Apprenticeship in Seychelles

Seychelles has an established but provider- and sector-specific apprenticeship system. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is overseen nationally by the Ministry of Education's Technical Education Division, which works on strategy, curricula, quality, provider supervision, industry cooperation and apprenticeship arrangements. The Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) manages the Seychelles National Qualifications Framework (SNQF), accreditation, quality assurance and Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), which assesses formal, non-formal and informal learning against a qualification. SIT's formal Certificate (Apprenticeship) is a part-time, competency-based programme at SNQF Level 3. It normally lasts 18 months and combines one day of campus instruction each week with practical work at an attached business or company. Work Based Experience (WBE) is a required part of the programme, so learners develop theory, practical skills and workplace competence together. The certificate is a nationally recognised TVET qualification. SIT and SNQF materials place the certificate at about 1,200 notional hours or 120 credits. SIT's listed apprenticeship fields include Carpentry and Joinery, Electrical Installation, Masonry, Motor Vehicle Mechanics, Mechanical Engineering, Plumbing, and Refrigeration and Air Conditioning. Entry requirements depend on the trade. For example, Mechanical Engineering may require at least 40% in English, Mathematics and Science or Design Technology in the National Examinations, or 40% in General Mathematics, General English and General Science. Records of Achievement or a completed TVET qualification with the required results may also be accepted. SIT states that prior work experience is not required at Certificate level, although mature learners may use RPL or documented experience where the provider confirms that option. Applicants normally register through SIT, the relevant Head of Programme or the Registrar. The listed intake is in February. The application may require a National Identification Number, education records and, depending on the applicant's situation, parent or guardian, employer or workplace supervisor information. Workshop training can also require safety shoes and overalls. SIT assesses learners through continuous assessment, written theory examinations and practical demonstrations. A workplace supervisor assesses practical performance during WBE. Learners generally need at least 55% in each required unit. SIT's grading bands identify 0–54% as Not Yet Competent, 55–69% as Pass, 70–84% as Merit or Credit, and at least 85% as Distinction. Completion requires passing all prescribed assessments. SIAH provides an agricultural equivalent through the Certificate in General Agriculture (Apprenticeship) and the Certificate in Ornamental Horticulture and Landscaping (Apprenticeship). These are listed as accredited SNQF Level 3 certificates lasting 18 months or three semesters, with seven months of WBE. The programme labels and delivery arrangements should be confirmed with SIAH for the relevant intake. Typical access options include National Examination results of at least 50% in English, Mathematics and Science, a General Pathway result of at least 70%, or another option combining examination performance, English and Mathematics competence and at least two years of field experience. SIAH offers progression to an Advanced Certificate at Level 4. After a SIT Certificate, a learner may apply for an Advanced Certificate at Level 4 and then a National Diploma at Level 5. Progression is not automatic; the learner applies through the Registrar and must meet the provider's performance and institutional criteria. A completed qualification can support entry as a skilled worker or technician and may also support self-employment or contracting, depending on the trade, competence and legal requirements for the work. Tuition for eligible Seychellois learners is fully subsidised by SIT. Materials and personal protective equipment can create additional costs. Government sponsorship or a stipend may be available in some cases, but the current apprenticeship allowance amount is not verified. A training provider should confirm the exact fees, support and equipment requirements before registration. The Employment Department's Skills Development Programme (SDP) is a separate, mainly on-the-job option for unskilled young people. It has been described as serving people aged 15 to 30 for six to 18 months, including school dropouts, single parents and people who did not complete a Professional Centre programme. Registration may require identification, bank details, a résumé and photograph, school records or references, and sometimes a child's birth certificate. The programme aims at full-time employment and issues a Certificate of Achievement, but it does not provide evidence of an SNQF vocational qualification. Eligibility, allowances and programme conditions should be checked because a reform was approved in 2026. The Employment Act treats apprenticeship participants as trainees. It provides a framework in which the National Vocational Training Board promotes, organises and coordinates training and apprenticeship schemes with public and private organisations. An employer may not demand an unlawful premium payment from a trainee, and trainees have rights to allowances set by law. The exact current allowance schedule should be confirmed with the responsible authority. Formal apprenticeship provision is concentrated on Mahé. There is no reliable evidence of a directly equivalent apprenticeship offer on Praslin, La Digue or the Outer Islands. Applicants should confirm the provider location, employer placement, intake, fees, equipment and supervision before relying on a programme. Agricultural, construction, mechanical, vehicle, electrical, plumbing and refrigeration pathways are the areas with the clearest documented relevance in Seychelles.