The Seychelles Institute of Distance & Open Learning (SIDOL) evolved from the School of Continuing Education of Seychelles Polytechnic in 2000. Its main purpose is to facilitate access to education and lifelong learning for out-of-school youths and adults seeking upgrading, training, life skills and enhancing opportunities for employment. The programmes delivered by SIDOL are normally part-time (mainly in the evenings and on Saturdays), and they can also be through open and distance learning. SIDOL endeavours to offer programmes that are learner centred, enabling learners to set their own goals and helping them build the confidence to achieve them.

The Literacy programme is offered to all citizens and its objective is to help eradicate illiteracy. From its inception to now, the literacy rate has increased from 61.1% in 1971 to 91.1% in 2002. Under the ambit of the Technical and Further Education Division, the Centre’s name was changed to ALDEC in 1999 due to the education reform to encompass its expanding roles and to continue to build on the basic principles of equity, education for empowerment and education for productivity which underscore the Ministry’s education goal.

In 2015 the name was again changed to Seychelles Institute of Distance and Open Learning under the Tertiary Education Act. SIDOL has its own charter and governing board.

The Board

SIDOL is governed by a board whose functions and powers are contained in the institute’s charter.