China-Africa TVET Alliance   |22 July 2023

Members of the two delegations in a souvenir photograph

Seychelles’ TVET

project on track

By Vidya Gappy

A delegation from China are currently in Seychelles for a familiarisation visit as per the Ministry of Education’s memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the China-Africa TVET Alliance signed last year.

The 11-strong delegation comprise senior education and political officials as well as directors from Dongying and Xianyang vocational institutes.

Yesterday the Chinese delegation met with a team from the Ministry of Education headed by Minister Justin Valentin to discuss collaboration in TVET, capacity building and education in general.

Minister Valentin thanked the delegation for their visit and noted that the ministry takes this journey very seriously.

“So far we are seeing the fruits of the MoU we signed in November (last year). A group of people visited China and the experience of my team was fantastic and we are most grateful for that experience. We have actually met a serious partner in our quest towards making vocational education a reality. We are going to make sure that everybody benefits from this experience. The students are looking forward for a good vocational educational institution to build their skills and a career. With you as partners we are hopeful that the students’ dream will become a reality.”

Minister Valentin also shared that there is already a group of teachers in China for the same purpose and hopefully another group will go in September.

“Vocational education in Seychelles is not new…but what we want to give the students in this new era will be different. This is why we believe that the teachers who are in China will accumulate experiences and share these with the students.

The delegation also toured Ile Perseverance secondary school where the National Technical School (NTS) will be set up.

Today, the delegation will visit the Seychelles Tourism Academy (STA) campus. This will be followed by a meeting on potential collaborations with directors from the academy and from the Seychelles Institute of Technology (SIT).

The Chinese delegation is composed of:

(From the China-Africa Vocational Education Alliance) Zhao Minghui, project manager for Public Partnership in China; Zhang Yugia, regional coordinator for East and Southern Africa;

(From Dongying Vocational Institute) Du Zhenbo, secretary of the Party Committee; Wang Xianggang, chief of the Teaching and Research Department of the School of Electronic Information and Media; Zhao Daifeng, director of Teaching and Research Section; Zhang Bin, director of Teaching and Research Section; Lin Yu, translator, Office of International Exchange and Cooperation; Li Lili, teacher.

(From Xianyang Vocational Technical College) Zhang Jiangang, deputy secretary of the Party Committee; Wei Wenping, director of the English Education/International Exchange and Cooperation Department and Dean of the School of Primary Education; Zhang Weiting, Dean of Control Engineering/Information Engineering College.

On the Seychelles side the meeting was also attended by PS Merna Eulentin, PS John Lesperance, executive director Dr Linda Barallon, director of Education Jean-Michel Domingue, director of Teacher Development Education Alex Souffe, director general for TVET Jean Alcindor, director general for network and engagement Juta Alexis, director general for Institutional Support Bernard Arnephy, officer responsible for international relations Vicky Michel, Education for TVET Marie-Chantale Nicole and PR Sandra Lepathy.

Photos by Yann Dinan