It is a good base of human resources that leads to effective human capital accumulation, Dr Mmantsetsa Marope has said.
Dr Marope is the director of the International Bureau of Education (IBE) within the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
She was speaking yesterday, shortly after paying a courtesy call on President Danny Faure at State House.
Accompanied on the visit to State House by Minister for Education and Human Resource Development Jeanne Siméon, Dr Marope is here on an official mission following a request from President Faure to support Seychelles in improving the quality of education, and to do so equitably.
Dr Marope is exploring how Unesco can support the education sector, particularly in the context of the country’s new long-term development vision.
During the meeting, President Faure thanked Dr Marope for her consistent support through Unesco. The president reaffirmed the commitment of the government to continue improving the education system as a whole.
On this visit, Dr Marope and her delegation will work closely with officials from the Ministry of Education and Human Resource Development to systematically review the different elements of the education curriculum.
Among the topics of discussion at yesterday’s meeting were the support of Unesco in helping Seychelles to improve the quality of education so that every Seychellois learner gets the level of quality and also to support the development relevance of education, especially in the context of the new national long-term development vision that the country is developing.
This will ensure that the reforms in the education system are well aligned with the reforms in the overall national development.
President Faure and Dr Marope also discussed on how to better follow the learners on different aspects of education, including the acquisition of languages such as French, Creole and English, improvement in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)and also the improvement of teachers and how to better improve students assessment.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Dr Marope said she is excited to be in Seychelles again and see how the country has progressed.
“There has been a lot of effort to make sure that reforms in the education system align with the reforms of overall national development, and ensure that the country has skilled human resources in the future. As you know, Seychelles is doing very well in the Human Capital Index, but what will sustain that high performance of Seychelles is ensuring the health of the Seychellois and their education. It is a good base of human resources that leads to effective human capital accumulation,” she said.
During this visit, Dr Marope and her team will also be planning the next International Biennial Conference on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), scheduled for early next year.
Dr Marope assumed the role of director of the IBE on July 15, 2014.
Previously, she held several posts at the Unesco headquarters in Paris, including director of the division for basic to higher education and learning.
Boasting over three decades of experience in education, she has spent 10 years at the World Bank, 11 years teaching at the University of Botswana, two years as executive secretary of ERNESA (Educational Research Network in Eastern and Southern Africa), and extensive consultancy and advisory services to ministries of education, regional economic communities, ADEA (Association for the Development of Education in Africa), bilateral and multilateral agencies, and education research networks.
Through her career, Dr Marope built extensive experience in all levels of education and training, both formal and non-formal education, basic research, policy research and policy dialogue, education sector analysis, development of sector reform programmes responsive to national economic and social development challenges, capacity assessment including the design and implementation of capacity development programmes, monitoring and evaluation, programme impact assessment, resource mobilisation, efficient resource utilisation, building and engendering international partnerships for sector development, and business development. She is reputed for her contribution and leadership in establishing professional communities of practice as well as strengthening their capacities, including the mentoring and training of junior researchers and professionals.
Her publications cover a wide range of areas including education and national development, skills development, shared growth and competitiveness, education and poverty reduction, education sector analysis, education policy, planning and management, capacity development, strategic partnerships for education development, innovation and best practices in education, women in higher education, early childhood care and education, curriculum, teaching, and award-winning Setswana novels.
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Courtesy Call by the Director of International Bureau of Education – UNESCO
