Students and trainees express their views on the Constitution |22 June 2018

Groups of students in action yesterday during the public speaking competition

Students from various primary and secondary schools around the country, along with trainees from the local professional centres, are being challenged to engage with wide-ranging ideas based on their interpretation of the Constitution, the country’s supreme book.

Through a public speaking competition, the students and trainees are expressing their views on the impact of the Constitution on several social areas such as the right to health care, the right to education, the environment and employment among others.

Jointly organised by the national committee responsible for the Constitution week activities, the Ministry of Education and SYAH Seychelles, the competition is a platform for the students to develop their oratory and creative thinking skills, along with respect and tolerance, as well as generating useful knowledge of the Constitution.

Compared to previous years, the organisers have transformed the event into public speaking, instead of the usual debate.

Each institution filled in a team of three to compete in the one-round contest, based on their chosen topic.

The event is being coordinated by Dr Dorothy Felix, while Jacques Koui is leading the jury panel made up of Bernard Arnephy, Nathalie Didon, Lymiah Bibi and Sandra Jeanne.

Six secondary schools, namely Mont Fleuri, Beau Vallon, Belonie, Perseverance, Anse Boileau and Anse Royale were present at the auditorium of the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (SITE) yesterday to compete in their category, while the professional centres will compete today.

The presentation for the primary schools will take place next week.

On Wednesday, primary and secondary schools from the inner islands made their presentations on Praslin.

The criteria for judging presentations per group will be based on the theme, content of presentation, coherence of presentation, use of language and response to questions asked.

The three institutions with the highest scores will be rewarded, while the remaining teams will receive a certificate of participation and tokens of appreciation.

Yesterday’s event was launched by the director general for secondary schools within the Ministry of Education, Odile Octave.