CPE : une hausse de l’allocation pour la correction des épreuves réclamée

Des institeurs et institutrices, qui sont appelés à corriger les épreuves du Certificate of Primary Educartion (CPE), demandent que leur allocation soit revue à la hausse. Les syndicats des écoles primaires ont décidé de faire bloc à ce sujet, mais aussi pour une augmentation de l’allocation de surveillance des classes durant les examens du CPE prévus entre le 19 et le 21 octobre. Des actions syndicales sont à prévoir au cas où ces demandes ne sont pas satisfaites.

Le Government Teachers Union réclame l’ouverture immédiate des négociations, mais le Primary School Employees Union (PSEU), qui représente environ 300 enseignants, est plus précise. Elle réclame que l’allocation passe de Rs 3 000 à Rs 4 5 00 et que le ‘marking exercise’ passe de Rs 5 000 à Rs 8 000. Une demande officielle a été adressée, par le PSEU, au ministre de l’Éducation, Vasant Bunwaree.

“The Primary Schools’ Employees Union would like to raise the issue of increase in the quantum of allowances to be paid this year in connection with the invigilation and marking exercises. The union is of the opinion that this year, a substantial increase must be granted for these exercises for obvious reasons. The union would first and foremost like to state that in the past years, especially from the early 80s onwards, increases for the same allowances were paid on an annual basis. This tendency has been reversed since three years or more and surprisingly, no explanations have been given for the refusal to pay increases. The PSEU has been shocked by a recent statement made by the responsible officer of the Mauritius Examination Syndicate (MES) to the effect that the same organization makes no claim for Certificate of Primary Education examinations and he evidently wants to justify the refusal to pay increases for the invigilation and marking exercises on the basis of this awkward point. Such an excuse for underestimating the need for payment of increases for the two exercises is absolutely unjustified and unacceptable as financial or budgetary provisions are made on a yearly basis by all organizations for their proper running”, écrivent Jeeanlall Kassinathdoss et Jugdish Lollbeeharry, principaux porte-parole du PSEU.

Dans la lettre, le syndicat ajoute qu’aucune augmentation n’a été accordée durant les trois dernières années. “The PSEU is fully aware that such provisions have been made all the time by the MES and this has allowed it over the years to meet the demands of teachers through their unions. The union would like to draw attention to the fact that during the last three years, the MES has not paid any increase for invigilation and marking exercises. Some teachers have even noticed that in very recent years, the total amount disbursed by the MES in connection with the invigilation exercise has decreased. This has been so because the number of days during which the invigilation exercise was carried out has been reduced. The union considers the quantum of allowances paid for last year which are as follows: Rs 2 183 to Rs 2 934 for invigilation and Rs 3 738 to Rs 5 292 as largely unsatisfactory and insufficient. Teachers this year have already started showing their dissatisfaction on this matter and we are afraid that many among them may refuse to work for both exercises if no increases are paid. In order to ensure the smooth running of the exercises, this union has decided to make its own proposals and we are doing so taking into account two major factors, namely the fact that no increases have been paid for the last three years and, at the same time, the high rates of inflation which have prevailed during the same years. For your kind information we would like to mention that in the past, increases were granted mainly on the basis of the rates of inflation. Finally, we would like to make two additional points in same connection. Firstly, we would like to point out that there is no comparison between payments paid for primary and secondary examinations. Secondly, that the work of headmasters is particularly complicated for both exercises having to attend examination centres as early as at 7.00 am and to wait until late enough in the afternoon for invigilation. Their responsibilities as head of groups are particularly heavy and delicate and it is for this reason that the union has proposed higher claims for them. By way of conclusion and at the same time to ensure the smooth running of the two exercises the PSEU is making the following proposals:- Invigilation exercise: Rs 3 000 to Rs 4 500 and Marking exercise: Rs 5 000 to 8 000. Hoping that our proposals will meet your kind consideration and at the same time to be favoured by an early reply.”

Interrogé à propos de cette demande, le directeur du MES Lucien Finette a déclaré que la “balle est le camp du ministère de l’Éducation”. “Les parents seront appelés, jeudi prochain, à remplir les formulaires ayant trait au choix des collèges pour les élèves de la cuvée 2012.

Ils auront jusqu’au 28 septembre pour cet exercice.