The Secretariat of the African, Caribbean and Pacific Group of States

GRADUATION SPEECH BY SIR JOHN R. KAPUTIN, KBE, CMG, SECRETARY-GENERAL OF THE AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC GROUP OF STATES (ACP)

OPENING ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

THE CHAIRMAN, MR MIKE DUGGAN, AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES,

THE HEADMASTER, MR ISLAY LEE, AND MEMBERS OF THE TEACHING STAFF AND THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATION,

PARENTS – FATHERS AND MOTHERS, GRANDPARENTS, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, AND FRIENDS,

FELLOW STUDENTS,

BOYS AND GIRLS,

OPENING COMMENTS:

GREETINGS AND GOOD EVENING TO YOU ALL,

FIRST LET ME THANK THE CHAIRMAN, MR DUGGAN, AND THE HEADMASTER, MR LEE, FOR THE INVITATION TO BE HERE TONIGHT. IT IS INDEED A GREAT PERSONAL PLEASURE AND PRIVILEGE TO BE ASKED TO BE PRESENT AND ADDRESS YOU ON SPEECH NIGHT.

IT IS ESPECIALLY SO FOR AN OLD BOY OF THE ROCKHAMPTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL, LIKE MYSELF.

WHEN I WAS A STUDENT HERE IN THE LATE 1950S, I RECALL SITTING THROUGH A SERIES OF SPEECH DAYS WONDERING WHAT THE FUTURE MIGHT HAVE IN STORE.

NOW, HERE I AM UP ON THE STAGE, GIVEN THE RARE HONOUR OF SPEAKING TO YOU.

THE OCCASION TEMPTS ME TO PARAPHRASE A REMARK BY A PROMINENT AMERICAN EDUCATOR, A FORMER CHANCELLOR OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, WHOSE THOUGHTS ON PUBLIC SPEECH-MAKING AT EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS HAVE A SPECIAL APTNESS IN A COUNTRY EXPERIENCING THE EFFECTS OF PROLONGED DROUGHT.

QUOTE - ‘IF THE … ORATORY THAT INUNDATES EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS’ AT THE END OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR ‘COULD BE TRANSLATED INTO RAIN,’ THEN ‘WE SHOULD ALL BE AWASH OR WATERLOGGED’ - UNQUOTE.

HOWEVER, LACKING THE ABILITY TO TURN MERE WORDS INTO SOMETHING MORE USEFUL, LET ME JUST SAY HOW HONOURED I AM TO BE HERE – OR, REMEMBERING PREVIOUS VISITS, TO BE BACK AT MY OLD SCHOOL, ROCKY, AGAIN.

THIS IS THE PLACE FROM WHICH I SET OUT ON THE GREAT ADVENTURE OF ADVANCED STUDY AND THE PURSUIT OF A CAREER.

IT IS THE PLACE WHERE I NOT ONLY OBTAINED MUCH OF MY FORMAL EDUCATION, BUT WHERE I LEARNT FROM THE EXAMPLES SET BY THE HEADMASTER – ‘THE BOSS’, MR FITZROY JARDINE, AND MANY TEACHERS.

IT IS ALSO A PLACE WHERE I MADE FRIENDSHIPS WHICH HAVE BEEN AN IMPORTANT PART OF MY LIFE EVER SINCE.

MAY YOU, MY FELLOW STUDENTS, LEAVE HERE WITH SIMILAR GIFTS.

YOU WILL NOTICE I HAVE REFERRED BOTH TO THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE LEAVING AND TO THOSE WHO WILL BE RETURNING TO SCHOOL AS ‘FELLOW STUDENTS’.

THIS IS NOT A SLIP OF THE TONGUE. IT IS ENTIRELY DELIBERATE.

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL LATIN, OUR SCHOOL’S MOTTO IS ‘GROW IN CHARACTER AND SCHOLARSHIP’.

AS A WELL-KNOWN SAYING HAS IT, A FORMAL QUALIFICATION IS NOT AN EDUCATION.

IT IS, AT ITS BEST, A START OR A TOOL IN A PROCESS WHICH ALLOWS US TO LEARN MORE.

