After-school reading centre opens at La Misère

Children from four to 12 years now have a place to go where they can continue to learn in a new, exciting environment, after school hours.

This follows the opening Monday February 16 of the Youth World Educational Reading Centre on the ground floor of a one-storey building at Fairview, La Misère. Situated opposite the road leading to the French ambassador's residence, the centre is run by a former generalist diploma one teacher with 10 years of teaching experience, Mrs Graciana Marie. The centre offers classes from 3.00 p.m to 6.00 p.m Monday to Friday and from 9.00 a.m to 1.00 p.m on Saturdays.

During week days, the reading centre offers three one-hour sessions and can accommodate between 15 to 20 children per session. The children are normally classed according to their age group.

Mrs Marie, who has been able to set up the business with a loan from the Seychelles Industrial Development Corporation (SIDEC), said the centre was well equipped to provide lessons to complement the children's school syllabuses.

"It will be a continuity of what they are learning at school, but using different educational materials and tools that are more fun and exciting to work with, in a more relaxed environment," she told Business Nation.

"We have a variety of reading books for children and through interesting project works in the fields of science and social studies, picture drawing, filmed educational documentaries which students can watch and debate on as well as lessons on computer using CD-ROMs, we hope to instil in them the skills to memorise what they learn more effectively, develop their audio and visual understanding and encourage them to be supportive of one another through team work," Mrs Marie explained.

Computer lessons will be provided by an assistant.

Upon registration the children will have to sit for an entry test which will be used to assess their abilities and education level, but Mrs Marie said children would not be classed according to their learning ability.

"In my experience I know that children who are poor in their learning normally look up to those who are more advanced for support and guidance," she said.

Currently, the centre is targeting children in the areas of Mont Fleuri, Plaisance, Anse Boileau, Grand Anse and La Misère. With regard to transport facilities, Mrs Marie said she was looking into the possibility of acquiring a small bus that will carry the children to and from the centre.

The fee to register at the centre is R50 and each session costs R40.

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