107 YOUNG TEACHERS FOR OUR SCHOOLS!

107 YOUNG TEACHERS FOR OUR SCHOOLS!

The community in general has welcomed the news that 107 new teachers are starting out in the profession after successfully completing their courses at the National Institute of Education (NIE). This should be very good news to the country as we have had severe shortages of teaching staff recently. In the recent past the Ministry of Education have had to import from neighbouring countries to held meet our teaching needs. The importation of teachers comes at great costs to the local economy. It makes sense to offer local teachers a working package that will keep them in the profession for as long as possible.

Previously teachers have abandoned the profession for several reasons one of which was the lack of adequate resources made available to them. Political interference and victimisation have also been a major cause for deserting the profession in the past. Minister Bernard Shamlaye it is hoped will move away from the practises of his predecessor. Teachers should be judged on their ability to instruct and on their level of production not on political affiliation. The Ministry of Education must heed this advice otherwise in a few years very little of the newly recruited will be around.

The graduation ceremony to honour the new teachers was held at the International Conference Centre last Friday, 5th May, 2007. The courses were between one to four years and were at certificate, diploma, advanced diploma and post-graduate levels. Lucina Gabriel walked away with the award for most outstanding student. She was presented with a cup and laptop computer. Le Nouveau Seychelles Weekly wishes all the new graduates success and good luck in the teaching profession in the years to come!