Issued by: Department of Education
13 July 2001
The Honourable Minister of Health, Dr Manto Tshabalala-Msimang
MEC for Education of the Eastern Cape, Mr Stone Sizani
MEC for Health of the Eastern Cape, Dr Bevan M Goqwana
Vice Chancellor of the University of Cape Town, Professor Njabulo Ndebele
The Administrator of the University of Transkei, Professor Nicky Morgan
Deans of Faculty of Health Sciences of UNITRA and UCT,
Professors Mazwai and Padayachee
Distinguished guests
Members of staff and students
Ladies and gentlemen
Molweni!
I thank you for the honour and privilege to witness the signing of this agreement between the Universities of Transkei and Cape Town. This signing ceremony between your institutions both situated in the region of the Cape albeit in different geographical locations, one in the far East and the other far West, is an important milestone in an attempt to bridge the divide that has characterised our education system. It describes recognition of the potential that exists in both our institutions, which we must harness for the production of well trained, knowledgeable and skilled medical personnel that the country, and especially this region so desperately needs.
I am particularly delighted to have this opportunity to share the platform with my Cabinet colleague, the Minister of Health, Dr. Manto Tshabalala-Msimang. The education and training of health personnel is an area that is of utmost importance to both of our ministries. While we have different roles and responsibilities in this regard, as government we share the common goal of ensuring that health personnel, at all levels and in all parts of the country, are trained and equipped to meet the health care challenges that we confront. In addition, we have to ensure that, as a nation, we maintain our capacity to undertake, and indeed lead, world class and cutting edge research, especially that which is directed at helping us to combat diseases and poverty. We have significant research capacity in areas such as malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. To maintain and grow this research capacity we must nurture and grow the future generations of specialists and researchers.
The story of the Faculty of Health Sciences at UNITRA is one that tells us so much about our past. But it also bodes well for the future. UNITRA, like all of our higher education institutions has been shaped by the shameful legacy of apartheid. The Faculty has managed to survive against great odds. Its resources and infrastructure leave much to be desired. But it boasts a highly dedicated and committed staff, so ably led by the Dean, Professor Lizo Mazwai. The Faculty has also benefited from the sterling support of our Cuban partners. It is these human resources which have allowed the Faculty to develop to the stage where it is ready to build its capacity to undertake postgraduate medical training. Today marks a milestone for the Faculty and my congratulations goes to you. I must also congratulate the Eastern Cape and national Departments of Health for the role you are playing in ensuring that there are appropriate staffing and facilities to undertake postgraduate medical training in the Eastern Cape. I hope that this agreement will also assist UNITRA to consolidate and build the health sciences as an area of excellence.
The foresight of the University of Cape Town in entering this groundbreaking agreement is testimony to the calibre of leadership of the University, and especially that of its Vice-chancellor, Professor Njabulo Ndebele and Professor Padayachee, the Dean of UCT's Faculty of Health Sciences.
You are hopefully paving the way for partnerships, which truly serve the national good. For too long, narrow self-interest has clouded the ability of higher education institutions to innovatively use their expertise and resources in ways that respond to the needs of society. You may have heard me say that the transformation of the higher education system in our country is too important to be left to chance. I am very pleased to see that you are grasping the nettle.
For far too long our higher education system has been characterised by fragmentation, competition and protection of turf which has disadvantaged the majority of the people of our country. This state of affairs has resulted in many instances in the unnecessary duplication of academic programmes, the consequence of which is the wasting of valuable, yet scarce resources. The National Plan for Higher Education, which was approved by Cabinet earlier this year, serves as a blue print to achieving the targeted goals of a single and coordinated higher education.
My Ministry believes that institutional and regional cooperation is an important tool of addressing the broader social, educational, economic, political needs of the higher education system. I trust that this partnership will influence other higher education institutions to cooperate in ways that best use our limited human and financial resources.
One of the fundamental principles that underpin our quest for the transformation of higher education is the question of redress and equity. To achieve equity we must increase the participation of under-represented communities in the education system. I am sure that this initiative will go beyond that and begin to provide reciprocal recognition as well as appreciate the quality of graduates that complete their studies from each of your institutions. I mention this against the background that most institutions have in the past disadvantaged transferring students, especially from the historically black institutions. Many have, in terms of their rules, failed to recognise credits that these students carry from their previous institutions, often without even assessing them. I trust that this partnership is a step towards eradicating such practices and that other institutions will take a cue from you and begin to recognise prior learning in the true sense of the word.
Vice Chancellor Ndebele, I recall that I addressed the Faculty of Health Sciences at UCT late last year on how best your Faculty, could realise the vision and goals of our national education imperatives. I made a point that the health care needs of the population are many and varied and make demands on human resources which exceed our available capacity. It was therefore critical for us to improve participation rates of health care professionals in the education system.
It is unfortunate that while we strive to do so, we are experiencing a hemorrhaging of health workers who are seeking greener pastures overseas. It is indeed a complement to our education and training system of this country that our health professionals are so sought after throughout the world. However, no country can stand by and watch the drain on our limited resources. We need to do our utmost to ensure that we stem this outflow. A number of strategies will be required to address this concern. For example, I believe that we should pay more attention to the criteria used in selecting students into health education programmes. This is, in turn, important to ensure that as many graduates as possible choose to remain in the country and dedicate their professional lives to serving the needs of our people, both in urban and rural areas.
We may also need to consider other steps to ensure that we are getting the required returns from the very large investment that the State is making in higher education. In countries such as Norway, for example, graduates are required to work in-country for a stipulated period of time in order to ensure that the State benefits from the investment it has made in training professionals.
Allow me to touch on an area, which is very close to my heart. As some of you may know I recently hosted a national conference in Cape Town which brought together leading intellectuals and educationalists from within the country and from overseas to address the matter of values in education.
Education and training, whether it is in the area of medicine, engineering or philosophy, is not a clinical undertaking. It is imbued with the values and ethos of those who are in charge of the curriculum and teaching.
Some people may consider Wouter Basson to be a brilliant doctor. But we are all too aware of the horrors that he unleashed. This must never ever be allowed to happen again in our country. The one way in which we can ensure this is to infuse the curriculum and our training with the values that we ought to cherish as a nation. Values which serve to unite us in our quest for a better life for all. Not those of the past that served to divide and impoverish. No speech at UNITRA from the Minister of Education can end without comment on the institution as a whole. The current financial situation is of utmost concern to Government. The University is already in serious overdraft, a situation that cannot be sustained. A lasting solution is being sought and I hope that there will be decisions with regard to the future of the institution before the end of this year. I fully appreciate the pressures placed upon all of you in the light of the uncertainties that have confronted UNITRA, but fundamental restructuring is not without pain. However, I must add that the uncertainties that you confront are not of Government's making but largely stem from the mismanagement of the past.
In conclusion, I would like to commend the vision of UNITRA, UCT and our partners in the national and provincial Departments of Health in helping to promote postgraduate medical education and training. I am confident that the partnership you will be entering her today will, in turn, help to address the health needs that confront this region.
Enkosi! Thank you!