Mauritius Institute of Education

under the aegis of

9
Ministry of Education and Human Resources,
Tertiary Education and Scientific Research

Based on the National Curriculum Framework: Grades 7, 8 & 9 (2017) - Nine-Year Continuous Basic Education
9
Professor Vassen Naëck - Head Curriculum Implementation, Textbook Development and Evaluation

SOCIAL AND MODERN STUDIES PANEL

Pierre-André Boullé - Panel Coordinator, Senior Lecturer, MIE

Seema Goburdhun - Subject coordinator, Associate Professor, MIE
Jay Ramsaha - Subject coordinator, Senior Lecturer, MIE
Nagamootoo Pillay Jagambrum - Lecturer, MIE
Chandrashekhar Padaruth - Senior Lecturer, MIE (Retired)
Yogesh Juggessur - Deputy Rector
Poorooshotum Behary - Educator
Teena Gomes - Educator
Jeanne Marianette Agathe-Colet - Educator (Rodrigues)
Désiré Clarel Lynley Léonce - Educator (Rodrigues)
Ihtisham Arjun Teelock Miraj - Resource person

Design
Vedita Jokhun - Graphic Designer

© Mauritius Institute of Education (2020)

ISBN : 978-99949-53-90-5

Acknowledgements
The Social and Modern Studies textbook panel wishes to thank:
Jocelyn Chan Low - Associate Professor, UOM (Retired)
Dr Vijayalakshmi Teelock - Associate Professor, University of Mauritius
Dr Manorama Akung - Senior Lecturer,Department of History and Political Science, University of Mauritius
Raj Boodhoo - Senior Lecturer, Mauritius Institute of Education (Retired)
Satyendra Peerthum - Historian, Writer & Head of Documentation, Research Unit, Aapravasi Ghat Trust Fund
Louis Olivier Bancoult - O.S.K, Leader of Chagos Refugee Group, Chairman Chagossian Welfare Board & All Members of CRG.
Dr Didier Michel - Senior Lecturer, University of Mauritius.
Les Verts-Fraternels
Ministry of Education and Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research

Proofreading - Rajendra Korlapu-Bungaree, Senior Lecturer, MIE

We appreciate the contribution of Mr Sarvesh Hurry from the Social Studies Department (Lecturer, MIE) for his comments and
suggestions.

Finally, in the preparation of the materials a wide range of sources have been consulted: books, articles, journals and internet
sources. We wish to acknowledge all the writers of the above sources for the information and illustrations used in the book.

Consent from copyright owners has been sought. However, we extend our apologies to those we might have overlooked.
All materials should be used strictly for educational purposes.
 Foreword

With the Grade 9 textbooks, we now complete textbook production for Grades 1-9 in the context of
the Nine Year Continuous Basic Education (NYCBE) project of the Ministry of Education and Human
Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific Research. The textbooks are designed in line with the
National Curriculum Framework (NCF) and the syllabi for Grades 7, 8 and 9 which are accessible on the
MIE website, www.mie.ac.mu.

These textbooks build upon the competencies of learners developed in Grades 7 and 8, based on the
philosophy of the NCF for the NYCBE. The content and pedagogical approaches allow for incremental
and continuous improvement of the learners’ cognitive skills using contextualised materials which
should be highly appealing to the learners.

The writing of the textbooks involved several key contributors, namely academics from the MIE and
educators from Mauritius and Rodrigues, as well as other stakeholders. We are especially appreciative
of comments and suggestions made by educators who were part of our validation panels, and whose
opinions emanated from long-standing experience and practice in the field.

The development of textbooks has been a very challenging exercise for the writers and the MIE. We
had to ensure that the learning experiences of our students are enriched through approaches which
appeal to them, without compromising on quality. I would, therefore, wish to thank all the writers and
contributors who have produced content of high standard thereby ensuring that the objectives of the
National Curriculum Framework are skilfully translated through the textbooks.

Every endeavour involves several dedicated, hardworking and able staff whose contribution needs to be
acknowledged. Professor Vassen Naëck, Head, Curriculum Implementation and Textbook Development
and Evaluation provided guidance with respect to the objectives of the NCF, while ascertaining
that the instructional designs are appropriate for the age group targeted. I also acknowledge the efforts
of the graphic artists who put in much hard work to maintain the quality of the MIE publications. My
thanks also go to the support staff who ensured that everyone receives the necessary support and work
environment conducive to a creative endeavour.

I am equally thankful to the Ministry of Education, Human Resources, Tertiary Education and Scientific
Research for actively engaging the MIE in the development of textbooks for the reform project.

I wish enriching and enjoyable experiences to all users of the new set of Grade 9 textbooks

Dr O Nath Varma
Director
Mauritius Institute of Education
 Preface

The Social and Modern Studies (SMS) textbook for Grade 9 has been designed based on
the philosophy of the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF, 2016) which aims at
promoting the holistic development of children and developing their competencies to
meet the challenges of the 21st century. Consequently, the themes presented in the SMS
textbook seek to prepare learners with knowledge about themselves, the people and the
society around them, the nation and the world, through the lenses and methods of Social
Sciences disciplines: History, Geography and Sociology. The various topics in the textbook
reinforce and extend the key historical and geographical concepts and skills introduced in
the primary cycle of the curriculum as well as in Grades 7 and 8. In addition, issues of Human
Rights, Climate Change and Sustainable Development, Democracy, Values and Gender are
also incorporated in the topics.

An essential feature of the NCF is ‘learning through inquiry’. Accordingly, a weaved-in inquiry-
based activities are included in the textbook, which not only engage learners in the learning
process but also empower them to be responsible for their individual learning.

To facilitate educators, a wide range of activities has been provided within the text. These
activities can be used to carry out continuous and formative assessment. However, these
activities are mere guidelines and educators are advised to adapt them according to the needs
of their learners. Besides the written exercises, additional activities involving discussions and
geared towards developing thinking and creative skills of learners have also been included.
Educators are, therefore, encouraged to carry out the activities as these would develop their
learners’ communication and thinking skills.

Moreover, illustrations, diagrams, concept maps and pictures have been used to convey
information. Educators are therefore encouraged to use these visuals to initiate classroom
discussion to enable learners to have a better understanding of the topics.

We hope that this new SMS textbook will be enriching for one and all. We will welcome
comments and suggestions that can bring improvement to this textbook.

Social and Modern Studies Team

 Table of Content

Social and Economic development in

UNIT 1 Mauritius since 1968:
Achievements & Challenges
Pages 1 - 40

Topic 1 - Social and Economic conditions

in Mauritius at the time of
Independence
Topic 2 - Economic Development in
Mauritius since Independence
Topic 3 - Constitutional and Political
developments in Mauritius
(1968-1992)

Welfare State, Social Change and

Environmental Impact UNIT 2
Pages 41 - 84

Topic 1 - Our Welfare State

Topic 2 - Social Change

Mauritius and its Historical Links with

UNIT 3 Europe, Africa and Asia
Pages 85 - 102

Topic 1 - Mauritius and its historical links

with countries in Europe, Africa
and Asia
Topic 2 - Mauritius and its contemporary
links with countries and
organisations

Population Studies
Pages 103 - 124 UNIT 4

Topic 1 - Population Studies

Topic 2 - Migration

Thinking about the Future

UNIT 5 Pages 125 - 128
NOTES
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 UNIT 1
SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
IN MAURITIUS SINCE 1968:
ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES
In this unit, you will learn about the social and economic life of the people in Mauritius
after it obtained independence from British rule in 1968. At first, you will become aware
of the social and economic difficulties faced by the people at the time of independence.
You will then learn about the different measures taken by the government to deal
with the above problems. Furthermore, you will become familiar with the stages of
the economic development and industrialisation that economists describe as the
‘Mauritian Miracle’.

This unit will also outline the constitutional amendments and political developments in
the country from independence to republic.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the unit, you will be able to:
• outline the socio-economic conditions in Mauritius at the time of independence;
• discuss the different stages in the economic development of Mauritius;
• trace the constitutional amendments and political development from
independence to republic;
• reflect upon the challenges ahead.
1
TOPIC 1 Social and Economic Conditions in Mauritius at the time of Independence

NOTES
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2
 Topic 1
Social and Economic Conditions in Mauritius
at the time of Independence

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• recall that Mauritius obtained its independence from British rule in 1968;
• show an understanding of the social conditions in Mauritius at the time of
independence;
• summarise the social conditions at the time of independence using historical
sources;
• outline measures taken by the government to improve the social conditions of
the people.

LET’S RECALL

Mauritius obtained its independence from British rule on 12 March 1968. It became
a sovereign democratic nation. Since then, the country has its own Constitution.
Elections are held at regular intervals. An elected government is responsible for the
administration of the islands.

From 1968 to 1992, the Queen of Britain remained the Head of State. Mauritius had
a Governor-General who represented the Queen of Britain.

In 1992, Mauritius became a Republic. The Queen was no longer the Head of State.
Since then, the country has a President as the Head of State.

Observe the pictures below.

Sir Abdool Raman Osman Sir Seewoosagur

Sir John Shaw Rennie Sir Veerasamy Ringadoo
1st Mauritian Governor Ramgoolam
1st Governor General 1st President
General 1 Prime Minister
st

Picture 1

3
TOPIC 1 Social and Economic Conditions in Mauritius at the time of Independence

ACTIVITY 1.1

1. Fill in the blanks. Choose the correct word from the list provided below.

vote independent autonomy

democratic republic prime minister

(a) On 12 March 1968, Mauritius became _________________________ from British rule.

(b) Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam became the first _________________________ of

independent Mauritius.

(c) In 1992, Mauritius became a _________________________.

(d) Mauritius is a sovereign _________________________ country and all citizens who are 18

years old or above have the right to _________________________.

(e) In October 2002, Rodrigues was granted _________________________.

2. Recall and write one sentence to explain the following terms.

(a) Constitution ________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

(b) Government ________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

(c) Democracy _________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

(d) Sovereignty ________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

(e) Autonomy _________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

4
 Social conditions in Mauritius in the 1960s
Mauritius has made a lot of progress in the social, political and economic fields. These
developments have made Mauritius one of the most successful countries in Africa.

However, did you know that the life of Mauritians in the years following independence
was not easy? People faced many social and economic difficulties.

Let’s find out about some of the social problems in Mauritius in the 1960s at the time of
independence.

RAPID RISE
IN POPULATION
HOUSING CONDITIONS

SOCIAL
PROBLEMS

HEALTH ISSUES

Discuss and Share

Imagine how the above social problems could have affected the life of the people
at that time.
In the space provided below, write one sentence to describe each of the social
problems.

(a) Rapid rise in population _________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

(b) Housing conditions _____________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

(c) Health issues __________________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________________________

5
TOPIC 1 Social and Economic Conditions in Mauritius at the time of Independence

Housing Conditions
In the 1960s, many people were poor and did not enjoy good housing conditions. At that time,
most houses were built of either thatched roof or corrugated iron sheets. Straw and wooden
houses were also quite common. Even in the town of Port Louis, many inhabitants in those days
lived in wooden houses, huts and shacks.

Picture 2: Housing in the 1960s

People living in such types of houses faced problems in times of heavy rains and cyclones. This
was because these houses were not strong enough to withstand the strong cyclonic winds.
For example, in 1960, cyclones ‘Alix’ and ‘Carol’ caused widespread destruction. Thousands of
houses were destroyed, and many people became homeless.

Picture 3: Destruction caused by cyclones

6
 ACTIVITY 1.2

Figure 1 shows the tracks of cyclones ‘Alix’ and ‘Carol’. Study the figure and answer the
following questions.

Carol
Alix 10˚ S Highest gusts 10˚S
Agalega Agalega Feb 1960
Highest gusts 256 km/hr
Jan 1960
200 km/hr

15˚ S 15˚S
Tromelin Tromelin
St Brandon St Brandon

RODRIGUES 20˚ S RODRIGUES 20˚S

MAURITIUS MAURITIUS
RÉUNION RÉUNION

25˚ S 25˚S

30˚ S 30˚S
55˚E 60˚E 65˚E 70˚E 75˚E 80 55˚E 60˚E 65˚E 70˚E 75˚E 80

Track of Cyclone Alix Track of Cyclone Carol

Figure 1: Tracks of cyclones Alix and Carol

1. State during which month:

(i) Cyclone Alix affected Mauritius ____________________________________________

(ii) Cyclone Carol affected Mauritius ____________________________________________

2. According to you, which one of the two cyclones shown in Figure 1 caused more damage?
Give one reason why.

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Cyclones cause widespread damage during their passage.

Write two sentences to describe how cyclones affect the environment and human lives.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Use the internet to find out the names of two other cyclones which directly hit the island of
Mauritius in the 1970s.

In Rodrigues also, most of the houses were made of wood and corrugated iron sheets. As
in Mauritius, many cyclones affected Rodrigues too, and it is then that some people built
concrete houses.

7
TOPIC 1 Social and Economic Conditions in Mauritius at the time of Independence

In 1960, after the destruction caused by cyclones ‘Alix’ and ‘Carol’, the housing issue became a
concern of the colonial government. The government tried to tackle the housing problem by
setting up the ‘Central Housing Authority’ (CHA). It started with the ‘Housing Reconstruction
Programme’ to provide concrete houses to those made homeless by the cyclones. Between
1961 and 1970, some 14, 000 houses were built all over the island in both urban and rural areas.
These houses were sold at a subsidised price. They could be purchased by making a monthly
payment over a period of twenty-five years.

Picture 4: Cité Vallijee - Construction nearing completion in 1967 Picture 5: Longtill house
Source: vintagemauritius.org

DID YOU KNOW…

After the passage of cyclones Alix and Carol in 1960, many families were homeless. The government
decided to construct cheap houses to remedy the situation. At that time, the Longtill company was
awarded the contract for the construction of the small houses.

Not long after the housing programme was completed, cyclone ‘Gervaise’ hit the country in
1975. The government began a programme to build 10,000 houses over a period of 5 years
starting in 1975. The responsibility to construct these houses were given to:

• Central Housing Authority (CHA)

• Mauritius Housing Corporation (MHC)
• Sugar Industry Labour Welfare Fund (SILWF)

Loans at very low interest rates were provided to the poor and low income households for the
purchase of these houses.

