{"id":20536,"date":"2019-06-10T08:21:57","date_gmt":"2019-06-10T04:21:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/?p=20536"},"modified":"2019-06-10T08:21:57","modified_gmt":"2019-06-10T04:21:57","slug":"recruitment-of-oriental-language-teachers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mauritiustimes.com\/mt\/recruitment-of-oriental-language-teachers\/","title":{"rendered":"Recruitment of Oriental Language Teachers"},"content":{"rendered":"

Mauritius Times \u2013 60 Years Ago<\/u><\/span><\/h4>\n

By Somduth Bhuckory<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

A fortnight ago we wrote on the teaching of Oriental Languages in schools and we pointed out that after the lapse of six years the Education Department has decided to increase the number of teachers of Oriental Languages by twenty-five. And we spoke about the incongruous qualifications exacted from people who want to join the Department as teachers of Oriental Languages.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Goodness knows what has happened. We find the Director of Education inviting applications again! In a press notice dated the 23rd of November, 1956, he has changed his tune.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

According to the new press notice applicants \u201cshould possess the qualifications which are recognised to be at least of GCE standard in Hindi or Urdu or Tamil and have also received secondary education up to Form V level\u201d. The closing date is the 30th of November 1956.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

The first press notice dated, 25th of October, stipulated: \u201cThey (applicants) should have passed the General Certificate of Education or equivalent examination in (i) Urdu or Hindi or Tami, and <\/strong>(ii) English. Preference will be given, however, to candidates holding the Cambridge School Certificate or equivalent certificate including one of the above Oriental Languages plus English.\u201d The closing date was the 7th of November 1956.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

What has made the Director of Education change his mind and step down? Is it pressure of public opinion or want of response to his first press notice? We should like to know the number of applicants the Department received from prospective teachers of Hindi, Urdu and Tamil.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Anyway, we are now concerned with the new press notice. Will that give satisfaction? We are afraid that the answer is no. That is so because a knowledge of English has again been made a sine qua non<\/em> <\/strong>condition of employment. Setting a minimum standard for the Oriental Languages is alright. Instead of exacting a certificate in English of the GCE standard, the Director wants candidates to have \u201creceived secondary education up to Form V level\u201d. There is some difference on the face of the change but in practice there will be very little, if any.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

In our opinion, as regards the knowledge of English, the press notice could have simply said that preference will be given to those possessing a knowledge of English in addition to their minimum knowledge of the Oriental languages concerned. <\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Is it too late to issue a third press notice?<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup>* * *<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/sup>Kind Thoughts for Children<\/sup><\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

Every year, the organisation Help the Children Fund draws our attention to the sufferings of Mauritian children and appeals for funds to relieve their sufferings. Today is the day this year when a public collection is being made to come to the help of poor and sick children.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Ignorance, no less than poverty and disease, has to be eradicated from our midst.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

And to-day when so many thoughts are turning towards L\u2019Enfance Malheureuse<\/em><\/strong> we want to appeal to My Kynaston-Snell to help children of all classes and communities by throwing wide open the doors to primary education to them. We are not appealing to Mr Kynaston-Snell to perform an act of charity. We are appealing to him to give our children their birthright.<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

We understand that Mr Kynaston-Snell will be leaving for UK on the 10th of December. We are not inclined to believe that he is longing to see snow and shiver in the bleak winter. The Director of Education is leaving us under the impression that he wants to get away from it all before the new school year starts in January. Better the winter over there, than hell over here! Everything will be OK in UK, but what about the little ones he will leave behind queuing up for primary education?<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

Is it not possible to postpone the departure? If not, is it not advisable to summon Mr Kynaston-Snell to the Legislative Council to explain that he is not leaving everything in a mess?<\/sup><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

