The Rectorate of Reunion confirms the arrival of at least 250 new students for the start of the school year on Tuesday January 21st, mainly from Mayotte. This situation is due to the unavailability of several facilities in Mahora damaged by Cyclone Chido. Local authorities, for their part, are aware that it is still difficult to accurately quantify the number of families affected.
According to Céline Sitouze, 8th Vice-President of the Réunion Region, these children are “accommodated in classes that are already overcrowded.” Questions are growing about teachers' ability to accommodate these newcomers without compromising the quality of learning for all students. In addition, the accommodation of these families is a concern as demand for social housing in Reunion Island remains high.
In this context, the Rectorate called on municipalities to increase their numbers in order to anticipate possible additional needs: school materials, food, transport or even support for children in difficulty. Many observers believe that a special state-funded reception system may prove necessary to avoid major disruptions in the facilities.
Despite the challenge posed by this arrival, the Academy insists on the necessary solidarity towards displaced families. The Réunion Rector, Rostane Mehdi, recalls that “every child must have equal access to education, regardless of their origin or situation”. Authorities hope to adapt their response as registrations take place while the return to school has not yet taken place in Mayotte.
-For many of these Mahorese students, arriving in Réunion after such a climatic event represents a major upheaval: change of settlement, possible language difficulties and the need to quickly integrate into a new environment. The coming weeks are likely to be crucial in measuring the scale of the task and the solidarity that is being organized, with a lingering question in the background: How can we effectively ensure educational continuity for all in an already tense environment?
