Eleven students from Mayotte are discovering Malagasy agricultural practices as part of an exchange program between Indian Ocean educational institutions.
Composed of students from various levels, ranging from the Vocational Aptitude Certificate (CAP) to the Vocational Baccalaureate, the Mahoran delegation is gaining extensive field experience. After an initial stage in Antalaha, in the Sava region, focused on vanilla cultivation and livestock activities, the students returned to Antsiranana to continue their immersion at the Agricultural Vocational Training and Support Center (CAFPA) of Antanamitarana-Antsiranana-II, the former Tiko Farm site, led by director Pâquerette Raheliarisoa.
“The interest for us was to work with a training center like ours, to see how learning and practical work are conducted, and to exchange our experiences,” explains Cécile Morelli, project manager for the Rural Network – Regional Cooperation Communication and a member of the delegation’s management team.
The participants follow different but complementary curricula. The CAP, accessible after the ninth grade and prepared over two years, trains skilled workers. The vocational baccalaureate, which takes place over three years, prepares students for managing an agricultural operation and also opens the way to higher education.
According to the explanations, participation in this trip was not random. Selection criteria favored motivated students who are invested in their training and eager to discover other practices. The ability to benefit from this experience and share it with their classmates and school environment upon their return was also a key factor in the selection.
Beyond discovering a new professional environment, the stay aims to turn participants into knowledge relays. They will be able to transmit the observed practices, lived experiences, and lessons acquired during their immersion in Madagascar to their school community.
This program is part of a broader dynamic of cooperation between Indian Ocean territories. The Coconi high school notably benefits from European funding under Interreg cooperation mechanisms, which promote exchanges with neighboring islands.
The institution is also a member of the Network of Professional Agricultural Establishments of the Indian Ocean and Southern Africa (REAP), to which the CAFPA of Antsiranana also belongs. This network provides a privileged framework for trainee exchanges, experience sharing, participation in conferences, and the development of partnerships between institutions.
“Beyond the visibility they offer our establishment, these exchanges constitute a real development opportunity. This is the first time we have hosted a foreign institution in this framework. Our ambition is to multiply this type of visit in the future,” emphasized the director of the Antsiranana center.
Captured & Published at: 2026-10-30 05:53:46 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/10/mayotte-diana-des-eleves-mahorais-en.html