Towards Relevant Education

EDUCATION is the right of all people of all nations. Yes, that education needs to be relevant.

No need for training to be a steam-train engineer, when what we want is a nuclear engineer. I cannot call myself patriotic but I can say I am committed to the rights of ALL human beings.It is with this right in mind that I write this response.The esteemed gentleman, Harold Pupkewitz, in his article ‘On the Education Crisis’ has offered a few solutions.The main point of his article is that he wants Namibia to forget its past.He is, however, failing to acknowledge that historical references are needed to create a starting point, otherwise there can be no nation building or a solid move forward.A nation must know from whence it came.The Americans remind us constantly about their founding fathers and their Constitution.The British build upon the Magna Carta and so forth.Think about that.And then the Ministry of Education.At what point could a Ministry be considered as operating ‘professionally’? Rules and laws exist for a reason and those in power need to obey these rules and procedures, while not using their powers to head for absolute power.We all know that absolute power corrupts absolutely.Blanket statements of how resource allocation needs to be done properly say that perfection is the norm, while we all know it can be utopian in its perception, but a dream in reality.To spout statistics is in itself deceptive, as in a growing economy even 80% of GDP may be necessary to correct the ills of apartheid, colonialism, dictatorships and plunder.I would agree that indiscipline cannot be tolerated at any level of society, and that if the education system fails at providing life-long learning skills and knowledge traits, the nation as a whole will stagnate.However, the proposed ETSIP programme deals with all the issues raised by the writer and requires only time for delivery.Give ETSIP a chance.Let’s face facts, the world has a skills shortage and because of globalisation; the countries that pay the highest wages will get the skills they need.Have faith, Namibia, the future is yours – grab it, and hold tight.David A.Jarrett Birmingham, UKI cannot call myself patriotic but I can say I am committed to the rights of ALL human beings.It is with this right in mind that I write this response.The esteemed gentleman, Harold Pupkewitz, in his article ‘On the Education Crisis’ has offered a few solutions.The main point of his article is that he wants Namibia to forget its past.He is, however, failing to acknowledge that historical references are needed to create a starting point, otherwise there can be no nation building or a solid move forward.A nation must know from whence it came.The Americans remind us constantly about their founding fathers and their Constitution.The British build upon the Magna Carta and so forth.Think about that.And then the Ministry of Education.At what point could a Ministry be considered as operating ‘professionally’? Rules and laws exist for a reason and those in power need to obey these rules and procedures, while not using their powers to head for absolute power.We all know that absolute power corrupts absolutely.Blanket statements of how resource allocation needs to be done properly say that perfection is the norm, while we all know it can be utopian in its perception, but a dream in reality.To spout statistics is in itself deceptive, as in a growing economy even 80% of GDP may be necessary to correct the ills of apartheid, colonialism, dictatorships and plunder.I would agree that indiscipline cannot be tolerated at any level of society, and that if the education system fails at providing life-long learning skills and knowledge traits, the nation as a whole will stagnate.However, the proposed ETSIP programme deals with all the issues raised by the writer and requires only time for delivery.Give ETSIP a chance.Let’s face facts, the world has a skills shortage and because of globalisation; the countries that pay the highest wages will get the skills they need.Have faith, Namibia, the future is yours – grab it, and hold tight. David A.Jarrett Birmingham, UK