Minister Valentin visits SMA and SIT   |14 August 2021

Meeting with members of management at the SMA (Photo: Thomas Meriton)

As part of his continuing visits to educational institutions, the Minister for Education, Justin Valentin, yesterday morning toured the Seychelles Maritime Academy (SMA) and the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT), both located at Providence.

The aim of the visit was to show appreciation to the management teams and lecturers for the way they have handled their institutions amid the pandemic and to discuss with them their successes, challenges and the way forward.  

This was his first visit to professional institutions.

Minister Valentin, who was leading a high delegation from his ministry, was joined at the start of his visit at SMA by Designated Minister Jean-François Ferrari, who is also the minister responsible for fisheries and the department of the Blue Economy. The two ministers and delegation were greeted by the director of SMA, Captain Srimal Abeyasuriya, the board chairman, Conrad Benoiton and other members of management, before engaging in discussions and visits to classrooms and workshops. It is to be noted that no students were present on the school compound as they are currently on semester break.

At SIT, the minister and his delegation were met by the director, Hubert Barbe, executive board member Philip Morin and other management staff.

Designated Minister Ferrari was not present on that visit.

The delegation first visited the workshops and classrooms where they got to interact with some students who were completing assignments at the institute.

During the discussions, which were held after the visit, the main concern from the two institutions were related to obtaining additional resources to upgrade and maintain facilities, and to construct additional facilities.

Minister Valentin took the opportunity to reinforce the ministry’s initiative, through the autonomous policy, to allow them the possibility to conduct paid short courses as a way of generating funds to further develop and maintain their institutions.

He said that the private sector is also waiting for their call to assist them and that they have to make the move.

In the discussion at the SMA, Designated Minister Ferrari informed the management of the availability of funds (US $75,000 ) at the Blue economy, sponsored by the European Union, that the institution can apply for projects related to the Blue Economy.

Speaking to the press later at SIT, Minister Valentin described his visit as “very interesting”, noting that it had given him and members of his delegation the opportunity to witness, first hand, how things are going within the two institutions and that will need adjustments, so as to advance tertiary education in the country to the next level.

“It has given me the opportunity to see how I will have to go out and push their ideas to the community, to help play its role also with education learning in the two institutions. The professional centres are helping with the supplying of workforce for the local industry and I think it (local industry) has an important role to play in their development,” Minister Valentin said, noting that the private sector can help with enhancing education for their own benefit.

With regard to granting the institutions with more autonomy to manage their finances and to generate funds through paid learning activities, Minister Valentin said that he will advocate on their behalf, for the removal of bureaucratic procedures that may impede their move in that direction.

He added that all professional centres in the country have the potential to generate revenues to support their development and expenses and he urged them to come forward with strategic plans while the ministry will see with the department of Finance and of Administration on how to resolve issues related to generating of funds by institutions.

He noted that the ministry has launched a think tank to oversee the procedures and guidance related to issues of generating funds by professional centres. 

Both Captain Abeyasuriya and Mr Barbe welcomed the visit undertaken at their respective institution which gave them the opportunity to share their success stories as well as issues beyond their control.

“We had a plan last year to build a simulation room for longline fishermen, some addition labs and classrooms, so that we can expand the workforce towards the blue economy, but the project has been put on hold as a result of some restriction issues by certain ministries and organizations,” Captain Abeyasuriya said.

The captain added that the academy is also in need of a pontoon to replace the one that was damaged during the monsoon. He noted that money is available for the pontoon but the procedures are too lengthy.

“We hope that with the blessing of the two ministers, things will be sorted out and we can start the two projects,” Captain Abeyasuriya stated, noting that the European Union has donated R8 million for the projects.

Mr Barbe said that with SIT being in existence for sixteen years, many of its facilities, mainly the interiors, need upgrading, maintenance and refurbishment.  He noted that the visit had been the opportune time for management to put forward the many concerns the academy is encountering and which date back to some years now.

“Although we can engage our students and staff to do some of the upgrading and maintenance work, the financial part of the assistance is very important to realise the work,” Mr Barbe said, noting that he hopes to get the minister’s support to transform SIT.

The SMA has 36 staff, comprising both locals and foreigners, for a total of 80 first year and 78 second year students. The SIT has 40 staff, also inclusive of locals and foreigners, for a total of 479 first, second and third year students.

Patrick Joubert