8
 Health Issues
The standard of health and medical care for the majority of Mauritians was low in the 1940s.
There were thousands of cases of malaria, poliomyelitis and tuberculosis. However, in the 1960s,
the number of diseases declined due to measures taken by the government. Some other health
problems in the 1960s were anaemia among women, malnutrition, digestive disorders and ear
diseases. The incidence of malnutrition was so high that milk and vitamins had to be provided
to children.

ACTIVITY 1.3

The success of the campaign against malaria in the 1950s was the first great step
towards improvement in health.

Observe Table 1 below. It shows the decline in the number of malaria cases from1960 to1966.

Year Number of cases

1960 1179
1961 955
1962 226
1964 20
1965 14
1966 12
Table 1
Source: Boodhoo, R. (2019) Infectious Disease and Public Health (Mauritius 1810-2010).

Study Table 1 and answer the questions below.

(a) Name the disease mentioned in Table 1.

__________________________________________________________________________

(b) What is the cause of this disease?

__________________________________________________________________________

(c) State the number of cases recorded for the above disease in the years:

(i) 1960 __________________ (ii) 1966 __________________

(d) Give one reason why there was a decline in the number of cases for the above-mentioned
disease.
__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
9
TOPIC 1 Social and Economic Conditions in Mauritius at the time of Independence

A year before independence, there were eight hospitals in Mauritius. Two of these were large
ones: the Civil Hospital in Port Louis and the Candos Hospital at Quatre Bornes. There were also
six smaller hospitals in Mahébourg, Flacq, Souillac, Moka, Montagne Longue and Poudre d’ Or.

Civil Hospital Candos Hospital

Acknowledgement: Raj Boodhoo Source: vintagemauritius.org

DID YOU KNOW…

In 1973, the World Health Organisation gave Mauritius a certificate of malaria elimination.

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss the development of health services in our islands since independence.
You may think about:
• the different types of hospitals found in our country
• the different facilities provided in these hospitals
• measures taken by the government to ensure the good health of the people.

Write a few sentences about what you have discussed.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

10
 Health Services in Rodrigues
Since Rodrigues was granted autonomy in 2002, the health services there have been under the
responsibility of the Commission for Health. There is only one major hospital located at Crève
Coeur. People living in other villages can have health services in the two Area Health Centres
and in dispensaries located in some villages.

Picture 6: Hospital at Crève Coeur

FIND OUT

(a) the name of the hospital located at Crève Coeur.

(b) the location of the two Area Health Centres in Rodrigues.
(c) the actions taken for emergency cases that cannot be
treated locally.

Picture 7: Area Health Centre at Mont Lubin

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

11
TOPIC 1 Social and Economic Conditions in Mauritius at the time of Independence

Rapid Rise In Population

The population of Mauritius was approximately
795,000 in 1968 as compared to 420,000 in 1944.
This growth in population was partly as a result
of the government’s campaign against malaria
and other diseases which led to a decrease in the
number of deaths. Moreover, as you have learnt,
access to better health care, medication and
vaccination contributed to a significant decrease
in health problems over the island which resulted
in a rapid rise in population.

Can you think of one consequence of the increase in population?

_____________________________________________________________________________

Note: You will learn more about change in population in Unit 5 – Population Studies.

ACTIVITY 1.4

Read the extract below and answer the questions which follow.

Mauritius is a small island dependent at present on agriculture, with a strictly limited

amount of land and with an already existing pressure of population on it. If the
population continues to increase, there is a real danger not merely that the standard of
living will not rise but it will actually decline.
Source: Meade, J. E (1968) The Economic and Social Structure of Mauritius

(a) In which year was the above extract written?

__________________________________________________________________________
(b) Who wrote the above extract?
__________________________________________________________________________
(c) How is Mauritius described by the author?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(d) What do you think was the main reason for this increase in population?
__________________________________________________________________________
(e) Explain how the increase in population could affect the living conditions of the people.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

12
 Topic 2
Economic Development in Mauritius since
Independence

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• describe the economic situation in our island at the time of independence;
• show an understanding of the factors that led to the ‘Mauritian Miracle’;
• identify and explain the different stages of economic development since
independence;
• realise the importance and benefits of a diversified economy.

DID YOU KNOW…

In 1972, Nobel laureate V.S. Naipaul visited Mauritius. He described the island as “an overcrowded
barracoon overpopulated with a starving population, lazed by unemployment and plagued by despair”.
Naipaul even wrote that Mauritius “was a country without joy which entered the post-colonial era like so
many newly independent nations, islands of poverty whose problems defy solution”.

However, Mauritius managed to transform itself from a “hungry, hopeless nation” to one of the most
successful countries in Africa. The ‘Mauritian Miracle’ that occurred in the years following independence
has changed our nation’s politics, economy and society.

In this topic, you will learn about the economic development in Mauritius since independence.

Monocrop based Service New Banking

Industry Industrialisation Industries Technologies
Sugar cane Manufacturing Tourism Sector ICT & BPO
+ &
Financial
Industry Sector Sector Services

13
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

Mauritius in the 1960s: An underdeveloped colony

In the 1960s, the island was considered as underdeveloped and faced economic difficulties.
Let’s find out in more details about some of the economic difficulties in Mauritius at the time
of independence.

Overdependence on sugar industry

High rate of population growth

Unemployment

Overdependence on a monocrop industry: the sugar industry

At that time, the sugar industry was the main source of revenue of the island. Profits obtained
from the export of sugar were invested in development works, such as the construction of
roads, public buildings, reservoirs, schools and hospitals.

However, the price of sugar in the world market and the profits obtained from its sale did not
always remain the same. The Mauritian sugar industry was very often affected by different
factors such as:

• fluctuating prices in the world market;

• rising wages of workers;
• unfavourable climatic conditions.

These factors had a negative impact on the economy of the country.

14
 ACTIVITY 2.1

Answer the questions below.

1. (a) What was the main source of revenue of the island at the time of independence?

__________________________________________________________________________

(b) How was the revenue used?

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Name any three factors that affected the sugar industry.

(i) __________________________________________________________________________

(ii) __________________________________________________________________________

(iii) __________________________________________________________________________

There were very few other industries which produced goods and provided jobs to Mauritians
in different sectors. The government imported most of its goods: food items and many other
necessities. As such, there were more imports and only one major export. Much of the revenue
obtained from the export of sugar went into the import of other goods.

ACTIVITY 2.2

Answer the questions below.

1. Why did the government import most of its products from other countries?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Name a few goods that the government imported.

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Do you think the lack of industries affected the economy of the island? Write a few sentences
about your views.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

15
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

LET’S RECALL

The development of sugar industry in Mauritius

Sugar cane cultivation started a long time ago

with the beginning of settlement in Mauritius.
Let’s trace the events in the history of the
sugar cane industry in Mauritius.
18TH CENTURY
The French encouraged the
cultivation of sugar cane in the
18th century. Governor Mahé de

1694 17TH CENTURY

Sugar cane was first introduced by the
Labourdonnais established the first sugar
estates at Villebague and Port Sud Est, now
Dutch in the 17th century. known as Ferney.

In 1694, sugar was produced for the first time in

Mauritius.

4
Many other factors contributed to the
19TH CENTURY expansion of the sugar industry. Some of 4
them were: energy, transport and labour,
The sugar industry expanded in the 19th
provided by the slaves and later
century under the governorship of Sir Robert
indentured labourers.
Farquhar.
Sugar was exported to Britain. More
and more sugar cane was cultivated.
More mills were built and sugar
production increased.

5 19TH CENTURY
333
With an increase in sugar production, more
land was used for sugar cane cultivation. This
led to a significant change in the land use of
the island.
The number of mills reached its peak in
Sugar cane fields replaced most of the native
the year 1858, with 333 sugar mills over
forests.
the island.

5 6
With new technologies (better machines) and the 6 20TH CENTURY
idea of reducing the cost of production, big sugar
mills gradually took over the activities of smaller This process known as centralisation
mills. The smaller mills were closed down. has been happening all throughout
the 20th century.

16
 Unemployment
Many Mauritians were employed in different sections of the sugar industry, for example, sugar
factories and sugar cane fields. However, the sugar industry indirectly turned out to be one of
the major factors which led to the rise in unemployment during those days.

• The workers were mostly employed in the sugar cane fields during the harvest
season, but when the harvest was over, many of them were out of work.
• Some young men who had completed their school certificate or obtained some
other qualifications preferred to remain unemployed than to undertake manual
labour in the sugar industry.
• The introduction of mechanisation led to the loss of many jobs in the fields. Most of
the work, harvesting and loading, started being done by machines.

Ox Cart Unloadin
g sugar
cane

Loading of sugar cane in lorry

In Rodrigues, people were even poorer and depended on fishing.

For some time, the government was able to provide work for four days per week. This was
commonly called ‘Quatre Jours à Paris’. The workers were known as ‘relief workers’.

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss the reasons and the consequences of unemployment in the 1960s.
Share your findings in class. Write a few sentences in your copybook about what you
have discussed.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

17
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

You have noted some of the economic problems in the country at the time of independence.
Let’s find out about some other obstacles in the economic development of the country between
the years 1960 and 1970.

Scarcity
of natural
resources
Distance
Small
from source
domestic
of raw
Obstacles to market
materials
the economic
development
of the country
Distance (1960-1970) Shortage of
from the management
foreign and technical
market skills
Insufficient Discuss and Share
funds for
investment In groups, discuss the
purposes obstacles Mauritius had to
face in the 1960s and 1970s.

Economists thought that the Mauritian economy would not grow as our newly independent
nation had too many obstacles to overcome.

DID YOU KNOW…

James Meade, in his study of the Mauritian economy in 1961, predicted that Mauritian economy
would collapse into a poverty crisis due to its high population growth and the limited prospects in
the sugar industry.

To overcome all the social and economic difficulties important measures had to be taken.
These were:

Diversification
of the
economy Increased
engagement
in the
industrialisation
process

18
 The Mauritian Miracle
After independence, despite all the social and economic difficulties, Mauritius gradually
managed to grow economically. By the end of the 20th century, it became a middle-income
newly industrialised country.

DID YOU KNOW…

The ‘Mauritian Miracle’ is the term used by economists to describe their surprise at how successfully
the Mauritian economy has been developing during the past decades.

Study below the main factors which have facilitated the ‘Mauritian Miracle’

favourable human capital

rise in life expectancy

cultural diversity

MAURITIAN increase in the participation of

MIRACLE women in the labour force

trade openness and a good

financial system

high investment in health and

educational institutions

government intervention to
boost the economy

Figure 1: The ‘Mauritian Miracle’: Main contributing factors

Discuss and Share

Discuss how the different factors mentioned in Figure 1 have facilitated the economic
growth of our country.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

19
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

The Industrialisation Process in Mauritius

Import Substitution Industries (ISI)
An import substitution industrialisation (ISI) strategy was adopted in the early 1960s by
the government. The plan was to encourage local entrepreneurship, the creation of new
manufacturing activities in the economy to reduce imports, and to increase self-sufficiency.

Though it did not contribute in the creation of many jobs, the ISI legislation started the
industrialisation process in Mauritius.

DID YOU KNOW…

Industrialisation is the process of gradual transformation of a society into an industrial

one. It involves the reorganisation of the economy for the purpose of manufacturing
goods.

ACTIVITY 2.3

Read the extract below from a newspaper article and answer the questions which follow.

In the 1960s, “Professor Meade looked into the economy’s problems and made 129 recommendations
which would enable Mauritius to better confront the future. Among his recommendations was the
setting up of import substitution industries.

The then government … opted for an import substitution industry in 1963… a number of new
industries were set up. Mauritius Breweries Ltd was established in 1963, Micro Jewels Ltd in 1964, Soap
and Allied Ltd and Food and Allied Industries in 1966, Margarine Industries Ltd in 1967, and Mauritius
Oil Refineries in 1968.

By 1970, there were only 110 industries with development certificates employing 5,500 workers of which
80% were men. The import substitution policy had made a good start but was grossly inadequate to
deal with unemployment.”
Source: Reddi, S. (2017) Industrialisation in the Sixties- Years of Endurance or Years of Creativity? Mauritius Times, 24 March,
http://www.mauritiustimes.com/mt/sada-reddi-42/

1. What is meant by an import substitution industry?

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Who wrote the report on the situation of the Mauritian economy in the 1960s?

__________________________________________________________________________

3. (a) Name two import substitution factories which were set up in the 1960s.

(i) ______________________________ (ii) ______________________________

20
 (b) Find out the products which were produced by these two factories.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Give two reasons why the import substitution policy was a not a complete success.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Export Oriented Industries (EOI)

After independence, the government had to find a way to solve the increasing problem of
unemployment. Countries such as Puerto-Rico, Taiwan and later Singapore were achieving
economic success in the implementation of an export-oriented industries strategy.

In 1970, Mauritius set up an Export Processing Zone (E.P.Z) based on the experience of these
countries. The industrialists were now encouraged to manufacture for export purposes.

In the 1980s, the textile industry expanded rapidly.

A textile factory in Mauritius

FIND OUT

(i) What is the process of industrialisation?

(ii) How does it lead to socio-economic change in the society?

You may think about:

• creation of new industries
• development of technology and infrastructure
• change in lifestyle
21
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

Mauritius offered many advantages and incentives to attract investors in the E.P.Z

Complete exemptions from • Internal and external

Tax payment of import duties Governement communications such as telephone,
exemptions on items such as machinery, incentives and air services and seaport facilities
equipment, spare parts and facilities • Setting up of industrial estates
raw materials • Subsidised electricity and water rates.

Mauritius is well connected Mauritius had access to the markets of

by sea and air with the rest the countries making up the European
Accessibility of the world, and especially
Europe, despite its isolated
Economic community (Yaounde and Lomé trade
and Trade agreement). This proved to be attractive
geographical location in the to the industrialists in Hong Kong
Indian Ocean. Agreement who were being denied such access in
order to protect European domestic
manufacturing industry.
There was plentiful supply of
Labour literate and adaptable labour
force at low wages. The country took advantage of the high
High demand demand for textiles in the European
for textiles Union (EU) and United States of America
products (USA), which provided a solid base for
expansion.
Provision of infrastructure
Provision
(roads, electricity and water
of facilities supplies) by the government. Political Mauritius had a stable political
Stability environment, being a parliamentary
democracy.

