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Education on the African continent focus of UFS #AfricaMonth celebrations

25 May 2022 | Story Leonie Bolleurs | Photo Dries Myburgh

Africa Month celebration on the UFS South Campus — Attending the Africa Month celebrations on the UFS South Campus were, from the left: Temba Hlasho, Executive Director: Student Affairs; Thandeka Mosholi, Head: Social Responsibility, Enterprise, and Community Engagement; Prof Colin Chasi; Ms Zola Thamae; Prof Francis Petersen; Simphiwe Dube, South Campus SRC President; Dr Cornelius Hagenmeier, Director: Office for International Affairs; Poloko Masuelele; Nombulelo Shange, Lecturer in Sociology; and Bulelwa Moikwatlhai (seated), Office for International Affairs.

Amid great fanfare, colour, and song, the South Campus of the University of the Free State (UFS) kicked off Africa Month in celebration of education on the African continent.

Delivering welcoming remarks on behalf of Dr Marinkie Madiope – the South Campus Principal – was Poloko Masuelele, Assistant Director heading the Curriculum Design and Development Unit on the South Campus. “The African continent is suffering a great deal of challenges, including the scourges of malnutrition and strained delivery of basic education. How revolutionary would it be if we could simultaneously eradicate these vices by formulating policies, mechanisms, and vehicles that would enable us to feed, heal, and teach our people? It is incumbent on us as thought leaders to take the lead in this significant enterprise.”

Bringing a government prospect, was Ms Zola Thamae, the Acting Director in the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation. She stated that there is much that could be done to address challenges in Africa if the university and government take hands. She also urged students to read and educate themselves in order to change their background.

Searching for African solutions

Prof Francis Petersen, Rector and Vice-Chancellor of the UFS, delivered the keynote address. Focusing on the theme of Africa Month, he said when it comes to educational development, there is no other continent that has faced the same trials and challenges as ours. “But in the harsh crucible of history, character, tenacity, and a sense of ubuntu were forged, translating into an exciting, fertile breeding ground for new knowledge creation, independent thought, and innovation,” he added.

He quoted Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, who said, “Africa’s story has been written by others; we need to own our problems and solutions and write our own story,” and added that over the past few decades, on many fronts and in many spheres – also in education – this is exactly what has been happening.

“We are actively searching for African solutions to African problems. The value we can offer is substantial,” he said.

Prof Petersen expressed confidence not only in Africa’s people, but also in what they are bringing to the table. “While Africa has established itself as an attractive investment destination, it is now more sought after for its people than for its physical assets. And its people have been driving exciting and encouraging developments in education.”

“In terms of Africa’s contribution to global knowledge, the world is slowly but surely acknowledging the abundant evidence of scientific innovation contributed by African scholars – not only at present, but since the earliest times.”

He also trusts that Africans have advanced considerably in decolonialising curricula. “Across our continent, African history, achievements, and discoveries have been absorbed into school curriculums, replacing a Eurocentric focus in education, and fulfilling the vision of Africans owning their own story. Most higher education institutions – the UFS included – have over the past decade or two also been engaged in a comprehensive, systematic process of decolonising our curricula – incorporating the knowledge created on our own continent in various study fields.”

Despite these encouraging milestones that education has reached in Africa, Prof Petersen is of the opinion that much remains to be done. “As custodians of higher education in Africa, and as part of the larger education sector, we have our work cut out for us,” he stated.

He believes that the unique point in time in which Africa finds itself presents an opportunity to completely reimagine the entire education landscape.

Collectively we will succeed

Also contributing some valuable input to the celebratory event, was Prof Lynette Jacobs, Associate Professor in the Department of Open and Distance Learning. She stated that one of the problems of colonial education is that it does not cultivate African self-esteem. Quoting President Julius Nyerere, she shared that “Education should not alienate students from their traditions but should rather make them appreciate themselves as Africans.”

According to her, Africans have lost the confidence to celebrate themselves in their African cultures and traditions within the formal education environment.

“Collectiveness, togetherness, dialogue, and being authentically human are what Africa brings to the world. The world has so much to learn from Africa,” she said and asked the audience, “Do you embrace who you are and are you proud to share it with the rest of the world?”

Representing the Unit for Institutional Change and Social Justice was Prof Colin Chasi. He emphasised the importance of working together to bring about positive change in Africa. “We enhance our capacity if we are working together. Collectively we will succeed; separately we will suffer a terrible fate,” he stated.

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Dr Oprah Winfrey praises our university

2011-08-24

Dr Oprah Winfrey after receiving her honorary doctorate degree.
Photo: Rian Horn

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Transcription (pdf document)

“I came 8 000 miles to say, thank you, Vrystaat!” and “God bless South Africa,” were the words Dr Oprah Winfrey used yesterday to respectively open and close her address to an overflowing Callie Human Centre on our Bloemfontein Campus.

Our university awarded an honorary doctorate in Education to Dr Winfrey during a stately, yet warm and cheerful affair yesterday, which saw the 4 500 seater Callie Human Centre packed to the rafters with adoring fans, staff members and students.

The honorary doctorate is in recognition of her unparalleled dedication to improving the lives and futures of so many by improving education and ensuring that it is accessible to all. Through her award-winning show, The Oprah Winfrey Show (which concluded this year after 25 years of entertainment and service), and the various charity organisations she has established, Dr Winfrey has harnessed the power of her iconic stature in the struggle to eradicate poverty and make education accessible to all.

The ceremony’s audience was entertained by South African music legend, Ms Sibongile Khumalo, the Bloemfontein Children’s Choir, Bartimea School for the Deaf and Blind’s Sign Language Choir, and several other musical performers as well as dancers.

Dr Winfrey could not hold back her tears when Mr John Samuel, interim Director of our International Institute for Studies in Race, Reconciliation and Social Justice, described her as an “honorary daughter of South Africa”. She proved just how much the country means to her when she joined in the singing of the South African national anthem, Nkosi Sikeleli, despite struggling with the words in some parts.

According to Dr Winfrey, her interest in our university began after she had read an article by Prof. Jonathan Jansen, Vice-Chancellor and Rector, in which he emphasised the need for South Africans to stop accepting mediocrity, if ever the country is to develop to its full potential.

She asked Mr Samuel to convey her message of support to Prof. Jansen and the wheels, which led to today’s great event, were set in motion.

She also expressed her admiration of the transformation process at our university and our commitment to “reconciliation, peace and harmony”. “What has happened at the University of the Free State is nothing short of a miracle and this is truly what the New South Africa is about,” she said to loud cheers from the audience.

To emphasise her point, she called the five workers from the Reitz video to the stage and used their forgiveness and acceptance of the students responsible for the video as an example of the healing achieved at the UFS.

“Having seen this forgiveness has allowed me to expand my vision of what we can be.” She also delivered a message of encouragement and reminded students that anyone, despite their circumstances and background, could become successful and grow to overcome their obstacles, as she had done.

“Anyone can be successful if they put their mind to it, work hard and are diligent,” she said. “We must all strive for more than success, though, and fulfil the highest expression of ourselves as humans by realising who you are and what you are meant to be.”

Following her address, Dr Winfrey answered several questions from our students, giving them advice on, among other things, how to choose a career that is right for them, and good characteristics to look for in leaders and peers.

She also mentioned that several learners from the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy, which has its very first group of Grade 12 learners this year, would be visiting our university next month in order to help them select a university to attend next year.

Media Release
25 June 2011
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Director: Strategic Communication
Tel: 051 401 2584
Cell: 083 645 2454
E-mail: news@ufs.ac.za

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