AliBabaIncorporated
07-30-2008, 09:42 PM
Mauritius' largest population groups are Indians (68%) and Creole people (27%, mostly descendants of slaves from Madagascar and Mozambique), but the last census found 26,537 people who declared that at least one of their forefathers had a Chinese language as the mother tongue, which makes them about 2% of the population (link (http://www.gov.mu/portal/sites/ncb/cso/report/hpcen00/Demogra/forerep.htm)). Most are descended from Hakka speakers. Many have re-emigrated to Canada, Australia, and France.
Incidentally there seem to be a good number of ethnic Chinese from Mauritius living in Hong Kong; Air Mauritius even offers direct flights between Mauritius and HK (though this might just be a legacy of the Multi-Fiber Agreement, when a bunch of Hong Kong businessmen set up textile factories in Mauritius because they had tariff-free exports to the US, and imported mainland Chinese workers). About four years ago I met a mixed Chinese/Creole guy from Mauritius who was working in Hong Kong for one of our vendors; he couldn't speak Chinese, though.
Anyway, here's the history of the competing pro-mainland and pro-Taiwan Chinese-language schools in Mauritius. Guess who won in the end? Hehe ...
Chinese Middle School (Xinhua Xuexiao)
http://www.chinaqw.com.cn/node2/node2796/node2797/node2809/node3126/node3131/userobject6ai39219.html
21, rue Joseph Rivière, Port Louis
On 10 November, 1912, Ng Yun-kim (吳韻琴), Lai Tat-fu (黎達夫), and Ku Vun-bin (古文彬), all ardent Chinese-language educationalists who traced their roots back to Meixian, Guangdong, established a Chinese school in the Mauritian capital Port Louis. In the early days after its establishment, it was just a primary school, with 20 students and one teacher. By January 1941, it had expanded to include a lower-middle school, and changed its Chinese name to Xinhua Middle School ("New China Middle School", 新华中学).
In the 1940s and 50s, the number of students reached more than a thousand, with thirty-nine teachers. Ethnic Chinese from the nearby French territories of Reunion and Madagascar also came there to study. But later, as ethnic Chinese children increasingly turned to Western-style education, the source of students dried up, and the school stopped classes in the 1970s, retaining only a weekend supplementary school. Starting in 1986, the number of students slowly began to increase. In the early 1990s, the supplementary school had developed enough to revive the "New China School" name, and they established a kindergarten (admitting students from 30 months of age) and a weekend class (for children aged 5 and above, and teenagers）. The weekend class is divided into primary school and middle school sections, with five grades in each. In the kindergarten, aside from English and French, they also study Mandarin and Hakka.
Most of the teachers are local ethnic Chinese, with a few who were hired from mainland China (through the PRC's State Council). The teachers conduct classes in Mandarin, and teach about Pinyin. In order to prepare students for the requirements of the British GCSE Chinese exam, the school established a translation class. Upper-level students also study calligraphy. In the national "1995 Chinese-Language Play Competition", the play "Hot Water Bottle" performed by six students from the school won first prize, with mainland Chinese teacher Ms. Sun Huimin winning recognition as best playwright and best director.
Chung-hwa Middle School
http://www.chinaqw.com.cn/node2/node2796/node2797/node2809/node3126/node3131/userobject6ai39220.html
Established 20 October, 1941 with a primary school and middle school by the Embassy of the Republic of China with assistance from ethnic Chinese businessman. The school system, curriculum, and teaching methods were similar to those of the Republic of China. The first head trustee was Vun Fung-siong (温沣祥), and the first vice-trustee was Heu In-sim (侯仁兴). The first three principals were Tu Vi-vun (杜炜文), Chin Yi-mi (陈伊美), and Liong Liung-peu (梁龙标). Some graduates went on to mainland China for university, and remained there after work. Similarly, some graduates went to Taiwan instead. In the late 1950s, the number of students decreased from around 500 to 300, and in the 1960s, they stopped classes entirely. However, their alumni association remains active, and has a definite influence on the Chinese community of Mauritius.
Incidentally there seem to be a good number of ethnic Chinese from Mauritius living in Hong Kong; Air Mauritius even offers direct flights between Mauritius and HK (though this might just be a legacy of the Multi-Fiber Agreement, when a bunch of Hong Kong businessmen set up textile factories in Mauritius because they had tariff-free exports to the US, and imported mainland Chinese workers). About four years ago I met a mixed Chinese/Creole guy from Mauritius who was working in Hong Kong for one of our vendors; he couldn't speak Chinese, though.
Anyway, here's the history of the competing pro-mainland and pro-Taiwan Chinese-language schools in Mauritius. Guess who won in the end? Hehe ...
Chinese Middle School (Xinhua Xuexiao)
http://www.chinaqw.com.cn/node2/node2796/node2797/node2809/node3126/node3131/userobject6ai39219.html
21, rue Joseph Rivière, Port Louis
On 10 November, 1912, Ng Yun-kim (吳韻琴), Lai Tat-fu (黎達夫), and Ku Vun-bin (古文彬), all ardent Chinese-language educationalists who traced their roots back to Meixian, Guangdong, established a Chinese school in the Mauritian capital Port Louis. In the early days after its establishment, it was just a primary school, with 20 students and one teacher. By January 1941, it had expanded to include a lower-middle school, and changed its Chinese name to Xinhua Middle School ("New China Middle School", 新华中学).
In the 1940s and 50s, the number of students reached more than a thousand, with thirty-nine teachers. Ethnic Chinese from the nearby French territories of Reunion and Madagascar also came there to study. But later, as ethnic Chinese children increasingly turned to Western-style education, the source of students dried up, and the school stopped classes in the 1970s, retaining only a weekend supplementary school. Starting in 1986, the number of students slowly began to increase. In the early 1990s, the supplementary school had developed enough to revive the "New China School" name, and they established a kindergarten (admitting students from 30 months of age) and a weekend class (for children aged 5 and above, and teenagers）. The weekend class is divided into primary school and middle school sections, with five grades in each. In the kindergarten, aside from English and French, they also study Mandarin and Hakka.
Most of the teachers are local ethnic Chinese, with a few who were hired from mainland China (through the PRC's State Council). The teachers conduct classes in Mandarin, and teach about Pinyin. In order to prepare students for the requirements of the British GCSE Chinese exam, the school established a translation class. Upper-level students also study calligraphy. In the national "1995 Chinese-Language Play Competition", the play "Hot Water Bottle" performed by six students from the school won first prize, with mainland Chinese teacher Ms. Sun Huimin winning recognition as best playwright and best director.
Chung-hwa Middle School
http://www.chinaqw.com.cn/node2/node2796/node2797/node2809/node3126/node3131/userobject6ai39220.html
Established 20 October, 1941 with a primary school and middle school by the Embassy of the Republic of China with assistance from ethnic Chinese businessman. The school system, curriculum, and teaching methods were similar to those of the Republic of China. The first head trustee was Vun Fung-siong (温沣祥), and the first vice-trustee was Heu In-sim (侯仁兴). The first three principals were Tu Vi-vun (杜炜文), Chin Yi-mi (陈伊美), and Liong Liung-peu (梁龙标). Some graduates went on to mainland China for university, and remained there after work. Similarly, some graduates went to Taiwan instead. In the late 1950s, the number of students decreased from around 500 to 300, and in the 1960s, they stopped classes entirely. However, their alumni association remains active, and has a definite influence on the Chinese community of Mauritius.