Human resources development-New policy launched |19 August 2005

The 28-page document provides a framework and a reference point prescribing human resources and development practices and decisions.

It was the Minister for Education and Youth Danny Faure who launched the policy Thursday August 18 at the National Institute of Education during a ceremony attended by representatives of employers, educators from public and private schools, students and other stakeholders,
The minister also launched Careers' Week, which will run until Wednesday August 24.

The ceremony began with the director general for HRD in the Ministry of Education and Youth, Marina Confait, introducing the policy, which she said declares the position of government and its partners on human resources development.

She said it is meant to ensure a supply of competent resources and to empower people to apply knowledge and skills needed to facilitate learning, “not only by government but also by individuals.”

Minister Faure said the policy aims at developing careers and utilising the full potential of all Seychellois, hence the ministry decided to launch it during Careers' Week which is being observed under the theme: “Your career development depends greatly on your positive attitudes.”

“Attitude and mindset provide an essential framework within which the skills are developed and applied,” he said.

He said the formulation of the new policy was a joint effort of the Seychelles Government with the Governance and Institutional Development division of the Commonwealth Secretariat.

He said the document has been arrived at in consultation with the Seychellois public, parastatal and private sector organisations.

“I am proud to say that a true spirit of collaboration has guided the development of our policy and as a result, we can look forward to the active involvement of all the HRD stakeholders in its implementation,” the minister said.

He said the goal of the policy is to empower the entire population, to develop a learning culture which promotes life-long learning, personal organisational responsibility for learning and to identify and respond to organisational training needs.

“The HRD policy also endeavours guide and promote a holistic and integrated approach to the development of human resources nationally and makes provision for the education system to provide careers guidance from an early age and to strengthen guidance and counselling in secondary and post secondary educational institutions,” he said.

He said adults should be good role models to the youth by demonstrating exemplary behaviour, positive and good work ethics.

He urged the youth, especially during Careers' Week, to learn from the activities being organised.

During the ceremony, children of varying ages from different schools talked about careers expressing their views through poems and songs.