Plaisance primary staff distraught and disappointed following series of robbery |13 January 2023

Ms Athanase during the interview with Seychelles NATION journalist Diane Larame

● R200,000 worth of education materials stolen since December

Since December last year, Plaisance primary school has been the target of multiple counts of theft and on Wednesday, the Ministry of Education issued a press release condemning such acts, urging those with information to come forward to help with the ongoing investigation.

Yesterday, Seychelles NATION spoke to the head teacher of Plaisance primary school, Therese Athanase, who said she was absolutely devastated because not only are those responsible stealing from the school but from the children as well.

She reported that about R200,000 worth of materials has been stolen, which include laptops, computer desk tops, televisions and stationery.

Ms Athanase said she could not specify the date of the first incident as there were no reports of theft or suspicious activities recorded by the security officer. It was upon returning to her office on December 28, 2022 after her two-week annual leave, that she noticed the door lock had been broken and several items were missing.

The authorities were contacted and they did their investigations and she confirmed that after this incident the locks were changed.

The second incident was reported on the night of December 30, 2022 when she received a call that a window from one of the primary 5 classes was open.

On site, the following day, Ms Athanase said they noticed that some classroom doors at Plaisance kindergarten and a window to a P5 class were open.

“It was strange because when the respective teachers left the school premises, all doors were locked. Absolutely none were left open,” said Ms Athanase.

She stated that what also made it strange was that during the three weeks that the teachers were off, there were no reports of classroom doors found open.

Two more incidents were reported earlier this year; one on January 9, where Ms Athanase  said she was informed by the manager of the security firm guarding the school, that the guard on morning duty had noticed that a window to a class was open and a television on the wall in the P5 class was missing.

The last incident occurred a day later on January 10, where Ms Athanase noticed other items missing from the office of her deputy head for curriculum.

She said the staff and herself are disappointed and frustrated of the fact that no reports of suspicious activities are being made by the security officers.

She disclosed that many of the stolen items were donations from their partners, and that these items which were mainly electronics, were going to be set up in the school this year.

“These incidents put a major toll on the school as students’ information/results and management information were stored in the stolen drives,” she added.

Ms Athanase said they have to start from scratch to obtain students’ results of last year. She has urged anyone with information about the theft to contact the school.

Diane Larame

Photo: Joena Meme