News and events

This year Unesco celebrates its 50th year since it has been engaged in promoting and sustaining worldwide efforts to make literacy a priority and increase literacy rates. On September 8, 2016, under the theme ‘Reading the Past, Writing the Future’, Unesco is once again reaffirming its commitment towards literacy; celebrating its achievements in the past decades while also addressing present challenges and seeking for new ways to boost literacy in the future. It was on the September 8, 1966 that this noble work started. Unesco director general Irina Bokova analyses: “The world has changed since 1966 – but our determination to provide every woman and man with the skills, capacities and opportunities to become everything they wish, in dignity and respect, remains as firm as ever. Literacy is a foundation to build a more sustainable future for all.”  

With Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) having in 2012 declared the Seychellois population as 99.06% literate after it had conducted the ‘Seychelles Integrated Adult Learning Survey’ (SIALS) in 2008, Literacy Day is surely a day to celebrate in Seychelles.

Bel Ombre centre is this year’s winner of the minister’s cup and two of its representatives accepted the silverware from Education Minister Macsuzy Mondon in the presence of Vice-President Danny Faure. The presentation ceremony took place yesterday afternoon at the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (SITE) auditorium, Mont Fleuri.

Also present were Labour and Human Resources Development Minister Idith Alexander, education principal secretary Merida Delcy, leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly David Pierre, member of the National Assembly for Anse Boileau district Bernard Arnephy, Adult Learning and Distance Education Centre (Aldec) director Marie-Claire Henriette, representatives of sponsors, instructors, students and other guests.

The ceremony, during which students who completed their exams in 2013 were rewarded, was organised to celebrate International Literacy Day which falls on September 8 and this year it was commemorated under the theme ‘Literacy and Sustainable Development’.

Bel Ombre is the centre whose students has excelled in their exams, and has also retained and enrolled the most students.
The individual prize winners were Jenny Lucas (best performer in Creole level 1), Doris Oreddy (best performer in English level 1), Pavia Nicole and Cressida Labrosse (best performers in English level 2), Vivienne Crea ( best performer in English level 3), Savionna Gabriel (best performer in French level 2), Maureen Constance and Dorothy Jean (best performers in Maths level 1), Tresa Samson (best performer in Maths level 2) and Nadege Rose (best performer in Maths level 3).