Tourism Academy in Seychelles opens new classrooms

The Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, has re-assured the parents of students taking courses at the Seychelles Tourism Academy of the safety and security aspects of the insti

The Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture, Alain St.Ange, has re-assured the parents of students taking courses at the Seychelles Tourism Academy of the safety and security aspects of the institution during the rebuilding of the new purpose-built Tourism Academy.

Minister St.Ange, accompanied by the Chief Executive of the Seychelles Tourism Board, Elsia Grandcourt, and the Special Advisor to the Minister, Raymonde Onezime, toured the academy to get a first-hand impression of the newly-built temporarily classes for first-year studentsโ€™ intake of the academy.

These spacious classes and computer lab, built from wooden recycled materials of the former block of five classes and the auditorium, are located on the schoolโ€™s main car park opposite the academyโ€™s administrative building and have the capacity to adequately take more than thirty students in each class.

Minister St.Ange met with management and workers of the Yangtze construction company, which in December 2011, had gained tender for the construction of the first phase of the Tourism Academy. Seychelles, it must be remembered, is aiming for the recognition of excellence in the region and in Seychelles for their tourism training institution, which is now under construction. Officers of the Intreprid consultancy, which are monitoring the smooth running of the project, and representatives from the Ministry of Finance were also present for the site visit by Minister St.Ange at the La Misere Tourism Academy this week.

Touring the compound, Minister St.Ange, guided by the new Managing Director of the business entities of the Academy, Peter Moncherry, said he โ€œis impressed with the final touches of these temporary classroomsโ€ which he said โ€œis a work well done.โ€

Minister St.Ange said that โ€œto displace the students to an alternative location while the site is under construction will not have been practical and cost effective.โ€ The students themselves said that they โ€œcan now remain on the academy compound and study in a conducive environment.โ€

Minister Alain St.Ange has confirmed that the construction work at the Tourism Academy is being done under strict safety and security measures and that the works will not disrupt the studentsโ€™ courses.

At present, the Tourism Academy has students making full use of these temporary classes and taking full-time courses in restaurant, bar, reception, tourism and tour operating, and food production, as well as students who have enrolled on an apprenticeship scheme only.

Minister St.Ange had met all the first-year students in their respective classes. He has re-assured them that โ€œhis ministry will work with private sector enterprises to facilitate their first employment after they complete their studies.โ€ He also assured all the students that they will get all the support they needed to complete their courses at the Seychelles Tourism Academy.

The Minister responsible for Tourism and Culture has also visited the hotel entity of the academy. This building constructed to house the officers of the former American tracking station will be the only site which will not be demolished during the construction of the Academy of Excellence.

Minister St.Ange said as he was leaving the Tourism Academy that he was fascinated by the breathtaking views from the hotel part of the academy, which will now also house the spa training center that will be overlooking the spectacular scenic view of the southern part of the island of Mahe.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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