Students in the Indian Ocean island nation of Mauritius have unexpectedly found themselves out of class. On October 13, the Ministry of Education announced that schools in some parts of the country had been temporarily closed, Reuters reported.

What caused it?

The decision followed overnight unrest that broke out after a police officer shot 27-year-old Elodie Thomas. According to local media, she was wounded on the night of October 9 while returning home in a van in a residential area south of the capital. Health Minister Anil Bachoo said she underwent successful surgery to remove the bullet.

A police sergeant has been provisionally charged, but no details about the cause of the incident have been released. Police did not comment, though an investigation has reportedly been launched.

The situation on the streets

On the night of October 12, protesters in some areas burned car tyres and blocked roads, prompting the deployment of police forces. The Prime Minister's Office said the situation has since stabilised and all public services are operating as usual.

Even so, the Ministry of Education did not say when schools would reopen, adding that further information would be provided later. Such mass unrest is rare in Mauritius.

Similar cases elsewhere

Earlier, schools were also reported closed in Malaysia, this time due to air pollution: forest fires in neighbouring Indonesia led to air quality being rated unhealthy in 37 areas of Malaysia.

Cases like these show once again that when safety or health is threatened, educational institutions are among the first to act, and students' well-being comes first.

Source: Daryo.uz