The High Commissioner of Seychelles to Botswana, Mr Claude Morel, travelled to the capital city of Botswana, Gaborone, on Thursday 11 February 2016 at the invitation of the country's Minister of Education and Skills Development, Dr Unity Sow, to participate in the sending off of 19 teachers who have been selected to take up employment in Seychelles on a 2-year contract. 13 of those teachers will arrive on Sunday 14 February. The remaining 6 are expected on Wednesday 17 February. All the teachers are currently undertaking an orientation programme ahead of their departure. 

In her remarks at the event, Minister Dow commended both the Seychelles and Botswana sides for the swift implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed in Seychelles in September 2015 By her and her counterpart, Minister MacSuzy Mondon. She stated that "the teachers have been carefully selected and are highly qualified". For his part, High Commissioner Morel said in his remarks that " today is a momentous occasion in the relations between our 2 countries. The implementation of the MOU is a testimony of meaningful South-South partnership between 2 countries of the SADC family. It has laid the foundation for the pursuit of many opportunities between the 2 countries in the education sector". It will be recalled that there are 40 teachers pursuing their tertiary education at the University of Botswana. A delegation from the Ministry of Education was in Botswana last month on a fact finding mission focused on Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

Also present at the event were the Assistant Minister of Education and Skills Development, Mr Richard Matlhare, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr Fidelis Molao, the Dean of the Faculty of Education of the University of Botswana, Professor Nnyepi, the Executive Director of the Botswana Public Service College, Mrs Kesa Nyati, and senior officials from the Ministries of Education and Skills Development and Foreign Affairs.

Mr Morel subsequently met with Seychellois student representative, Ms Juliana Charlette, who informed him that all the students were well settled and are progressing satisfactorily in their respective studies.