EDUCATION IS A LIFELONG ACTIVITY – OR, AS THE LATIN ROOT, EDUCARE, WOULD HAVE IT, A PROCESS BY WHICH HUMAN BEINGS ARE NOURISHED OR RAISED.

IN A VERY PARTICULAR SENSE, WE ARE ALL FELLOW-STUDENTS FOR LIFE.

AS ONE WHO HAS SERVED AS A POLITICIAN AND CONTINUES TO PARTICIPATE IN NEGOTIATIONS OF VARIOUS KINDS, I FIND OUR SCHOOL MOTTO ESPECIALLY APT.

IN THE WORDS OF ANOTHER AMERICAN EDUCATOR, ‘SCHOLARSHIP IS POLITE ARGUMENT.’

OR, IN THE WORDS OF STILL ANOTHER PROMINENT EDUCATOR, ‘EDUCATION IS A KIND OF CONTINUING DIALOGUE.’

IT IS A DIALOGUE IN WHICH OUR PARTNERS ARE COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS; SOMETIMES, THE PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF NEGOTIATIONS; AND, IF WE TAKE LEARNING AND SCHOLARSHIP SERIOUSLY, THE ADVICE FROM OUR PARENTS AND TEACHERS; THE BELIEFS, PRACTICES AND EXPERIENCES OF OTHER SOCIETIES; AS WELL AS THE BOOKS AND OTHER RECORDS OF PREVIOUS GENERATIONS.

THIS IS TRUE, IN DIFFERENT WAYS, IRRESPECTIVE OF THE PARTICULAR CULTURE OR COUNTRY IN WHICH INDIVIDUALS ARE BROUGHT UP.

PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OF STUDENTS AT OUR SCHOOL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

I KNOW THAT MANY OF YOU HAVE TRAVELLED LONG DISTANCES IN ORDER TO BE WITH US TONIGHT.

MAY I, THEREFORE, ACKNOWLEDGE YOUR PRESENCE, AND EXPRESS THE SINCERE APRECIATION OF EVERYONE HERE FOR YOUR SPECIAL EFFORTS AND CONTINUING SUPPORT, EXPRESSED BOTH THROUGH PARENTAL LOVE AND IN FINANCIAL TERMS.

I AM SURE THAT I SPEAK ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US HERE TONIGHT WHEN I SAY THAT WE RECOGNISE AND APPRECIATE THE MANY SACRIFICES YOU HAVE MADE OVER THE YEARS FOR THE SAKE OF YOR CHILDREN’S EDUCATION.

I AM HONOURED TO BE WITH YOU, AND TO SHARE IN CELEBRATING YOUR CHILDREN’S – AND THE SCHOOL’S – ACHIEVEMENTS.

AS I HAVE PREVIOUSLY SUGGESTED, THE HONOUR IS ESPECIALLY GREAT AND MEANINGFUL FOR ME AS A FORMER STUDENT AT THIS SCHOOL.

ALTHOUGH WE CURRENTLY RESIDE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE WORLD – IN BELGIUM – AND MY OFFICIAL DUTIES REQUIRE FREQUENT TRAVEL TO COUNTRIES SCATTERED AROUND THE GLOBE – THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO WAY MY WIFE AND I WOULD HAVE PASSED UP THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE WITH YOU, FOR ME TO SPEAK TO YOU, AND FOR US TO SHARE IN THE SCHOOL’S CELEBRATIONS TONIGHT.

MY CURRENT POSITION IS THAT OF SECRETARY-GENERAL OF ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN CO-OPERATION BETWEEN ADVANCED INDUSTRIAL AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES – A PROCESS WHICH, CONFUSINGLY FOR AUSTRALIANS, IS OFTEN REFERRED TO AS ‘NORTH-SOUTH CO-OPERATION’.

THE BODY I LEAD IS THE ACP SECRETARIAT, AN ORGANISATION WHICH SERVES THE INTERESTS OF 79 AFRICAN, CARIBBEAN AND PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES IN CO-OPERATION WITH THE 27-MEMBER EUROPEAN UNION.

THE POPULATION INVOLVED NUMBERS MORE THAN ONE BILLION PEOPLE, WHO SPEAK MANY DIFFERENT LANGUAGES, PRACTISE RICHLY DIVERSE CULTURES, AND GRAPPLE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF WIDELY VARYING STANDARDS OF LIVING IN COUNTRIES IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD.

