School in Seychelles

The school pathway in Seychelles begins with regulated Early Childhood Education, continues through primary grades P1 to P6, and then follows secondary years S1 to S5. School entry arrangements for P1 and S1 are announced operationally through the annual Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development (MEHRD) calendar and related notices. Seychelles does not use direct equivalents of the German Gymnasium, Realschule, Hauptschule or Berufsschule. After S5, students may continue to the School of Advanced Level Studies (SALS), enter a Professional Centre or another TVET pathway, work, or proceed to higher education. Families may choose between state schools and private educational institutions. State education is free and compulsory within the national system. Private schools operate under regulated provision, including the Education (Private Educational Institutions) Regulations 2005, and normally charge fees; current fees and compulsory additional charges depend on the provider. Reviewed official information does not establish one nationwide catchment or selection rule, so admission details can depend on current MEHRD announcements and the individual school's procedure. Attendance starts with the school calendar and continues through compulsory school age. Constitutional and Ministry materials describe a minimum of 11 years of compulsory education, while older policy wording refers to 10 years. The applicable age cutoff should therefore be checked against the current official rule when arranging enrolment or assessing an attendance duty. The national curriculum is competency-based and standards-driven. It includes English, Français, Kreol, mathematics, science, geography, social studies, physical education and health, information and communication technology, and personal, social and citizenship education. Schools use formative, summative, diagnostic and school-based assessment. National examinations take place at key stages including P2, P4, P6, S3 and S5, with S5 National Examinations marking the end of the main secondary pathway. National and international examination arrangements may involve the responsible examination authorities. Daily school life follows the official annual operations calendar and commonly includes uniform, grooming and code-of-conduct requirements. School transport is supported through an institutional unit, but eligibility and routes depend on the applicable arrangement. A universal meal entitlement or standard school-meal provision is not established in the available official evidence. MEHRD has reported free sanitary products for schoolgirls. Inclusive education is supported through the Inclusive and Special Education Division and Learner Support Services. Support can include early identification, assessment, intervention, placement, reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, differentiated teaching and individual education plans. Learner Support Services also address academic, social, emotional, behavioural and psychological needs, counselling, safeguarding and attendance. Mainstream inclusion is a policy priority, alongside evidenced special-needs provision and special schools where appropriate. The Department of General Education and Curriculum leads policy, curriculum and quality assurance. The School Services Division oversees the system through its early-childhood and primary, secondary and SALS functions, while the Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment Division develops curriculum and assessment frameworks. The Institute of Early Childhood Development supports early-childhood coordination and regulation, and the Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA) provides qualification-recognition and framework context. National school governance is not described as having a separate municipal layer in the available official material.