About Us

History/Background

The Adult Learning and Distance Education Centre originally called the School of Continuing Education was set up in 1983 under the umbrella of the Seychelles Polytechnic of the Ministry of Education. Its main purpose was to provide a continuing education service to adults and out of school youths in the Seychelles society.

The main objectives of the School of Continuing Education were to upgrade the academic and occupational skills of adults, provide retraining for new occupations as well as language skills needed for everyday communication and overseas training. The Literacy programme was offered to all citizens and its objective was to help eradicate illiteracy. From its inception to now the literacy rate has increased from 61.1% in 1971 to 91.1% in 2002. Under the ambit of the Technical and Further Education Division, the Centre’s name was changed to ALDEC in 1999 with the education reform to encompass its expanding roles and to continue to build on the basic principles of equity, education for empowerment and education for productivity which underscore the Ministry’s education goal.

Mission Statement

The Adult Learning and Distance Education Centre (ALDEC) holds as a primary value that learning is a lifelong process and that all persons have a basic right to opportunities for continued growth in learning. It recognises the natural right of all individuals to education. It is therefore dedicated to offering a relevant and effectively organised education service for adults and out-of-school youths that complements formal schooling, meets personal, professional and national needs and thus, improve the quality of life of individuals in the first place and the nation as a whole.

Main Objectives 

1. Provides and promotes affordable, accessible and continuing quality education to out-of-school youths and adults to enable them to contribute more fully to their own and the nation’s overall
2. Provides for the acquisition of functional literacy skills to improve the quality of life of all adults and out-of-school youths.
3. Provides learning opportunities to help develop the capacity of individuals to participate more effectively in the process of change.
4. Contributes to the development of a lifelong learning culture among all citizens.
5. Provides education and training opportunities to further knowledge, improve/develop skills, or further vocational interests.
6. Advocates for adult and continuing education programmes and functional literacy programmes.
7. Provides diverse and creative educational programmes and learning experiences consistent with the needs of adult learners.
8. Assists Ministries and organisations with provision and implementation of in-service staff development programmes.