VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Vocational Training Centre at North East Point was officially reopened yesterday afternoon by President Wavel Ramkalawan, who unveiled a new plaque marking the occasion alongside Dinarra Bonne. The renovation of the facility cost the government approximately R5 million and was carried out by Turnkey Solutions Pty Ltd, with the works taking around two years to complete. The building itself had finished its renovations since last year, although the matter of furniture remained to be resolved.
The principal secretary for the Family Department, Mike Morel, said the centre will offer a range of programmes, including crafts, home economics, literacy and numeracy, art classes, computer training and carpentry, across a total of ten classrooms. Plans are also underway to introduce agriculture and other courses in the future, with conversations ongoing with the Seychelles Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, which will support work with the trainees.
PS Morel explained that the centre addresses a gap faced by students leaving the School for the Exceptional Child, with a programme of three or four years under discussion so that graduates leave more independent and with a skill to find employment or start their own business. Operations began in March to allow students to settle in before the official opening. He appealed to employers to consider giving graduates a place of employment, urging them to consider abilities as well as disabilities. The ceremony featured a new logo designed by young graphic designer Kurt Pool, a song by Michael Raoul, a dance by trainees Celine Zialor and Christophe Aglae, and a poem recited by Tahnie Samedi.
