Covid–19 Bill : des enseignants demandent aux parlementaires de ne pas voter les amendements à l’Education Act

Le contenu du projet de loi sur le Covid-19 fait couler beaucoup d’encre depuis dimanche dernier. Dans une pétition (voir à la fin de l'article), six unions regroupant 9 911 enseignants demandent aux parlementaires de ne pas voter les amendements à l’Education Act de 1957. 

Selon les différents présidents, les amendements proposés sont «anticonstitutionnels». Tout au long de la pétition, ils expliquent les différentes étapes et changements dans leur mode de travail depuis l’annonce de la fermeture des écoles en date du 20 mars dernier. Ils insistent qu’ils n’ont pas été consultés pour tous les changements apportés.

À propos de l’éducation à distance, les enseignants insistent que le rapport du Pay Research Bureau (PRB) ne fait pas référence à cette méthode. Ainsi, ils estiment que les actions disciplinaires auxquelles font allusion les amendements ne sont pas justifiées, puisque toutes les conditions, comme la formation, ne sont pas réunies. 

Voici la pétition :

12th May 2020

PETITION TO THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF MAURITIUS AGAINST AMENDMENTS TO THE EDUCATION ACT 1957 IN THE COVID-19 (MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS) BILL (No. I of 2020)

Whereas:
1.    On Wednesday 18th of March 2020,  The Honourable Prime Minister of Mauritius
announced the decision of the Government of Mauritius to close all schools in Mauritius due to the Covid19 Pandemic.

2.    This closure was followed by an announcement made by The Honourable Prime Minister of Mauritius to prepone the First Term School Holidays from the 20th of March 2020 to the 3rd of April 2020.

3.    On the 1st of April 2020, the Minister of Education, Tertiary Education, Science and Technology (METEST) announced the decision of the Government to implement online teaching for students of Grade 10 to 13 as from the 6th of April 2020. (Re: Circular from the Senior Chief Executive of the METEST dated 1st April 2020).

4.    The Union Representatives were not consulted and this consequently, unfairly compelled educators to dispense online teaching without training and logistics. The Conditions of Service of Educators are clearly stipulated in the Pay Research Bureau Report and recruitment is made according to required qualifications for the postof educator defined therein. As per the Education Act 1957 Section (3), (2) (b)-the Minister shall ensure the recruitmentand training of teachers. 

5.    The Conditions of Service of Educators in the PRB Report do not make provisions for educators to dispense online teaching. The Scheme of Service does not make provisions for online teaching.

6.    The proposed retroactive application of the amendments for the education sector is unjustified, unwarranted, against the principle of natural justice and done without prior consultation with Secondary Educators’ Unions.

7.    The proposed order made at Section 36(2) (a), in the Covid-19 (miscellaneous provisions) bill (No. I of 2020) requiring  the teaching staff and other personnel of the educational institutions  to engage in, produce and conduct, distance education and online learning programmes, including broadcast lessons; is viewed by the Unions as a variation of the existing contract of employment of educators.

8.    The proposed order made at Section 36(3) on any person who, without reasonable excuse, fails to comply with any requirement under subsection (2) – (a) be deemed to be in breach of his contract of employment; and (b) may be liable to disciplinary proceedings, is viewed by the Unions as a gross breach in the contract of employment of educators.

9.    The proposed amendments to The Education Act 1957  in the Covid-19 (miscellaneous provisions) bill (No. I of 2020) is according to Unions, anti-constitutional and trespass existing Laws (The Constitution of Mauritius Chapter 2 article 3(c) and Data Protection Act) and thus deprive Unions of their legitimate Negotiating and Consulting Rights. 

In light of the above, we, the undersigned Presidents of the Unions representing  Educators (Secondary) in the Republic of Mauritius comprising of 9911 members, call upon Honourable Members of The National Assembly NOT to vote the proposed amendments to the Education Act in the Covid-19 (miscellaneous provisions) bill (No. I of 2020).

Presidents: 
Mr Casmally Sheik Khalil – State Secondary School Teachers’ Union (SSSTU)
Mr Yugeshwur Kisto – Government Secondary School Teachers Union (GSSTU)
Mr Ravish Hurry – Mahatma Gandhi Institute Employees Union (MGIEU)
Mr Sooryadanand Meetooa – Education Officers’ Union (EOU)
Mr Bhojeparsad Jhugdamby – Union of Private Secondary Education Employees (UPSEE)
Mr Patrick Freyneau – Secondary and Preparatory School Teachers and other Staff Union (SPSTSU)