Business school ‘can fulfil key function’

NAMIBIA’S economy needs to grow by at least ten per cent a year to reduce unemployment and poverty, while the education sector has to concentrate on producing a skilled labour force for the country to face increased competition in a globalised world, a leading business personality has suggested.

Speaking at a reunion of the Ruacana High School over the weekend, Dr Leake Hangala said Namibia was not an isolated village, but an integral part of the global economy and had to be competitive. This would only be possible if the education system adapted to new realities and circumstances, he said.”We must teach and enforce demand-driven subjects which help us achieve our national objectives such as Vision 2030.Decisive subjects should be mathematics, science and English.Scientists, information technology experts, business managers and leaders will all require a good foundation in theses areas,” Hangala said.”We should consider establishing a credible business school in Namibia, as they are well known in other countries for their teaching in management, strategy, leadership and marketing.Business schools have helped small countries like Singapore, Finland and Ireland to become globally competitive,” he added.Hangala, who recently became a patron of the Ruacana High School, further urged that plans to establish a University of Science and Technology should materialise without any delay.However, all efforts to improve education in the country had to go hand in hand with discipline in society.”It is simple logic that a child who is disciplined at school and at home will be likely to be disciplined at work and during its life as an adult.Parents and teachers therefore have a paramount duty to instil discipline in our children in order to build a strong foundation for a disciplined society tomorrow.”Hangala, who is the Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at the second mobile telecommunications licence holder, Cell One, added that education was a shared responsibility, which should include the private sector and not be left to Government and parents only.”Private-sector support and involvement in education will be crucial in speeding up the process of bringing excellence and market compatibility into Namibia’s education,” Hangala concluded his speech.This would only be possible if the education system adapted to new realities and circumstances, he said.”We must teach and enforce demand-driven subjects which help us achieve our national objectives such as Vision 2030.Decisive subjects should be mathematics, science and English.Scientists, information technology experts, business managers and leaders will all require a good foundation in theses areas,” Hangala said.”We should consider establishing a credible business school in Namibia, as they are well known in other countries for their teaching in management, strategy, leadership and marketing.Business schools have helped small countries like Singapore, Finland and Ireland to become globally competitive,” he added.Hangala, who recently became a patron of the Ruacana High School, further urged that plans to establish a University of Science and Technology should materialise without any delay.However, all efforts to improve education in the country had to go hand in hand with discipline in society.”It is simple logic that a child who is disciplined at school and at home will be likely to be disciplined at work and during its life as an adult.Parents and teachers therefore have a paramount duty to instil discipline in our children in order to build a strong foundation for a disciplined society tomorrow.”Hangala, who is the Director of Corporate Strategy and Business Development at the second mobile telecommunications licence holder, Cell One, added that education was a shared responsibility, which should include the private sector and not be left to Government and parents only.”Private-sector support and involvement in education will be crucial in speeding up the process of bringing excellence and market compatibility into Namibia’s education,” Hangala concluded his speech.