Kaisosi
Kavango East Governor Ambassador Dr Samuel Mbambo has appealed to students at the Rundu campus of the University of Namibia (Unam) to work hard in light of the sacrifices and unwavering support of their parents that enable them to study at university.
He made the remarks at an academic commencement ceremony held at Eddy Shikongo Memorial Hall at Unam’s Rundu campus on Wednesday.
“Note the sacrifices your parents have made for you to be here. Remember there is no free tertiary education as yet. You have this campus where you have qualified lecturers, who are committed to their duty and ready to impart knowledge. Some of you have started attending classes and you can attest to this. Therefore, take advantage to this opportunity,” said Mbambo.
Mbambo praised the development and growth of the campus, saying: “Unam Rundu campus is a classical example of the university’s commitment.
“The campus started with less than 200 students and two programmes of education, but today the campus has over 2 500 students and six programmes. Unam’s expansion policy is in tangent with the government’s policy on decentralisation, bringing service closer to the people.”
Mbambo said he is grateful to be associated with every endeavour that strives to uphold, promote and advocate academic excellence and knowledge acquisition, because education is a catalyst for economic development that provides a window of opportunity to many of the previously disadvantaged members of society.
He observed that the university has grown tremendously in terms of programmes and student population in all its 12 campuses across the country, including Rundu campus.
“The Fourth National Development Plan (NDP4) identified education as one of the drivers of economic development. As a result, government has invested heavily in education, beginning with the introduction of free primary education, which has now in 2016 been expanded to secondary education,” he noted.
Mbambo said concerted efforts are being made within government to introduce free tertiary education, while Unam has lived up to its commitment to provide equitable access to quality education, as well as bringing quality education closer to the people.