Seychelles expects 100% literacy by 2010 |11 September 2007
She was speaking at the National Institute of Education during a ceremony organised to
The PS noted that literacy rate currently stands at over 90%, saying it was a big achievement from the time the adult learning programme was launched in 1978.
“This was a big challenge for our small country which had just attained Independence,” she said, adding that adult literacy rates are used to measure a country’s level of development.
PS Simeon also announced that following the personal initiative of President James Michel, who also recently announced the vision of creating a knowledge-based society, the people of Praslin now have the chance to follow adult literacy classes.
Saying that the International Literacy Day is a major day, which is marked every year in Seychelles, the PS said that this year’s theme shows the relationship between literacy and good health.
The theme is, “Literacy, key to good health and wellbeing.”
Mrs Simeon noted that the day has been marked for 40 years now, and that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) marked the anniversary by awarding some large countries which have made significant strides towards adult literacy.
The PS noted, however, that although Seychelles has advanced in this area, there are still too few publications in Creole, which is the mother tongue of the people of this country, and called on those who can write to produce more literary materials for the benefit of both children and adults.
This country has made significant progress in Information Communication and Technology, and Mrs Simeon said that Seychellois should use this resource much better to propagate information on more aspects of life.
She said that although radio and television play a major role, the print media is also important, quoting the proverb that says, “words fly but what is written stays.”
During the ceremony, the secretary general of the Seychelles Unesco Commission, Marie Reine Hoareau, read the Day’s message from the director general of Unesco, Koichiro Matsuura, in which he urged governments to continue supporting adult literacy efforts.
After literacy instructor Andy Wirtz entertained the audience with a song, they proceeded to view an exhibition which showcased work done by some adult literacy class participants.