| Johannesburg - The new principal of the Sebokeng campus of Vista University, Professor Sipho Seepe, is passionate about what he describes as the Africanisation of knowledge.
His own particular research and academic interests are exploring the cultural, social and political dimensions of mathematics and science education. His other pet subject is investigating the employment of African languages for teaching mathematics and science, and he says his new role affords him the chance to put his theories into practice.
Seepe, formerly head of mathematics and science education at the University of Venda, says his primary wish is to turn the campus into "an African institution of high standards which will address itself to the various challenges that affect Africa".
He has been a vocal critic of the slow pace of the tertiary system in matching the pace of the latest global trends, and feels that he is now in a suitable position to implement some of his ideas.
"As a campus principal, I want to see myself moving away from being a virtual clerk and becoming an active academic and intellectual who will guide the university's curricular transformation, its social role and its place in the national and international landscape.
"The African identity of the institution should be located in the treatment of African issues not as a by-product but by moving African issues in the academic, social, political and economical milieu from the periphery to the centre.
"Look at Shakespeare and the works of people like Es'kia Mphahlele, Wole Soyinka. Shakespeare seems to be in the forefront, while African authors are treated as an afterthought. And yet this is Africa.
"History should also not be about white conquests and white-oriented, while we have the exploits and writings of people like (Steve) Biko, (Robert) Sobukwe and (Sol) Plaatjie to consider.
"Our students should relate to their continent and be inspired by the intellectual vibrancy of various activities like daily seminars, where there would be free access to intellectuals and politicians such as Mphahlele, Blade Nzimande, Mathews Phosa, Itumeleng Mosala, Zakes Mda and Barney Pityana." Seepe says he believes that "failure to use our people in creative, intellectual discourses" leads to violence at tertiary institutions "because we do not exact too much from our lecture halls".
"Most students seem to feel they miss little by staying away from lectures." Seepe wants Sebokeng Vista to become an Africanised institution with high standards, where "a 10 percent pass should not be regarded as normal, while whites regard an 80 percent average as a poor performance". Previously a physical science teacher at Moretele College of Education, and a mathematics and physics lecturer at the Medical University of South Africa, Seepe believes that science education is one area in which Sebokeng Vista will be expected to excel under his guidance.
"I want us to present lectures and study material at a level that is easily accessible and comprehensible to the ordinary student - the saddest thing about our current approach is that it is at a level where only experts are familiar with the subject.
"Simply put, we should rewrite a lot of material comprehensibly, making it easy for our students to relate to, like using boomerangs and bows and arrows to explain aerodynamics." Sebokeng Vista is also due to start a community outreach programme that is aimed at touching the lives of pupils of schools in and around Sebokeng and serving as a community venue, instead of being "a white elephant during weekends or school holidays".
Seepe says there should be a healthy partnership between the university and schools. "We should see our lecturers sharing their expertise and experiences with both pupils and teachers.
"I would also like to see us adopting classes and schools, and opening the institution to various local institutions, like the local metropolitan council.
"For instance, we could have special courses for local councillors, and the school has a large hall, which can be used for various community functions."
Copyright © 1999
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