I am currently a third year student in B.E Civil Engineering at the JSS Academy of Technical Education Mauritius, the degree recognition of which has been suspended by the Council of Registered Professional Engineers(CRPE) on the 24th of December 2013 as a result of public notices issued by the University Grant Commission(UGC) of India. No guidelines have been given to current students since then neither by the CRPE nor by the Tertiary Education Commission(TEC) nor by the Tertiary Education Ministry. They say that our future is bright but mine seems so blurred at only 23 years old!

 

Three years ago, after having completed my HSC, I contacted TEC, Mauritius Qualifications Authority(MQA) and the CRPE for the confirmation of local recognition of the Visvesvaraya Technological University(VTU) degree run by the JSS Academy of Technical Education Mauritius at Bonne Terre, Vacoas. I was replied in a positive way by ALL THREE institutions and was encouraged to join the JSS Academy. After issue of the public notices by UGC last year, TEC has asked JSS Academy to clarify and solve the matter with VTU and UGC and has taken itself out of the equation. We have been informed that representatives of UGC have clearly stated that they cannot find a solution to this matter at their level. VTU has then informed JSS Academy that they look forward to stop their affiliation at the end of his semester, june/july of this year. 

 

The direction of JSS Academy has been trying to look for alternatives but in vain. We are being told that the matter will be solved soon...since last november. The principal has announced that we will be affiliating with the University of Greenwich from UK as from September of this year and while contacting Greenwich University representatives, they said that they will give affiliation not before September of 2015! We feel that we are being played with and that we are being fooled. To apply for transfer, we are being asked by JSS Academy to pay a full one year tuition fee for the remaining forth and final year(which we wont attend in case of transfer), to have a piece of paper known as the " no due certificate". Many of us cannot afford this surplus charge. Our parents have worked very hard for years for this education, some have even contracted bank loans and we are on the verge of a moral breakdown. I have joined for a 4 years full time Visvesvaraya Technological University degree in Mauritius after trusting our local responsible bodies. What will happen to my future? And what about the students who have already completed? Who will offer them a job for a degree who used to be recognised? Or will their 4 years of hard work and sacrifice go in vain? I want answers...

 

I am a Mauritian citizen, youth of today, worker of tomorrow and future of our Mauritius. I feel i am being left behind by my own people. I have trusted TEC, MQA and the CRPE. What is being done by the local authorities for me? How did TEC give accreditation and recognition to a degree which is not recognised in India itself? Why TEC has not consulted UGC before granting accreditation to JSS Academy in 2006? Was it my duty to consult UGC before joining JSS Academy? Am I at fault? What have the Tertiary Education Ministry been doing for us till now? Did our honorable Prime Minister, who proudly participated in the inauguration of our campus, talk about this matter(my future) to Mr. Narendra Modi or atleast with tertiary education responsibles during his last visit to India? TEC said in a communiqué dated 16th September 2013, i quote "TEC is monitoring the whole matter very closely and will inform the students and the public in general of the action it will deem fit to take thereafter" It will be nearly one year and we are still waiting to be 'informed'. For how long will we have to wait? Shall we wait? Continue? Transfer? Or stop? I am really confused...

 

I hope that my desperate words wont fall into deaf ears. It is a matter of a hundred of Mauritians' future. We do trust you people and that is why you are there. In one week i will be sitting for a one month duration examination for a degree which is not recognised. I do not hope this for anyone but i do hope that my concern will be taken into account and given due consideration. I hope some precious time will be spared from busy schedules of respected readers for actions and for a reply in the near future.