The government has pledged to make available all the support and means at its disposal to ensure that the Seychelles Polytechnic succeeds in its vision to become a fully fledged, regionally recognised institution of higher learning.

This was said by Vice-President James Michel in his address to mark the 20th anniversary of the Seychelles Polytechnic celebrated on Friday January 24 in a special ceremony held at the institution's theatre hall at Anse Royale.

The Seychelles Polytechnic was inaugurated on January 24, 1983 by President France Albert Rene.

Friday January 24, ceremony was attended by a crowd comprising the institution's past students, its former heads of school, directors, teachers as well as members of the National Assembly.

In his speech VP Michel said the Polytechnic endeavoured to offer quality courses to students with the required aptitude and character, while furthering its commitment to the principle of life long learning.

He said the institution sought "to produce responsible and informed graduates who were au fait with developments in their own fields and able to play an effective role in the different spheres of society."

The Vice-President pointed out that right from the start the government had put education at the forefront of its agenda to build a better life for its people.

"Pursuing higher education is sometimes considered as higher learning, but institutions such as the Polytechnic are much more than knowledge factories. They are testament to our perennial struggle to build a better world for ourselves and our children...they are centres and symbols of our higher yearning," he said.

Despite the smallness of Seychelles' economy, he said, he was proud that the students were being given plenty of opportunities to prepare themselves for the task of nation-building to shape the destiny of the country and realise the Seychelles Dream.

VP Michel also presented awards which comprised shields and cash prizes to the nine longest-serving staff at the Seychelles Polytechnic. The longest-serving staff are Marcel Moustache, Leslie Cetoupe, Lisette Henriette, Marie-France Loze, Robin Woodcock, Catheline Lawrence, Marcel Nicette, Daniel Figaro and Jean Rasool.

During the ceremony the Minister for Education and Youth, Mr Danny Faure, also launched the Poly Website, seypoly.edu.sc. The website gives an overview of the institution's structure, the courses on offer and entry criteria, the 2002 to 2006 vision of the Polytechnic among other interesting information.

The ceremony was also marked by the unveiling of the institution's new motto, "Gateway to Opportunities," as well as its new logo.

Some members of the newly formed Poly Alumni Association, chaired by Mr Rolph Payet, were also introduced. 

The outgoing director, Mrs Anne Lafortune, who has been holding the post since 1995, paid tribute to all those who over the past 20 years had contributed towards successfully transforming the Seychelles Polytechnic into a higher learning institution.

Today, she said, the Polytechnic stood proud of its achievements, proud of the over 10,000 professionals and tradesmen it had trained and proud that it had over the last two decades helped so many young Seychellois build a career and a better life.

There was also a testimony by one of the first students to enrol at the Seychelles Polytechnic, Dr Anne Gabriel, who gave an interesting account of by-gone days at the institution.

The ceremony ended with the cutting of the Polytechnic's 20th anniversary cake and an exhibition showcasing the institution's achievements.

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