ADDRESS BY HIS MAJESTY KING LETSIE III AND CHANCELLOR AT THE 29TH CONVOCATION FOR THE AWARD OF CERTIFICATES, DIPLOMAS AND CONFERMENT OF DEGREES NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF LESOTHO, ROMA SATURDAY, 25 SEPTEMBER 2004 |
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THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE PRIME MINISTER, HONOURABLE DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER AND MINISTER OF EDUCATION, HONOURABLE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE, HONOURABLE SPEAKER OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY, HONOURABLE CHIEF JUSTICE, HONOURABLE MINISTERS, HONOURABLE JUDGES OF THE HIGH COURT, CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY COUNCIL, MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY SENATE, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS AND GRADUANDS,LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I wish to extend my warm greetings to you all on this happy occasion, in the calendar of our University, where certificates, diplomas and degrees will be awarded to students who have excelled in their studies over a long period of time. CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, Right from the on set. I wish to congratulate the graduands whose hard work has culminated into this spectacular celebration. My congratulations also go to the parents, spouses, relatives and friends of the University for their dependable moral and financial support which has made today's event possible. It would be remiss of me, if I did not recognise the input of the University staff, in the teaching, research, administration and other support services in the overall growth of these graduands. Chairman of Council, as we congregate here today to witness the 29th Convocation, allow me also to congratulate the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training for the continued policy guidance and support he has given to the University. In our midst I recognise our University Council members, visiting Vice-Chancellors and other dignitaries who have come to grace this occasion and provide an aura of dignity to the University and honour us as a community and nation. DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, We note with appreciation the continued financial support the University has received from the Government. Despite the University's efforts to raise funds from other sources, the direct and indirect support from the Government is well in excess of 80%. Though we welcome this support, it should not diminish our resolve, as the management of this University, from raising funds from other sources. In this regard, I wish to reiterate my appeal which I made in past graduation ceremonies, that we should continue to seek ways of reducing costs, and urgently devise and implement revenue generating programmes. The University should continuously strive to expand its revenue base. CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, In the past few years, the University as been going through a serious process of self-examination with regard to the direction it should take in the future. The transformation process that was launched some years ago was part of this exercise. Regrettably, the implementation of the transformation study did not go as well as was expected. In my view, it might be advisable to hold a broad-based stakeholders' forum to review the transformation process and chart the way forward for our University. The revitalisation of the University is clearly an important national priority. EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, This year's graduation comes shortly after the adoption of an important national document, namely the Lesotho Vision 2020 Blueprint. The document encapsulates the wishes and aspirations of the Basotho nation in the next twenty years. With regard to education, the Vision 2020 states that Lesotho "shall have a healthy and well-developed human resource base." This is an aspiration that demands policymakers and stakeholders in education to steer education towards a system that is well co-ordinated, well researched and sufficiently equipped to enhance the students' talent and capabilities. Vision 2020 further notes that Basotho wish for "access to quality education that is fully responsive to the country's needs, accessible at all levels and limited only by intellectual ability not by income or wealth." These aspirations are a direct consequence of country-wide consultations which revealed, amongst others, the following weaknesses in our education system:
Vision 2020 recognises the critical importance of education and acknowledges that human resources development and effectual utilisation of these resources are key to national development. Some of the key challenges facing the education sector have been identifies as:
The National University of Lesotho as the highest institution of learning in the country, has a very critical role to play in combating these challenges and in helping the country to attain the national aspirations. The University management and staff therefore, have to think hard and analyse whether their programmes and policies are in line with what the Basotho nation envisages as the future of higher education in Lesotho. CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, I am indebted to our partners in development who have relentlessly demonstrated their unwavering financial support to the University's activities. These partners are many. However, mention should be made of the Swedish International development Cooperation Agency (SIDA), the European Union, Unitarian Services Committee of Canada, International Labour Organisation (ILO), the Commonwealth Youth Programme, International Foundation for Science, the University of York, the British Council, the People's republic of China and the Irish Republic. CHAIRMAN OF COUNCIL, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, I would like to register my gratitude to the 9th Council for the role it has played in guiding the University in the past four years. We wish to thank them all for their dedication to duty and wish them well now that their term of office has come to an end. In a similar manner, we wish to express our gratitude to Dr. Tefetso Mothibe, the outgoing Vice Chancellor, for having guided the management of the National University of Lesotho in the past few years. We wish him well as he leaves office as the Vice Chancellor and hope that he will continue to devote his time and multiple talents to this University in a different capacity. Distinguished guests, I also wish to recognise the contributions of the many sponsors of academic awards and projects reflected in the programme which serve to inspire students in the strive for excellence. This is a highly commendable gesture which should be emulated by all of us. EXCELLENCIES, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, GRADUANDS AND THE STUDENT BODY, Allow me to conclude my remarks by thanking you all for your patience and kind audience. I wish you a peaceful and joyous graduation celebrations. KHOTSO! PULA! NALA! 28 September 2004 |
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