ACTIVITY 2.4

Answer the following questions.

1. What is meant by E.P.Z?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Describe the main objective of an export-oriented industries strategy.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Which industry expanded rapidly in the 1980s?
__________________________________________________________________________
4. (a) In your copybook, draw a mind map to show the advantages Mauritius offered to
investors in the 1980s.
(b) Name any two of the advantages and explain why it was a factor of attraction.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

22
 Let’s find out more about the manufacturing sector
THE PRODUCTION PROCESS IN A FACTORY

INPUTS
- raw materials MANUFACTURING OUTPUTS
- machines & - finished goods
- labour TRANSFORMATION - waste
- energy
- capital

• The inputs are brought to the factory.

• The workers (labour) use the raw materials and machines to manufacture the goods.
• The finished goods and waste are the outputs of the factory.
• The finished goods are sent to the retail shops in Mauritius or exported overseas.
• The wastes are sent to legal dumping grounds or can be reused.

Choosing a place for a factory

Before setting up a factory, the owner must first find a suitable place or location where the
factory might be built. There are many factors which need to be considered before starting to
build the factory.

Here are some of the most important factors to consider:

A. land Is there a suitable area of flat land on which to build the factory? Is the land relatively
cheap to buy?
B. Site Is the factory situated close to a good road network, such as a highway or a motorway?
C. Government What special assistance is being provided by the government?
D. Raw materials, power, labour How easily can these inputs be taken to the factory?
E. Markets How easily can the outputs of the factory reach the markets or people who buy
the goods?

The factors which control the place or location where a factory is built are called location
factors.
In Mauritius, government controls the location of factories. Permits have to be obtained and
the government provides financial assistance and factory spaces on the industrial estates.

DID YOU KNOW…

Manufacturing industries using raw materials as inputs form part of the secondary sector. In the
secondary sector, people work in factories to manufacture and process resources into finished goods.

23
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

In the 1980s, industrial estates were set up all over the island.

GOODLANDS
KEY BON AIR ST ANTOINE

GOVERNMENT INDUSTRIAL ESTATE RIVIERE ILE D’AMBRE

SOLITUDE
DU REMPART
PRIVATE INDUSTRIAL ESTATE RIVIERE DU REMPART

Motorway

PAMPLEMOUSSES

PLAINE VERTE

PETITE RIVIERE PLAINE LAUZUN

PORT LOUIS
COROMANDEL

MOK A
FLACQ
ST PIERRE
STANLEY FLACQ

BELLE RIVE QUARTIER MILITAIRE

BEL AIR
PHOENIX
BAMBOUS

BONNE TERRE

FLOREAL
MONTAGNE BLANCHE

BLACK PLAINES FOREST SIDE

RIVER WILHEMS

FERNEY
NOUVELLE FRANCE

GRAND PORT

GRAND BOIS

MAHEBOURG /BEAU VALON

SSR INT.
AIRPORT
TROIS BOUTIQUES
SAVANNE
TYACK L’ESCALIER

0 1 2km

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

With the help of your teacher and /or parents, write a few sentences about the importance of industries/
factories in the development of your village /town/locality.

You may think about:

• the name of the factories/industries
• the types of work people do there
• how they have helped the people of your locality
• you may also include an interview of a person who has worked in one of the factories/industries and
how it has changed his/her life.

24
 The expansion of the services and financial industries
By the end of the 20th century, the Mauritian economy diversified successfully into
manufacturing, tourism, financial & banking services and ICT, as major pillars. Nowadays, the
services sector contributes on average 69% of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product), compared to
27% for the secondary sector and 4% by the primary sector, which consists of mainly agricultural
activities.

DID YOU KNOW…

The tertiary sector covers a series of activities. These range from wholesale and retail trade, hotels
and restaurants, transport, storage and communications, finance and insurance, real estate, business
services, community to social and personal services including public administration.

The contribution of sectors to the GDP of Mauritius (1970- 2010)

SECTORS 1970 2010

Primary sector 23% 4%

Secondary sector 25% 27%

Tertiary sector 52% 69%

Table 1

ACTIVITY 2.5

Study Table 1 and answer the following questions.

1. Name the sector whose contribution to our GDP has decreased from 1970 to 2010.

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Name the sector which has expanded the most between 1970 and 2010.

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Give 2 reasons to explain these changes.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

25
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

Discuss and Share

Read the extract provided below. The extract is taken from an article published
on 7th March 2011 in ‘The Guardian’, a newspaper. The article is written by the
American economist and Nobel Prize winner, Joseph Stiglitz.

The ‘Mauritius Miracle’, or how to make a big success of a small economy

… Suppose someone were to describe can find productive employment for its
a small country that provided free population without a serious reduction
education through university for all of in the existing standard of living … [The]
its citizens, transport for school children outlook for peaceful development is weak.”
and free healthcare – including heart As if to prove Meade wrong, … The
surgery – for all. You might suspect that country has progressed from the sugar-
such a country is either phenomenally based monoculture of 50 years ago to
rich or on the fast track to fiscal crisis. a diversified economy that includes
tourism, finance, textiles, and, if current
But Mauritius, a small island nation off the plans bear fruit, advanced technology.
east coast of Africa, is neither particularly
rich nor on its way to budgetary ruin. The ‘Mauritius Miracle’ dates to
Nonetheless, it has spent the last independence. But the country still
decades successfully building a diverse struggles with some of its colonial
economy, a democratic political system legacies: inequality in land and wealth,
and a strong social safety net. as well as vulnerability to high-stakes
global politics. The US occupies one of
Indeed, so dismal were its prospects Mauritius’s offshore islands, Diego Garcia,
as it approached independence from as a naval base without compensation
Britain, which came in 1968, that the … The US should now do right to the
Nobel prize-winning economist James peaceful and democratic country:
Meade wrote in 1961: “It is going to recognise Mauritius’s rightful ownership
be a great achievement if [the country] of Diego Garcia.

You may discuss the following:

• Two reasons to explain how Mauritius has successfully built a diverse economy.
• One reason why Nobel Prize winner James Meade believed that Mauritius would
not develop economically.
• Three sectors which have developed since the 1960s.
• Why the USA should recognise the rightful ownership of Mauritius over Diego
Garcia.

26
 Economic Conditions in Rodrigues Since Independence
In Rodrigues, the two major sectors in which almost all inhabitants were engaged in earning
their living were agriculture and fishing.

The 1990s saw the beginning of the tourist sector in Rodrigues. Two hotels and a few guest
houses started to operate on the island. Some people living in the vicinity of these hotels
took employment in various activities related to the hotel sector.

Today, the tourist sector is an important pillar in the economic development of the island. In
2001-2002, a new passenger terminal was constructed at the airport and a new runway has
been proposed to enable the landing and take-off of larger aircrafts.

A hotel in Rodrigues An auberge in Rodrigues

DID YOU KNOW…

Rodrigues has not experienced the industralisation process like Mauritius. Despite the construction
of a ‘mini -industrial’ building by the Development Bank of Mauritius at Camp du Roi, industralisation
never took off.

Today part of the building is used as call centre and for BPO activities.

27
TOPIC 2 Economic Development in Mauritius since Independence

Agalega Islands
Agalega forms part of the Republic of Mauritius. The atoll of
Agalega is situated around 1000 km north of Mauritius. It
consists of two islands: North Island and South Island.

Vingt-Cinq and La Fourche are two villages found in North

Island. Another village, St. Rita, is found in South Island.
Vingt-Cinq is the administrative centre of Agalega.

The atoll, which has a population of about 300, is largely

planted with coconut trees. The most important activity
of the people on the islands is the production of coconut
oil and copra for export. Fishing is the main source of
livelihood of the inhabitants. Rearing of animals and
growing of vegetables are also practised.

There are two nurseries and two pre-primary schools in

Agalega. Regarding primary education, each island has
one school. A lower secondary school, run by Medco, was set up in January 2008 where students
study up to Grade 9. Then they come to Mauritius for upper secondary and higher education.

There are three community centres in Agalega. These community centres are equipped with a
parabolic antenna which enables the inhabitants to receive television and radio programmes.
There is also a library on each island. With regards to health facilities, each island has a health
centre under the supervision of a nursing officer and a mid-wife. Doctors from Mauritius visit
the islands on a regular basis.

Agalega is connected to Mauritius by air and sea. An airstrip is found in North Island with a
small terminal building. Light aircrafts can land and take off from there. Since the lagoon is very
shallow, ships visiting Agalega anchor at some 500 metres from the jetty situated at St. James
Anchorage in North Island.

FIND OUT DID YOU KNOW…

The electors in Agalega, cast their
The name of the ship and the aircraft that travel to
vote in Constituency number 3.
Agalega.
Ship _________________________________________
Aircraft _______________________________________

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss the life of people in Agalega. You may think about:
(i) Economic activities (ii) Leisure (iii) Health facilities (iv) Education
Write a few sentences in your copybook about what you have discussed.

28
 Topic 3
Constitutional and Political developments in
Mauritius (1968 – 1992)

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• recall that Mauritius became independent from British rule in 1968;
• understand the main political issues at the time of independence;
• trace the key constitutional and political developments in our islands since
independence till 1992.

You may recall that Mauritius became an independent state on 12 March 1968. You also
remember that since independence Mauritius has its own Constitution. The Constitution
states that:

‘Mauritius shall be a sovereign democratic State which shall be known as the Republic of Mauritius’.

In this section, you will learn about the political developments that have taken place in the
country since independence till it became a republic in 1992.

Independence and Nation-Building

The general elections, which were held to decide the issue of independence, took place in
August 1967. These elections were fought between the two main parties: the ‘Independence
Party’ and the ‘Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate’ (PMSD). The Independence Party was led
by Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam and the ‘Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate’ (PMSD) by Sir
Gaëtan Duval.

DID YOU KNOW…

Parti Mauricien was led by Jules Koenig. After him, Sir Gaëtan Duval
assumed the leadership of the party. Later the party was renamed
‘Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate’.

Jules Koenig and Sir Gaëtan Duval

29
TOPIC 3 Constitutional and Political developments in the Mauritius (1968 – 1992)

The Independence Party led by Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam consisted of

three political parties.

Mauritius Labour Party (MLP) Comité d’ Action Musulman (CAM) Independent Forward Bloc (IFB)
led by led by led by
Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam Sir Abdool Razack Mohamed Sookdeo Bissoondoyal

The Independence Party wanted complete freedom from Britain. On the other hand, the Parti
Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD) wanted integration with Britain. This meant that they
(PMSD) wanted to remain attached to Britain.

Integration meant that association or link with Britain would remain.

Under integration, certain matters, such as defence, foreign affairs and
some constitutional decisions would be under British control.

In the General Elections held on 7 August 1967, the Independence Party won 39 seats (54.5%
of the votes) and the Parti Mauricien Social Démocrate (PMSD) 23 seats (43.5% of the votes).

Parti Mauricien Social

Independence Party Démocrate (PMSD)
54.5% 43.5%

Others
2%

30
On 22 August 1967, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam tabled the
motion for independence in the Legislative Assembly, which
was seconded by Sir Guy Forget. The motion of independence
was approved by the Legislative Assembly.

On 12 March 1968, Mauritius became an independent country.

However, the British monarch remained the Head of State
represented by a Governor General.

Independence Ceremony

Nation Building and National Unity

In January 1968, just before independence, a riot broke out in Port Louis. Violent clashes which
started between two unruly gangs in Port Louis, later led to inter-ethnic riots. This created
social tension in the country. This period was a sad moment in the history of Mauritius. There
was loss of life and property. British troops were called in to help restore order. A state of
emergency was imposed for some time, until the situation calmed down.

British troops

One of the top priorities for Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam on getting independence was to
build the nation by bringing all the people together. Almost half of the electorate had voted
against independence. Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam was aware that political stability and
economic progress could not be achieved without ‘National Unity’.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam invited Sir Gaëtan Duval, the leader of the opposition, to join
the government. This strategy was used to promote nation building and to maintain political
stability in the country. The two leaders worked together to develop the island.

31
TOPIC 3 Constitutional and Political developments in the Mauritius (1968 – 1992)

The Plural Society of Mauritius

Observe the picture below. It shows the diversity of the Mauritian population.

The population of the Republic of Mauritius is around 1.3 million. Mauritius is known as a plural
society where a variety of ethnic groups and communities of different cultures, religious and
linguistic backgrounds co-exist and where all the ancestral cultures have been preserved. There
is harmony among its mixed population. These features make the island a unique place in the
world. Mauritians are known for their tolerance and kindness towards all people.

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss the following:
(a) Why does the Mauritian population consist of people from diverse origins?
(b) Using examples, describe how, despite their diversity, people respect each other and
live in harmony.

Write a few sentences in your copybook about what you have discussed.
32
 The Case of Chagos Archipelago
You learnt in Grade 7 about the expulsion of the
Chagossians to Mauritius. You also learnt about
the ‘Hearing on Britain’s separation of Chagos
Archipelago from Mauritius’ in the International
Court of Justice in Grade 8.

Recall and write a few sentences about what you

have learnt.
____________________________________________
____________________________________________
____________________________________________

A brief history of the Chagossians

In the 18th century, Vicomte de Souillac sent a ship to the Chagos Archipelago on hearing that
the British were attempting to settle there. From then onwards the Archipelago’s coconuts
were carried to Ile de France and processed into oil. Thus, the Chagos Archipelago became
known as the ‘Oil Islands’. Seabirds, salted fish, wood and tortoises were also exported from
Diego Garcia, Peros Banhos and Boddam Salomon, not only to Ile de France, but also to other
Indian Ocean islands, including Madagascar.

