new schools were established. Since 1981 a system of free education has been in effect, requiring attendance by all children in grades one to nine, beginning at age five. Ninety percent of all children attend nursery school at age four. The literacy rate for school-age children rose to more than 90% by the late 1980s. Many older Seychellois had not been taught to read or write in their childhood; adult education classes helped raise adult literacy from 60% to a claimed 100% in 2014. There are a total of 68 schools in Seychelles. The public school system consists of 23 crèches, 25 primary schools and 13 secondary schools. They are located on Mahé, Praslin, La Digue and Silhouette. Additionally, there are three private schools: École Française, International School and the independent school. All the private schools are on Mahé, and the International School has a branch on Praslin. There are seven post-secondary (non-tertiary) schools: the Seychelles Polytechnic, School of Advanced Level Studies, Seychelles Tourism Academy, University of Seychelles Education, Seychelles Institute of Technology, Maritime Training Center, Seychelles Agricultural and Horticultural Training Center and the National Institute for Health and Social Studies. The administration launched plans to open a university in an attempt to slow down the brain drain that has occurred. University of Seychelles, initiated in conjunction with the University of London, opened on 17 September 2009 in three locations, and offers qualifications from the University of London. Notable people Andy Mougal, football player Kevin Betsy, football coach and former professional footballer See also Outline of Seychelles Index of Seychelles-related articles References External links Government SeyGov, main government portal State House, Office of the President of the Republic of Seychelles Central Bank of Seychelles, on-shore banking and insurance regulator Seychelles Investment Bureau, government agency promoting investment in Seychelles National Bureau of Statistics, government agency responsible for collecting, compiling, analysing and publishing statistical information Religion GigaCatholic General Seychelles. The World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Seychelles from UCB Libraries GovPubs Seychelles from BBC News Island Conservation Society, a non-profit nature conservation and educational non-governmental organisation Nature Seychelles, a scientific/environmental non-governmental nature protection association The Seychelles Nation, the largest circulation local daily newspaper Seychelles Bird Records Committee Seychelles.travel, Government tourism portal Tourism Page Air Seychelles, Seychelles national airline ADST interview with U.S. Ambassador to Seychelles David Fischer 1976 establishments in Africa Republics in the Commonwealth of Nations Countries in Africa East African countries