The document summarizes the higher education landscape in Seychelles. It notes that education is compulsory up to age 16 and free through secondary school until age 18. It describes the education system and the introduction of private schools in the 1990s. The University of Seychelles opened in 2009 as the first public university, providing courses in various fields. Two regulatory bodies, the Tertiary Education Commission and Seychelles Qualifications Authority, oversee higher education by accrediting programs and institutions.

1. Higher Education Landscape in
Seychelles
June 2016

2. Introduction
Education in Seychelles is compulsory from
the age of 5 years up to the age of 16 years, and
free through secondary school until age 18.
The education system consist of primary 1-6,
secondary 1-5, post secondary (technical and
vocational) education, university.
Students must pay for uniforms, but not for
books or tuition.

3. Background of the education system
Children are first taught to read and write in the native
language.
Beginning in grade three, English is used as a teaching
language in certain subjects.
French is introduced in grade four.
The majority of students attend state schools
Private education has been an option in Seychelles since
the late 1960s, however it was only in 1994 that
Seychellois students were allowed to attend non-state
schools.

4. Background (cont..)
There are five private schools in Seychelles:
International School Seychelles, L'Ecole Francaise,
Independent School, Montessori school and Vijay
International School.
The International School and the Independent School
offer A level courses (post-16 years).
 Altogether some 2000 students are educated in the
private sector.

5. Background (cont..)
There are eleven public professional centers (post
secondary institutions):
Seychelles Maritime Academy, Seychelles Institute of
Technology, National Institute of Health and Social
Studies, Seychelles Business Studies Academy,
Seychelles Institute of Art and Design, Seychelles
Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture, Seychelles
Institute of Distance and Open Learning, Seychelles
Institute of Teacher Education, Seychelles Tourism
Academy.

6. Higher Education Landscape
 Although the higher education landscape is fairly
new in Seychelles with the University of Seychelles
opening its doors in September 2009, the Ministry
of Education is committed to build a coherent and
comprehensive system of quality education and
training reflecting shared universal and national
values, which will promote the integrated
development of the person enabling their
empowerment to participate fully in social and
economic development.

7. Higher Education Landscape (cont.)
From 2000 to 2009, the University of Seychelles-
American Institute of Medicine (USAIM) was the
only private University established in Seychelles,
and registered under Education Act (2004).
USAIM started with the signing of a charter in
2000 with the government of Seychelles and
recruited both local and international students
from 23 different countries.

8. Higher Education Landscape (cont..)
In 2007 USAIM’s first graduation ceremony
In 2008 USAIM awarded provisional
accreditation by SQA
In 2009 USAIM’s second graduation
In 2010 USAIM had to closed down following
legal battle.

9. Higher Education Landscape (cont..)
In 2009 the first and only public university
(UniSEY) opened its doors
Three separate campuses and offer courses in
Law, Business, education, ICT, Language and
media, Tourism, Environment and Health and
social care.
In 2015 UniSEY awarded full accreditation by
SQA
In 2016 it has around 875 students from different
countries

10. Regulatory Frameworks
There are two main regulatory bodies that
regulate higher education in the Seychelles
namely the Tertiary Education Commission
(TEC) and the Seychelles Qualifications
Authority (SQA)
SQA Act 2005
TEC Act 2011

11. Regulatory Frameworks (cont..)
SQA regulates education and training from
primary to university
Implements the national qualifications
framework
Mandates: validation of programmes,
accreditation of providers, authentication of
qualifications, establish equivalence of
qualifications.

13. Regulatory Frameworks (cont..)
TEC regulates the tertiary education and
training sector so as to safeguard and advance
the interests of all stakeholders, and provide
evidence-based recommendations that will
ensure the growth and development of the
sector.

14. Conclusion (cont..)
Traditionally, university-level education and
training has been accessed overseas through
government sponsored scholarships in key
fields of manpower needs of the country.
Few self-financed or privately sponsored
university education and training
However with the establishment of the
university of Seychelles more Seychellois are
able to invest in the education of their choice.