After the British conquest of Ile de France in 1810, Mauritius and its dependencies passed
from the French to the British rule. Thus, the Chagos Archipelago, which was a dependency
of Mauritius, came under British rule. By the beginning of the 20th century, the inhabitants of
the Chagos Archipelago also known as Chagossians were approximately 400. The Chagossians
built their own thatched cottages. Most Chagossian families had small kitchen gardens in
which they cultivated pumpkin, tomatoes, chillis and aubergines. They also reared chickens
and ducks for their own consumption.

Until 1965, the lifestyle of the Chagossians changed little. A small hospital and school were
built, and the population grew to around 1800. In addition to copra products, guano and
salted fish were being exported from the Chagos Archipelago.

The life of the Chagossians began to change as from 1965. Britain excised the Chagos
Archipelago from Mauritius in 1965 before granting independence to the latter in 1968. Britain
was negotiating with the United States of America (USA) about the Chagos Archipelago where
the USA proposed to construct a military base on the largest island of the Chagos Archipelago,
Diego Garcia. Once construction began, Britain forcibly removed all Chagossians from Diego
Garcia. None of the estimated 1,800 Chagossians, many now in their 70s or 80s, have been
permitted to return.
Source: Madeley, J. (1982) Diego Garcia: A contrast to the Falklands. Minority Rights Group, Report No.54
33
 TOPIC 3 Constitutional and Political developments in the Mauritius (1968 – 1992)

A chronology of some key historical events related to Chagos

Archipelago

1965

Excision of Chagos
Archipelago from
1793 Mauritius
Britain separates the
Chagos Archipelago
French settlement in
from Mauritius, 1968
before granting
Chagos Archipelago
independence,
French settlement in
creating the so-called Mauritius obtains
Diego Garcia begins,
“British Indian Ocean independence, but
using slave labour on
Territory” (“BIOT”). cannot effectively exercise
plantations. its sovereignty over the
Chagos Archipelago.

1814

Britain takes control

Mauritius, along with 1966
Chagos Archipelago
becomes a British
colony. Military deal with
USA
Britain allows the
USA to use the
largest island, Diego
Garcia, as a military
base.

34
 2006
September
2018
One hundred former
residents of the Hearings at
Chagos Archipelago international Court
make a return visit of Justice begin (ICJ)
nearly 40 years after The United Nations
being evicted by Britain (UN) General
to make way for a US Assembly asked the
military base on the ICJ for an advisory
island of Diego Garcia. opinion on the legal
consequences of
the excision of the
Chagos Archipelago
from Mauritius.

1971
May
to February 2019
1972 2019

Resolution in UN
Forced expulsion Advisory opinion of The United Nations
in Diego Garcia ICJ General Assembly
followed by Salomon International Court adopts a resolution
and Peros Banhos. of Justice rules that affirming that the
Most Chagossians are the excision of the Chagos Archipelago
moved to Mauritius Chagos Archipelago forms an integral
and the rest to the from Mauritius part of the territory
Seychelles. in 1965 prior to of Mauritius and
independence was sets a six-month
unlawful. deadline for the UK
to withdraw from the
Archipelago.

35
TOPIC 3 Constitutional and Political developments in the Mauritius (1968 – 1992)

ACTIVITY 3.1

Observe the pictures and read the extract provided below and answer the questions.

Picture 1: Fuel tanks on Diego Garcia, the largest island in Picture 2: Chagossians protesting outside British Embassy in
the Chagos Archipelago and the site of a USA military base Port Louis

Britain Dealt Defeat at U.N. Over Its Control of Chagos Archipelago

The New York Times - 22 May 2019

The United Nations General Assembly dealt Britain an embarrassing defeat on Wednesday in a
protracted dispute over the Chagos Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, demanding that the British
surrender the archipelago — home to an important American military base — to Mauritius, a
former British colony.

In a diplomatic showdown that underscored challenges to Britain’s influence in parts of the world
where, in a bygone era, it had commanded enormous power and territorial reach, the General
Assembly voted 116 to 6 for the resolution, which said the British should withdraw their “colonial
administration” from the Chagos Archipelago within six months.

The United States was among the opponents of the resolution, which is nonbinding and cannot
be enforced. But it carries important weight as a barometer of world opinion.

1. Why are the Chagossians protesting outside the British Embassy in Port Louis in picture 2?

__________________________________________________________________________

2. What was the advisory opinion issued by the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in February
2019?

__________________________________________________________________________

3. By how many votes was the resolution approved in the General Assembly?

__________________________________________________________________________

4. What did the General Assembly state in its resolution?

__________________________________________________________________________
36
 The case of Tromelin - A brief history
Tromelin is located 580 kilometres north west of Mauritius.

Do you recall that in 1810, Mauritius and its dependencies

came under the British rule?
Can you name any three dependencies of the Republic of
Mauritius?

___________________________________________

DID YOU KNOW…

The attraction of Tromelin is its EEZ and archaeological research on the horrifying story of Malagasy slaves
abandoned in Tromelin following a shipwreck in 1761.

The Constitution of the Republic of Mauritius states that “Mauritius” includes the Islands of
Mauritius, Rodrigues, Agalega, Tromelin, Cargados Carajos and the Chagos Archipelago, including
Diego Garcia and any other island comprised in the State of Mauritius.

Tromelin forms an integral part of the territory of Mauritius. However, France claims sovereignty
over the island. In 2010, Mauritius and France reached an agreement on the co-management of
Tromelin without prejudice to the sovereignty of Mauritius over Tromelin. The agreement has
not yet entered into force.

A brief history of the Island of Tromelin

The French discovered Tromelin in 1722 and named it Ile de Sable. In 1761 a French ship that
was carrying 160 Malagasy slaves struck into the reef surrounding the Island of Tromelin. As
the ship broke apart, most of the slaves drowned. However some sixty slaves and most of the
members of the French crew managed to swim to safety. Eventually, a new boat was built
using the debris of the old broken ship. The crew sailed to Madagascar, promising to return
for the slaves. But no one returned for fifteen years.

The remaining slaves kept themselves alive by eating turtles and crabs that came to the island
to nest. The slaves built simple shelters by digging rooms into the ground and fortifying them
with rocks. They used remaining debris from the ship to make small tools, and bowls.

In 1776, the Chevalier de Tromelin, after whom the island is named, came to the island. He
found on the island seven women and an eight-month old child, who were finally rescued.

37
 TOPIC 3 Constitutional and Political developments in the Mauritius (1968 – 1992)

A chronology of some key constitutional amendments and political

developments in Mauritius (1960s-1990s)
Nineteen Sixties -1960s

Constitutional conference held in London to discuss independence

1960 1961 1962 1963 1964

Nineteen Seventies - 1970s

Supported by MMM, General Workers

Federation (GWF) declared an General Elections postponed after a
unlimited strike following Government constitutional amendment
decision to make strikes illegal

Parliament voted for the imposition The State of Emergency renewed for
of State of Emergency (restriction to a further period of 6 months. Press
political and union activities) censorship introduced

1970 1971 1972 1973 1974

Nineteen Eighties -1980s

New party formed,
After a constitutional amendment, henceforth the Mouvement Socialiste
general elections can be postponed only after the Mauricien (MSM), led
approval of the 70% of the electorate by referendum by Anerood Jugnauth
and 100% of the votes of the National Assembly

1980 1981 1982 1983 1984

Nineteen Nineties - 1990s

Legislative Assembly redesignated
After a constitutional amendment, Mauritius National Assembly and incumbent
became a Republic with a President as Head Governor-General Veerasamy Ringadoo
of State became president

1990 1991 1992 1993 1994

38
 Mauritius obtains independence.
Outbreak of riots in Port Louis The Queen remained head of
state of Mauritius, represented by
the Governor-General.

General Elections to decide

Formation of a new political
independence or integration
party, the Mouvement Militant
with Great Britain
Mauricien(MMM), led by Paul
Raymond Bérenger

1965 1966 1967 1968 1969

Students strike in Mauritius. Students

were protesting against inequality
in the treatment between students
attending private colleges as
compared to those of State Schools;
Free secondary education introduced for
the colonial content of the educational
all Mauritians.
textbooks; lack of well-equipped
laboratories and amenities.
Mauritius claimed a 12nm Territorial Sea
and 200nm Exclusive Economic Zone
All those aged eighteen (EEZ) in its Maritime Zones Act 1977 to
were eligible to vote include Chagos Archipelago

1975 1976 1977 1978 1979

1985 1986 1987 1988 1989

Two Thousand - 2000

Rodrigues Regional Assembly Autonomy granted to Rodrigues

set up

2000 2001 2002 2003

39
TOPIC 3 Constitutional and Political developments in the Mauritius (1968 – 1992)

DID YOU KNOW…

Mauritius is ranked 16th out of 167 countries as a full democracy with a score of 8,22 according to the
Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), released on Wednesday 31 January 2018. The country has taken
giant leaps ahead of countries such as Spain, the United States of America (USA) and Italy in terms of
democracy.

Mauritius has received the score of 8, 22 based on the following criteria: electoral process and pluralism,
functioning of Government, political participation, political culture, and civil liberties.

Source: GIS (www.govmu.org/English/News/Pages/Democracy-Mauritius-ranked16th-worldwide-by-Economist-Intelligence-

Unit.aspx

ACTIVITY 3.2

Match the years in column A with the appropriate historical events in column B.
Column A Column B

1965 Provision of free secondary education

1967 Autonomy granted to Rodrigues

1969 Expulsion of Chagossians from Diego Garcia

1971 Constitutional conference in London to discuss independence

1975 Formation of a new political party – Mouvement Militant Mauricien (MMM)

1977 General elections towards independence

2002 Students’ strike in Mauritius

40
 UNIT 2
Welfare State, Social Change and
Environmental Impact
In this unit, you will trace the origins of the welfare state in Mauritius. You will understand
how the different measures taken have helped to tackle the country’s socio-economic
problems and how these welfare measures have contributed to improve the quality of
life of people over the years.

You will also examine the different forces driving social change since independence.
Finally, this unit will showcase how industrialisation and modernisation have affected
family life, the education system, the status of women, the emergence of new social
classes and development of new media.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the unit, you will be able to:
• trace the origins of the welfare state in Mauritius;
• understand the contributions of the welfare state in the life of the people since
independence;
• show an understanding of the different forces driving social change;
• analyse the impact of industrialisation and modernisation on the different
spheres of the Mauritian society.

41
TOPIC 1 Our Welfare State

NOTES
................................................................................................................................
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42
 Topic 1
Our Welfare State

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• explain the term ‘welfare state’;
• describe the characteristics of a welfare state;
• describe the salient features of our welfare state;
• reflect how the measures taken have contributed to the welfare of the population.

You have learnt in Unit 1 that at the time of independence, life in Mauritius was difficult for
many people. It was a period of transition from British colonial rule to independent Mauritius.
Many measures were taken to improve the living conditions of the people.

Observe the pictures below.

Education Housing

Health Social Security

Picture 1: Facilities and support provided in a welfare state

43
TOPIC 1 Our Welfare State

ACTIVITY 2.1

Observe picture 1 and answer the questions below.

1. Make a list of the facilities provided in a welfare state.

(i) __________________________________________________________________________

(ii) __________________________________________________________________________

(iii) __________________________________________________________________________

(iv) __________________________________________________________________________

2. To whom are the above facilities provided?

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Why do you think the above facilities are important?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Who provides the facilities?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

5. What do you think would happen if the facilities shown in picture 1 were not provided?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

6. Apart from the facilities listed in picture 1, state other ways whereby the life of people can
be improved.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

44
 What is a Welfare State?
In a welfare state, many benefits are provided to the population. These benefits include
free education, free health care and social services such as old age pension, free bus fares,
free examination fees and others. These benefits that are provided to the people are made
possible by the revenue generated by the different governmental taxes.

A Tax can be defined as a compulsory monetary contribution to the state that help to fund
various public expenditures. In modern economies, taxes are the most important source of
governmental revenue.

In other words, the main purpose of taxation is to accumulate funds for the effective
functioning of the government machinery.

+
Corporate Social Responsibility Revenues
(CSR)

Government of Mauritius

Welfare State Facilities and Services

Figure 1: The funding of the Welfare State

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss the importance of taxes and the contribution of the private sector in
the effective implementation of the welfare state in the Republic of Mauritius.

45
TOPIC 1 Our Welfare State

Features of a Welfare State

Now that you know what a ‘Welfare State’ is, let’s find out about its various features.

It seeks to remove poverty, hunger and unemployment,

Features of a Welfare State

and to bridge the gap between the rich and poor.

It gives equal importance to the liberty of the individual

and the interests of the society.

It functions through democratic institutions and in a

democratic way.

It gives equal rights to all, irrespective of their

differences, does not discriminate and treats all equally.

It seeks to provide welfare to people through planned

programmes.

ACTIVITY 2.2

1. List the features of a ‘Welfare State’.

(i) __________________________________________________________________________
(ii) __________________________________________________________________________
(iii) __________________________________________________________________________
(iv) __________________________________________________________________________
(v) __________________________________________________________________________
2. What do you understand by ‘bridging the gap between the rich and the poor’?
__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss the importance of any one of the above features to show why Mauritius
is referred to as a ‘Welfare State’.

46
 Origin of the Welfare State in Mauritius
Let’s trace the origins of the welfare state in Mauritius.

The first steps towards a welfare state system in Mauritius date back to the mid 1930s. It
was during this time that relief systems were introduced for underpaid and underfed sugar
estate workers who needed improved living conditions. In 1950, a non-contributory old-age
pension scheme was introduced for elderly men and women.

Picture 2: Workers in the sugar cane fields

The Meade Report, which investigated the social condition of Mauritius in 1961, recommended
that necessary steps be taken in order to improve the social and economic conditions of the
people. In 1962, the family allowances assistance programme was introduced.

Different measures were implemented to tackle

the country’s socio-economic problems. The main
recommendations were:
• for Mauritius to diversify from its
over-dependence on sugar industry;
• to industrialise in order to be able to cope with
the pressing population growth;
• to address unemployment problems.
Picture 3: The Meade Report

The measures taken enabled economic progress which led to the improvement in welfare
activities.

47
TOPIC 1 Our Welfare State

The Welfare State in Mauritius since Independence

Observe Figure 2 below.

