Corruption - A social disease (Part 158): Educational paradigm shift: Reading, writing and mentoring

Johan Coetzee - Namibia can capitalise on the capacity of retired educators and captains of industry to stimulate a reading and writing culture.

Since education is one of the great equalisers, if not the most critical indicator for development, school children need free access to internet in order to enhance access to the biggest library on our planet.

Another critical element is inspirational teachers and lecturers. Inspirational educators can unlock the body of knowledge and insight that can motivate our learners to apply their competencies with vigour in the market place.

There is no place for educators focusing on penalising learners for having an alternative approach in seeking answers about life, and challenging teachers with conventional wisdom within the confines of discipline and respect as it should be at all learning institutions.

LOVE, HATE AND WISDOM

Our educational system should deal not only with quantitative subjects such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) in which we are remarkably below the standard of developed countries, but also with critical real world complexities such as love, hate and wisdom. Proficiency in English is of critical importance and we need to introduce Mandarin at tertiary institutions, because it will be the most popular language in future.

Ricardo Semler of the ultra innovative international company Semco, has created in Brazil the Lumiar School, that cater for subjects dealing with numbers, and subjects dealing with love, wisdom and music. Children also learn practical skills, e.g. how to assembly a bicycle. The school is so successful that nine more schools with similar curricula were created.

Knowledgeable, highly skilled and retired educators are prepared to make a difference in Namibia, not for the sake of money, but driven by a love for the youth of Namibia and our future leaders. This untapped resource can and should be capitalised on to educate learners, especially about death, love and wisdom. These areas are seldom covered and if, not at all extensively.

Learners find themselves hopelessly unprepared for the traumas, drams and backstabbing in the opera of life. Our dysfunctional tendencies as Namibians are clearly illustrated in school pregnancies, baby dumping and gender based violence. Retired educators who are moral, and retired captains of industry can be used to mentor the youth of Namibia.

GROWING BUSINESS SKILLS

We need entrepreneurs to educate learners about business related subjects, not teachers, most of whom who have probably never run a businesses. Learners indicate that business teachers mainly focus on theory. Teachers have very limited and/or no business experience and cannot provide appropriate examples. Business related subjects are however supposed to be inspirational, dynamic and stimulate calculated risk taking.

Philosophy is a meta-science and provide fundamental direction about the biggest questions, such as: What is my purpose in life? Learners need to be guided in seeking answers to these type of personal questions within the context of their place in society. Philosophy should be a subject at school.

Namibians need to write and read relevant books as adults and engender a love for reading among children, not just devices with access to internet. Books with relevant content and context should be read, also older books and old stories. All people and especially Africans, love stories that should be articulated in writing and shared to expand our perspective.

Without adequate reading and writing skills, access to and sharing knowledge, insight and wisdom, are limited and a handicap to learning (Snijders). Please visit www.african-writing.com for a wealth of African stories by African writers.

There is much to do to create a reading and writing culture in Namibia. Adults and educators need to find inspirational ways of storytelling and stimulating debate at home and at school.

We should introduce a new ‘tax’ in Namibia that requires entrepreneurs and business leaders to educate learners for an hour per month. This type of community service can help to scale down the mega egos of some business leaders by forcing them to become leaders that serve.

If knowledge and insight are shared, it expand exponentially and enrich our children and ourselves.

References

Semler, R. 2015. Ricardo Semler, Founder of the Lumiar School – Wise 2015 Special Address. YouTube, 8 May 2019.

Snjiders, J.P. 2019. Contribution to Citizens’ Trust on Article 157, Educational Paradigm Shift: What can Namibia learn from other countries? Die Republikein, 3 May 2019.

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