President Wavel Ramkalawan, chaired a scheduled meeting of the Cabinet yesterday, Wednesday 27th November in which a number of legal and policy memoranda were approved.
The Cabinet approved for Seychelles' acceptance of five amendments to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC), reinforcing the nation’s commitment to justice and the prevention of grave international crimes. The amendments criminalise the use of certain weapons, intentional starvation of civilians in warfare, and the crime of aggression, while removing Article 124, which allowed new state parties to defer ICC jurisdiction over war crimes. This decision aligns Seychelles’ legal framework with international standards and will be submitted to the National Assembly for ratification, strengthening the country’s role in upholding international justice and contributing to global peace and stability.
The Cabinet approved the revised Seychelles Made Bill, 2024. The amendments, include the refining of the governance framework of the Seychelles Made Label and the streamlining of processes for implementation of the Seychelles Made Label. Additionally, a robust marketing strategy has been developed in collaboration with the Tourism Department to promote the Seychelles Made Label and its contribution to diversifying Seychelles' tourism offerings. The Bill will be submitted to the National Assembly, marking a significant step toward strengthening the certification and promotion of Seychelles-made products.
The Cabinet approved the Ministry of Education's proposal to implement the Professional Teacher Competency Framework (2023) and the Professional Teacher Competency Handbook (2023) effective from 2025. The implementation aims to enhance teaching quality, promote continuous professional development, and motivate educators through recognition, rewards, and structured career advancement opportunities.
The Cabinet was briefed on the ongoing implementation of the School Autonomy Initiative, a transformative programme aimed at decentralising school governance and empowering Headteachers to function as chief executives of their institutions. Launched in August 2022, the initiative encompasses all 35 public schools; is rooted in purpose-driven leadership, strategic decision-making, and accountability. Significant progress has been made in leadership capacity building, operational support and training School Councils in governance roles. The initiative aligns with Seychelles’ National Development Strategy for a quality education system, with plans to embed autonomy principles in teacher education, enhance data-driven decision-making, and secure additional funding for capacity building and infrastructure. Cabinet’s endorsement reaffirms the commitment to this transformative approach, ensuring the sustainability of high-performing, autonomous schools.
The Cabinet approved for the membership of the Teachers Council of Seychelles in the African Forum for Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA). Established under the Education (Teachers Council of Seychelles) Regulations 2021, the Teachers Council of Seychelles aims to regulate and promote the teaching profession in Seychelles. Membership in AFTRA, a continental body affiliated with UNESCO, strengthens Seychelles' alignment with international standards and provides opportunities for professional development, ethical standard-setting, and collaboration.
Relevant Ministries will provide details.