Seychelles represented at 39th Session of the Unesco general Conference |04 November 2017
The Designated Minister and Minister for Local Governnment and Home Affairs, Macsuzy Mondon, head of Seychelles delegation at the 39th session of the United Nations Education Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco), addressed the General Conference on Wednesday November 1 during the General Policy Debate session.
The Seychelles delegation also included Sylvestre Radegonde, Ambassador for Seychelles in Paris and Permanent Delegate at Unesco; Dr Marie-Reine Hoareau, secretary general; Vicky Gendron, assistant secretary general; and Cecile Kalebi, principal secretary for Culture.
In her speech, Minister Mondon thanked on behalf of the government of Seychelles, the outgoing director general of Unesco, Irina Bokova, for her steadfast leadership of the organisation.
Minister Mondon stated that Seychelles is more than ever committed to providing meaningful education and training opportunities for the diversity of learners in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 4 by maintaining a high level of access and participation from Early Childhood to beyond secondary.
She added that with the assistance of IBE Unesco, Seychelles is investing in the integration of Competency Based Approach (CBA) and the strengthening of digital competences in teaching and learning.
Minister Mondon also emphasised Seychelles’ aim as an island state to provide economic diversification, food security and a healthy ocean for its people in line with the Sustainable Development Goal 14.
Minister Mondon also expressed the necessity to collect cultural indicators to demonstrate the impact of culture on economic and sustainable development our country.
She stated that the new culture policy upholds the notion that all can enjoy, learn, preserve and protect the Seychellois culture in all its diversity.
She considered the theme of the 10th Youth Forum ‘Rethinking of youth engagement with Unesco’ for the 39th General Conference most fitting as youth should be actively engaged in the economic development of the country.
She called on the organisation to ensure that the needs of Sids (small island developing states) receive continued and increased attention.
She stated that Seychelles was honoured to have been selected as the Regional Hub for the Early Childhood and Care Education (ECCE) for the General Education Quality Assessment Framework (GEQAF) countries.
She also expressed her gratitude to Unesco for its support in all projects for the different sectors.
During this General Conference Unesco welcomed New Caledonia as Unesco’s new Associate Member.