Mr Bole - Address at the Arya Convention Sabha of Fiji
Jun 17, 2008, 11:39
ARYA PRATINIDHI SABHA OF FIJI
2008 CONVENTION
ADDRESS BY MR FILIPE N. BOLE, CBE, MINISTER FOR EDUCATION,
NATIONAL HERITAGE, CULTURE & ARTS, YOUTH & SPORT,
AT THE ARYA CONVENTION, HELD AT THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI, SAWENI, LAUTOKA,
AT 9.00 AM, SUNDAY, 15 JUNE, 2008
A ADDRESS
∑ THE PRESIDENT OF THE ARYA PRATINIDHI SABHA OF FIJI,
∑ MEMBERS OF THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS,
∑ GOVERNMENT MINISTERS,
∑ EXECUTIVE MEMBERS OF THE SABHA,
∑ MAYORS AND COUNCILLORS OF MUNICIPALITIES,
∑ DISTINGUISHED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
B OPENING REMARKS
I AM GREATLY HONOURED BY THOSE KIND WORDS OF WELCOME AND AT THE OUTSET, I WISH TO THANK THE ARYA PRATINIDHI SABHA OF FIJI FOR INVITING ME TO OFFICIATE AT THIS VERY IMPORTANT CONVENTION.
2. WE MEET HERE TODAY AT AN INSTITUTION NOTED FOR INNOVATION, A DIVISION NOTED FOR PROGRESS, AND WE ALSO MEET HERE TO CELEBERATE THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF AN ORGANIZATION NOTED FOR THE TIRELESS PURSUIT OF KNOWLEDGE. INDEED, WE STAND IN NEED OF ALL THREE, FOR WE MEET AT A TIME OF CHANGE AND CHALLENGE.
3. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MORE THAN A CENTURY AGO, THOSE WHO PIONEERED THE FORMATION OF THE ARYA SAMAJ, HAD A DREAM, THEY HAD A VISION, I AM SURE.
4. THIS VISION WAS MOST PROBABLY FORMED UNDER THE COOL SHADES OF THE MANGO TREES THAT EDGED THE CANE FIELDS AND THEY WERE MOST LIKELY BORNE OUT OF THE HARSH CONDITIONS EXPERIENCED BY OUR HARD-WORKING INDENTURED LABOURERS.
5. THIS INSITITUTION, AND THE NUMEROUS OTHER SCHOOLS MANAGED BY THE SABHA, I AM SURE, IS THE REALIZATION OF THAT DREAM, OF THAT VISION.
6. IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THOSE WHO CAME BEFORE US MADE CERTAIN THAT THIS COUNTRY RODE THE FIRST TURBULENT WAVES OF THE COLONIAL ERA, THE FIRST WAVES OF INDEPENDENCE, AND THE FIRST WAVES OF MODERNIZATION.
7. OUR NATION HAS SURVIVED, APPARENTLY, BUT WE ALSO HAVE THE CHALLENGING WAVE OF GLOBALIZATION TO SWIM THROUGH.
8. I AM SURE THAT THIS GENERATION DOES NOT INTEND TO FLOUNDER IN THE BACKWASH OF GLOBALIZATION.
C EDUCATION AND THE CHALLENGES OF GLOBALIZATION
9. IT IS MY BELIEF, THAT WE CAN ONLY SET SAIL ON THIS NEW SEA OF CHANGE BECAUSE THERE IS NEW KNOWLEDGE TO BE GAINED. AND INDEED THIS CAN ONLY BE ACHIEVED THROUGH INCREASING THE QUALITY AND AVAILABILITY OF EDUCATION FOR THE YOUNGER GENERATION.
10. A NOTABLE STATESMAN, ONCE SAID THAT:
“A FREE NATION CAN RISE NO HIGHER THAN THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE SET IN THE SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. IGNORANCE AND ILLITERACY, UNSKILLED WORKERS AND SCHOOL DROPOUTS – THESE AND OTHER FAILURES OF OUR EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM BREED FAILURES IN OUR SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC SYSTEM”. UNQUOTE.
11. I CANNOT AGREE MORE. GIVEN THE EFFECTS OF GLOBALIZATION, EDUCATION SHOULD NOW BE MORE PARTICIPATORY, STIMULATIVE AND WHERE POSSIBLE TRANSITIONAL.
12. BECAUSE IF THIS CAPSULE OF HISTORY OF PROGRESS, TEACHES US ANYTHING, IT IS THAT MAN, IN HIS QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE AND PROGRESS, SHOULD BE DETERMINED AND SHOULD NOT BE DETERRED.
