Low turnout for SIAH open day |06 May 2016

Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture hosted an open day for secondary five students and for the first time La Digue showed up with more students, 24 out of the total of 36 who turned up.

The other 12 students who turned up were from Mont Fleuri, English River, Anse Royale and Anse Boileau.

Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (SIAH) studies coordinator Maryanne Marie and student council chair Janice Cafrine welcomed the students and teachers to the institute.

The guests attended different presentations including a practical field demonstration, value-added agro-processing, hoof trimming and castration, demonstration on rock garden, landscaping and construction of fish pond.

Other activities include exhibits on different types of lawn in Seychelles, backyard organic production system, tools, showcases on bee-keeping, medicines, eggs for chicken, quail and duck, and slideshows on activities at the institution.

The students were also able to visit training facilities on the school grounds such as the library and computer room.

Ms Marie said compared to last year more students have turned up but however they are still disappointed as the low turnout is very discouraging.

“We continuously see that students have low interest with our institute and when we compare our school to others, we receive fewer students which come for open days. The students do not see the importance of this school and careers they can obtain from it and unfortunately they did not turn up to learn about the relevance it has to our country,” she said.

Secondary five students from La Digue, Mont Fleuri, English River, Anse Royale and Anse Boileau schools attended yesterday’s open day