Education develops the intellect; and the intellect distinguishes man
from other creatures. It is education that enables man to harness nature
and utilize her resources for the well-being and improvement of his life.
The key for the betterment and completeness of modern living is education.
But, "Man cannot live by bread alone." Man, after all, is also composed of
intellect and soul. Therefore, education in general, and higher education
in particular, must aim to provide, beyond the physical, food for the intellect
and soul. That education which ignores man's intrinsic nature, and neglects
his intellect and reasoning power can not be considered true education.
HIGHER EDUCATION
A well organized education should not be one which prepares students for
a good remuneration alone. It should be one that can help and guide them
towards acquiring clear thinking, a fruitful mind, and an elevated spirit.
The educated person that Ethiopia and countries of our level needs is not
one who had stuffed bits of knowledge into his mind. The needed educated
individual is one who uses the ideas he obtained from his lectures, books,
and discussions to the best advantage of his own country and his own
people. It is he who disseminates new ideas in harmony with the economic
and social aspects of his own community so that fruitful results would be
realized. This is the educated person who can show segments of knowledge
he accumulated in his learning, inventiveness in a new situation.
Ethiopia is a country with her own culture and mores. These, our cultures
and customs, more than being the legacy of our historical past, are
characteristics of our Ethiopianness. We do not want our legacies and
traditions to be lost. our wish and desire is that education develop, enrich,
and modify them.
You all know the continuous effort that Ethiopia is exerting for the
development of a profound and high standard education. We need educated
and trained persons for research, for the study and development of our
country's resources, for technology, for medicine, for the law, and the
administration for our people according to their custom. These are the needs
that constrain us to provide, at all levels, education free of charge. And
students, ever mindful of this privilege, should endeavour to recompense
their country and nation.
The opportunity for education, afforded to the for. in our country, is not given
to them for a fashion or a mode. It is given for a purpose, for a task, for a
high reponsibility for full and exhaustive use, for the benefit of our country,
and the coming generation. We have just explained to you the type of result,
and responsibility that we expect from you students. It is on you, the members
of the faculty that we must rely for this result. We realize the heavy
responsibility we have entrusted to you. We hope that you too, while
believing and accepting your responsibilities as your sacred duties, will,
produce for Ethiopia persons who take pride in you and their education and
are ready for the call of service.
It is you who must mold the minds of your students that they may be wise,
farsighted, intelligent, profound in their thinking, devoted to their country and
government and fruitful in their work. It is you who must sense as the example.
On their part also, they will have to learn not only formal education but also
self discipline that should be worthy to be inherited. May the Almighty God be
with you in the fulfillment of your duties.
Sep. 23, 1963.
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