Free secondary
education

Free health care Building of low-cost

services houses

Introduction of a Welfare
Vaccination and
National Pension measures other health care
Scheme in the programmes in school
1960s -1970s
Setting up of the
Mauritius Family Planning
More primary
Association and ‘Action
schools Familiale’

Figure 2: Welfare measures in the 1960s-1970s

Discuss and Share

Figure 2 shows the various measures that constituted the welfare state in Mauritius
during the 1960s and 1970s.
In groups, discuss how the above measures have benefitted the people. Write a few
sentences about what you have discussed in your copybook.

FIND OUT

1. Two benefits people enjoy in a welfare state.

2. Social security benefits which students from poor families get.

48
 Welfare State in Mauritius Today
The establishment of the welfare state has helped to improve the quality of life of Mauritians.
Mauritius is one of the rare countries which provide subsidies on rice, flour and gas.

Figure 3 shows welfare facilities in the 1990s.

Recreational, cultural
Housing and and religious affairs
community amenities 4%
Education
11% 33%

Social service and

welfare Health
35% 17%

Figure 3: Welfare facilities in the 1990s

In recent years, many new measures have been taken for an even stronger welfare state.

• Better free health care and services (for example: new hospitals, ambulances and
financial support for surgery abroad).

• Free transport for all students and retired persons.

• Free education from pre-primary to tertiary.

• Free textbooks and school materials to needy students.

• School Certificate (SC) and Higher School Certificate (HSC) examination are free
on the first attempt.

• Increase in the amount of old age pension.

• Minimum salary (Rs 9,500) for all workers.

49
TOPIC 1 Our Welfare State

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

You have learnt that many welfare measures have been implemented since independence
through different programmes with the aim of improving the well-being of individuals,
families and society.

However, despite the various measures taken by the state to improve the quality of life of the
people, there is still a lot to do. The state alone cannot resolve all societal problems.

WELFARE FACILITIES

Free Education Free health care

& services

Free Transport Housing facilities

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss and share:
• the importance of any two welfare measures taken recently by the state to improve
the life of people.
• any two possible actions people may take to improve their own life.

Share your views with the whole class using creative strategies, for example, role
play, poster presentation or in any other which you may think of.

50
 Topic 2
Social Change

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• develop an understanding of how industrialisation has changed the life of
people in Mauritius since the 1980s;
• identify and explain the causes of social change;
• analyse the impact of social change on families;
• understand how industrialisation has impacted on the status of women, life
chances and life expectancy;
• recognise the importance and the role of media in our lives;
• identify and discuss the factors leading to social order in society.

You have learnt in Unit 1 that Mauritius moved from a monocrop economy, based only on
sugar cane, to a more diversified economy based on textile, tourism and financial services.
This shift benefitted the people. It brought social and economic changes in the life of the
people.

LET’S RECALL

Answer the questions below.

1. What is meant by the term ‘industrialisation’?

_________________________________________________________________

2. What was the main economic activity before industrialisation began in Mauritius?

_________________________________________________________________

3. What are the main economic sectors in Mauritius today?

_________________________________________________________________

51
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Life in Mauritius
Industrialisation has brought significant economic progress in the country. It has also led to
changes in the social life of the people. The lifestyle of Mauritians has changed over the years.

Nowadays, people have access to a variety of goods and services. As a result, people have a
better standard of living and higher life expectancy. Industrialisation has also affected family
life, the education system and the communication system, and has created new social classes.

Impact of Industrialisation in Mauritius

Change Better
in Family Higher life Standards
types and expectancy of Living
structure

New New ways

New Socio- of
Educational
Economic communicating
opportunities
Status

Figure 1: Impact of industrialisation in Mauritius

Observe the pictures on pages 52 and 53.

Picture 1 (a): Living standards in pre-industrial Mauritius Picture 1 (b): Living standards after industrialisation

52
 Picture 2 (a): Employment in pre-industrial Mauritius Picture 2 (b): Employment after industrialisation

Picture 3 (a): A family in pre-industrial Mauritius Picture 3 (b): A family after industrialisation

Picture 4 (a): Children learning manual job from parents Picture 4 (b): Children learning at school with
in pre-industrial Mauritius professionals after industrialisation

Discuss and Share

Observe the pictures above and, in groups, discuss how industrialisation has brought
about changes in the life of Mauritians. Write a few sentences in your copybook.

53
 TOPIC 2 Social Change

Why does social change happen?

Social change occurs in all societies and in many ways. There can be many forces driving social
change. These can be human-caused or natural. Social change can happen through changes
in collective behaviour, social movements, technological innovations or environmental
changes.

Collective Behaviour

Social Movements

FORCES
DRIVING
SOCIAL
CHANGE

Environmental Changes

Technological
Innovations

54
 New societal behaviour
with important long term
consequences.

Social movements are

purposeful, organised groups
motivated to work towards a
common goal.

Changing weather patterns

and climate will increasingly
affect the daily lives of people
everywhere.

Technological innovations
have completely changed the
way people meet, learn, work,
play and travel.

Discuss and Share

In groups, find out additional examples of how forces driving social change influence
our society.

55
TOPIC 2 Social Change

ACTIVITY 2.2

FORCES DRIVING SOCIAL

EXAMPLES CONSEQUENCES
CHANGE

Banning the use of plastic

Reduce plastic pollution
bags

Collective
Waste sorting
Behaviour

Student movement in the

1970s

Social
Better working conditions
Movement

People have become more

Climate change aware of the dangers of flash
floods
Environmental
Change

New communication

Technological Innovation Higher life expectancy

56
 Social change and the Family
The Mauritian society has changed a lot since independence and is still changing. This process
of change has also brought changes in the family structure. Traditionally, many Mauritian
families were big in size, with many members living together. With industrialisation, the
structure of the family has changed. There are fewer extended families and more families
with lesser members.

Family 1 : A traditional extended family Family 2 : A modern nuclear family

Picture 5: An extended family Picture 6: A nuclear family

Today, the average family size has decreased. Most couples prefer having fewer children
compared to their parents and grandparents.

ACTIVITY 2.1

Observe pictures 5 and 6 and answer the questions below.

1. How are the two families in the above pictures different?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

2. Can you identify the different members in family 1 and family 2? How do you think they are
related to each other?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

57
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Family diversity in Mauritius

A family refers to a group of persons who are related to one another by blood, emotions or
legal ties (marriage or adoption). In modern Mauritius, we do not have a typical family type
which prevails. Instead, we have a diversity of family types.
Observe below the most common types of family present in Mauritius.

NUCLEAR FAMILY

A reconstituted family
A single-parent family is when two families
consists of only one parent join together after one
and his/her dependent or both partners have
children living under the divorced their previous
same roof. partners.

A nuclear family consists

of the mother and the
father and their dependent
SINGLE-PARENT FAMILY children living under the
same roof.

RECONSTITUTED FAMILY

58
TRADITIONAL EXTENDED FAMILY

A modified extended family is

a family which extends beyond
the nuclear family to include
grandparents and other relatives
all living close to each other, or
keeping regular contact through
visits and technology.

A traditional extended family is

a family which extends beyond
the nuclear family to include MODIFIED EXTENDED FAMILY
grandparents and other relatives
all living under the same roof.

Cohabitation
Moreover, recently, it has been observed in Mauritius that more couples are living together
without being married. This is known as cohabitation. In fact, cohabitation has grown
significantly over the past 40 years. Many cohabiting couples have dependent child/ren and
function similarly to a nuclear family.

59
TOPIC 2 Social Change

ACTIVITY 2.3

1. Make a list of all the people you consider as part of your family.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

2. What are the differences between:

(a) the single parent family and the traditional extended family?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(b) the nuclear family and the reconstituted family?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

3. Why are there more single-parent families today than in the past?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

4. List two advantages of the traditional extended family in modern Mauritius.

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

5. Why do you think there is an increase in cohabitation today?

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

60
 Functions of the family
You have observed that the structure of the family has changed over the years. Today, one can
find different types of families in our society. The functions of the family have also changed.
One can also observe the change in the position of women in the family.

Let’s have a look at the functions of the family for the individual and the society.

The pre-industrial family traditionally had a number of responsibilities placed upon it. These
responsibilities were the functions it performed. These functions have changed over time
due to industrialisation.

THINK ACTIVITY

1. According to you, what are the main functions of the family? List them in the space provided
below.
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Complete the table below by listing the traditional functions of the family and find out how
they have changed.

Traditional Functions How they have changed

61
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Many functions of the family have been taken up by more specialised institutions in society.
The family has retained only a few functions. Hence, in today’s society, we can say that the
main functions of the family are:

Main Functions of the family

Socialisation

The family is an important agency of socialisation. It is the process

by which an individual learns the values, norms, beliefs and rules
1 of the social group s/he belongs to.
The child learns the basic lessons of life needed to fit in the
society: how to talk, how to behave, how to eat and so on.

Reproduction

2 The family reproduces new members of society

Economic

The family supplies new labour for the society and is also a unit
3 of production. Goods and services produced by society are
bought and used by the family.

Emotional Support

4 Emotional support within family is essential for personal

development and well-being.

62
63
TOPIC 2 Social Change

ACTIVITY 2.4

1. What is meant by the term ‘functions of the family’?

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

2. What is meant by the term ‘more specialised agencies’?

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

3. Identify and describe two important functions of the family today.

(a) __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
(b) __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

4.(a) Name any two institutions that you think has taken up the important functions of the
family today.
(i) _____________________________ (ii) _____________________________
(b) List any two functions that the family used to perform in the past but which have mostly
been taken up by specialised institution today.
(i) _______________________________________________________________________
(ii) _______________________________________________________________________

5. Give one one advantage and one disadvantage of having specialised institution which take
up functions of the family today.
Advantages: ___________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Disadvantages: ________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

64
 Industrialisation and gender equality
Industrialisation has affected the family structure and its role in society. Changes in the family
are accompanied with changes in the role and status of women at home and in the society.

In the past, it was mostly the man’s responsibility to support his family financially. At that
time, men and women had specific responsibilities in the family and in the society. Men were
the ‘breadwinners’ while women were expected to stay at home to care for the children and
the house.

Picture 7: Stereotyped image of a woman in an advertisement in the 1950s

With the creation of the ‘Zone Franche’ in the 1970s, women, especially those with lower
educational backgrounds, were given the opportunity to move from being only mothers and
housewives to breadwinners too.

ACTIVITY 2.5

Think about the roles of women in the past and answer the questions below.
1. What were their main roles?
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Do you think they could go for paid jobs?
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Did they have equal rights compared to men?
__________________________________________________________________________

65
 TOPIC 2 Social Change

THINK ACTIVITY

Observe the pictures below.

Write a few sentences to describe the role of women in today’s society.

_____________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________

DID YOU KNOW…

According to UNICEF, gender equality means that women and men, and girls and boys, enjoy the same
rights, resources, opportunities and protections.

Some examples of gender equality are illustrated below. Boys and g

irls have th
e same rig
get free ed ht to
e the same job ucation
a n d wo men hav
Both men opportun
ities

Both men and women have the right to vote

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss and make a list in your copybook to describe different ways in which
girls and boys are equal in society today.

66
 Industrialisation and the living conditions of people
With industrialisation, the standard of living of people has improved. As both husband and
wife work, their salaries enable the family to have better living conditions. Most Mauritian
families have good housing conditions with all the basic modern facilities.

Observe the pictures below.

Children helping their mother in the kitchen Family going to the restaurant

Buying clothes Family enjoying a movie at home

With the development of modern infrastructures, such as shopping malls, cinemas, health
tracks, leisure parks, and other facilities, families can spend more time together and enjoy.

67
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Observe the following pictures.

Living conditions in the past Living conditions today

Discuss and Share

Try to imagine your life without modern electronic appliances like a television set, a
refrigerator or your mobile phone. How would you feel? Share your views in class.

68
 Industrialisation and life expectancy
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO) report published in 2018, Mauritius is
ranked 82nd in the world in terms of people’s life expectancy. The life expectancy in Mauritius
is around 75 years. The same WHO report also ranks Mauritius second in the world in terms of
death caused by diabetes mellitus (DM).

Observe the table below.

Life expectancy in Mauritius and the world

Mauritius World
Male Female All M F All
1960 57.7 61.2 59.4 65 66 65
1970 60.3 64.6 62.4 70 69 67
1980 63.4 68.7 66.0 76 77 75
1990 65.6 73.4 69.4 82 66 72
2000 67.8 74.3 71.0 85 75 81
2010 70.1 76.6 73.3 85 75 83
2016 71.6 78.1 74.8 79 72 82

Table 1: Life expectancy statistics for Mauritius for the period 1960 - 2016
Source: https://www.worldlifeexpectancy.com/country-health-profile/mauritius

ACTIVITY 2.6

Observe Table 1 and answer the questions below.

1. What can you say about the life expectancy pattern in Mauritius over the years as shown in
Table 1?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Give two reasons for the change in the average life expectancy of Mauritians.
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. Why do you think men in Mauritius have a lower life expectancy as compared to many
countries around the world?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
69
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Industrialisation and education

During the pre-industrial period, children were often treated like little adults and were sent
to work in the fields, mines and factories as young as 8 years old. The work of children was
important at that time, as children provided labour force for the survival of their family.

Picture 8: Child labour in 1900s, USA

In Mauritius too, many children were sent to work at an early age. Because of the living
conditions prevailing at that time, attending school was not a priority for many.

However, with time, laws regarding the protection and well-being of children were
introduced. Today, there are many laws which protect children. For example, these laws ban
children below 16 years from working while making education compulsory till the age of 16
in Mauritius.

FACT

After independence in 1968, education became one of the main preoccupations of the
Mauritian Government to meet the new challenges awaiting the country. Education
has been free till the secondary level since 1976.

Because Mauritius has no natural resources, it can only rely on its human resources, that is, an
educated and skilled workforce. With time and the process of industrialisation, there was a
need for labour. It therefore became imperative to educate and train a skilled and specialised
labour force to cope with the rapid socio-economic changes of the Mauritian society.

