Assembly approves tertiary education bill |16 November 2011

The minister responsible for Education, Employment and Human Resources Macsuzy Mondon was in the Assembly to present the Tertiary Education Bill, 2011for debate and approval.

In her presentation, Mrs Mondon said through a series of reforms in the education system over the years and the more recent reforms in education starting in 2009, Seychelles has accomplished a lot in that sector – both at local and international level.

But in spite of the progress made, she recognises that in this globalised world, our country needs to continuously make the necessary adjustments in order not to lose out on opportunities and to enjoy the benefits globalisation bring about, to ensure further social and economic development of our people.

She stressed that in this process, the education and training of our human resources has a fundamental role and that continued adjustments in different aspects of our education and training system is essential.

“This is why education as a key pillar in the development process needs to find ways to better address the country’s needs for quality human resource which will ensure a sustainable national development,” said Mrs Mondon.

She noted that in the education reforms plan started in 2009, there is provision for an education regulation which would coordinate the development of education and training at post-secondary level.

Work on the Bill was initiated following the setting up of the University of Seychelles Foundation. Since then, Mrs Mondon said, a series of consultations and discussions were carried out to develop a legal framework in line with international standards.

At national level, this involved post-secondary and human resources officials from the public and private sectors and members of the University of Seychelles Foundation. Involved at the international level were the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation), post-secondary institutions from Mauritius, South Africa, Ireland, England, Germany and Canada. 

Mrs Mondon noted that the Bill, which is divided into six parts, is a comprehensive legal framework addressing the development of education and training for state as well as private institutions in a coordinated and harmonised manner, in line with the Seychelles Qualifications Authority Act 2005 and the National Qualification Framework Regulations 2008.

Mrs Mondon said the Tertiary Education Bill 2011 is modern and it takes into consideration the future based on international norms and practices.

When the Bill becomes law, it will put Seychelles on par with post-secondary education and training institutions of other Southern African Development Community member countries.

Some of the provisions of the Bill are as follows:
- Set up a Tertiary Education Commission and tertiary education institutions;
- Establish the goals of the universities, the university council, the senate and the university faculty boards; 
- Establish the goals of professional centres and the professional centre board. It also lists the functions, responsibilities and duties of the director of the professional centre and its other members of staff;
- Outline the learners’ entitlements, their rights, duties, responsibilities and arbitration mechanisms to handle their grievances; and
- Outline the general criteria to receive state funds, the source of tertiary educational establishment funds or income.

Mrs Mondon concluded her presentation by saying that the Tertiary Education Bill will contribute to further transform post-secondary education and training, and give more value to professional, technical, vocational and university education and training.
 
It would help develop our national human resource through strong and sustainable education and training, said Mrs Mondon.

She added that she has no doubt the Bill will give post-secondary institutions new impetus and make them more efficient in the way they operate and also improve on the quality of education and training being given to our young people.

All members of the Assembly spoke in favour of the Bill and gave it their support.
At the end of the debate, Mrs Mondon noted that all the various propositions from members will be considered and recognised that the department of education has a lot of work to do to prepare students to join these institutions.