Tuesday, 23 March 2010

PNQ from the Leader of the Opposition: New scheme of service for teachers

Following the announcement of salary increases under a new scheme of service for teachers, the Leader of the Opposition, Wavel Ramkalawan, asked the minister for finance, Danny Faure, to provide details.

The increases, Minister Faure explained, reflected between 20 % to 30% of salaries. They would be made possible by the ministry adding special allowances to the normal salary of teachers in cases where they take on additional responsibilities. These include inducement allowance, responsibility allowance, special allowance, part-time allowance and allowance for Mahe-based teachers who go to work on other islands.

In addition to shouldering more burdens, teachers would also be paid based on their qualifications, experiences, competency and progress. They would as from now on be graded from 3 to 13, with corresponding salaries - the smallest number representing the lowest salary and going upwards. Those at grade 13 who take on responsibilities on behalf of an entire school are the ones who could have received an increase of up to R4,000, but they were very few. Supply teachers and ancillaries would also be fitted in under the new scheme.

Out of R171 million rupees, the total budget for the Ministry of Education this year, R17.6 million would go towards financing the increases. A supplementary budget of R4.5 million would also be needed towards July 2010 to complete the scheme.

The request on teachers was the only part of Mr. Ramkalawan’s question on salaries that Speaker William Herminie had placed on the agenda. He had decided not to permit two other questions which were on the possibility of salary revision for nurses and for the rest of the public service.

Monday, 8 March 2010

Message from Opposition Leader Wavel Ramkalawan

On behalf of the Seychelles National Party, I express sincere best wishes to all women in Seychelles on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

This annual commemoration which falls on March 8 should only be a reminder of all that we owe to the women of our country as mothers, wives and workers. It is an occasion for us to recognise and honour the special contributions that women make in our society. I hope that on behalf of men in our country I can express our solidarity and support as well as our appreciation for these special contributions.

I hope that we will continue to see women play the strong role they have been playing in many fields such as education, health, social work and civic leadership.

The contribution of women will be the key to finding solutions to the problems that we face with increasing concern today such as drug abuse, crime, prostitution, and domestic violence. This is firstly because the solution to these problems rests primarily on the fields in which they are prominent, in particular on education, in both the home and in our schools.

But secondly, it is because the solution rests so much on strengthening the moral values of our society which I believe women care deeply about.

I lake the occasion to congratulate young women today, who together with many young men, have dedicated themselves to strengthening moral and family values. Building strong families is one of the important tasks on which our future as a country depends.

The Seychelles National Party will continue to be guided in its policies and programmes by the needs and aspirations of women because we know that achievements and progress that they make will contribute to a better future for all of us.

I hope that all men will on Monday March 8, make a special effort to express respect, courtesy, appreciation, solidarity and support to the women in their families, their colleagues and those they interact with in whatever way.

Wednesday, 3 March 2010

South African high commissioner calls on Mr Ramkalawan

South African high commissioner Dumi Matabane paid a courtesy call on the Leader of the Opposition at Arpent Vert today.

Mr Matabane presented Mr Wavel Ramkalawan with some football memorabilia, commemorating the FIFA World Cup event his country is hosting from June 11 to July 11.
Amongst the issues discussed were the IMF economic reforms and the piracy threats affecting the local fishing and tourism industries.

Mr Ramkalawan raised the issue of regional cooperation to assist Seychelles in the fight against piracy.