70
Defining education

Every country in the world has some form of education system where schools act as social
institutions responsible for the formal education of the children. The school helps to broaden
the individual’s primary socialisation process, which starts within the family. The school
considerably contributes to the secondary socialisation process of the children through
formal and informal learning. It is through education that the child is prepared to fit in the
society in which s/he will grow as an adult.

PRIMARY SOCIALISATION

SECONDARY SOCIALISATION
Values

Culture Peers
Religion
Gender
Roles
Mass media
Others
Family

School

ACTIVITY 2.7

Complete the following sentences.

1. Through informal learning, I learn _______________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
2. Through formal learning, I learn ________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
3. A good education system is important for any society as it ___________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

71
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Industrialisation and Social Class

As you have learnt earlier, life in Mauritius before industrialisation was difficult and revolved
mainly around agriculture. The family was a unit of production where all the needs and wants
were produced among the family members for personal use.

With the emergence of factories, there was need for labour. Many people started working
in the primary and secondary economic sectors. With a decrease in unemployment and an
increase in paid jobs, the life of Mauritians changed and improved considerably, leading to
better living conditions, better education and higher salaries.

Mauritians were able to improve their living standards as they had greater opportunities and
access to a wider variety of goods and services. People started climbing up the social ladder.

72
 ACTIVITY 2.8

Case study
Mr Sonn and his wife have 2 sons, Dev and Sam, and 1 daughter, Pinky. They live in a small
rented house. Mr Sonn used to work on the sugar estate as a labourer while his wife was
a maid. Life was not always easy for the Sonn family.

Mr Sonn, against all odds, did his best to give his children the best opportunities through
education. The children worked very hard at school so that they could get a good job and
have a better life for them and their parents. Dev is now a dentist, Sam is a teacher and
Pinky is a successful entrepreneur.

(a) What can you say about the story of Mr Sonn and his children?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

(b) According to you, have Dev, Sam and Pinky successfully improved their lifestyle?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

(c) How has hardwork at school enabled Mr Sonn’s children to move up the social ladder?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

73
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Industrialisation and the Mass media

Importance of media in our lives

Media play an important role in our lives. Today, we all have our share of media exposure
every day, which acts as a window to the world.

Enable us to
communicate

Provide leisure Provide

activities information

Importance
of media in
our lives
Can shape our Enable us
opinions to learn new
things

Influence our
behaviour

Figure 2: The roles of the media

DID YOU KNOW…

Media is the plural of medium or platform through which information is transmitted or shared.

Nowadays, we are constantly exposed to all sorts of media content. Be it through the
television, billboards, newspaper or the internet, media are always present in our lives.

ACTIVITY 2.9

Referring to Figure 2, choose any role of media and design a poster where you will show how
this has personally influenced you as an individual. You are expected to present your poster
to your class and talk about your own experience.

74
 1. The media allow us to communicate

Today, more than one third of the world

population is using some form of social
media to communicate.

Discuss and Share

How has social media changed the

way people communicate?

2. The media provide information

One of the many roles of the media is to

inform people. It is through the media that
we learn what is happening in the world.

Discuss and Share

How helpful are the media when

there are natural disasters?

3. The media enable us to learn new things

Educational magazines and channels

are good sources to learn about the
world around us.

Discuss and Share

How can the media help your

learning at school?

75
TOPIC 2 Social Change

4. The media influence our behaviour

The media can influence you to do certain things

that you see. Media also largely influence what
you consume.

Discuss and Share

How can advertisement influence our

lifestyle?

5. The media can shape our opinions

The media play an essential role in the formation

of public opinion about social issues.

Discuss and Share

How far do people believe what they see in

the media?

6. The media provide leisure activities

Watching television, listening to radio and

surfing on the internet are leisure activities
people enjoy.

Discuss and Share

How have the media influenced the way

we spend our leisure time?

76
Types of Media

The way people communicate and share information has changed over time. The way
information is transmitted and shared has continuously been changing in order to reach the
largest number of people more effectively.

Today, information is easily accessible and is mostly obtained through three different types
of media.

Printing Radio and Television Internet

Audio and video media

The invention of printing The ‘Web’ has allowed
allowed the transmission
allowed the production of even more people
of information to a large
standardised lettering and to communicate in
number of receivers
large amounts of text. cyberspace.
directly in their homes.

Figure 3: Types of media

By media, we refer to the platforms used to communicate information. This can be done in
written or transmitted form. Mass media means communicating to a very large number of
people at the same time.

77
TOPIC 2 Social Change

As you see in Figure 3, the print media, the electronic media and the new age media are
considered as mass media because they have the capacity to inform the masses.

The Print Media

The print media is any form of printed

materials used to communicate. Some
examples of print media are: newspapers,
magazines, books, brochures and billboards.
Today, print media still remains a very
popular way to transmit information to large
number of people.

The Electronic Media

The most common electronic media, or

‘Broadcast Media’, is the kind of media which
requires the user to utilize an electronic
connection. Some examples of these
electronic media are: television, radio and
CD-ROM. There are also new electronic media
which are also known as digital media.

The New Age Digital Media

With the spread of internet, information

travels faster and is easily accessible. Mobile
phones, tablets, and the internet are often
referred to as the new-age digital media.
Social networking sites like Facebook,
Twitter, WhatsApp, Instagram and YouTube
have made mass communication easier and
more entertaining.

78
Media and Technology

Today, technology has enabled us to move from simple and primitive means of communication
to more complex and digitalised form of communication. Due to technological change,
information can be conveyed very rapidly to a large number of people simultaneously. This is
possible through the use of ‘Mass Media’.

ACTIVITY 2.10

Answer the following questions.

1. Name two print media which are used for mass communication in Mauritius.
(a) ________________________________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________________________________
2. Name two popular broadcast media which allow people to spend leisure time.
(a) ________________________________________________________________________
(b) ________________________________________________________________________
3. How has the internet impacted on the way people are informed about what is happening
around them?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
4. How has the way people exchange information about themselves changed with the
internet?
__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________

79
TOPIC 2 Social Change

The Media in Mauritius

Media plays a crucial role in maintaining a healthy democracy. Media makes us aware of
various social, political and economic activities happening around us. For example, in
Mauritius, newspapers and private radios have contributed significant achievements in
educating and informing people about events that are taking place around them. A free and
independent media should always promote democratic values and the rule of law.

Discuss and Share

Social media is fast becoming a major source of information that is relatively affordable
and accessible to diverse audiences.
Discuss the role of social media in promoting democratic values.

80
 Social order
In order for a society to function properly, unity and stability is needed. Members of society
must agree on common norms and shared values so as to live in peace and harmony.
Achieving and maintaining these requirements lead to a stable society where social order is
maintained. By working together to maintain social order, conflicts are avoided and society
functions smoothly.

Common
Unity norms

Shared
Order Values

Figure 4: Factors leading to stability in society

Figure 5: Examples of common norms and shared values in the Mauritian society

When some people do not follow or conform to the norms and values of society, it may lead
to insecurity and conflict.

Practices and behaviours that are against the accepted norms and values of a society may be
seen as deviant or criminal. Deviant and criminal behaviours are sanctioned by laws.

81
TOPIC 2 Social Change

Deviance

Think about the times when your parents or your teacher punished you for a wrong deed,
such as using foul language, disobeying or misbehaving.

Observe the following pictures carefully and describe what you see in each picture.

Description

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Description

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Do you think that such behaviour conforms to the norms of society?

Deviance refers to an act that does not conform to the norms and values of a particular
society or social group.

Give 2 examples of deviant behaviour in your society.

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Deviance is relative to time, society and culture. What is considered as deviant varies from
society to society, from culture to culture, and from time to time.

Discuss and Share

With the help of your teacher, find one example of behaviour which was once
considered as normal but has now become deviant.

82
Crime

Observe the following pictures carefully and describe what you see in each picture.

Description

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

Description

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

______________________________________

We should be law-abiding citizens. However, when an individual does something which goes
against the law, it is considered a crime. Individuals are punished by the law for engaging in
criminal behaviour.

Give 2 examples of criminal behaviour.

____________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________

Deviant and criminal behaviour should be controlled in order to maintain social order in
society.

Discuss and Share

Find out how people are persuaded to abide by the norms and laws of society.

83
TOPIC 2 Social Change

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

Most environmental issues in the world today like pollution, deforestation, access to water,
loss of biodiversity and others are linked to human activities. With Industrial Revolution an
intensive exploitation of resources began. Industries started with mass production of items,
that were more economical and more accessible to all.

New consuming patterns, in terms of the food we eat, the way we dress, how we travel and
spend our leisure time eventually affect the environment around us.

People adopted disposable Objects are no longer repaired, A lot of plastic debris in the
objects as their style of life. nor are they reutilized as they ocean breaks down into smaller
Besides the increase of glass, can easily be replaced by new pieces and is ingested by
metal and organic wastes, ones. As a result, there is an marine life.
new materials like plastic excessive production of waste.
and electronic waste have
appeared.

GROUP WORK: THINK – PAIR - SHARE

1. Think individually about:

(a) how the society we are living in today influences the natural environment.
(b) the different ways in which one’s personal action can help to protect and preserve the
environment.
2. Pair up to discuss and compare your ideas.
3. Share your ideas in a class discussion and agree on a list of dos and don’ts to protect the
environment.

84
 UNIT 3
MAURITIUS AND ITS HISTORICAL LINKS
WITH EUROPE, AFRICA AND ASIA
In this unit, you will recall that people came to our islands from different places: Europe,
Africa and Asia. People from all these countries, places and regions have contributed in
the development of our islands.

After independence, Mauritius has maintained its ties with these countries. You will
further learn about the names of some organisations of which Mauritius is a member.
You will also understand the importance of Mauritius being a member of these
organisations.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the unit, you will be able to:
• identify the countries /places from where people came to our islands;
• recall when and why they came to our islands;
• appreciate that our identity is linked with these countries/ places;
• identify the different historical and contemporary links Mauritius has with these
countries;
• discuss the importance of the membership of Mauritius within different organisations;
• appreciate the importance of maintaining and strengthening our relationships in a
context of change and globalisation.
85
TOPIC 1 Mauritius and its historical links with countries in Europe, Africa and Asia

NOTES
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86
Topic 1
Mauritius and its historical links with countries in
Europe, Africa and Asia

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• name and locate on a map some countries/places from where people came to
our islands;
• recall the reasons for their arrival on the islands;
• show an understanding of the historical links Mauritius has with these countries.

LET’S RECALL

Observe Map 1 below. It shows some countries/places from where the early
inhabitants came.

A
B

C
D

Map 1: Some countries/ places with which Mauritius has historical links

87
TOPIC 1 Mauritius and its historical links with countries in Europe, Africa and Asia

ACTIVITY 3.1

1. Study Map 1 and write the names of the countries A to F.

A _____________________________ B _____________________________

C _____________________________ D_____________________________

E _____________________________ F_____________________________

2. Recall and write two sentences to explain how Mauritius has historical links with each
country indicated on Map 1.

A __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

B __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

C __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

D __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

E __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

F __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Give examples to show how our identity is linked with the countries indicated on Map 1.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

88
After independence, Mauritius has maintained good relations with France, Britain, countries
in Africa, India, Pakistan and China because of its historical links. Let’s find out more about
how Mauritius has maintained its links with these countries and how this has helped the
island to develop economically and culturally.

DID YOU KNOW…

After independence from British rule in 1968, Mauritius has continued to maintain its links with France,
Britain, Africa, India, Pakistan and China for both historical and commercial reasons.

Mauritius and its links with France

Can you recall that the links between Mauritius and France date back to the 18th century? It
was in the beginning of the 18th century that the French took possession of our island. It was
only in 1721 that the French started a settlement at Grand Port. At that time, our island was
called Ile de France.

After independence, Mauritius continues to maintain its ties with France. France has provided
Mauritius with financial assistance for its economic progress since independence. It has also
contributed to the development of the island in various areas, for example, infrastructure,
technology and culture.

In recent years, the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement) has
provided Mauritius with both financial and technical support for:

1. improving the quality of infrastructure

2. energy transition

3. improving climate resilience

Mauritius also maintains commercial and cultural links with France. France has been a major
trading partner of Mauritius.

The Institut Français Maurice (IFM) offers

training to those interested in studies in France.
Many Mauritians travel to France for higher
education.

89
TOPIC 1 Mauritius and its historical links with countries in Europe, Africa and Asia

ACTIVITY 3.2

Observe the picture below and answer the questions that follow.

Picture 1: Alliance Française

1. Name the building shown in Picture 1.

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Suggest one way in which the activities held in the building shown in Picture 1 help to

strengthen and maintain ties with France.

__________________________________________________________________________

3. State two ways in which Mauritius has benefitted by maintaining links with France.

(i) __________________________________________________________________________

(ii) __________________________________________________________________________

90
 Mauritius and its links with India
Do you recall that ties between Mauritius and India date back to 1730s? Today, a large part
of the population of Mauritius has historical links with India.

Write one sentence to explain:

(i) how links between India and Mauritius date back to 1730s.

__________________________________________________________________________

(ii) how a large part of the population of Mauritius has historical links with India.

__________________________________________________________________________

The long historical and cultural ties between Mauritius and India have
contributed to strong and friendly relations between the two countries.

Picture 2: Indira Gandhi Cultural Centre Picture 3: Mahatma Gandhi Institute (MGI)

Picture 4: World Hindi Secretariat

ACTIVITY 3.3

Observe Pictures 2-4

1. Study the above pictures and write one sentence on each of them to explain how they
contribute to the cultural development in the island.

(i) __________________________________________________________________________

(ii) __________________________________________________________________________

(iii) __________________________________________________________________________
91
TOPIC 1 Mauritius and its historical links with countries in Europe, Africa and Asia

ACTIVITY 3.4

Observe pictures 5-7. They show some other areas where India has contributed to the
development of our country.

Picture 5 Picture 6

Picture 7

Study pictures 5-7 and answer the questions below.

