Mapping the Nexus

A Scoping Review of Informal Institutions and Educational Outcomes in the Seychelles

Abstract

Educational outcomes in African nations are increasingly understood as being shaped by a complex interplay of formal policies and deep-seated informal institutions. This scoping review systematically maps the literature exploring the nexus between these informal institutions—such as familial expectations, community norms, and cultural values—and educational outcomes in the Seychelles. Adhering to the PRISMA-ScR framework, the review identified and analysed relevant scholarly and grey literature from electronic databases and Seychellois institutional repositories. Findings reveal that informal institutions exert a profound, yet under-studied, influence on the Seychellois educational landscape. Key themes identified include the role of kinship networks in shaping educational aspirations, the impact of Creole cultural values on pedagogical interactions, and the tension between communal knowledge systems and formal curricula. The review concludes that a significant research gap exists, with current formal educational assessments often overlooking these critical socio-cultural determinants. This work is significant for educational planning in the Seychelles and offers broader implications for similar small island developing states in Africa. It argues that for educational development strategies to be effective and culturally sustaining, they must explicitly account for and engage with the powerful, informal institutional frameworks that fundamentally shape learner experiences and achievements.