Research & Academic Work
My academic research investigates educational inequalities in Mauritius through the sociological frameworks of Bourdieu and Durkheim — and connects directly to my classroom practice.
Educational Inequalities, Cultural Capital and Education Systems in Mauritius
Université Côte d'Azur — MARSEF (AUF Scholarship)
This research examines why educational equality policies fail to reduce achievement gaps in disadvantaged areas of Mauritius. Using Bourdieu's framework of cultural capital and Durkheim's theory of social integration, I investigate the structural barriers that persist despite free schooling.
Theoretical Framework
Bourdieu (cultural capital, habitus, social reproduction) + Durkheim (education as social integration) + Chevallard (didactic transposition)
Methodology
Qualitative — documentary analysis, participant observation at Caritas Bambous, semi-structured interviews with teachers, parents, and students
Field Site
Caritas de Bambous, West Coast, Mauritius — a disadvantaged community where educational inequalities are most visible
Research Questions
- Why do cultural and economic capital gaps create structural barriers to academic success in disadvantaged areas?
- How does the absence of family support create cumulative disadvantage across generations?
- Are teaching practices sufficiently adapted to the needs of disadvantaged populations?
Social Inequalities in Mauritian Schools: Teaching Practices and Learning Inequalities
Paris 8 University — MEDIASCOL
This project focuses on teaching practices as levers — or barriers — for reducing learning inequalities. It examines what teachers can actually do in the classroom to make education more equitable.
Theoretical Framework
Bourdieu and Durkheim with a stronger emphasis on pedagogical action and the teacher's role in reducing inequality
Focus
Teaching practices as instruments of either reproduction or transformation of social inequalities
Field Site
Caritas de Bambous, Mauritius — same community, complementary perspective
Key Questions
- Can adapted teaching practices compensate for the cultural capital deficit of disadvantaged students?
- What specific pedagogical strategies reduce the gap between advantaged and disadvantaged learners?
- How can inclusive pedagogy be systematically integrated into teacher training in Mauritius?
How research connects to the classroom
These aren't abstract academic exercises. Every article on this site, every NDD awareness resource, and every inclusive lesson plan is a direct translation of this research into practice. When I write about Bourdieu for parents in Bambous, I'm making sociology accessible. When I include an SEN Note in every lesson plan, I'm applying what the research says about inclusive pedagogy.