1. Name three other areas in which ties with India has benefitted our country.

(i) __________________________________________________________________________

(ii) __________________________________________________________________________

(iii) __________________________________________________________________________

2. Write a few sentences to explain how development in the above-mentioned areas has
benefitted our country.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
92
 DID YOU KNOW… ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

The Folk Museum of Indian Immigration, located at

You may visit the Folk Museum to find
the Mahatma Gandhi Institute, preserves, restores,
promotes and disseminates the historic and cultural out more about Indian immigrants in
heritage of the Indian immigrants. Mauritius. Note your observations in
your copybook. Share the information
that you have gathered with your friends
Folk Museum
at in class.
MGI

You may consider:

• the various artifacts
• photographs
• any other information that you
found interesting in the museum.

Artifacts found in the museum

Indian immigration Archives - Tracing our Roots

The Mahatma Gandhi Institute Indian Immigration Archives has the largest collection of
documents and photographs of the 19th century Indians recruited for Mauritius to work in
the sugar cane fields. These documents include:
• the arrival registers of the indentured immigrants between 1834-1913
• marriage certificates
• passport-size photographs of Indian immigrants as well as workers from other
countries
• correspondence and other departmental records

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

You may visit the Indian Immigration Archives to find out about your
ancestors. Those interested in tracing their roots dating back to indenture
period (1842- 1910) are provided with assistance by the officials in the
archives.

Today, many Mauritians are holders of either a PIO (Person of Indian

Origin) or an OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) card.

Overseas Citizens of India

(OCI) Card

93
TOPIC 1 Mauritius and its historical links with countries in Europe, Africa and Asia

Mauritius and its links with China

The Mauritian population also consists of people of Chinese descent. Do you recall that the
Chinese arrived on the island between the 18th and 19th centuries? After independence,
relations between the two countries has been strong. There has been a steady and continued
support from China, especially in infrastructural development.

China has supported Mauritius in the development of various projects.

Observe the pictures below.

Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport Plaza Theatre, Rose-Hill

Multi-sports Complex at Côte d’or

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss how links with China have contributed in the development of Mauritius.
Write a few sentences in your copybook about what you have discussed.

94
 DID YOU KNOW…
The Eden Garden Culture and Entertainment Square is the first ‘smart city’ to be developed in Mauritius
through a partnership with China. The New ‘smart city’ offers glimpse into booming Mauritius-China
cooperation.

JinFei Smart City

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

Find out more about the first smart city developed in Mauritius. Share your findings in class.
You may think about:
• the name and location
• the beginning and completion of the project
• facilities available in the smart city
• any other information which you may find interesting to share.

95
TOPIC 1 Mauritius and its historical links with countries in Europe, Africa and Asia

Mauritius and its links with Africa

Do you recall that links between Mauritius and Africa date back to the 17th century when the
first settlement began in the island?

It was in the year 1639 that the Dutch Governor Van der Stel brought slaves from Madagascar
to help the settlers with their agricultural and other work.

Later, during the French period, a large number of slaves were captured and brought to
Mauritius from African countries, namely Mozambique and Madagascar, and forced to work
for long hours.

Can you recall and name a few other places in Africa from where slaves were brought to the
island in the 18th century?

ENRICHMENT ACTIVITY

Nowadays, many Mauritians of African origin would like to find out about their cultural roots,
identity and heritage.

The Nelson Mandela Centre for African culture has been created to make people aware about
African and Creole culture.

Visit the Nelson Mandela Centre. Work in groups and create a

poster to show your findings. Your poster can include drawings
or pictures of the various aspects:
(i) related to slavery and
(ii) ways to promote African and Creole Culture.

96
 Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss and share your views about how links with Africa have influenced our
culture and traditions. Write a few sentences about what you have discussed.
You may think about:
• Language
• Cuisine
• Music and art

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Geographically considered as part of Africa, Mauritius has maintained friendly relations with
other African countries in the region. It has trading relations with South Africa, which is one
of its largest trading partners.

Mauritian investors are also gradually entering African markets, notably Madagascar and
Mozambique. The governments of Mauritius and Madagascar are intensifying their efforts to
improve cooperation in the textile and clothing sectors between the two countries.

Mauritius and Madagascar are moving forward with plans to set up a ‘Textile city’ industrial zone in Madagascar

97
TOPIC 1 Mauritius and its historical links with countries in Europe, Africa and Asia

ACTIVITY 3.5

Mauritius has maintained strong and friendly relations with European, Asian and
African countries.

Complete the sentences below.

1. Two European countries with which Mauritius has friendly relations and historical ties are:

________________________________ ________________________________

2. Two countries in Asia with which Mauritius has friendly relations and historical ties are:

________________________________ ________________________________

3. Two countries in Africa with which Mauritius has friendly relations and historical ties are:

________________________________ ________________________________

Discuss and Share

In groups, discuss and find out about two other countries in Africa with which Mauritius
has economic and cultural relations.
You may think about:
• trading relations
• education
• sports, art and culture

Write a few sentences to explain how these relations are beneficial to Mauritius.

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

98
 Topic 2
Mauritius and its contemporary links with
countries and organisations

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• name a few organisations with which Mauritius has links;
• discuss the importance of the membership of Mauritius within the different
organisations;
• appreciate the importance of maintaining and strengthening our relationships
in a context of change and globalisation.

You have learnt that Mauritius has historical links with France, Britain, Africa, India, Pakistan
and China. You also learnt that after independence, Mauritius has continued to maintain its
ties with these countries. The strong relationship with these countries has enabled Mauritius
to develop economically and culturally.

In this topic, you will learn about a few organisations with which Mauritius has links.

Observe Map 1 below. It shows a few organisations of which Mauritius is a member.

Southern Africa
United Nations – UN Development
Community - SADC

Commonwealth Indian Ocean

of Nations Commission – IOC

Organisation
Common Market
Internationale de La
for East and South
Francophonie - OIF
Africa - COMESA

Organisation of Indian Ocean Rim

African Unity - OAU Association - IORA

Map 1: Organisations of which Mauritius is a member

99
TOPIC 2 Mauritius and its Contemporary Links with countries and organisations

Why is it important to be a member of such organisations?

With industralisation and globalisation, it is difficult for developing countries to compete

with the developed and industrialised countries on the world market.

The way countries and people of the world interact and integrate is
called globalisation. Globalisation has led to the movement of goods,
services, technology, knowledge and people across the world.

Being members of such organisations enables member countries to:

Promote peace, security and stability in order to improve economic

development in the region

Facilitate and improve the movement of goods, services, capital and

labour

Support education, training and research

Implement projects in various fields: environment, tourism,

development of trade, fishing, telecommunications, culture, handicraft,
meteorology

FIND OUT

1. Three member countries of SADC:

(i) ____________________ (ii) _____________________ (iii) _______________________

2. Three member countries of COMESA:

(i) ____________________ (ii) _____________________ (iii) _______________________

3. Three organisations in the Indian Ocean region of which Mauritius is a member:

(i) ____________________ (ii) _____________________ (iii) _______________________

100
 ACTIVITY 3.6
Match each organisation with its corresponding acronym and logo.
A B C

Indian Ocean Rim

SADC
Association

Indian Ocean
COMESA
Commission

Organisation of
IOC
African Unity

South African
IORA Development
Community

Organisation
UN Internationale de la
Francophonie

Common Market
OIF for Eastern and
Southern Africa

OAU United Nations

101
TOPIC 2 Mauritius and its Contemporary Links with countries and organisations

NOTES
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102
 UNIT 4
POPULATION STUDIES
In this unit you will learn about population and demography. You will become familiar
with the distribution of population over an area and understand why it is important to
study population change and movement.

You will also learn the basics of demographic components such as birth and death rates.
This unit will further familiarise you with a model of demographic representation and
population pyramids. You will realise how Mauritian population has evolved over time.

Finally, you will be introduced to the phenomenon of migration. You will understand
why people move from one region to another and the issues related to the movement
of people.

Learning Objectives
At the end of the unit, you will be able to:
• identify the factors affecting population growth;
• show an understanding of factors that affect population change;
• discuss factors affecting population change in Mauritius;
• read and interpret graphs and charts showing population evolution and structure;
• demonstrate an understanding of why people migrate.
103
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

NOTES
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104
 Topic 1
Population Studies

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• define birth rate, death rate and rate of natural change;
• explain the terms ‘population density’ and ‘population distribution’;
• explain why population changes;
• interpret graphs and models;
• explain the demographic changes of Mauritius.

Population studies: Its importance

A population can be defined as the number of people who live in a place.

FIND OUT

(a) The population size of your school: ________________________________________________

(b) The population size of your locality: _______________________________________________

(c) The population size of the country: ________________________________________________

• One important measure of a population is the population size, that is, the number
of individuals.
• Other measures in the study of population are: 1) distribution (where people live) and
2) density (the number of people per unit area).
• With time, populations change in number and structure for various reasons. These
changes will affect how the population interacts with its environment.

The study of populations and how they change over

time is called demography.

LET’S RECALL
Can you recall the meaning of the word “demo”?

“demos” is an ancient Greek word meaning _____________________________.

105
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

Why is demography important?

By studying populations over time, we can see how populations have changed and we may
be able to predict how they are likely to change in the future.

NOTE

Population structure shows how a population is divided up between males and females of different
age groups.

Knowing about the number of people who live in a country, its structure and how it is
changing over time is therefore important for authorities and policy makers.

For example, it is essential to have figures:

1 on the number of children living in the country [less than 15 years old],

2 on the economically active population [15-64 years old] and

3 the number of elderly people in a country [65 years old and above].

If a government wants to plan effective policies and take sustainable actions for the economic
development of a country and the well-being of the population, all such information must
be made available. Population management is therefore vital for the socio-economic
development of a country.

DID YOU KNOW…

Population statistics are obtained through a national census and all
figures are available on the Central Statistical Office website.

A census is the count of all the people and households in a country.

It also provides other information such as: age, sex, occupation,
education and religion, among others.

106
 ACTIVITY 4.1

1. Find out:

(a) The number of children below 15 years old living in our country ___________________

(b) The meaning of ‘economically active population’ ________________________________

(c) The number of people who are 65 years old and above in Mauritius ___________________

2. Find out the meaning of the term ‘population structure’.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

3. Give three reasons to explain why the study of population is important.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

Let’s find out more about population size and population distribution in Mauritius.

Study Table 1 below which shows the basic population statistics of our islands.

The islands forming part of the Republic of Mauritius have a total land area of 2040 square km.
In 2017, the estimated resident population of our republic was 1,265,309.

ISLAND MALE FEMALE TOTAL

MAURITIUS 604,899 617,318 1,222,217

RODRIGUES 21,016 21,802 42,818

AGALEGA 174 100 274

ST-BRANDON - - -
REPUBLIC OF
626,089 639,220 1,265,309
MAURITIUS
Table 1: Population of the Republic of Mauritius

107
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

ACTIVITY 4.2

1. State the total population in the island of:

(a) Mauritius: __________________________

(b) Rodrigues: __________________________

(c) Agalega: __________________________

2. Which island has the highest population?

__________________________________________________________________________

3. (a) On which island is the number of males higher than the number of females?

__________________________________________________________________________

(b) State the difference between the number of males and females in the Republic of

Mauritius.

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Complete the bar graph below to show the estimated number of males and females.
One example has been done for you.

1. Agalega 2. Mauritius

200 600,000

175

150 450,000

125

100 300,000

75

50 150,000

25

0 0
Male Female Male Female

108
 Madagascar

13540000
6. What can you observe about the population
13520000 13517016 size of Madagascar compared to Mauritius?

13500000 ______________________________________

______________________________________
13480000
______________________________________
13460000 13452290
7. Apart from population size, what difference
13440000
can you observe between the population of
13420000 Madagascar and that of Agalega?

______________________________________
13400000
______________________________________
Male Female
______________________________________

Distribution and density of population in Mauritius

The distribution of population is the general spread of population over an area.

In other words, it can be observed that some areas are more populated and other areas are
less populated.

What is Population Density?

Population density is the average number of people living in a square kilometre of land.

Population density gives us an idea whether an area is sparsely, moderately or densely

populated.

Population density is calculated using the following formula:

Total Population
Population Density =
Total Land Area

Map 1 shows the population density of our districts based on the 2011 census.
We can see that some regions are more densely populated than others.
The urban areas and some villages are more densely populated than other areas.
109
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

Population Density (districtwise)

Rodrigues
Rivière
du
District Boundary
Rempart

Pamplemousses

Port Louis

Flacq
Moka

Plaines
Black Wilhems
River

Grand Port

Savanne
KEY

Persons per km2

Over 2000
1000 - 2000
500 - 999
300 - 499
Below 300

Map 1: Population Density of Mauritius - 2011

110
 ACTIVITY 4.3

1. Study Map 1 carefully and refer to your atlas to answer the following questions.
(a) Name the 2 most densely populated districts.

__________________________________________________________________________
(b) Which district is the most sparsely populated?

__________________________________________________________________________
(c) (i) Find out some of the most populated villages.

__________________________________________________________________________
(ii) Give one reason why these villages are densely populated.

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Calculate the population density of:

Island Population Land area (km2) Population density

Mauritius 1,222,217 1865
Rodrigues 42,818 108
Agalega 274 25

111
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

Factors affecting population distribution and density

Why is the population unevenly distributed?

There are many physical and human factors which result in some places having high
population density and others low population density.

Basically, people live where there is an adequate supply of resources and where they can best
meet their basic needs.

People live in places which are best suited to human activities and where they can have easy
access to vital services such as health, education and transport services.

ACTIVITY 4.4

1. Describe some factors which attract people and result in a place having a high population
density.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

2. Explain why some places have a low population density.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

112
Study diagram 1 below which shows factors influencing where people live.

Natural
resourc
ment e s
Employ

What
attracts
people
to live
in some s
Reliable water supplie
Flat Land areas?

s Ferti
ation le soil
unic
omm
Go od c

113
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

Arid clim
ef ate
u nt a in ous reli
Mo

Why do few
people live
in some
areas?
Marshy land
Infertile soil

Extremely cold climate

114
 Causes of Population Change

Population size changes with time.

The natural factors which cause changes in population are birth rates and death rates.

