Assembly calls on government to start process to set up IELTS centre |07 June 2017

Members of the National Assembly have given their approval for the Ministry of Education and Human Resources Development to do the necessary procedures to start talks with the British Council aimed at setting up a centre here for the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).

This would make the registration process easier for Seychellois students who are going to pursue further studies overseas.

This was in a motion tabled by the National Assembly elected member for Beau Vallon John Hoareau. Presenting the reason for the motion, Mr Hoareau explained that at present, before any person can proceed abroad for either further studies, emigrating for employment purposes in countries like the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada or New Zealand, immigration procedures for visa purposes and entry in universities demand that the candidate has done an English proficiency test ‒ the IELTS.

He said this is even if the candidate has good grades in IGCSE English as a first or second language.

Mr Hoareau explained that the main aim of this exams is to establish the candidate’s academic level and communication ability of the English language as well as social skills.

This English language exam which comprises nine levels and also tests a person’s social skills is currently available in some 140 countries through 1,100 registered centres. He noted that here in Seychelles there is only one venue where the test is available twice a year and this is at the International School of Seychelles (ISS) and the fee being charged is R4,200. But Mr Hoareau said he has been informed that this year the exam is expected to be available four times to give an opportunity to more people.

The official centre for the IELTS is based in Mauritius and it is managed by the British Council, thus the ISS does not have any control on neither the date nor the number of candidates who can take the test at one go as all is based on a first come first serve basis. The public is only informed of the date the exam is to be given. 

This situation is very often difficult for students whose entry to universities are known when the tests are not being offered, so parents have no choice but to find ways and means to take their children to either Mauritius or Kenya to sit the exam where it is offered on a permanent basis but at a more expensive rate.

“There are students who have lost their scholarships as they could not take the test and therefore missed entry to their university and they have had to delay the start of their course,” Mr Hoareau explained.

He noted that if the Ministry of Education and Human Resources can make the test available here it would bring a lot of relief to parents and students.

Honourable Hoareau said the ministry can engage in talks with the British Council to allow for Seychelles to have a registered centre for the IELTS to provide the service for the people. This will reassure them of reduced expenses when they require the tests and parents will not have to fork out so much money for their children to take the test abroad when they have been chosen for further their studies in foreign universities.

National Assembly members welcomed the motion and stressed that it has a lot of merit and benefit for parents, students and people taking employment abroad.

M-A. L.