British head teachers are heading to a luxury beachside resort in Mauritius for a three-day junket at the taxpayers’ expense, it has emerged.
Up to 20 state school heads are expected to attend an education conference on the Indian Ocean island, staying at a five-star Hilton resort, at the beginning of June. The event has been organised by iNet – an international network which allows schools from around the world to meet and share ideas – which is run by Government-backed charity the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT). More than 100 school leaders from 14 countries, including South Africa, Australia and the United States, are expected to attend the conference, which has attracted criticism from campaigners as “inappropriate” during the current worldwide economic crisis. The SSAT defended the trip, saying delegates would be expected to work hard, and that they would not even have a view of the sea. The conference is being held in Mauritius – a favoured destination for honeymooners – following an invitation from the country’s prime minister, a spokeswoman said. Thirteen heads from England and Wales have already signed up for the trip, and there is space for 20 in total.
Schools taking part are expected to foot the