Ile Perseverance to get secondary school
11-March-2016
A secondary school on Ile Perseverance with a capacity to take in 900 students is expected to welcome its first batch of scholars in January 2018.
The school, which will have all the modern facilities including library, computer rooms, laboratories and other specialist rooms, will come at a cost of R50.7 million.
The Minister for Education Macsuzy Mondon and the Minister for Land Use and Housing Christian Lionnet yesterday laid the foundation stone marking the start of the project during a short ceremony in pouring rain on the construction site.
Vice-President Danny Faure, the Minister for Labour and Human Resource Development Idith Alexander, officials from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Land Use and Housing, pupils, teachers and parents, among other guests, witnessed the historic event.
The project is being partly funded by loans from the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (Badea), the Opec Fund for International Development (Ofid) and the government of Seychelles.
Saifu Construction Company has been awarded contract for the project which has been conceptualised and designed by the MLUH.
Addressing guests before the laying of the foundation stone, the principal secretary for Early Childhood, Primary and Secondary Education Merida Delcy described the event as an historic one and an important milestone in the history of our country and in the development of education.
“You will recall four years ago on January 19, 2012 the foundation stone for the construction of the first primary school was laid and 18 months after that the Perseverance North primary school opened its doors to welcome its first group of students. That was a great achievement indeed,” Mrs Delcy pointed out.
“Today’s event further emphasises the government’s commitment to providing our children with the best possible facilities and opportunities for them to be well educated and develop their potential to the fullest,” Mrs Delcy said.
She added that altogether three schools are to be built to serve the future residents of Ile Perseverance -- two primary schools with their accompanying crèches and a secondary school.
She noted that two primary schools are necessary to cater for the needs of the residents as they continue to move in their new houses. Presently some families have still not come in as the housing project is yet to be completed.
Mrs Delcy said the new school has been designed according to the norms of the Ministry of Education for secondary level institutions and it will be another landmark for Ile Perseverance.
She went on to add that laying the foundation for the new school symbolises the trust, love and care the government and people of Seychelles hold for our young people.
She told the students to continue to take their studies seriously and strive for excellence wherever they are.
“I urge you all to value the opportunity being offered to you because so many children around the world cannot go to school because of war or poverty and those children are longing to be at school and want so much to be educated. You have so many opportunities so grab them and make your parents and country proud of your achievements,” Mrs Delcy said.
Midzy Jeanne, representing parents of Ile Perseverance, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the government and all its partners involved in realising the project. She called on the students to give the facility the respect it deserves and to maintain its high standard once it is completed.
She also called on the parents and members of the community to show their appreciation and gratitude by giving a helping hand in any way they can to ensure the construction goes smoothly.
“Because at the end of the road lies an exciting new world of opportunities for the students of Ile Perseverance,” she said.
Ministers Mondon and Lionnet laying the foundation stone for the new
secondary school on Ile Perseverance
Source: NATION 3-11-16