• Birth Rate

Birth rate is the number of live births per thousand people in the population per year.
Birth rate is calculated as follows:

Total number of live births

X 1000
Total Population

• Death Rate

It is the number of deaths per thousand people in the population per year.
Death rate is calculated as follows:
Total number of deaths
X 1000
Total Population

• Rate of Natural Change

The difference between birth rate and death rate will result in the rate of
natural change of a population.

When birth rate is higher than death rate, the population grows. This is known as
Natural Increase.
When death rate is higher than birth rate, the population shrinks. This is known as
Natural Decrease.

Population Statistics for Republic of Mauritius (2011)

Total population: 1,288,684 Number of live births: 14,701 Number of deaths: 9,170
Birth rate Death rate Rate of natural increase
Birth rate (BR) - Death rate (DR)
14,701 9,170
X 1000 = 11.4 X 1000 = 7.1 11.4 - 7.1 = 4.3
1,288,684 1,288,684

Source: Statistics Mauritius, Government of Mauritius

115
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

The Demographic Transition Model (DTM)

All countries experience natural change, but at different times and at different rates.

Although rates vary among countries, an overall similar pattern of change has been observed
in many countries. This is known as demographic transition. Developed by demographer
Warren Thompson, the Demographic Transition Model shows population change over time.

1 2 3 4 5
Stage
High stationary Early expanding Late expanding Low stationary Declining?
Birth rate
40
?
Death rate
30
Birth
and
death
20 Natural
rates
(per 1000 increase
people Natural
per year) decrease
10 ?
Total population

?
0 Time

Figure 1: The demographic transition model

Complete the following sentences by encircling the correct answer.

1. In stage 1, the population size is small / large and population growth is low / high. This
is because of the low / high birth rate and of the low / high death rate; resulting in a low
/ high rate of natural increase / decrease.

2. In stage 2, the population size decreases / remains stable / increases and population
growth is low / high. This is because of the low / high birth rate and of the low / high
death rate; resulting in a low / high rate of natural increase / decrease.

3. In stage 3, the population size decreases / remains stable / increases and population
growth is low / high. This is because of the low / high birth rate and of the low / high
death rate; resulting in a low / high rate of natural increase / decrease.

4. In stage 4, the population size is small / large and stable / decreases and population
growth is low / high. This is because of the low / high birth rate and of the low / high
death rate; resulting in a low / high rate of natural increase / decrease.

5. In stage 5, the population size stable / decreases and there is natural increase / decrease.
This is because birth rate is higher / lower than death rate.

116
Case Study -The Demographic Transition Model of Mauritius

Study the graph below which shows birth rates and death rates of the island of Mauritius
from 1900 to 2010.
60

50

40
Birth and death rates
(per 1000 per year)

30 Birth rate

20

10
Death rate

0
1900 1910 1920 1930 1940 1950 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010
Year

Stage 1: high birth rate, high death rate – low population increase.

From 1900 to 1945 Mauritius was in stage 1 of demographic transition, with both birth rates
and death rates very high, between 30 and 40 per 1000.

There was a lack of birth control and the desire for a large family was very strong. The death
rate fluctuated due to epidemics such as malaria and the devastating effects of cyclones. The
rate fell after 1921 to around 26 per 1000, but there were still major peaks such as in 1931
(cyclone) and in the 1940s with the polio and dysentery epidemics.

Stage 2: High birth rate, decreasing death rate – rapid population increase.

After 1945, Mauritius entered stage 2 of its demographic transition. The death rate declined
rapidly to reach around 10 per 1000 in 1960s, mainly with the elimination of malaria, healthcare
provision, medical advances and better living conditions.

However, the birth rate remained very high and even increased. Better medical care and
living conditions resulted in a decrease in infant and child mortality rates and an increase in
life expectancy. As there were no proper birth control methods, it resulted in a population
explosion between 1945 and the 1960s (from 400000 to 700000).

117
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

Stage 3: Decreasing birth rate, decreasing death rate – declining rate of population
increase

The Family Planning Association was set up in 1958 and the Action Familiale campaign was
set up in 1963 to control natality. From 1963, the birth rate declined sharply, marking the
start of stage 3; this was due to the introduction of improved contraception and sexuality
education which gave women greater independence over their fertility.

With the improvement in quality of life and health measures, death rate maintained its
decreasing trend.

Stage 4: low birth rate, low death rate – low population increase

With access to free secondary education, industrial and the economic development in the
1980s (Mauritian Economic Miracle), many young women completed their studies and went
to work in factories and offices. Young couples got married later and chose to have smaller
families.

DID YOU KNOW…

Within a century, Mauritius has gone through 3 stages of the demographic transition model and is
currently in late Stage 4.

ACTIVITY 4.5

Study the graph on page 117 carefully and answer the questions below.
1. What was the highest death rate registered according to the graph and in which year did it
occur?

Rate: ____________________________ Year: _______________________________

2. Identify 2 years when there was a natural decrease in the population.

(i) _______________________________ (ii) _______________________________

3. Give 2 reasons why death rate decreased rapidly in the 1950s.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

4. Give 2 reasons why birth rate decreased rapidly in the 1960s.

__________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________
118
 Population Pyramids
Population structure refers to the ‘make up’ or composition of a population. It is usually
presented with the use of a Population Pyramid.

A population pyramid is a special type of bar graph that shows the age structure or
age distribution of a population for males and females.

Population pyramids are usually split into 3 age groups:

1. Young dependents (below 15 years old)
2. Economically active population (15 – 64 years old)
3. Elderly dependents (65 years old and above)

Types of population pyramids

Below are 4 types of population pyramids that can be associated with the stages of the
Demographic Transition Model.
(a) Stage 1 (b) Stage 2

(c) Stage 3 (d) Stage 4

119
TOPIC 1 Population Studies

Case study: Population pyramid of Mauritius - 2016

Male Mauritius - 2016 Female

100+
95 - 99
90 - 94
85 - 89
80 - 84
75 - 79
70 - 74
65 - 69
60 - 64
55 - 59
50 - 54
45 - 49
40 - 44
35 - 39
30 - 34
25 - 29
20 - 24
15 - 19
10 - 14
5-9
0-4

60 48 36 24 12 0 0 12 24 36 48 60

Population (in thousands) Age Group Population (in thousands)

Ageing population - Phenomenon

DID YOU KNOW…

Mauritius is experiencing an ageing population. In 2011, 12.7% of the population was aged 60 years and
above. It is expected to increase to 29.5% by 2051.

ACTIVITY 4.6

1. Estimate the following:

(i) The number of young dependents aged 0-14 years.
(ii) The number of working population aged 60-64 years.
2. Refer to the types of Population Pyramids on Page 119.
(i) Which pyramid best represents the pyramid of Mauritius for 2016?
(ii) What are the characteristics of a pyramid represented in this particular stage of the
Demographic Transition Model (DTM)?
3. What could be the socio-economic problems caused by an ageing population?

120
 Topic 2
Migration

At the end of the topic, you will be able to:

• define migration;
• explain why people migrate;
• differentiate between internal and international migration;
• describe and explain pull and push factors;
• show an understanding of the Mauritian diaspora.

Migration of people
People have many reasons for moving from one place to another. These reasons may be
economic, social, political or environmental.

The movement of people from one place to live in another is called migration.

Internal migration
With industrialisation, many people from villages
moved to towns where better infrastructural
facilities and job opportunities were present. In
Mauritius, this internal migration of people from
villages to towns and the city of Port Louis has
led to the phenomenon of urbanisation.

In other countries like France, internal migration

has become a big issue as this has led to ‘ghost
villages’. Meanwhile, Mumbai, in India has grown
a lot because of internal migration and has an
estimated 20 million inhabitants (as at 2019). It
is considered one of the most densely populated
cities in the world.

FIND OUT

What are ghost villages?

121
TOPIC 2 Migration

International migration
Today, Mauritians are settled all around the
world. Many have migrated permanently to
countries like Australia, Canada, France and the
UK. Leaving their own country voluntarily to
settle in another country is called international
migration. International migration may happen
for educational, social, economic and political
reasons. However, at times, people are forced
and have no choice but to leave their homes.
Their lives and homes may be in danger due to
wars or natural disasters. These people become
involuntary migrants and sometimes are also
called refugees.

Mauritian Immigrants and Emigrants

Immigrant is the term used to describe people who have left their home country to settle
permanently in Mauritius.

Emigrant is the term used to describe Mauritians who have left Mauritius to settle permanently
in another country.

Since independence, many Mauritians have settled in countries abroad. According to the 2013
census, the 5 major countries where Mauritians have settled are United Kingdom, France,
Australia, Canada and Italy. The ‘Mauritian Diaspora’ consists of Mauritians who live in different
parts of the world.

People migrate for a number of reasons. These can either be push factors or pull factors.

Causes of migration

Push Factors Pull Factors

Poverty Education
Unemployment Employment
War Marriage and Family
Persecution Security
Natural Hazards Safer environment
Figure 2: Causes of migration

122
 Push Factors are reasons for leaving a place. Because of certain difficulties, such as food
shortage, war, flood, calamities, among others, people will decide to emigrate to another
place.

Pull Factors are reasons for moving into a new place. Because of an aspiration, dream,
or something desirable like better living conditions, a better climate, more freedom,
higher education, among others, people will leave their own country in order to settle
permanently in another.

ACTIVITY 4.7

The bar graph below shows the internal migration flows in Mauritius for the period 2006 to
2011.
Observe the bar graph carefully and answer the questions below.

Source: Statistics Mauritius, August 2014

1. (a) Which district had the maximum number of migrant arrivals from 2006 to 2011?

__________________________________________________________________________
(b) What was the difference in the numbers of migrant arrival and departures for the district?

__________________________________________________________________________
2. Port-Louis had a loss of 6190 migrants. Suggest reasons why people left Port-Louis?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

123
TOPIC 2 Migration

ACTIVITY 4.8

The bar graph below shows the number of Mauritians settled abroad according to the 2000
census.

Observe the bar graph carefully and answer the questions below.

1. Which country has the highest number of Mauritian emigrants?

__________________________________________________________________________
2. Why do you think so many Mauritians migrated to France and the United Kingdom?

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
3. Find out 2 countries that are part of the “Others” category above.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________
4. In the 1970s, there were thousands of emigrants that left Mauritius to go to Australia. With
the help of your teacher, find out the reasons for this migration flow.

__________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________

124
 UNIT 5
THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE
People across the world have various views on the kind of world they would like to see
for themselves, their children and friends in the future.

A future-oriented perspective is an essential skill which should be developed. We tend

to anticipate the consequences of every activity we engage in. Whenever we have
objectives, make plans or take precautions, take risks or make commitments, we are
concerned about having a sustainable future.

In Grades 7 and 8, you had the opportunity to study the past and deal with the present,
but it is equally important to think about a sustainable future.

Sustainable development refers to development that meets the needs of the present
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

125
TOPIC 1 Thinking About The Future

The Hicks Model - Futures Education

Futures education is the term used internationally to describe a form of education which
helps you think more critically and creatively about the future. In more detail it:

• enables you to better understand the links between your own lives in the present and
the lives of others in the past and the future;
• increases understanding of the economic, social, political and cultural influences on
people’s perceptions of personal, local and global futures;
• works towards achieving a more just and sustainable future in which the welfare of
both people and planet are of equal importance.

ACTIVITY 5.1

Discuss the importance of developing future-oriented skills.

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

The Hicks Model

The spatial and temporal dimensions

Future Local Past Present Future?

Present
Time

National Past Present Future?

Local National Global

Global Past Present Future?

Past

Space

126
 Carrying out an inquiry using a future-oriented perspective

When we inquire about environmental or social issues, the following steps should
be followed.
1. Find out about the situation in the past. We inquire from a historical perspective
using a variety available sources.
2. Describe and explain the context in the present day.
3. Think about future scenarios.
- What could be the probable future, based on the evidence gathered?
- What could be a desirable future, based on your own thinking, suggestions
and the values of sustainability?

Learning through inquiry: Working in groups

This project requires you to write a report about an issue using the guidelines below.

1. IDENTIFY

• Begin with a classroom discussion to list various issues we have to face.

• Choose one of the issues on which to inquire.
• Prepare a series of questions on which the inquiry will be based. For example:
› What is the issue? [Present]
› How was it in the past? [Past]
› What are the consequences? [Present]
› What will happen if this trend continues? [Probable Future]
› What can be done for a better future? [Desirable/Preferable Future]

2. INVESTIGATE

• Carry out your research on the basis of the questions you have raised.
• Find the relevant information from primary and secondary sources. (recall what you have
learnt in Grade 8)
• Record your observations and findings carefully.

127
TOPIC 1 Thinking About The Future

3. REPORT AND THINK

• Organise your findings and ensure that most of your questions have been answered.
• Use the template on Page 129 to write your findings.
• Share your findings with your class and discuss what could be the probable future and find
out about various opinions on the desirable future.

ACTIVITY 5.2

The report can be on issues at various scales: LOCAL, NATIONAL or GLOBAL.

LOCAL: for example: Beach erosion at Mont Choisy – Changes in my locality.

NATIONAL: for example: Ageing population in Mauritius – Impacts on the economy

and society of Mauritius.

GLOBAL: for example: Fire in the Amazon Rainforest – Impact on Climate Change.

128
 REPORT

Issue:
Scale:

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
PAST
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
PRESENT _______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
PROBABLE
_______________________________________________________
FUTURE
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
DESIRABLE
_______________________________________________________
FUTURE
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
129
 References

Boodhoo, R. (2019). Infectious Disease and Public Health (Mauritius1810-2010).Mauritius: ELP

Publications.

Boodhoo, R. (2010). Health, Disease and Indian immigrants in Nineteenth Century Mauritius.
Mauritius: Aapravasi Ghat trust Fund.

Dukhira, C. (2002). Experiments in democracy. New Delhi: Brijbasi Art Press.

Varma, M.N. (2011). The Political History of Mauritius, Volume one (1883-1983) Recollections and
Reflections. Mauritus: Bahadoor Printing Ltd.

Varma, M.N. (2008).The Making of Mauritius. Mauritius: Éditions Le Printemps Ltée.

Teelock, V. (2009). Mauritian History, From its Beginnings to Modern Times. Mauritius: Mauritius:
Mahatma Gandhi Institute Press.

130