13. GLOBALIZATION WILL GO AHEAD, WHETHER WE JOIN IT OR NOT, BUT SHOULD WE CHOOSE NOT TO, THE CONSEQUENCES WILL BE TERRIBLE.
D DEVELOPMENTS IN EDUCATION IN FIJI
14. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE CURRENT SITUATION OF EDUCATION IN FIJI IS A CULMINATION OF CLOSE TO TWO HUNDRED YEARS OF DEVELOPMENT.
15. AS FIJI APPROACHED INDEPENDENCE, THERE WAS A CLEAR NEED TO ASSESS THE EDUCATION SYSTEM AND PLAN FOR ITS FUTURE. AND THE 1969 ROYAL COMMISSION REPORT MADE 81 RECOMMENDATIONS IN THREE MAJOR AREAS; NAMELY, THE QUALITY AND NUMBER OF TEACHERS, DISPARITIES BETWEEN GEOGRAPHICAL AND RACIAL GROUPS AND THE CURRICULUM.
16. THE RECOMMENDATIONS WERE BASED ON THE NEEDS OF THE TIME AND WAS A REVIEW OF A MUCH SMALLER SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE, THERE WERE 13,128 SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 1968, COMPARED TO JUST UNDER 70,000, AN ESTIMATE FOR 2007.
17. WHILE IN 1969, THE EMPHASIS WAS ON ACCESS AND MAKING SURE THAT OUR ENROLMENT NUMBERS WERE INCREASED, BY THE YEAR 2000, RECOMMENDATIONS WERE MADE FOR BETTER QUALITY AND PROVISIONS FOR ADDRESSING THE SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ISSUES THAT PLAGUED OUR NATION.
18. ALL THESE YEARS, THE CONCENTRATION HAS BEEN ON PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION. IN THE RECENT PAST, WE HAVE COME TO REALIZE THAT WE NOW NEED TO GO BEYOND THESE TWO LEVELS IF WE WISH TO BE ON PAR WITH THE REST OF THE WORLD.
E DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN FIJI
19. HIGHER EDUCATION, I AM CONVINCED IS NOW OUR PRIORITY, IF WE WISH TO BE A LITERALLY FREE NATION WHERE WE CAN SOLVE OUR OWN PROBLEMS AND REALIZE OUR OWN IDEALS.
20. HAVING SAID THAT, I MUST ADD, THAT UNTIL RECENTLY, IT WAS TAKEN FOR GRANTED THAT THE USP WOULD REMAIN THE MAJOR PROVIDER OF UNIVERSITY EDUCATION IN FIJI AND THAT ITS PROVISION FOR HIGHER EDUCATION WOULD BE COMPLEMENTED BY PUBLIC AND PRIVATE INSTITUTES.
21. THIS ASSUMPTION WAS CHALLENGED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI 4 YEARS AGO AND THE GROWING PRESENCE OF OVERSEAS-BASED UNIVERSITIES NOW OPERATING THROUGH AGENCIES IN FIJI OR USING OTHER MODES OF DELIVERY.
22. FURTHERMORE, GOVERNMENT ITSELF MADE A DECISION LAST YEAR TO SET UP A STATE UNIVERSITY WHICH WILL EMBRACE WITHIN IT EXISTING PUBLIC TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS. WHILE WE ARE CURRENTLY PURSUING THIS, AND THAT IT WILL TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO GIVE FORM TO THIS DECISION BY GOVERNMENT, THE SIGNAL IS CLEAR THAT FIJI MUST INCREASE AND FOCUS ITS CAPACITY FOR EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN ITS OWN NATIONAL HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS. ONLY IN THIS WAY WILL FIJI, IN MY VIEW, BE ABLE TO REALISTICALLY AND RELEVANTLY FORMULATE AND EXECUTE ITS NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH LEAST AMOUNT OF UNCERTAINTIES.
23. ONE OF THE UNCERTAINTIES WE ARE TRYING TO RESOLVE WITH URGENCY IS THE PREPARATION OF A LEGISLATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT, MONITORING AND REGULATION OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS – BEYOND SECONDARY SCHOOLS AND UP TO UNIVERSITIES. AT PRESENT WE HAVE NO LEGISLATION FOR THIS PURPOSE. AND, AS YOU ARE AWARE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI WAS CAUGHT UP IN THIS VOID. HOWEVER, THIS PROBLEM WILL SOON BECOME A THING OF THE PAST WHEN THE HIGHER EDUCATION LEGISLATION IS PROMULGATED, AT THE LATEST, BY AUGUST THIS YEAR.
24. IT WAS ALSO FOR THIS REASON, THAT THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION EMBARKED ON THE URGENT TASK TO ESTABLISH THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION.
