A school in the town of Vahibe, on the outskirts of Mamoudzou, in Mayotte, was damaged on December 24, 2024. The issue of the conditions for returning to school had been worrying Mahoran teachers for several days. During his visit to the Indian Ocean island, which was devastated by Cyclone Chido on December 14, Prime Minister François Bayrou, accompanied by Education Minister Elisabeth Borne, announced measures in favor of schools. The first priority was to repair the damaged buildings, with the Prime Minister ensuring that the repairs would be covered by the state upon presentation of invoices. The maintenance of primary school buildings is usually the responsibility of municipalities. In cases where the buildings are too damaged, “school tents” are to be provided, the Prime Minister promised. The extent of the damage in the 220 schools, 20 colleges, and ten high schools in the department has not yet been clearly established, but before Christmas, the National Education department reported that 40% of school buildings had been damaged by the cyclone. According to Rivomalala Rakotondravelo, co-secretary of the SNUipp-FSU in Mayotte, this figure is underestimated.
The urgent need to repair and prepare schools for reopening was addressed during the visit of Prime Minister François Bayrou and Education Minister Elisabeth Borne to Mayotte, which had been severely affected by Cyclone Chido. The government announced that schools would reopen with “adapted modalities, establishment by establishment” starting on January 13, 2025. In addition to repairing damaged schools, the state committed to providing “school tents” where buildings were too damaged for use. The full extent of the damage in the numerous schools, colleges, and high schools in the department is still being assessed, as the initial estimate of 40% damaged is believed to be lower than the actual figure. The education system in Mayotte is facing significant challenges in ensuring a safe and adequate learning environment for students following the cyclone.
The importance of restoring and reopening schools in Mayotte following the devastation caused by Cyclone Chido was highlighted during the visit of Prime Minister François Bayrou and Education Minister Elisabeth Borne to the island. The government announced measures to address the urgent need for repairs to school buildings, with the state covering the costs upon presentation of invoices. The maintenance of primary school buildings is typically the responsibility of municipalities, but the government has committed to providing “school tents” where necessary. The extent of the damage in the many schools, colleges, and high schools in the department is still being assessed, with initial estimates indicating that 40% of school buildings were damaged by the cyclone. However, this figure is believed to be underestimated, according to local education representatives.
The reopening of schools in Mayotte following Cyclone Chido, which caused severe damage to the education infrastructure on the island, was a top priority for the government. Prime Minister François Bayrou and Education Minister Elisabeth Borne announced measures to address the urgent need for repairs to damaged school buildings, with the state covering the costs. The government also committed to providing “school tents” where necessary, as some buildings were too damaged for use. The extent of the damage in the numerous schools, colleges, and high schools in the department is still being assessed, with initial estimates indicating that 40% of school buildings were damaged by the cyclone. Local education representatives believe this figure is underestimated and that more extensive repairs and accommodations may be necessary to ensure a safe and adequate learning environment for students in Mayotte.
