British education minister keen on regional plan

NAMIBIAN and South African universities are being encouraged to come up with a regional plan that will enable them to link up with British universities and also allow them access to funding.

Speaking at the Polytechnic of Namibia in Windhoek last week, Britain’s Higher Education Minister Bill Rammel said in times of economic change, higher education had a huge role to play. “And we are very keen to push this,” he said.He visited Namibia, after spending some time at South African universities, to find out about the issues and challenges facing higher education in Namibia, look at possible partnerships and seek views on the Commission for Africa’s recommendations on revitalising education in Africa.When asked about how the constraints facing British universities differed from those in Africa, he said funding was a big issue.”Part of what I hope can happen is the development of a locally driven and owned plan to work with British universities,” he said, adding that this would provide a “lever” for aid funding.He was also keen to see the education proposals expected from Nepad (The New Partnership for Africa’s Development) in the new year.The higher education minister, who was accompanied by representatives from two British universities, said he has seen some remarkable projects on this trip, particularly the CIDA free university for the very poor in South Africa.Some of the projects, he said, held lessons for the United Kingdom.”Politics and government are about the management of change.In South Africa and Namibia, we sure have valuable lessons to learn from these changes,” he said.”And we are very keen to push this,” he said.He visited Namibia, after spending some time at South African universities, to find out about the issues and challenges facing higher education in Namibia, look at possible partnerships and seek views on the Commission for Africa’s recommendations on revitalising education in Africa.When asked about how the constraints facing British universities differed from those in Africa, he said funding was a big issue.”Part of what I hope can happen is the development of a locally driven and owned plan to work with British universities,” he said, adding that this would provide a “lever” for aid funding.He was also keen to see the education proposals expected from Nepad (The New Partnership for Africa’s Development) in the new year.The higher education minister, who was accompanied by representatives from two British universities, said he has seen some remarkable projects on this trip, particularly the CIDA free university for the very poor in South Africa.Some of the projects, he said, held lessons for the United Kingdom.”Politics and government are about the management of change.In South Africa and Namibia, we sure have valuable lessons to learn from these changes,” he said.