International School signs sponsorship agreement with Vijay Construction |31 January 2008
According to the International School, the agreement will involve both the existing Mahe school, which has been in operation since 1969, and the new International School currently being constructed on Praslin and due to open in September of this year.
“This agreement will have a positive impact on every student attending both International School campuses,” Mr Patel said.
Noting that the support will include construction and donation, initially for a period of three years, Mr Patel said that the company will continue to fund the annual Vijay Scholarship Scheme.
He added that the company is also involved in negotiations with the Seychelles University Foundation to explore ways in which Vijay Construction can assist in the realisation of this key national project.
The Head teacher of the International School, Martin Kennedy, praised Mr Patel for what he described as his “typically visionary and generous approach to supporting a wide range of educational and social projects”.
“Vijay Construction’s involvement with the International School goes back many years but this new and substantial sponsorship agreement will help us to continue to offer a high quality and well-resourced education without compromise at a time of increasing pressure on existing financial resources,” Mr Kennedy said.
Mrs Horner has also announced that the new Praslin school would carry Mr Patel’s name and would be called The Vijay International School Praslin.
She however noted that Mr Patel’s involvement remains that of a sponsor and that Vijay Construction will donate rather than invest.
“There will be no return for the company in any way, and the school will remain, on both sites, a not-for-profit institution owned by the parents’ association,” she said.
The new Praslin school will offer a British-style curriculum for children aged three years to ten years. It has been designed by Joanne Pragassen, and will feature first rate accommodation and resources, including fully air-conditioned classrooms, electronic library, landscaped grounds with a swimming pool and an innovative food court.
Sarah Morgan, formerly Head of the Junior Section at the International School Mahe, will return to Seychelles later this year to take on the role of Head of the Praslin school and oversee final preparations for the opening.
Neil Morgan will manage the Early Years section of the school.
Mr Kennedy confirmed that the intention is to match the quality of the curriculum delivery in both schools and also to maintain a common fee structure, something which Mr Patel is keen to realise in order to avoid Praslin parents being charged higher fees than their Mahe counterparts.