Minister of Education, Dr Justin Valentin, inspects renovation work on Bel Eau primary school |22 June 2022

‘We take infrastructure very seriously and I believe that children can’t learn in a dirty environment’

The Ministry of Education takes the issue of quality infrastructure very seriously and we believe that children can’t learn in a dirty environment, Education Minister, Dr Justin Valentin, has said.

He was talking to the media yesterday morning after paying a visit to Bel Eau primary school to observe how the renovation project, which began in early February, was moving along.

“One of the aims of the visit was to give the schools assurance that the Ministry of Education takes the issue of quality infrastructure very seriously. We have already identified the various priorities and the various schools where renovation needs to be done. We have a plan and we have already started to execute the plan,” said Minister Valentin.

Minister Valentin said “When I came in January, the state of the school was very unpleasant. It was the aim of the Ministry of Education to fix the state of the school; to give it a new face. The school is very satisfied with the work and I’m also very satisfied with the work.”

Speaking to head teacher Jane Laurette, she disclosed how “there were broken windows, some of which were completely missing in some classes, and when it rained, water fell inside. There were others that couldn’t be opened at all”.

Mrs Laurette feels the renovation “has made the school safer, more beautiful and livelier. It makes the children more excited to wake up in the morning and come to school, and as the kids actually want to learn, it will bring us better results”.

In the first phase of the project, a total of 21 rooms, 18 of which are classrooms, were renovated. Some of the changes made included painting the exterior of the school, repainting the balustrade in the colours of the Seychelles flag and making all the windows fully functional.

“Within one month, we had completed all the major work,” said Peter Hoffman, director of project execution and maintenance.

Bhakti Builders Private Limited is the contractor on this project and the first phase of renovation has cost R2.3 million.

The second phase, which involves renovating the administration buildings, is set to begin in January 2023. The total cost of the project is estimated to be R5 million.

The accompanying photos show some highlights of Minister Valentin’s visit to Bel Eau school yesterday.

Alicia Bonnelame