La Misère school counting on community to progress |21 March 2023

Mr Sinon leading the conference on Saturday (Photos: Joena Meme)

The management team and parent-teacher association (PTA) of La Misère primary school is calling on members of the community to join hands with them to enrich the school life, and play a role in the harmonious development of pupils from the school.

On Saturday the school organised a half-day conference to present to businessmen, artisans, retired professionals, parents and others the vision of strengthening the link with the community, and promoting community involvement.

The conference was held under the theme ‘It takes a whole community to raise a child’.

The initiative seeks to expand links through strong partnership with the community, with the aim of getting ideas and support towards improving learning and other aspects of school life for pupils.

It is in line with the African proverb ‘It takes a whole village to raise a child’, meaning an entire community of people must provide for, and interact positively with children for them to experience and grow in a safe and healthy environment. Furthermore, it builds upon the foundations of the 2019 campaign, ‘Education a shared responsibility’ launched by former Minister for Education and Human Resource development, Jeanne Simeon.

As per head teacher Flavie Jupiter, school institutions can accomplish more for students with the help of other partners. Many parties are interested with the school and are onboard with the idea, she added.

“The challenge of providing a high quality of education for our children demands cooperative approaches that draw on the commitment, ideas and resources of all parties; schools, families and other community members. The education and wellbeing of our children are shared responsibilities,” Ms Jupiter said.

“Parents and children are not the only ones who benefit from good schools. Everyone in the community gains from a good school. A school improves the quality of life for all members of a community, and is an integral part of the fabric of the community,” Ms Jupiter said, highlighting the importance of such partnerships.

Meanwhile, school council chairperson Annie Laurette remarked that the La Misère community is rich in talents, experience and expertise, and as a professional, she has found it important to assist and support the same school where she spent her early years.

“In this day and age whereby we have more single parents, or both parents are working and do not spend as much time with the children, more than ever we need the community’s support,” Ms Laurette said.

“Our school is small and has much ability, but it also faces many challenges. We have plans for the school and want to see a community where our young children are thriving, and each member of the community is concerned with the education of our children,” she said.

The school wants to improve at all levels, Ms Laurette added, with staff feeling supported, while the children thrive in a safe and healthy environment and the school feels backed by the community.

A number of projects and initiatives are planned for the school, and any form of support, such as opportunities for work experience for the students and community advocacy, among others, are welcome.

The school hopes to upgrade the crèche by introducing digital technologies and the introduction of more visual aids, as well as upgrading the playground to make it more conducive for them to develop motor skills.

It also hopes to be able to construct a hall, and has a number of teaching and learning projects on the agenda.

One of the school’s main challenges is human resource, which it hopes to address through the partnerships.

Lecturer at The Guy Morel Institute (TGMI) and volunteer Timothe Sinon facilitated the conference.

There are presently 153 students at the school, and 60 staff.

The conference was held at the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA).

Laura Pillay