Section 2: Interpretation

2. Interpretation In this Act— “Academy” means such secondary school, other than a regional school, as the Minister may designate in the Gazette which provides postprimary education as from Grade 10 for a duration of not less than 4 years, leading to a public examination of the level of School Certificate or Higher School Certificate, or their equivalent; “additional tuition” means tuition provided to a pupil who is attending a school, in a subject which is being taught at the school; “aided primary school” means a primary school in receipt of a grant in aid from Government funds; “approved secondary school” means a secondary school approved by the Minister for the purpose of presenting students for the Cambridge Overseas School Certificate Examinations or its equivalent, or Higher School Certificate Examinations or its equivalent, and eligible for a grant-inaid from Government funds, whether such grant is actually made or not; “assessment” means methods or tools used to assess, evaluate, measure and document the educational progress of learners, through written, ICT-based or school-based processes; “Consultative Committee” means the committee referred to in section 5C; “Council” means the National Education Council referred to in section 5; “Education Authority” means a governing body established by the authorities of a religious denomination, by a local government body or by a group of private persons for the purpose of administering the schools under their control; “geographical zone” means such zone as the Minister may designate in the Gazette; “inspection” includes pedagogical inspection and quality assurance; “manager” means the person who is responsible for the administration of any school other than a school entirely controlled by Government; “Minister” means the Minister to whom responsibility for the subject of education is assigned; “National Certificate of Education” means the assessment at the end of Grade 9; [Issue 9] E2 – 2 Revised Laws of Mauritius “post-secondary education” has the same meaning as in the Tertiary Education Commission Act; “primary school” means a school providing primary education for children between the ages of about 5 and 13 and includes an aided primary school; “Primary School Achievement Certificate” means the assessment at the end of Grade 6; “qualified teacher” means a teacher who holds at least the minimum prescribed qualifications; “rector” means the head of a secondary school responsible for the control and supervision of instruction in the school; “regional school” means a secondary school, other than an Academy, which falls in a geographical zone; “register of managers”, “register of rectors”, “register of schools” and “register of teachers” mean the respective registers maintained under section 8; “responsible party”, in relation to a child or young person, means the person who has for the time being the legal charge of or the control over that child or young person; “satisfactory service” means service satisfactory to the Minister; “school” (a) means any assembly of not less than 10 pupils for instruction; and (b) includes a vernacular school, special education needs school and night school; “secondary school” means— (a) a school which provides post-primary education for a duration of not less than 5 years, leading to a public examination of the level of School Certificate or its equivalent; (b) a school which provides post-primary education for a duration of not less than 7 years, leading ice satisfactory to the Minister; “school” (a) means any assembly of not less than 10 pupils for instruction; and (b) includes a vernacular school, special education needs school and night school; “secondary school” means— (a) a school which provides post-primary education for a duration of not less than 5 years, leading to a public examination of the level of School Certificate or its equivalent; (b) a school which provides post-primary education for a duration of not less than 7 years, leading to a public examination of the level of Higher School Certificate or its equivalent; (c) a College which provides post-primary education for Grades 12 and 13, leading to a public examination of the level of Higher School Certificate or its equivalent; or (d) an Academy; “special education needs school” means a school which provides specialised education to learners with disabilities or students having learning difficulties and requiring additional specialised services; “Tribunal” means the Appeals Tribunal set up under section 25. [S. 2 amended by Act 40 of 1982; Act 56 of 1983; s. 3 of Act 49 of 2002; s. 3 (a) of Act 44 of 2004; s. 2 (a) of Act 18 of 2005 w.e.f. 1 July 2005; s. 3 of Act 33 of 2011 w.e.f. 15 March 2012; s. 8 (a) of Act 27 of 2012 w.e.f. 22 December 2012; 14 (a) of Act 18 of 2016 w.e.f. 7 September 2016 and 1 January 2017.] E2 – 3 [Issue 9] Education Act PART II – MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND EDUCATION AUTHORITIES