Seychelles Institute of Technology graduation ceremony |15 April 2023
Sheena Labonte receiving the trophy from President Ramkalawan …
Sheena Labonté clinches
coveted President’s Cup
By Patrick Joubert
Sheena Labonté is the winner of the prestigious President’s Cup for being the outstanding student of the 2022 cohort of the Seychelles Institute of Technology.
The 20-year-old, who graduated with a National Diploma in Information System Engineering, was presented with the cup by President Wavel Ramkalawan during the institution’s graduation ceremony which took place at the International Conference Centre Seychelles (ICCS) yesterday afternoon.
In attendance was First Lady Linda Ramkalawan, Speaker of the National Assembly Roger Mancienne, ministers, other members of the National Assembly, principal secretaries, the director of SIT Hubert Barbé, vice-chancellor of the University of Seychelles (UniSey) Joëlle Perreau, SIT board members, parents, representatives of sponsors, among other guests. The cup is awarded to the student who performs well academically, participates in extra-curricular activities, has an exemplary behaviour and very good attendance.
Apart from the President’s Cup, Sheena received a laptop from the president presented on his behalf by First Lady Ramkalawan, a certificate, a scholarship from the Agency for National Human Resource Development, a token from the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT), among other prizes from various sponsors. She was among 212 students who graduated in different programmes and at various levels including Certificate and Advanced Certificate in Carpentry and Joinery, Electrical Installation, Masonry, Mechanical Engineering, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Plumbing, Painting and Decorating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning, as well as National Diploma in Construction, Information System Engineering, Mechanical Engineering and Motor Vehicle Engineering.
“I feel very proud and very happy. I was not expecting to win. I felt like crying when I heard my name being called to the stage. I am still in shock. I still can’t believe it,” said Sheena.
Sheena, who spent three years at SIT starting in 2020, said she is looking forward to further her studies, but for the time being she is still looking for work but has not been successful.
“I’ve sent my curriculum vitae (CV) to many work places and I have not received any response yet. It’s very difficult I guess for women coming from this field to get a job,” said Sheena, who added that Covid-19 had an impact on her studies but she managed to overcome it.
The best performer at certificate level was Thyra Victor (Painting and Decorating) while the best performer at Advance Certificate was Darryl Louise (Carpentry and Joinery).
Congratulating the students on their achievements, Mr Barbé said there has been a remarkable improvement in the number of learners who have successfully completed their training at the institution where 212 graduated (99.5%) out of 213. Enrolment for the National Diploma was in 2020, Advanced Certificates in 2021, and Apprenticeship programmes and for the Certificate in Painting and Decorating, the only one-year full time training at SIT, enrollment took place in 2022.
This year seven learners have scored a distinction ‒ three from the National Diploma Information Systems Engineering, two from the Certificate in Electrical Installation (apprenticeship), one from the Advanced Certificate in Electrical and Electronics, and one from the Advanced Certificate in Carpentry and Joinery. Around 100 graduates got a credit and the remaining scored a pass.
Mr Barbé though noted that for SIT, it is not only about achieving the highest pass grade that counts but knowing that the students have managed to secure a decent job and employment soon after completing their training.
“Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to inform you that from our employment survey conducted yesterday during the rehearsal for today’s ceremony, with the graduates attending, 177 of them were present, 112 of them, representing 63%, confirmed that they were in some kind of formal employment just four months after completing their training. This is encouraging for SIT,” he said.
Among the successes, Mr Barbé said that they have managed to put in place the institution’s quality assurance structure in time for the visit by the Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) panel for institutional accreditation due in May this year while also five of its instructors successfully completed their Studies for the Advanced Diploma in Education with the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (Site). They also received a donation of two vehicles from the Ministry of Health which are being used towards training of learners following the Motor Vehicle Mechanics programme and also successfully conducted training ‘Working at Heights’ for a group of workers from the Seychelles Petroleum Company (Seypec) and to a group of outside refrigeration technicians working with refrigerants, among others.
Speaking of challenges, Mr Barbé said one of the biggest concerns remaining for the leadership and management is to do with the unavailability of certain quality resources needed for training as well as the unavailability of certain suitable specialist persons on the local market for recruitment as instructors.
“I wish to continue to remind learners wanting to follow a skills training and be successful at SIT, that it will require you to show interest throughout, to always be motivated and be wanting to learn always,” said Mr Barbé who thanked everyone for helping the SIT and the students.
Delivering a few words of encouragement, Minister for Lands and Housing, Billy Rangasamy, congratulated the students on their graduation before urging them to stay in their chosen profession for their own career development, the future of their families and economy of the country with regard to having our own Seychellois workforce to cut down the dependence on foreign labour.
He said there are multiple job opportunities available for them to seize. He also urged the labour market to take onboard the graduates as they will represent the motor of the economy of the country through the development of future infrastructure.
“There are 365 projects in the pipeline by government with a budget of R1.2 billion. So I want you to seize the opportunity and shine by putting into practice the training and the skills that you have mastered for your own benefit and the benefit of your country,” said Minister Rangasamy who called on the young men and women to not waste their training and the skills acquired on the social ills.
All the students who graduated yesterday received a life insurance voucher courtesy of H. Savy Insurance.
The best performers at Certificate programmes are: Curtis Marie (Certificate in Carpentry and Joinery),Guilliano Auguste (Certificate in Electrical Installation), Carl Lajoie (Certificate in Masonry), Ahnil Laurence (Certificate in Mechanical Engineering), Fabrice Javotte (Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics), Stephen Estico (Certificate in Painting and Decorating), Kheren Thérésine (Certificate in Plumbing), and Veronn Dodin (Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning).
The best overall performers at Advanced National Programmes are: Stephen Julienne (Advanced Certificate in Carpentry and Joinery), Brigitte Morel (Advanced Certificate in Electrical Installation), Leeam Radegonde (Advanced Certificate in Electrical and Electronics), Mahek Ambani (Advanced Certificate in Mechanical Engineering), Romaric Niole (Advanced Certificate in Motor Vehicle Mechanics), Elisa Alcindor (Advanced Certificate in Plumbing), and Brandon Rosalie (Advanced Certificate in Refrigeration and Air Conditioning).
The best overall performers at National Programmes are: Taino Ah Kong (National Diploma Construction Industry), Jeffery Morin (National Diploma Information Systems Engineering), Asheild Choisy (National Diploma Mechanical Engineering), and Gervais Banane (National Diploma Motor Vehicle Engineering).
It was National Diploma in Construction Industry graduate Abbygaile Guillaume who presented the vote of thanks on behalf of her fellow graduates and she expressed their gratitude to all who guided and supported them. There was also a musical performance by a group of SIT students.
Patrick Joubert
Photos by Joena Meme
