184 in-service and new teachers graduate |08 October 2021
President’s Cup winner Francisca Souffe
• Francisca Souffe wins President’s Cup
The Seychelles Institute for Teacher Education (SITE) yesterday hosted its virtual graduation ceremony where a total of 184 in-service and new teachers graduated with advanced certificate in education as well as diploma and advanced diploma in education.
Francisca Souffe, a graduate of the diploma course in primary education, clinched the President’s Cup as outstanding performer and also took home the SNYC ‘Making the Impossible Possible’ award, crowning her perseverance and determination.
The first ceremony was held in the morning for the 120 graduates who followed the advanced certificate course. This course was specifically targeted for in-service teachers lacking qualifications in education and forms part of the Ministry of Education’s efforts to raise the standard of teaching and learning in public schools.
The 120 in-service teachers who hail from the fields of the arts, technology and enterprise, health and physical education as well as early childhood and primary education, undertook the course on a part-time basis at SITE from 2018 to 2020, through the blended learning mode.
“This morning the Seychelles Institute for Teacher Education, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, pays tribute to 120 uncertified in-service teachers who have recently completed the first part of their learning journey with SITE to become qualified teachers for Seychelles,” stated SITE’s director Rosianna Jules.
She further noted that the morning certificate presentation ceremony marks a significant milestone for SITE because it is a testimony to the successful collaborative effort and tripartite commitment between the Ministry of Education, public schools and the institute for the professional development of teachers.
The best academic performer in the certificate course was Marvelle Lesperance from Baie Ste Anne primary school and the runner up was Steve Auguste from Plaisance primary school.
Meanwhile 64 graduates received their diplomas and advanced diplomas in the afternoon ceremony, of whom 42 were in-service teachers who undertook the advanced diploma course and 22 new teachers from the diploma courses. The diplomas were in early childhood education, primary education and secondary education.
Aside from Francisca Souffe, the other awardees of the afternoon’s ceremony were:
- Best academic performer for diploma in early childhood: Francisca Commettant
- Best academic performer for diploma in primary education: Sheryl Songoire
- Best academic performer for diploma in secondary education (languages): Emma Monthy
- Best academic performer for diploma in secondary education (mathematics): Milcah Bijoux
- Best academic performer for advanced diploma in education: Anne Quilindo
- Best Professional Practice for diploma in early childhood: Francisca Commettant
- Best Professional Practice for diploma in primary education: Hazel Pleureuse
- Best Professional Practice for diploma in secondary education: Christopher Battin
- Male Student Award: Christopher Battin
- Site Award for Aspiring Teacher Award: Alina Estico
In her speech for the second virtual ceremony of the day, Mrs Jules called on the graduates to practice and apply what they have learnt at SITE in their classrooms and love their students as their own.
She raised concerns over the lack of male students joining SITE, with only one pre-service teacher graduating in this cohort and thanked Minister for Education, Dr Justin Valentin, for his effort in motivating and urging men to join the teaching profession.
Mrs Jules added that SITE is ready to take up the challenge to become the vehicle that helps drive modernisation in the public school system, as had been expressed by Minister Valentin.
The ceremony concluded with the 22 new teachers reciting a pledge to their new profession, committing to giving their best for their students.
Elsie Pointe
Photo sources: Ministry of Education
A partial view of the virtual ceremony