25. THE COMMISSION WILL PLAY A CENTRAL ROLE IN REGULATING THE HIGHER EDUCATION SECTOR IN FIJI. THE CURRENT LACK OF REGULATION IN THE SECTOR IS A MAJOR CAUSE FOR CONCERN BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF CONTROL OVER STANDARDS AND QUALITY, WHICH WILL SEVERELY COMPROMISE THE NATIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL STANDING OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN FIJI.
26. THE CURRENT LACK OF STATE CONTROL OFFERS NO PROTECTION FOR THE INTERESTS OF FIJI STUDENTS AND COMMUNITY. FURTHERMORE, OUR LIBERAL AND FREE APPROACH TO THE PROVISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION WILL ENCOURAGE AN OVER-PROLIFERATION OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS, ESPECIALLY FROM OVERSEAS, THAT WILL “CROWD OUT” THE LOCAL PROVIDERS AND CREATE A SITUATION OF OVER-SUPPLY THAT WILL FURTHER BREED OTHER ISSUES.
27. FURTHERMORE, THE PRIVATE PROVIDERS OF HIGHER EDUCATION ARE CURRENTLY NOT REQUIRED TO ALIGN THEMSELVES TO FIJI’S NATIONAL GOALS AND POLICIES AND THIS SITUATION MAY NEGATIVELY IMPACT THE SUPPLY OF RELEVANT MANPOWER FOR OUR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT.
28. IT IS CLEAR THAT DECISIVE GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION THROUGH THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION AT THIS TIME, IS A DEFINITIVE STEP FORWARD TOWARDS A BETTER GOVERNANCE ENVIRONMENT IN THE PROVISION OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE COUNTRY.
29. IT IS CRITICAL ALSO THAT THE PROCESSING OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION BILL IS EXPEDITED TO ENSURE THE PROPER REGULATION OF THE IMPORTANT AND GROWING SECTOR OF HIGHER EDUCATION.
30. LET ME ASSURE YOU THAT THE MINISTRY HAS WORKED DILIGENTLY TO FINALLY HAVE THE HIGHER EDUCATION BILL FORMULATED.
31. THE HIGHER EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD HAS BEEN APPOINTED AND IS CHAIRED BY NONE OTHER THAN THE RECENT VICE-CHANCELLOR, PROFESSOR RAJESH CHANDRA, OF THIS UNIVERSITY. THE BOARD HAS BEEN VERY BUSY HOLDING MEETINGS AND THE COMMITMENT OF ITS MEMBERS IS VERY VERY ENCOURAGING.
32. THE SECRETARIAT OF THE HIGHER EDUCATION ADVISORY BOARD IS NOW ALSO ESTABLISHED.
33. OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS CONSULTATIONS HAVE BEEN HELD COUNTRY-WIDE AND FEED-BACK FROM THE CONSULTATIONS ARE CURRENTLY BEING CONSIDERED.
34. WE INTEND TO HAVE THE BILL PROMULGATED WITHIN THE NEXT MONTH.
35. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, HIGHER EDUCATION IS ESSENTIAL FOR ANY COUNTRY OR REGION TO ENABLE IT TO ACHIEVE A SUSTAINABLE LEVEL OF ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT.
36. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT THIS WILL RESULT IN HIGHER LIVING STANDARDS AND INCREASE IN DEVELOPMENTAL AND CULTURAL CREATIVITIES, INCLUDING NEW KNOWLEDGE AND NEW SKILLS.
37. TO BE HONEST I AM VERY EXCITED ABOUT THE DEVELOPMENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION AND THE PROMULGATION OF THE BILL WILL MARK A MILESTONE ACHIEVEMENT IN EDUCATION FOR OUR PEOPLE AND OUR COUNTRY.
38. THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL IN FIJI WILL MEAN A REVIEW OF FIJI’S FUNDING COMMITMENTS TO INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL EDUCATION AND TRAINING INSTITUTIONS WITH A VIEW TO ENHANCING EDUCATION AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES IN OUR NATIONAL INSTITUTIONS. INTERNALLY, THIS WILL MEAN A REARRANGEMENT OF THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION’S YEARLY BUDGET TO BRING TERTIARY EDUCATION ALL UNDER ONE BUDGET HEAD. IN THIS WAY, THE REQUIREMENT OF FIJI’S HIGHER MANPOWER NEEDS CAN BEST BE SATISFIED AND SHARED AMONG FIJI’S HIGHER EDUCATION AND TRAINING PROVIDERS WHOM GOVERNMENT WILL BE OBLIGATED TO FUND AND ASSIST FINANCIALLY.
