Teachers’ voices to be amplified in new ‘school-based teacher forum’ |04 August 2021

Minister Valentin (centre, photo left) addressing teachers at the launch ceremony

Minister for education, Dr Justin Valentin, yesterday morning officially launched a new forum which specifically caters for non-management level teachers in public schools.

Coined as the ‘school-based teacher forum’, the platform has been created to provide teachers with a forum to engage directly with the headquarters at the ministry to express their concerns and propose solutions to enhance learning and teaching.

The forum will consist of one teacher representative selected from each public primary and secondary schools, as well as a representative from each tertiary institution. These teachers’ representatives are expected to meet with the executive team of the Ministry of Education each month, based on their region.

The launch ceremony was hosted at the Cascade primary school and attended by the principal secretary for education services Dr Odile de Commarmond, principal secretary for education development John Lesperance, teachers from schools in the east region and staff of the ministry.

Addressing everyone present to witness the event, Minister Valentin stated that the launch of the forum marks a milestone in the education sector in Seychelles.

While school managements have always had regular meetings and discussions with the ministry, it is the first time that the teacher community as a whole has a direct link to the executive team at the ministry.

Minister Valentin nevertheless highlighted that the school-based teacher forum is not a platform for teachers to “backstab” their school management.

“The new direction that the education ministry is taking gives the teaching population a new position, a new role. A role that comes with responsibilities; teachers can achieve so much more but the question is what is delaying this force. We need to find what we have to do together, what solutions we can come up with together,” stated Minister Valentin.

The minister added that the ministry is hoping to reduce the amount of complaints from the teaching staff and promote a solution-oriented environment in the education sector.

“We want to hear your voices, and as always we will use your voice and your solutions to build and grow together,” noted Minister Valentin.

All of the on-field teachers present commended the ministry’s initiative, noting that, if it works as intended, the forum could alleviate a lot of challenges within school compounds.

With 32 years in teaching, Marie-Aline Simeon, primary 5 and 6 teacher at Cascade primary school, stated that the teachers’ forum has been long overdue.

“This will motivate teachers because we now know that there are ears that will listen to us and the ministry will act on our concerns. There have been instances in the past where we have passed on our concerns to the management but I do not know exactly where the blockage is since most of the time nothing came out of it or actions were taken at a very late date,” said Mrs Simeon.

In an interview following the launch, Minister Valentin clarified that creation of the teacher forum does not mean that teachers were not listened to, but rather the forum acts as a formalised structure.

“In the past, teachers have always spoken out through their management but now we want to remove the management from this equation and hear from the teachers themselves. This is very important because it establishes a relationship and deep trust between teachers and the administration.”

The Ministry of Education is hoping that this initiative will further ensure better conditions for teachers and reduce labour turnover.

Elsie Pointe