‘Invest in science and technology', says Dr Nujoma
By Asser Ntinda

Founding President Dr Sam Nujoma says that if Namibia is to turn around the slow rate of economic development, currently now estimated to be at four percent, the country must invest heavily in science, technology and innovation.

Opening the National Science, Technology and Engineering Week at the University of Namibia, UNAM, the Founding President said that investing in science and technology was also the best way to address increasing unemployment and other signs of under-development such as poverty, hunger and disease.

He was referring to the development of high level scientific and technological expertise in niche areas identified and noted for bringing about rapid socio-economic development for Namibia.

“Currently, the picture in terms of annual output of science and technology graduates from our tertiary institutions may not seem to be large enough, but I am confident that the situation will improve given the increased investment our government intends to undertake in promoting these very important fields” he said.

“This is evidenced by the establishment of the Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology at UNAM for producing professional engineers, while the Polytechnic of Namibia will continue producing the much needed technologists.”

The National Science Week was graced by the presence of two Chinese astronauts, Yang Liwei and senior colonel Liu Boming, who were guests of honour at the event, which was hosted by UNAM. It was held under the theme “My Environment, My Treasure.”

Liwei is the Deputy Director General of the China Manned Space Engineering Office, while Boming is an astronaut of the Shenzou-7 Mission. They were part of a delegation of six members from China Manned Space Program who had been in the country for a week.

Namibia was the first country in Africa to receive the delegation from China Manned Space Program. The delegation attended the launching ceremony of the Exhibition Hall at China Space Tracking, Telemetry and Command Station in Swakopmund.

Dr Nujoma, who is also Chancellor of UNAM, told this year’s National Science Week that Namibia needed to increase the number of graduates coming from its two institutions by increasing more academic programmes covering essential fields so that Namibians could meet the human resource required to propel the country’s socio-economic development and realize Vision 2030.

He said that the output of professionals, technicians and artisans must be more than double every year from UNAM and the Polytechnic of Namibia, adding that this was the only way Namibia could reach the target of becoming an industrialized country by 2030.

“The challenge is how can we achieve this?” he asked. “We need to increase the number of learners that take science and technology subjects in our schools. Currently, there seems to be negative perceptions in terms of science and mathematics.

“These subjects are regarded by learners as being difficult subjects or subjects that are boring. This kind of perception must change by ensuring that we enroll and produce competent mathematics and science teachers at our Faculty of Education at UNAM who can inspire the learners through quality teaching of these subjects.”

Negative perceptions could be reversed at very early stages at primary and secondary levels, he said. Learners should be exposed to scientific games that included reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving.

“We need to expose our learners to outputs and applications of science,” he said. “When people are exposed to these applications of science and mathematics, then we will most definitely see an increase in learners choosing science and technology related fields of study.

“The challenges for teachers, especially in the rural areas where computers and laboratories are scarce, is to become more innovative, by developing demonstration tools that make science and mathematics more attractive.”