The total number of children enrolled in early childhood development programmes regardless of stage expressed as a percentage of the official age-group is reffered to as the Gross enrolment for this two year programme.

Table _____ depicts this situation by showing the general tendency from 1990 to 1999.

It must be stated that even before 1990 the early childhood education programmes were well attended this total enrolment and gross rate figure. At all time as well the physical infrastrural facilities were already in place. However during the 90’s these facilities were improved bringing them to the minimum level set by the government throughout the countries irrespective of the geographical location.

Table _____ show the number of pupils enrolled in ECD by geographical allocation gender.

The table to follow show the progression from early childhood (creche stage) into Primary 1. Most parents have long understood that a child will fare better in the primary cycle if the child has attend some kind of early childhood education programmes. For those reason although, creche education is optimal, nevertheless non fee-paying parents send the children to participate.

Furthermore Government make it possible for everyone to attend there programme by constructing and improving these facilities in all districts where the population is concentrated. All such institution for that matter are situated short walking distance within the catchment area.

All creches are attached to primary schools in accordance to its geographical location. Although zoning is not in force at creche level most children attend their respective creche and this makes it easier for promotion into the associated primary school. Number of new entrants to primary grade 1 who have attended some form of organised childhood development programmes, expressed as a percentage of total number of new entrants to primary grade 1 is being depicted by table ____. This is an indicator, which assess the proportion of grade 1 pupils who have received preparation for primary schooling through ECD programme.

Enrolment in ECD by type of Institution

The calculation of this indicator involves obtaining the total number of new entrants in the first grade of primary education regardless of age compared with the official primary school entrance age population.

Table _____ shows this evolution between 1990 – 1999 by gender.

From table _____ no disparities exist since all regions have reached an apparent Intake Rate of 100 percent. There exist however, marginal disparities between gender as can be observed in the case of 1994 figure. By 1999, the situation had improved and the gender parity index was in equilibrium.

Table _____ looks at the evolution of the Net Intake Rate by gender 1990-1999.

The high NIR sometimes over 100 per cent is explained by the high mobility of foreigner on contract, the net migration and the National population data base is unable to keep pace with. This is often the case with small island states. It is easier to keep track of the children since they all attend school as soon as they enter the country but it take a while for the Nation population data base show this. Most of the time those concerned may have already left by the time a survey is done.

In table ____ the same situation is being illustrated on a geographical basic and by gender.

Table ____ Evolution of NIR by geographical location and gender.

Comparing the figures for the two different years we definitely see some improvement in the quality of education. The net are closer to 100 per cent in 1999 than in 1994.

Table ____ shows the trend in total enrolment by gender 1990-1999

Table _____ shows evolution of GER by gender 1990-1999

Table _____ above show that Seychelles had already attained a gross enrolment ratio above 100 per cent at the beginning of the nineties and has maintained the level throughout the decade.

Table _____ Depicts the trends in enrolment by geographical location and by gender 1994-1999

Table _____ show the trends in enrolment of the primary schools going age by geographical location and by type of institution 1994-1999.

As indicated by the figures in Table _____ the private sector enrolment is very minimal compared to public school. The trending enrolment trends shows that the enrolment rate doubled between period 1994 to 1999, public schools remain very popular and registered an enrolment rate of 95 per cent in 1999. Private school open its door to the general public in 1993 only, with the reintroduction of multiparty democracy. Still, today these institutions, numbered three in total are relatively urbanised and are found only on the main island.

Evolution of Gross Enrolment Ratio by geographical location and by gender to show the possible variations that may exist between the chosen variables.

The Gross enrolment ratio as depicted by Table ______ indicates that all regions have reached an enrolment figure of 100 per cent irrespective of their geographical location.

The Net Enrolment Ratio (NER)

The Evolution of NER by gender between 1990 to 1999 is expressed in Table _____.

As is the case in most island mirostates, Seychelles also displays the situation where the NER shoots over 100 per cent. This is due mainly to (i) the small size of the population and any small change in the figures directly influences the outcome of the results; (ii) the rate of mobility in and out of the country (migration) and the main statistic office keeping pace with this mobility; (iii) natural changes in the population; iv record from schools registers are easy obtainable hence making it easy to do head-count of pupils attending the programmes. As such we sometime notice some un enrolled school children depending on the date the data is gathered. In general these does not really exist as seen in the enrolment trend and population data provided by the National Statistics Office.

Evolution of NER by Geographical location and by gender

Government still remains the main provider of education and as stated in the Seychelles constitution Act it is free for everyone and compulsory up to the age of 16 years. This is to say that if you are enrolled in a public school in Seychelles or if you make the necessary grade to follow courses. In this report private expenditure on education is not included as these are currently not available. The necessary is being reinforced to obtain these.