WINDHOEK — Over 1 700 certificates, diplomas and degrees were conferred on 1 230 students of the Polytechnic of Namibia at the 19th autumn graduation ceremony held last week Friday, with the School of Information Technology leading the pack with 367 diplomas and degrees altogether.
The School of Economic and Finance was in second place with a total of 208 certificates, diplomas and degrees, while the School of Management proved to be the third most popular choice of study for students with 163 conferments, from certificates to Master’s degrees.
Speaking at the occasion, Minister of Education Dr David Namwandi said he had confidence in the Polytechnic of Namibia and hoped the graduates would produce jobs or employment.
“The most important is that graduates should never ever think that when they get the certificates, diplomas or degrees they automatically get employment,” cautioned the education minister, urging graduates to go out there and generate work for others and themselves.
He said some of the students who got loans and bursaries from the Ministry of Education go back to the ministry after graduation to ask for jobs.
“Don’t waste your time to come to my office, do your part. Some of you are well trained but the mistake you make is that you don’t know how to defend your credentials in an interview,” said Namwandi.
He said that in order for the Polytechnic to become a fully fledged university it had to strengthen its research capabilities, adding that a university should not only rely on funding from government and must strengthen own income business.
“Government is determined not to let [Dr Tjama] Tjivikua [Rector of the Polytechnic of Namibia] down,” he said, heaping praise on Tjivikua, saying the latter “knows how to fight wars and he has won”.
Namwandi read a speech on behalf of President Hifikepunye Pohamba who could not attend the function, in which the president called upon graduates to generate solutions to the challenges faced by society.
“I am informed that 579 of the graduates are male and 651 are female. This is a good sign of gender balance that is in harmony with our pursuit of gender equality,” the speech read.
Pohamba said a number of initiatives aimed at enhancing the quality and effectiveness of the higher education system was being implemented, which included a review of the basic education curriculum.
He said the funding framework for higher education is currently being finalised and that the development of an integrated and functional higher education management information system that would provide timely and essential information for informed decision-making would soon be implemented.
Pohamba said the ongoing transformation of the Polytechnic of Namibia was another milestone in the right direction and demonstrated government’s commitment to the development of higher education in the country.
“Government recognizes the fact that science and technological education has not advanced to accommodate the expectations of Vision 2030,” he said, adding that prospects for improved competitiveness and economic growth can only be boosted by developing science and technological education.
Pohamba said he was pleased that the newly established National Commission on Research, Science and Technology was working towards finalizing the National Research, Science, Technology and Innovation Programme which among others will identify core strategic areas for research and science.
“I am confident that we are beginning a journey that will soon unleash our innovative and inventive potential and capacity to transform our society into a knowledge-based economy,” he said.
By Magreth Nunuhe