14 Oct 2019

Professor Henriette Driekie Hay-Swemmer of BA ISAGO says people should do away with the stigma and callousness of thinking of people as disabled.

When giving welcome remarks at the 12th graduation of BA ISAGO University recently, Prof Hay-Swemmer applauded Ms Tlholego Malema of Sefhophe, who graduated with Bachelor of Commerce in Real Estate at BA ISAGO University.

She referred to her as a powerful disciplined, resilient, hardworking student who had never supplemented her subjects.

She said the amazing thing was that she was not the kind of person who wanted people to sympathise with her or focus on her that she was on a wheel-chair  

He said the 640 students graduated with abilities and attributes that would make them employed or self-employed.

The professor also emphasised that it was critical that the university cultivated in students the ability to apply knowledge, become innovative, problem solvers and critical thinkers.

She said the occasion was also a fitting and timely opportunity to pay tribute to all those who had  brought them to the point where they were.

“It is moving today to see the unmistakable happiness on the faces of not only our graduates but also their parents, family members and supporters. Universities are places of learning, teaching, knowledge dissemination, the shaping of young minds and service to communities,” Prof. Hay-Swemmer said.

In an interview, Ms Malema said her academic years were challenging since she realised that  she was not accepted much by her colleagues.  

She said other students seemed to be always occupied with their own business. She said it was a challenge that other classrooms did not have ramps something which made her feel left out.

“I am not disabled, but physically challenged. I had told myself that what I have started I am going to complete. I encourage other physically challenged to accept themselves and other people will accept them,” Ms Malema said.

Giving a keynote address, the Assistant Minister of Local Government & Rural Development, Ms Botlogile Tshireletso said government’s priority was to transform the economy into a knowledge-based one so that economic growth was driven by well-informed people.

She said government education, skills and training systems would be supported by appropriate mechanisms to facilitate research, development and innovation.

“The government continues to be visionary and collaborative as it strives to make the nation the envy of global village through national vision 2036, which builds on lessons learned from vision 2016,” she said.  Ms Tshireletso said certain pillars had been identified to guide efforts and strategies towards their delivery.

“I have noticed that BA ISAGO University has aligned its programmes to quite a number of focus areas, such as business and competitiveness, operation of business enterprises, transport and logistics services offered by the Faculty of Commerce,” she said. ENDS