Times Of Swaziland: DON’T BE TRAPPED BY DOCTRINE - MINISTER

DON’T BE TRAPPED BY DOCTRINE - MINISTER
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BY ZWELAKHE MOAHLOLI on 02/12/2017 03:17:00


MBABANE – “Do not be trapped by doctrine.” This was a fatherly advice
given by the Minister of Education and Training, Phineas Magagula, to graduating
students of the Swaziland College of Technology (SCOT) yesterday.
The minister explained that doctrine or dogma was living with the results of
other people’s thinking.
“Do not let the noise of other people’s opinions drown out your own inner
voice,” he added.
Speaking during the 18th graduation ceremony that was held at the college’s
premises, Magagula advised the students to take leaf from Steve Jobs who once
said: “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. Everything else is
secondary.”
Limited
He also told them that their time was limited, meaning that they should not
waste it by emulating other people’s lives.
This statement was received with applause from the approximately 2 000 people
made up of friends, relatives and graduates.
The minister, who is also a pastor, further warned the graduating learners that
they were now going to face activities that would test the foundations of their
grooming from SCOT.
“Yes, your academic intelligence will be put to test by various situations at
work,” he said.
Magagula said within the confines of this compound, bound by friendships of
colleagues and under the watchful eyes of the principal and lecturers, the
students did not have much choice other than to conform to the honour code.
He made comparison that in the real world, most of the students would be alone
and may fall prey to widely practised norms of society, most of which would
violate their honour.