Minister of Education, Dr. Justin Valentin Principal Secretaries
Chief Executive Officers
UNESCO Category 2 Institute – Special Advocate, Chevalier Joseph Samy Recipient of Honor Award of the Republic, Mrs. Soona Oliaji
Management & Staff of IECD
Training Facilitators from various sectors,
Registered and Prospective Childminders and their families, Distinguished partners & guests
IECD Staff
Ladies and gentlemen
It gives me immense pleasure to say a few words on this auspicious occasion. I wish to thank the Minister of Education, Dr. Justin Valentin, who despite his busy schedule, has made time to be with us today, and to the esteemed partners and guests for joining us on this Friday afternoon.
Today we mark a monumental milestone as the Institute celebrates a few major accomplishments that we have just witnessed:
(1) 13th Group of prospective Childminders for completing basic training on the National Standards for Childminding Services, guided by the IECD’s legal frameworks in place.
(2) 6 new registered Childminders clocked 100% compliance to the 10 national standards in 2024.
(3) Launched of two interesting publications initiated by staff themselves to further promote home-based child care services, the technical projects and other related initiatives of the Institute, as a UNESCO Category 2 Institute.
Indeed, Ladies and Gentlemen, we are exceedingly proud to successfully achieve our set targets to continue to raise the level of quality service we provide and activities in ECCE. However, the determining factor of the success of the Childminding Programme lies on the steadfast support and strong collaboration of the key sectors in ECCE – Ministries, Departments and Agencies, relevant partners and benefactors, and who are still to this day, working closely with IECD, to collectively implement the regulatory and quality assurance framework for home-based child care services.
Since 2015 to date, more than 400 Childminders and Assistant Childminders have been trained with IECD. They have been sensitized on how to nurture, care and stimulate young children in a least restrictive and standardized environment, and prepare them to embrace formal early childhood education.
It is befitting to promote and showcase the accomplishments of the childcare providers, as there is an aggressive drive internationally to strengthen ECCE systems, including training and capacity building, recruitment, qualifications and working conditions of all ECCE personnel and improve frameworks and policies pillars, to ensure that all children gets a strong and winning start in life. This aligns well with the commitment for action encapsulated in the Tashkent Declaration 2022, adopted by UNESCO Member States, including Seychelles, to transform and sustain Early Childhood Care and Education.
I am very happy to note that we have already taken bold steps to fulfill this commitment and in most cases, we are well ahead of many developed countries world-wide and even in the region. As a small island developing state, we are on track and well positioned to achieve the sustainable development goals 4.2, by 2030.
To illustrate this, I would like to share three concrete initiatives and achievements, that IECD has undertaken:
(1) One of the groundbreaking success, is the recognized certification of 26 registered childminders in ‘childcare and development’ through the Recognition of Prior Learning, in collaboration with SQA and SITE in 2022. A second group of 14 registered childminders received their certificates in 2023 and a massive group of 31 (in-service and pre-service participants) received their certificates at the graduation ceremony of SITE, earlier this afternoon, of whom 11 are registered childminders and 1 child care assistant.
(2) As part of IECD’s long term Strategy, to professionalize the ECCE sector, this capacity building initiative, fully funded by the Government, is being offered through ‘full’ and ‘part-time’ courses. A new pathway for secondary-leaving students to enroll on the ‘child care and development’ has been introduced in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, and the course is delivered by SITE, as a recognized and accredited professional center for teacher education and support.
(3) The National Standards for Childminding Services, Regulation 2016, which is currently under review to align with Early Childhood Development Act 2022, was established to assure quality service provision and set national measures and benchmarks. All Childminders are expected to be fully compliant to 10 standards, with a view to satisfy regulatory principles, enhance quality management and promote the adoption of best practices and norms by Childminders.
At this juncture, allow me to extend our warmest congratulations to the group of 6 registered childminders who have just received their award. Your remarkable and consistent works to reach 100% compliance to the national standards have paid off. Together with the previous group who clocked 100% in 2022 and 2023, this represents around one-third of the total registered childminders with IECD. It shows that the national standards are indeed attainable, although at times we register some complaints, but if one is dedicated and committed to it, she or she can achieve the best possible results. My team and I are exceedingly proud of you ladies – mention their names. I hope you continue with the good work and encourage you all to maintain the highest level at all times.
