Better internet access for public schools and libraries |17 February 2018

Public schools and libraries will now have better internet access after the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development signed a memorandum of understanding with its different telecom partners.

The partners are Cable & Wireless Seychelles, Intelvision Seychelles, Airtel Seychelles and the Seychelles Cable System (SCS) and the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) was in line with the provision of internet access to public schools and libraries.

Such and agreement is important to help teachers and students gain access to dynamic, engaging, and personalised digital curricula; and also to provide the necessary technologies and reliable internet connections in our educational institutions.

The MoU signing was held at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS) room 2 this week in the presence of the Minister for Education and Human Resource Development Joël Morgan, the principal secretary for early childhood, primary and secondary education Odile Decomarmond, the chairman of the board of directors of the SCS Benjamin Choppy, the chief executive (CEO) of Cable & Wireless Charles Hammond,  the CEO of Intelvision Seychelles Briget Kelly, the managing director of Airtel Seychelles Amadou Dina, senior education officials among others.

The MoU was signed by PS Decomarmond and Mr Choppy.

PS Decomarmond stated that the education system needs to adapt to newer technology to benefit the students and teachers.

“The signing of this MoU marks the final phase in this project and the fulfilment of the SONA (state-of-the-nation address) 2017 commitment for wi-fi in all state schools. Over R1.5 million from the European Union funding was spent to ensure that the 25 primary schools and 10 secondary schools now have internet access through the new network infrastructure in the computer rooms, teachers’ staffroom, and administration offices and in the libraries,” she said.

SCS chairman Choppy added that the SCS is proud to have contributed towards such project for the students.

SCS will provide internet access bandwidth, centrally located at the department of information, communication technology (ICT) and will be bearing all the connectivity costs internationally associated with the provision of this internet access.

“Rather than doing many small projects every year we preferred doing something that could really have a wide impact in terms of benefit and also had the potential of making a real positive change. As such, when the idea of providing all state schools and the national library with bandwidth for internet access came up, this definitely met the bill of what we were looking for. What better way than helping contribute towards the education and development of young people. It is nothing short of investing in the future of our society,” he said.

Three separate memoranda of understanding for local connectivity for schools programme were also signed between the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) and the three local internet service operators ‒ Airtel Seychelles, Cable & Wireless and Intelvision Seychelles.

As part of their obligations, each operator shall provide a connection at the location of the schools and premises specified in their respective MoU that will enable the dedicated connectivity with the central point at the department of ICT to be established.

Airtel Seychelles will be providing fibre connection to Anse Aux Pins, Bel Eau, Bel Ombre, Baie Lazare primary schools as well as Mont Fleuri, Beau Vallon, Plaisance and Pointe Larue primary and secondary schools.

Cable & Wireless has for some time now been engaged in the provision of internet access to schools and the company will be providing fibre connection to Au Cap, La Rosière, Cascade, Takamaka, Grand Anse Mahé, Port Glaud, La Misère, Baie St Anne Praslin primary schools, School for the Exceptional Child, the Grand Anse Praslin, La Digue, Anse Royale and Anse Boileau primary and secondary schools, as well as the English River and Belonie secondary schools.

Intelvision Seychelles is providing connection to Anse Etoile, La Retraite, Glacis, Bel Ombre primary schools, Beau Vallon and Perseverance primary and secondary schools.

The signing of the MoU is the final phase in the project that was started in 2016 by the MEHRD to upgrade and extend the networks in all primary and secondary schools.

Such projects is thanks to the department of ICT through the Office of the Vice-President which has helped the MEHRD with the technical designing and support for the new network, the European Investment Bank for the funding, SCS Company Limited for funding the internet access and the local operators such as Airtel Seychelles, Cable & Wireless and Intelvision Seychelles for providing the connectivity to the schools.