools and I have been told of the good level of your scripts. I want to congratulate you for that.
Until the reforms brought in Education by previous Governments, the MGI had reserved seats for Oriental Languages for students ranked at Certificate of Primary Education (CPE). All ancestral languages are taught up to HSC at both main and subsidiary levels. This is the specificity of all MGI secondary schools.
With educations reforms the MGISS was classified as a Form VI School and now it is commonly known as a National School.
The rate of passes at HSC level is among the highest of the island and last year it was 93.4%. At School Certificate level during past years the school scored 100% of passes. Students participate in several extra-curricular activities organized both at regional and national levels and they most of the time reach the finals.
Today at this prize-giving ceremony, I congratulate all prize winners, as they must surely have put in much more effort to reach excellent grades.
Those who are not on the podium this year, must bring more interest in their studies and make the extra effort. It is said that “success goes to those who dare and act, it seldom goes to the timid”.
May be next year it will be your turn. Even though you do not receive any medal, the continued and sustained effort you make will surely bring glory to you in your life.
I thank the educators and parents for having created the right atmosphere and environment, for these youngsters to study and the administrative and non-teaching staff for having provided the necessary support. My support and blessings are already with you. May you grow up to become the worthy citizens of this country.
Thank you.
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