To the 13th Group of 43 Prospective Childminders
Dear Participants – As early childhood educators, you have a very important role to play in protecting the rights, nurturing and educating our young children. The training, which you have just completed, reinforces the benchmark of quality and excellence to help ensure quality early childhood experience, school readiness and a strong head start for all children in your care.
As you have learnt, IECD has brought about a big shift in paradigm – from simply ‘vey ou pran swen avek zanfan’ to ‘stimil, edik nou pti zanfan’ e ‘kalite ledikasyon enformel’. I urge you all to join us in this transformation through the continued systematic implementation of the new ‘early stimulation and learning programme’ to achieve the children’s best possible developmental outcomes. In doing so, you will contribute in “Investing in our youngest children to bring the greatest returns, both socially and economically – one of the best investment a country can make’’. World Bank and UNESCO.
I know the path towards the certification ceremony has not been easy. We, the Government are indeed delighted to have accorded you this great opportunity, to take this important step to join this essential service and fulfilling your dreams as a registered child care service provider. A service which has also proved internationally to significantly contribute towards the country’s economy and was even more relevant during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.
We count on you to take up the challenge and help the country, the Institute and the Ministry’s endeavor to meet the increasing needs and demands for this critical service in our communities, to promote superior care in a safe and conducive environment for our young children.
Today we celebrate YOU, your diligence and commitment to complete the training programme, with the support of your family. Moreover, we celebrate your freshly acquired knowledge and skills to impart with young children and to the work you are currently doing. This certificate-giving ceremony is a graceful tribute to your 100% attendance, perseverance and active participation in the training. The certificate you have received is a passport for the formal registration of your service with IECD and part of the ongoing professional development and future recognized training in this domain.
On this note, I wish to congratulate you all and look forward to welcoming you on board after your grace period of six months. As we mark the closing of the intensive training programme for prospective Childminders, I take this moment to convey our sincerest gratitude and deep appreciation to our esteemed partners:
• Public Health Authority
• Health Care Agency
• Department of Employment & Social Affairs,
• Ministry of Education and SITE
• National Sports Council,
• Seychelles Fire Rescue Services Agency,
• External Partners and Collaborators
A special note of thanks goes to our faithful Facilitators – their expertise in various areas in ECCE, their excellent facilitation skills, and their valued contribution to the successful delivery of the training sessions.
The concerted relationship with relevant partners reflects a strong commitment and focus to continue raising the quality of child care services. Your support is very commendable! On behalf of Minister Valentin, Chairpersons of the Boards and Staff, I applaud you and urge you to maintain this excellent collaborative partnership! Please give them a big round of applause!
Implementing such successful national initiatives requires support from everyone. I wish to convey our gratitude to the Minister, Chairman and Chairperson of IECD Boards, the Special Advocate & Chevalier – Mr Samy, Recipient of Honour Award of the Republic, Mrs. Oliaji, Footprints Day Care, STC, for their relentless support and the other benefactors for their kind sponsorships thus contributing to make this event a success.
I also wish to recognize the IECD Team, in particular Staff of the Home-based Regulatory Affairs Section, ELP Members and Administration & Finance Unit, for the effective planning, coordination of logistics for the training programme and organizing today’s ceremony. Indeed, you have proven that where there is strong team spirit and unity– wonderful things can be achieved. Join me to applaud the staff members for collective efforts and unswerving commitment.
In conclusion, the partnership with relevant partners reflects stronger focus on and the collective efforts to continually raise the quality of ECCE. We shall continue striving even harder, even on the regional and international front, as we chart our new frontier as a Category 2 Centre, under the auspices of UNESCO. This is an ongoing journey that we walk along together. Remember, it only takes a spark to get a fire going, so continue to kindle that passion to improve, and pass on the spark of learning and growth to the children you care and love.
Once again, congratulations dear registered and prospective childminders on your achievements.
It remains for me to thank you all for your esteemed presence. Have a pleasant evening!
