International Literacy Day-Grand Anse Praslin grabs minister’s cup |12 September 2011

It received the cup on international literacy day last Thursday in a ceremony at the School of Education (former National Institute of Education).

Guests present included Social Development and Culture Minister Bernard Shamlaye, and principal secretary for education Merida Delcy.

The secretary general of the Seychelles national commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) Marie-Reine Hoareau read out the annual message written by world organisation’s director general Irina Bokova.
This year’s theme is Literacy for peace.

When she addressed the audience, Mrs Delcy said the reduction of illiteracy is always placed high on the Seychelles government’s agenda because it always believes that a literate population has control over its destiny.

“The government has always believed that a literate nation has the capacity to promote peace because it knows that without peace there will not be any progress and stability,” she said.
“It is important thus to reflect well on this theme and do our best to put it in application.”

Mrs Delcy also asked employers in the private sector and government institutions to encourage their employees to take up adult learning classes to enrich their knowledge and develop personal and professional abilities.

“We are a small county with a lot of potential and we are convinced that with determination, we can accomplish all that we want to if we make the collective effort,” added Mrs Delcy.

The adult learning programme started in 1978 and a recent census shows that the Seychelles literacy rate is above 91%.

For 2011, 19 literacy centres are offering classes in almost all the districts, and the Adult Learning and Distance Education Centre (Aldec) said it has registered 170 people for this year.

Prizes and certificates were given to a total of 106 people who have completed their studies.

There were prizes for the best students in the different levels of studies in English, French, Creole and mathematics.

There was also a special prize for the centre that had made the best effort and progressed most and this went to the Baie Lazare centre.

The minister’s cup for the overall best centre was won by the Grand Anse Praslin centre.