Remarks

Remarks by U.S. Embassy Spokesperson, Ray Castillo at the Inauguration of the Polytechnic of Namibia Writing Centre, Polytechnic of Namibia Library, April 8, 2009

Thank you very much for inviting me to participate in this much anticipated launch of the Polytechnic of Namibia's Writing Center.  Congratulations!
 
Before I make a few observations about the importance of this center for the Polytechnic and Namibian higher education, allow me to recognize and thank a number of people who made this new center possible. 
 
First, Rector Tjivikua must be commended for his vision and for finding the resources for the Writing Center.  In my three years in Namibia, we have seen the face and scope of the Polytechnic change and grow:  a new science center, revamped buildings, new programs, collaborations with universities on the African continent and overseas, and a new vision as the Namibian University of Science and Technology.  But the Rector does not forget basics like reading and writing, hence this center.
 
Michael Tjivikua.  I thank you for your hard work and dedication over the past few years to bring this center from paper to actuality.  Well done.
 
I would like to recognize the U.S. English Language Fellow program, through which the U.S. government brings experts in teaching the English language to Namibia.  Two in particular, Bonnie Sylvester and Marna Broekoff, worked on the writing center.  Bonnie assisted Michael with some of the planning and Marna Broekoff spent much of her time at Poly, last year, trying to move the center along.  I would also like to thank Neveara Olivier for her excellent work with us on this program.  The American Cultural Center could not have a better partner.
 
I also would like to thank a number of people that I have never met and whose names I do not know but who were nonetheless instrumental in creating the Writing Center.  The librarian who found the space, the architect and facilities manager who assisted in knocking down walls and installing outlets, the human resources office that worked to hire the tutors, and many others on the Polytecnic staff who provide the needed support to create the writing center.
 
Congratulations to all of you.
 
This Writing Center will provide the Polytechnic’s students with a new tool to improve their English language skills.  English language skills are critical for the Polytechnic's students to be marketable and to contribute their full potential to Namibia's development.  The Polytechnic has long recognized this and required that its incoming students take a number of English courses.
 
Some might ask why this is necessary for an institution whose main focus is science and technology.  I would answer, it is critical.  Many of us use computers every day.  Who has not experienced some error or tried to figure out some way to use new software and simply been baffled?  Who comes to our rescue?  The IT support people.  Yet they cannot support us if they only speak in technical terms.  They must be able to communicate with someone like me who may not understand what DDR SDRAM is and why I might need more of it (by the way, I took that off of the computer I was typing on).
 
Similarly, we need engineers who can write well so that I can read the manual for my new cell phone and understand what I need to do. 
As Poly's science students become tomorrow's professors they will publish the results of their research.  They will need to know how to write well. 
 
As Poly's business students become tomorrow's entrepreneurs they will need to submit proposals and communicate how their innovations will revolutionize the world.  They will need to know how to write well.
 
And my hope is that Poly’s students will also learn to love the English language as I do and that they will teach their children to read and to love language and to learn.  Ultimately, we must all become our own teachers and we can teach ourselves virtually anything if we can read.  This is a theme that I often bring up in my discussions with young students but it applies equally at the university level and in our lives after we finish our formal education.  So, I urge the Poly students to use the Writing Center.  Seek out the tutors.  Soak up the knowledge.  Become expert at writing and in using the English language.
 
Thank you and congratulations on the launch of this excellent Writing Center.