Tertiary learning body holds first meeting |12 July 2012

The commission is a statutory body with the task to supervise, coordinate and regulate tertiary education in Seychelles.

The members have been appointed on a three-year mandate and their core business relates to regulation of tertiary education, from post-secondary to university level.

Speaking to the media, chief executive of the commission Jean-Michel Domingue said the creation of such a commission is part of the reforms taking place in the education system.

He said the commission will regulate various aspects such as the form and content of learning programmes, curriculum and resources.

It will also regulate the issue of fees, admissions, quality assurance standards as set by the Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA), and the legal basis on which institutions will exist.
Mr Domingue also talked about the Tertiary Education Act of 2011, a broad act which covers post- secondary institutions, their structures, rights and responsibilities of staff, students and hierarchy staffing and other aspects.

“The Tertiary Education Act will become a ‘living’ legal document through the work of the commission,” he said.

Addressing the members, Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon said the members have been given a chance to contribute towards the education and training system and to help bring it to a level which meets the demands of the 21st century Seychelles.

Mrs Mondon said in terms of its functions, the commission will be the main legal mechanism to advise the minister responsible for tertiary education and to co-ordinate the sustainable and harmonised development of tertiary education nationally.

“It is a historic departure for the education and training system of Seychelles to have a commission directly responsible for the development of education and training at tertiary level,” she said.
“Indeed a legislative framework for tertiary education and training has been a national priority over the last couple of years with the developments at post-secondary level, and the creation of the University of Seychelles,” she said.

Another major development that has made necessary the creation of the commission is the work of the SQA over the last six years.

The role of the commission is to create an enabling environment to achieve a high level of education and training so as to produce a highly skilled workforce.

Selby Dora, special advisor to the Minister for Education, is the commission’s chairman while the principal secretary for education Merida Delcy is its vice-chair.

Other members are Jean-Paul Talma, a post secondary teacher; registrar from the Ministry of Health Winnifred Agricole; vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles Marina Confait; acting director general for Technical and Further Education Jean Alcindor and executive chairman of Gondwana Granite Co. Ltd Selwyn Gendron.

Chief executive of the SQA Fiona Ernesta, chief executive of the National Human Resources Development Council Margaret Pillay and principal secretary for Labour and Human Resources Veronique Bresson are also members.