Yesterday morning, President Wavel Ramkalawan paid a visit to the Plaisance Primary School.
After receiving a letter from one of its P3 students, Raphael Mein, requesting that he visit his school, the President decided to pay him a visit.
Students lined up outside the main entrance to the school to greet President Ramkalawan. The Headteacher, Mrs. Therese Athanase, welcomed him, and Raphael gave him a bouquet of flowers.
The visit began with a quick tour of the school grounds where important places needed to be brought to the Head of State’s notice.
The delegation then moved on to the main assembly area, where the school had prepared a unique presentation that featured songs, a moutya dance, poems, and a brief debate by two students about their roles and responsibilities as students.
This event was enlivened by the students themselves.
The President addressed the pupils and everyone in attendance, thanking them for their kind welcome and expressing his happiness to be there after receiving the letter from Raphael.
He commended them on the skills they demonstrated in their animation and exhorted them to keep up their academic effort.
“I was moved to tears when I read Raphael’s letter, which is why I am visiting your school today. It makes me happy to be here.
Through the songs, dance, and brief chat you performed today, you demonstrated to me your talent. I want to congratulate you all on this.
I want to express my gratitude to the head teacher and her staff for the superb work they are doing and for the way they have assimilated our special needs children into your school.
The President remarked in his speech, “To you dear students, I encourage you to concentrate on your education; you have our entire support.
In her remarks of welcome, Mrs. Athanase thanked the President for coming to their school at Raphael’s request and said that this demonstrated his involvement in the educational growth of Seychelles children.
Raphael, for his part, thanked President Ramkalawan for attending to his request and said that both teachers and students felt honored to meet you.
Before leaving the school, the President and his entourage visited Raphael’s class as well as conducted a discussion with the school management.
Also present for the visit yesterday morning was the Minister for Education, Dr. Justin Valentin, Leader of Government Business in the National Assembly, Hon. Bernard Georges, Member of the National Assembly for Plaisance, Hon. Richard Labrosse, Member of the National Assembly for Roche Caiman, Hon. Audrey Vidot, Principal Secretary for the Education Services Department, Ms. Merna Eulentin, Principal Secretary of the Education Sector Development Department, Mr. John Lesperance, and other guests.