Page 9 - Professorial Lecture - Professor P van Rooyen

Elements of all these have value and have to be seen concurrently. We no
longer have the luxury of choosing one approach above others, but some
are more appropriate at certain levels and for specific purposes.

The independence struggle was fought on socialist lines, with current
incumbents of political leadership positions still mostly from this “School”.
But Namibia is now a mixed economy, with emphasis on both the
entrepreneur, the middle class (those fortunate enough to have work) and
the poor. The poor is the majority, and therefore most important as voters.

The government of Namibia so far managed the eradication of poverty with
a combination of: stimulation of entrepreneurship (higher learning), job
creation (vocational training) and a basic needs approach (the politics of the
belly: water, food, shelter, clothing, health, and basic education).

The basic freedoms are entrenched in the constitution: freedom from want,
freedom from fear, freedom from discrimination. But the school system
discriminates: exams are written, marks are amassed, grades are passed,
UNAM expects 23 points for entry, nothing less, except when through the
back door (old age, experience, diploma).

Expectations differ at all these levels:

4. Expectations for a university:

The expectations of politicians for UNAM:
 A flagship for national status
 Rewarding incumbents for the struggle
 A feeder source for future leaders (entrepreneurs?)

The expectation of students:
 Well-paid jobs
 Social acceptance
 A good time

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