ON NOVEMBER 05 the Dies Natalis of the Anton de Kom University (AdeKUS) was pronounced for the 58th time. The implementation capacity of the government and the opportunities that Adekus students have to help close this gap were critically examined. They were encouraged not only to master the educational part of the courses, but also to look further and develop their leadership qualities and critical thinking skills.
Economist Silvano Tjong-Ahin, who also contributed to the Dies speech, said that with a realization rate of 7 percent of the Multi-Year Development Program 2022-2026, it is clear that a framework is needed. He also mentioned issues such as unclear work processes, overlapping responsibilities between ministries and appointments that are not always based on expertise. These things cause delays and inefficiency. Professor Maureen Lichtveld said that a certain commitment will be required from everyone to make the university a place where young people can realize their full potential.
And there is nothing more irritating than government offices where political loyalists set the direction and academics are ignored
They were all beautiful words, there in the Center Church, far away from reality on the campus on the Leysweg. The actual situation is that the scientific staff stops work for the umpteenth time in a short period of time four days after the Dies Natalis. Promises about the grants to be received have not been fulfilled and that is where the inspiration for scientists and students goes out the door. Because what happens if the academic staff who are to form the future academics who are so needed are themselves insufficiently paid?
Adekus is faced with a dire lack of full-time teachers, classrooms that do not meet the current requirements for academic education and a site where there is hardly any lighting in the evening. There is only a small canteen and it does not offer a place for students to get together and brainstorm, let alone network. The library had inadequate cooling for months and there is no such thing as a campus café as a kind of meeting place for a long time.
The question is therefore where young people should get the motivation to step into their role for the future. Usually motivation works in two ways: push and pull factors. It is clear that Adekus does not have enough push factors to interest young people in more than just a study. But on the other hand, it can also be said that the government does not display pull factors. Positions and ministries are not filled on the basis of expertise, but rather on the basis of political accommodation of party members.
And there is nothing more irritating than government offices where political loyalists set the direction and academics are ignored. And because it is a logging device, correct compensation cannot be provided. So colleagues look away at newcomers, but don’t move a finger themselves. Or good people may from now on show up for bacon and beans while politically affiliated people are favorites. That is the government’s biggest problem. The solution to this does not lie with the future framework. This is due to the government’s unwillingness to implement a well-functioning strategy for improvement.
