Abu Dhabi’s gift of computers to start schools IT project |09 November 2010

An information technology (IT) expert from Abu Dhabi is now evaluating facilities in the schools to prepare for the project’s launch.

The expert – Abbe Kya – yesterday visited Glacis, Beau Vallon and Bel Ombre primary schools and noted what needs to be done to accommodate the state-of-the-art equipment.

He was accompanied by the vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles Dr Rolph Payet and its Faculty of Science dean Dr George Ah-thew.

The university is coordinating the IT project, which President James Michel announced in his National Day speech, saying: “It has always been my wish to ease access by our children to more advanced information technology.

“For several years now my government has prepared a plan of investment and improvement of resources in schools, but because of a lack of funds there have been delays in realising the programme.

“As a result of an active partnership with a friendly country, we will now be able to speed up the programme in all schools. We will start in primary schools, which will receive new information technology facilities and be given access to modern and efficient equipment.”

Dr Payet said the IT programme is one of several Abu Dhabi-funded projects that Seychelles is benefiting from.

“To allow implementation of the project, an agreement has been signed between the University of Seychelles and Knowledge Point of Abu Dhabi, a company with specific expertise in information technology and education,” he said.

As part of the project Mr Kya, who will be in Seychelles for three months, will be overseeing the Intel-LEARN programme and helping to train Seychellois teachers, starting on December 1.

At Bel Ombre, Mr Kya spoke with the school’s headteacher Stella Nolin and teachers Mirren Mousbe and Jeannie Marie, who will oversee the project at the school and be among the first to be trained.

He also explained how the facilities will need to be modified to take the mobile, shockproof and waterproof equipment, which Dr Payet said will have security features to make it useless outside the schools, even if it were stolen.

He said the project will further help identify and provide support to enhance the current Seychelles education information communication technology (ICT) capabilities, strategies and operations.

“The aim is to introduce leading educational technologies and industry best practices in the teaching profession and in our schools,” added Dr Payet.

“The pupils and the teachers will get the latest teaching aids and learning tools to make learning more interesting and effective, and as a result enable the country to embrace the 21st century ICT skills needed to develop the knowledge economy.”

He said the project is expected to be running in all primary schools by February 2011.
Miss Nolin said pupils show a lot of interest when they are being taught through computers, and the project will boost their enthusiasm to learn.