Seychelles Signs Think Equal Partnership to Transform Early Childhood Education
VICTORIA, Seychelles — The Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development has signed a memorandum of understanding with Think Equal, a globally recognised non-profit organisation focused on enhancing social and emotional learning in early childhood education, establishing Seychelles as part of a worldwide initiative spanning 39 countries and committing to begin implementation of the Think Equal programme in crèches and primary one classrooms from term two of 2026, with teachers to be equipped with multilingual storybooks, lesson plans, and teaching guides translated into Creole, English, and French. The signing ceremony was held at the ministry’s headquarters in Mont Fleuri on Friday.
The introduction of social and emotional learning into Seychelles schools carries deep significance for the long-term development of the nation’s children and for the kind of society Seychelles will become in the decades ahead. Research consistently demonstrates that children engaged in effective social and emotional learning programmes achieve higher academic performance, display improved behaviour, and develop greater emotional resilience, qualities that prepare them not only to succeed in school but to contribute meaningfully as citizens, workers, and community members.
Education Minister David Pierre said the partnership represents more than a programme, describing it as a commitment to transforming education in Seychelles by placing equal emphasis on both academic success and emotional intelligence, with the aim of nurturing children who are knowledgeable but also empathetic, resilient, and socially responsible. Priyanka Devani, director of Global Programmes at Think Equal Africa and the Middle East, noted that by age five, 90 percent of brain development has already occurred, making the ages of three to six a crucial developmental window during which delays in introducing foundational social and emotional programmes mean missed opportunities for positive growth. She emphasised that the initiative is not a one-off programme and that support for educators will be continuous through ongoing guidance and training.
The implementation will use a train-the-trainer model, with master trainers from primary schools receiving in-depth training and subsequently sharing their expertise with other teachers in their schools. School psychologist Catriona Monthy stressed the importance of valuing early childhood educators and said the programme aims to empower them with the necessary resources and training to excel in their roles. The ministry has established a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation framework to track the percentage of schools adopting the programme, the number of teachers trained and certified, improvements in student behaviour and engagement, and reductions in behavioural incidents, with approximately 1,600 students expected to benefit from the programme.
The Think Equal collaboration aligns with the ministry’s strategic plan for 2025-2029, which prioritises holistic learner development, equitable quality education, and value-based learning. It further supports the provisions of the Education Act, which mandates the comprehensive intellectual, social, emotional, and moral development of every child. The programme builds on an earlier collaboration initiated in 2025 and represents Seychelles’ commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind by placing the development of kindness, empathy, and respect at the centre of early education alongside literacy and numeracy.
The Think Equal partnership signals a significant step in Seychelles’ approach to education reform, recognising that the foundations of a compassionate, resilient society are laid in the earliest years of a child’s life.
