As part of her round of visits to professional centres, Education Minister Jeanne Simeon yesterday visited the Seychelles Institute of Distance and Open Learning (SIDOL), previously known as ALDEC.
SIDOL director, Stella Bergmann, welcomed Minister Simeon alongside other officials both from the institute and the ministry.
The aim of this visit was to discuss the challenges that the institute is facing and for Minister Simeon to be acquainted with the different centres based under her ministry.
“As the new minister, I want to see and acquaint myself with the staff and know a bit of what they are doing well, as well as the challenges and how the Ministry of Education can offer its assistance,” said Minister Simeon
During the visit, Minister Simeon visited the library where Mrs Bergmann pointed out the issue of a leaking roof.
Minister Simeon also visited other facilities such as the classrooms, toilets, ICT room as well as the staff rooms.
“When I visit the centres, as well as the education package, I also pay close attention to the infrastructure because this also falls under the centres and at the same time look at their needs for the infrastructure, resources and the staffing,” Minister Simeon said.
Among the discussions made during the visit is the possibility of moving lecturers from the School of Advanced Level Studies (SALS) to SIDOL as SALS will no longer offer several non-core subjects as from next year.
“We are discussing the possibilities of offering the A-level students who would like to study these (non-core) subjects that are being removed from SALS and bring them here at SIDOL. Some of these subjects could be offered to private candidates at SIDOL,” explained Minister Simeon.
The future of the lecturers at SALS whose subjects are being dropped is still being discussed.
The visit ended with a staff meeting which Minister Simeon also attended.
The accompanying photos show Minister Simeon and her delegation during the visit.