N.M.U. dine chez… N.M.U<\/strong><\/span><\/h4>\n

— Mon Oeil !<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

L’autre jour, un cordonnier \u00e0 qui j’avais donn\u00e9 \u00e0 r\u00e9parer une paire de chaussures me la rendit envelopp\u00e9e dans un Cern\u00e9en<\/em>. Je sais bien que tous nos quotidiens subissent \u00e0 peu pr\u00e8s le m\u00eame sort — et m\u00eame un sort parfois pire — mais, ce num\u00e9ro du Cern\u00e9en<\/em> \u00e9tait tellement vide, tellement de mauvaise foi (cette mauvaise foi coutumi\u00e8re et abjecte) que je pensai que le cordonnier l’avait choisi — pour m’emballer mes chaussures.<\/span><\/p>\n

C’est Le Cern\u00e9en<\/em> du lundi 29 octobre. A la premi\u00e8re page, l’OPINION DU JOUR, L\u00e2chet\u00e9 de l’anonymat<\/em>, sous la signature de N.M.U. (No\u00ebl Marrier d’Unienville) — initiales qui ne doivent \u00eatre qu’un ANONYMAT pour beaucoup et qui l’\u00e9taient pour tous pendant longtemps.<\/span><\/p>\n

Evidemment, N.M.U., le plus vite possible, pour qui l’anonymat se pratique surtout dans l’Advance <\/em>et le Mauritius Times<\/em> — mais dans ce m\u00eame Cern\u00e9en<\/em> au haut de la page 2, N.M.U. publie une lettre anonyme qu’il est suppos\u00e9 recevoir de “P\u00e8res de Famille de Port Louis” (En passant, pourquoi la page 2?) pour se camoufler l\u00e2chement. Oui, car, l\u2019habitude et la fameuse Tribune des Lecteurs<\/em> du Cern\u00e9en<\/em>, parait en quatri\u00e8me ou premi\u00e8re page. Exemple cette tribune o\u00f9 la Secr\u00e9taire du P.R. Society — qui doit \u00eatre renseign\u00e9e comme Peter Ibbotson? — fait voir ce qu’elle vaut (premi\u00e8re page).<\/span><\/p>\n

Pour N.M.U. “il n’existe aucune diff\u00e9rence entre la lettre anonyme et l’article anonyme qui r\u00e9v\u00e8le les m\u00eames intentions infamantes”.<\/em> Et “dans une soci\u00e9t\u00e9 civilis\u00e9e<\/em> (celle de N.M.U.?) une lettre anonyme, \u00e9crite dans l’intention de DENONCER, de DENIGRER, de DIFFAMER ou de DEFORMER les faits DESHONORE son auteur”<\/em>. Et, quand un journal publie un article anonyme, forc\u00e9ment, il doit \u00eatre un peu consid\u00e9r\u00e9 comme l’auteur de cet article !… Voyons maintenant la lettre des P\u00e8res de Famille<\/em> dont N.M.U. endosse donc l’existence:<\/span><\/p>\n

Titre: Bravo Les Travaillistes<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

On sent tout de suite que c’est pour DENIGRER le Parti Travailliste. Et maintenant les P\u00e8res num\u00e9rotent ce que les d\u00e9put\u00e9s Travaillistes n’ont pas encore fait… Or comme les d\u00e9put\u00e9s Travaillistes sont en minorit\u00e9 (la derni\u00e8re motion Travailliste discut\u00e9e — Forget, rivi\u00e8re, r\u00e9serves etc. — avait \u00e9t\u00e9 battue et N.M.U. le savait !) ils ne peuvent rien faire… et tout le monde le sait.<\/span><\/p>\n

Donc en publiant cet article, N.M.U. comme de coutume, DENONCE, DENIGRE, DIFFAME ou DEFORME les faits, et se DESHONORE lui-m\u00eame! Bravo! N.M.U.<\/span><\/p>\n

Est-ce que N.M.U. a voulu se d\u00e9noncer, se d\u00e9shonorer quand il a enfant\u00e9 ce num\u00e9ro du Cern\u00e9en <\/em>? Non, s\u00fbrement pas… La seule conclusion possible c’est que N.M.U. baisse, baisse rapidement.<\/span><\/p>\n

Mon Oeil!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\n

* Published in print edition on 7 June 2019<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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