F HIGHER EDUCATION – THE GLOBAL VIEW
39. THE SOCIETY FOR UNIVERSITY PLANNING, WHICH IS LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES PRODUCED AN INTERESTING REPORT IN JULY LAST YEAR. THE REPORT STATED THAT IN INDIA AND CHINA, “THE LACK OF GRADUATES QUALIFIED FOR GLOBAL JOBS IS REDUCING THE DESIRE FOR BUSINESSES TO LOCATE” IN THESE TWO COUNTRIES.
40. FIJI, OF COURSE HAS PAID HEAVILY FOR ITS SHORTAGE OF GRADUATES. WE KEEP HIRING CONSULTANTS AND WE KEEP PAYING HEFTY SALARIES FOR OFF-SHORE GRADUATES. INDEED LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I LOOK FORWARD TO THE DAY, WHEN WE CAN CHURN OUT OUR OWN GRADUATES WHO CAN THINK AND CREATE FOR OUR NATION AN ECONOMY AND A MODEL THAT WILL ENABLE OUR COUNTRY TO BE INDEPENDENT IN EVERY SENSE OF THE WORD.
41. AS HE LEFT OFFICE, TONY BLAIR URGED UK UNIVERSITIES TO INCREASE THEIR ENDOWMENTS AND PROMISED THAT THE GOVERNMENT WOULD MATCH ANY FUNDS FROM DONORS BETWEEN AUGUST 2008 AND JULY 2011.
42. ACROSS THE BRITISH CHANNEL, FRANCE’S NEW PRESIDENT PLANS TO INVEST FIVE BILLION EUROS TO INCREASE THE ABILITY OF FRANCE’S UNIVERSITIES TO ATTRACT HIGHLY QUALIFIED STUDENTS AND RAISE ITS PLACE IN THE WORLD RANKINGS.
43. IT WAS FOR THESE SAME REASONS, THAT THE INTERIM GOVERNMENT MADE A COMMITMENT TO INCLUDE THE UNIVERSITY OF FIJI IN ITS BUDGET FOR THIS YEAR.
G CONCLUDING REMARKS
44 NO DOUBT, THE ARYA PRATINIDHI SABHA OF FIJI HAS BEEN THE TREND-SETTER IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN FIJI. I COMMEND YOU FOR YOUR FORESIGHT AND VISION AND I AM SURE IN THE COURSE OF YOUR DISCUSSIONS DURING THIS CONVENTION, EDUCATION WILL BE A FOCAL TOPIC.
45. IN CONCLUSION, THIS UNIVERSITY AND THE NUMEROUS OTHER SCHOOLS MANAGED BY THE ORGANIZATION, INDICATE THE REALIZATION OF THE SABHA’S VISION OF “A SOCIETY WHERE EVERYONE IS LITERATE AND CONFORMS TO ACCEPTABLE MORAL, SPIRITUAL, CULTURAL AND SOCIAL VALUES”.
46. HOWEVER, HAVING COME THIS FAR, I AM CONVINCED THAT THE ORGANIZATION WOULD NOT HAVE US STAY WHERE WE ARE A LITTLE LONGER, TO REST, TO WAIT. THE ORGANIZATION WAS NOT BUILT BY THOSE WHO WAITED AND RESTED AND WISHED TO LOOK BEHIND THEM.
47. RATHER IT WAS SHAPED AND DEVELOPED BY THOSE WHO HAD THE WILL TO CONQUER ALL OBSTACLES AND TO KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
48. IT IS MY HOPE THAT DURING YOUR DELIBERATIONS, THE DISCUSSIONS WILL FOLLOW THE GREAT AND LAUDABLE TRADITIONS WHICH WERE PUT IN PLACE BY YOUR PREDECESSORS. THEIRS WAS A GREAT TRADITION, WHICH YOU MUST MAINTAIN WITH INCREASING STRENGTH AND INCREASING VIGOUR.
49. THE ARYA PRATINIDHI SABHA OF FIJI, AS YOU AND I ARE AWARE IS A NATIONAL CO-ORDINATING BODY, WHICH HAS CONTRIBUTED IMMENSELY TO THE EDUCATION SECTOR IN FIJI.
50. I FOR ONE, HAVE BEEN PRIVILEGED TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS GREAT ORGANIZATION, AND I LOOK FORWARD TO YOUR CONTINUED CONTRIBUTION TO MOULDING AND NURTURING AN EXTRAORDINARY RANGE OF SCHOLARS AND CREATIVE THINKERS FOR OUR COUNTRY.
51. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I THANK YOU VERY MUCH INDEED FOR YOUR TIME, AND TO CONCLUDE, I NOW HAVE MUCH PLEASURE IN OFFICIALLY DECLARING OPEN, THE ARYA CONVENTION OF 2008.
DHANYA VAAD AND VINAKA VAKALEVU!
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