Teacher does Seychelles proud at Innovative Education Forum |09 December 2010
Teachers have, for centuries, been the key to many unopened doors in various societies in spite of their economies, beliefs and politics. Somehow, teaching has reached a time where the concepts and strategies of the olden days need to be freshened up, reformed and readjusted so as to better suit the fast-paced world driven by technology, hence the new ideals of Microsoft.
Jeffrey Nanty, a young, enthusiastic and active geography teacher from Belonie secondary school, seized the opportunity to get the “ball of change” rolling. In 2009 he was encouraged by a close colleague in the ICT department at the ministry to take part in the IEF. At the time he had no idea what it entailed, but nonetheless he took up the challenge.
He decided to make use of the “fieldwork” that is part of the IGCSE syllabus to set the stage for his project. Being environmentally aware of what was going on along a particular coastal zone in north Mahe, and being constantly questioned by his students about the phenomenon, Jeffrey went ahead and organised a field trip with his students (S5) to North East Point beach to gather as much data as possible.
The data collected was processed and analysed using the ICT facilities at the school, but at the time it was not as easy to access the facilities given the demands of the timetable, so the project was stalled.
But early this year Jeffrey was again given the boost of trying to blend the 2009 data with that of 2010, which meant the trip was organised again with another group of S5 geography students.
This time data was collected, processed and analysed, and graphs, charts and beach profiles were drawn up using the ICT facilities available. At this point Jeffrey was well versed in the project – which he finally called Will the Sand Ever Come Back? – and he decided to enrol on the national education forum, where he competed against three teachers from other schools and came out as runner-up.
For that, Jeffrey and the others had to prepare a VCT (virtual classroom tour), which tells everything about the project.
From there he qualified, along with two other colleagues, for the Pan-African Innovative Education Forum, which was held in Mombasa in August. This time those taking part had to prepare a VCT along with a poster (1m x 1.5m), which together would give a clear picture of what the project is all about. This task was not easy as it meant learning new methods unknown to them before the forum, but after a while it became second nature.
Jeffrey received a judges’ award, which came as a surprise because he did not think he stood a chance of winning after seeing all the other projects and chat to contestants from other countries of Africa.
Jeffrey described his experience in Mombasa as eye-opening; he was able to meet new people, learn new ideas and concepts which he brought back home to try to carry out here. His greatest experience in Mombasa was the great spirit that prevailed among the team from Seychelles, which also comprised Fred Azemia from Plaisance secondary and Florida Rene from Port Glaud primary school.
“We all supported each other in all aspects and accepted the result, whichever way it went,” said Jeffrey.
Back in Seychelles, his efforts and achievements were rewarded by the ministry and he 
From Mombasa, Jeffrey had his eyes set on Cape Town, where he had qualified for the World Wide Innovative Education Forum, in which educators from around the world meet not only to compete but to also spend quality time learning about new trends in teaching.
They will then go back to their home countries and share and hopefully try to bring about the much-needed change and hopefully stimulate the students’ interest and motivation so as to become better educated and better trained citizens.
Jeffrey went through the preparations for the WWIEF with the support of the IT team at the Ministry of Education and he was accompanied to Cape Town by education principal secretary Merida Delcy from October 25-30.
Cape Town was an experience that Jeffrey says he will never forget.
“It was fun learning, even though the programme was packed and compelled one to really stay focused and alert so as not to miss out on anything. Many new teaching tools were unveiled there, and many new friends were made,” he says.
Jeffrey was struck by the number of projects and ideas (250 altogether), and he felt he didn’t stand a chance to make it through but he did! He set up his project stand, and despite its simplicity he ensured that the Seychelles colours caught people’s attention.
He was kept very busy during the exhibition time with regular visits by many of the contestants, judges, university students and journalists. Jeffrey said with the many visits, he found himself like a focal point, and his South African friends even nicknamed him “the Sandman”.
To his surprise, he first qualified as a semi-finalist and later the same day, during the gala-evening, he found out that he was among the final six in his category! Jeffrey flew back home early next morning, barely having had a chance to say farewell, but he was already looking ahead to what he was going to do with all the experience gained.
As a teacher, Jeffrey now feels he carries with him so much that if nothing is done it will simply go to waste. He has already started to carry out a few new concepts; the change is evident and has also been observed by some members of the school management.
Jeffrey strongly believes that no matter what a teacher’s age or experience or subject taught, ICT is one of the solutions to the many problems teachers face in this day and age.
He feels that “chalk and board”, lectures and books are merely tools and strategies of the past. They might still be used as a back-up, but a very good teacher needs to probe for his or her students’ line of interest and gear them towards being innovative and successful in that line.
Teachers also need to drive away the fear of technology as this is one component that might prevent them from taking up the challenges.
Jeffrey’s sole wish is for everybody to give due consideration to the concepts and try their utmost to make a very valuable contribution to society. He strongly urges the students in all schools to seize the opportunities being handed to them and turn away from the negatives of life, aiming to become good and exemplary citizens.
“You can all achieve in your unique way if you give yourself the chance to do so,” he says.