Chagossian families

A Short history of the Chagos Islands

The Chagos Archipelago (The Chagos Islands) is in the middle of the Indian Ocean. In 1965 it became a British colony, subsequently known as the British Indian Ocean Territory (BIOT). The largest of these islands is Diego Garcia which has been used as a military base. In 1966, the UK agreed to lease Diego Garcia to the US government until present. As a result, a total evacuation of the island’s residents was enforced and by 1974 all inhabitants were forcibly removed to the Seychelles and Mauritius, where the majority have settled. In 2002, full UK citizenship was granted to Chagos Islanders and their children born in exile. In September of the same year, 19 Chagossians landed at Gatwick airport. In 2019, the UK government extended the right for all descendants of Chagos Islanders to apply for British Citizenship.

Information for Schools

  • The academic year in Mauritius begins in January. As a result of COVID, the Mauritian government made the decision for every pupil to repeat the academic year. Many learners arriving in the UK will potentially be 2 academic years behind.
  • The language spoken is Mauritian Creole. Although there are many similarities with the French language, it is not the same.
  • It is important that learners and their families feel welcomed and supported during this time – uniform may not be strictly in line with school policies and consideration of this should be given.
  • Attendance at school in Mauritius is not monitored in similar ways as the UK. Families arriving at your school may need support in understanding attendance expectations and laws.
  • Newly arrived families may not be familiar with online booking and communications portal system. They might be unaware of the various food choices available and might need support logging to portals. In Mauritius, state schools do not provide free meals, so all pupils are required to bring their own packed lunch. School should inform parents about your food policy such as no nuts / healthy snacks etc.
  • Lancashire Refugee integration Team will provide casework support for the families- for any enquiries please email : LRIT@Lancashire.gov.uk