The students in a family photo after Friday's meeting

The Ministry of Education and Youth is this year spending some R26 million on the overseas training of 88 students who have qualified for scholarships.

67 of these students will be going to universities in UK, France, Canada and Greece and 21 others will be enrolling on the Seychelles-Manchester Twinning programme at the Seychelles Polytechnic as from next year.

Some of the 67 students going overseas leave Seychelles as early as this weekend.

In a meeting with the students yesterday Minister Faure appealed to them not to abandon Seychelles once they have obtained their degrees, as the country's future development depended on them.

The meeting, held at the National Theatre, was also attended by education principal secretary MacSuzie Mondon, the director general of Technical and Further Training Anne Lafortune, the director for International Training Marie-Ange Morel, as well as the ministry's desk officers. 

"It is okay that you all have your dream. The government is investing in you so that you realise your ambition, but you must come back because it is your moral duty to serve your country and give back what has been invested in you so that others too will benefit," Minister Faure told the students.

On their part, PS Mondon and Mrs Lafortune talked about the ministry's policy regarding further education, focusing on issues like tuition fees, stipend, books allowance, extra funds for specific projects, medical insurance, accommodation, as well as on the importance of maintaining communication with the ministry at all times.

Mrs Mondon advised the students on how to manage their budget properly and avoid extravagant spending, warning them against incurring high medical expenses which she said the ministry would not cover.

She also had a word of advice on what to look out for when looking for accommodation outside university campus.

A returning graduate, Miss Rebecca Lousteau-Lalane, who has completed her studies in the UK, also took the opportunity to share her experience with the students, giving them tips on ways to cope with life overseas and in universities. 

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