Technical and vocational education get big boost |26 May 2015

Technical and vocational education and training (TVET) in Seychelles are expected to be enhanced following the signing last week of an accord between the country’s TVET department and the Hubei Provincial Department of Education of China.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by the principal secretary for tertiary ducation, policy planning and administration Linda Barallon and the director general for Hubei Provincial Department of Education Liu Chuantie.

The signing was witnessed by the Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon and the Chinese ambassador to Seychelles, Yin Lixian.
Also present were high education officials of both countries.

The MoU will help in promoting cooperation especially in the technical vocational education and training at the level of tertiary non-university education and training institute.

Such institutions as the Seychelles Institute of Technology (Sit), the Seychelles Agricultural and Horticultural Training Centre (SAHTC) and the Maritime Training College (MTC), which constitute a vital pillar of the local education system in providing quality workforce for the country, are currently transforming into professional centres. The planned centres are in line with the Ministry of Education’s medium-term strategy 2013-2017.

Minister Mondon said she is looking forward to making that cooperation between the two countries a fruitful one.
As for China, the signing not only consolidates the already good friendship between China and Seychelles but also promotes cooperation in education.
China will in future donate computers to the Seychelles education system and also provide information technology exchange.

Minister Mondon said the donation comes at an opportune time and will enforce her ministry’s ICT curriculum in its schools.
There were also exchanges of gifts and tokens of appreciation between the director general and the minister. Minister Mondon received a photo collection of Hubei from Mr Chuantie while he in turn received a book on Seychelles from the minister.

Hubei Provincial Department of Education has undertaken 180 projects with foreign countries. There are already eight Seychellois students studying there, five of whom are following master’s degrees. Minister Mondon paid a visit there in 2010.