A Collaborative Venture between the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award (DofE)-Mauritius and the Special Education Needs Authority (SENA) was officially launched, today, at the Côte d’Or National Sports Complex. The aim is to create a framework to ensure that the benefits of the DofE are accessible to young people with special education needs.
The President of the Republic of Mauritius and Patron of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award-Mauritius, Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun, and other personalities were present on this occasion.
In his address, President Roopun highlighted that Government was committed to ensuring an inclusive environment where all children, regardless of their background, had an equal chance to thrive, reach their full potential and succeed. “As such,” he observed, “this collaborative venture will ensure that students from Special Education Needs (SEN) institutions have the same opportunities as their peers from other schools.”
“This endeavour,” he pointed out, “ensures that the potential of every young person is developed so that they can later contribute to the socio-economic development of our country.” He remarked that, for the first edition, 24 of the 73 SEN institutions participated in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. “Some 112 boys and 92 girls achieved the Bronze Award, while 13 boys and 11 girls achieved the Silver Award as at June 2024,” he added.
During the ceremony, President Roopun handed over the Official Collaborative Agreement to the Chairperson of the SENA, Mrs S. Oogarah, as well as Signage Boards to representatives of SEN Award Centres.
About the collaborative venture
The DofE Foundation fully endorses and supports this collaborative partnership which will entail, amongst others: a structured framework for both SEN educators and participants; wider access to SEN institutions and participants; capacity building for SEN educators; recognition and accreditation for SEN participants and staff; and collaborative efforts in youth development and community engagement.
The objectives of SEN youth participation in the DofE are to raise awareness and promote inclusivity by challenging stereotypes and fostering equal opportunities for all individuals, and to celebrate the achievements and success stories of youth with special education needs in the award programme, while promoting them as role models for inclusion.
Moreover, this collaborative venture between DofE and SENA aims at training and involving educators with youth with SEN as award leaders and assessors; adapting the award programme activities to be accessible and inclusive for SEN participants; and fostering a supportive and inclusive environment within award centres while promoting understanding and acceptance among participants and the wider community. This venture will also help establish sustainable partnerships and collaborations with stakeholders to ensure the long-term success and growth of the project, in addition to increasing the participation of youth with special education needs in the DofE-Mauritius.
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