About Us - Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education

Who We Are

The Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (S.I.T.E) was established in January 2014 under the auspices of the Ministry of Education in accordance with the provision of the Tertiary Education Act, 2011 as a state non-university tertiary education institution. S.I.T.E is located at Mont Fleuri, adjacent to the Ministry of Education.

SITE is the national institution responsible for the preparation, professional development, and continuous upgrading of teachers in Seychelles. As the cornerstone of teacher training in the country, SITE plays a vital role in ensuring that schools are staffed with competent, motivated, and well-prepared educators who uphold the values of quality education for all.

Our History

Teacher education in Seychelles has a long and rich history, dating back to the early years of organised training in the 19th–20th century. Over the decades, the training of teachers evolved through several national institutions:

Teacher Training College (TTC)

The earliest formal structure for preparing teachers.

School of Education

A later transformation to strengthen professional preparation.

National Institute of Education (NIE)

Established in 1999, this became the central institution for teacher training and academic programmes.

School of Education – UniSey

From 2010, teacher training merged with UniSey, offering university-aligned programmes.

2014: Birth of SITE

In January 2014, the teacher training division separated from UniSey and became the Seychelles Institute of Teacher Education (SITE), an autonomous institution under the Ministry of Education.

Since then, SITE has grown into a Fully Accredited and Nationally Recognized Teacher Education Institution with a strong and expanding academic portfolio.

Our Mandate

SITE is mandated to:

Train and certify pre-service teachers for early childhood, primary, and secondary education
Support professional development for in-service teachers
Strengthen the quality of teaching and learning through research, capacity-building, and continuing education
Lead transformation in teacher education aligned with national priorities
Ensure quality assurance, programme relevance, and alignment with SQA standards

Our Journey:

Growth and Transformation (2014–Present)

In just over ten years, SITE has achieved significant milestones:

📘 Institutional and Programme Accreditation

✅ Full Institutional Accreditation awarded by the Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA).
✅ Successful accreditation of all major diploma programmes, eliminating backlog and strengthening programme quality.
✅ Expansion of programme offerings to meet emerging national needs (ECCE, specialisation, semi-specialisation, blended learning).

📗 Strengthening Teacher Preparation

✅ Development of new and revised diploma programmes for pre-service and in-service teachers, including:
- Diploma in Education – Primary (Mathematics, Science & Digital Skills)
- Diploma in Education – Primary (English, Creole & Social Studies)
- Diploma in Education – Primary (English, French and Creole)
- Certificate in Childcare & Development (reviewed)
✅ Enhanced Work-Based Experience (WBE) model with structured stages, improved supervision, and stronger school partnerships.

🤝 Strategic Partnerships

SITE collaborates with several national and international partners, including:

✅ Ministry of Education (MOE)
✅ Seychelles Qualifications Authority (SQA)
✅ University of Seychelles (UniSey)
✅ Institute for Early Childhood Development (IECD)
✅ African Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA)
✅ Commonwealth of Learning (COL)
✅ Local schools, private institutions, and educational bodies
✅ Community organisations, NGOs, and international development agencies

👩‍🏫 Our Learners and Staff

✅ SITE serves hundreds of trainee teachers across multiple diploma and certificate programmes, including both pre-service and in-service cohorts.
✅ Our dedicated academic and non-academic staff are committed to delivering high-quality teacher education, student support services, and institutional leadership.

📈 Strategic Plan 2023–2027

The Strategic Plan sets out SITE’s vision for excellence in:

✅ Digital transformation and modern teaching environments
✅ Staff development and workforce strengthening
✅ Infrastructure improvement and campus revitalisation
✅ Programme development, quality assurance, and accreditation
✅ Student engagement and community outreach
✅ Strengthening the teaching profession and promoting leadership in education
✅ Reviving interest in teaching through the SITE Campaign and “Future Builders” initiatives

🎓 Institutional Initiatives & Engagement

Over the past decade, SITE has led or participated in major institutional activities, including:

🏫 SITE Open Day
🎉 10th Anniversary Celebrations
📚 Teaching & Learning Symposiums
🔬 STEAM Olympiad
👥 Aspiring Teachers’ Club activities
🗣️ Voices of Tomorrow Forum
🧑‍🏫 CPD workshops for teachers
🤝 Community engagement projects
🌍 International and regional workshops and conferences (ECCE, ESD, foundation learning)

SITE’s vibrancy extends beyond the classroom through cultural events, student engagement initiatives, exhibitions, and collaborative national activities.

Our Future

As SITE enters its next phase of growth, we are committed to:

Introducing new programmes aligned with national development needs
Strengthening STEM and multilingual education through semi-specialisation pathways
Advancing research, innovation, and digital learning
Revamping campus facilities for an inclusive, modern learning environment
Enhancing the visibility and prestige of the teaching profession
Building stronger partnerships across the Indian Ocean, Africa, and beyond

SITE remains dedicated to preparing educators who are capable, confident, and committed to shaping the future of Seychelles.