THE CHARACTER AND SPREAD OF MY RESPONSIBILITIES
MEAN THAT I HAVE COME HERE VIA KIGALI, RWANDA, WHERE THE ACP-EU JOINT PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY WAS MEETING, AND KAMPALA, UGANDA, WHERE I ATTENDED THE COMMONWEALTH HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT MEETING ON BEHALF OF THE ACP.

AFTER I LEAVE HERE, I WILL BE IN VIENNA, AUSTRIA, NEXT MONDAY, FOR A MEETING OF THE UNITED NATIONS INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ORGANISATION (UNIDO), AND THEN ON TO LISBON, PORTUGAL, FROM 6 TO 8 DECEMBER, FOR THE SUMMIT OF THE AFRICAN UNION AND EUROPEAN UNION LEADERS.

I WILL THEN BE RETURNING TO MY CURRENT HOME IN BRUSSELS FOR THE REST OF THIS YEAR.

THOUGH MY TRAVEL ITINERARY MIGHT SEEM UNRELATED TO THIS OCCASION, IT HIGHLIGHTS THE WAYS IN WHICH EVENTS IN ONE PART OF THE WORLD ARE CONNECTED WITH OTHERS.

WITHOUT THE CONTRIBUTION OF A SOLID EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION AND THE DISCIPLINE RECEIVED FROM THIS SCHOOL, THE OPPORTUNITIES I HAVE AND THE CHALLENGES I FACE MIGHT HAVE BEEN VERY DIFFERENT.

THIS IS WHY I AM HERE.

MY JOURNEY TO ROCKHAMPTON IS NOT JUST TO VISIT MY OLD SCHOOL. I HAVE DONE SO ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS SINCE I COMPLETED MY SECONDARY EDUCATION.

I AM HERE BOTH TO CELEBRATE YOUR ACHIEVEMENTS, AND TO THANK RGS FOR THE EDUCATION I RECEIVED WHILE I WAS HERE, AND THE OPPORTUNITIES TO WHICH IT HAS OPENED THE WAY.

THE SCHOOLING I RECEIVED HERE HAS ENABLED ME TO TRAVEL THE PLANET AS A STUDENT, AN ATHLETE, A PUBLIC SERVANT, A GOVERNMENT MINISTER, AND NOW AS HEAD OF THE BIGGEST ORGANIZATION AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT MECHANISMS FOR DEVELOPMENT DIALOGUE AND CO-OPERATION.

A SPECIAL MESSAGE FOR THE STUDENTS:

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,

TONIGHT IS A SPECIAL NIGHT FOR STUDENTS AT AND SHORTLY TO LEAVE RGS – RGS SPEECH NIGHT 2007.

IT IS AN OCCASION WE SHARE WITH THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE HEADMASTER AND TEACHERS, FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

IT INCLUDES STUDENTS WHO WILL BE RETURNING NEXT YEAR; SOME WHO HAVE ELECTED TO JOIN THE WORK FORCE AFTER THE HOLIDAYS; AND OTHERS WHO INTEND TO ADVANCE THEIR FORMAL EDUCATION AT UNIVERSITIES OR OTHER INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION.

ALL OF YOU ARE TO BE COMPLIMENTED AND CONGRATULATED FOR YOUR HARD WORK AND ACHIEVEMENTS AT SCHOOL.

ON BEHALF OF EVERYONE HERE, ALLOW ME TO WISH YOU WELL IN THE FUTURE.

THE CHOICES WE MAKE REGARDING OUR FUTURES ARE NEVER EASY.

48 YEARS AGO, AMONG LESS THAN 300 BOYS, THE MAIN BODY OF STUDENTS AT THE TIME- (NOW MORE THAN 1,400), I RECALL SITTING WHERE YOU ARE FOR MY LAST SPEECH NIGHT AT RGS, AND, AS I HAVE SAID, REALLY NOT KNOWING EXACTLY WHERE ON THIS PLANET MY NEXT JOURNEY WOULD TAKE ME.

THE PROSPECT OF RETURNING HOME TO A ROMANTICISED AND IDEALISED LIFE UNDER SWAYING COCONUT PALM TREES, SURROUNDED BY THE BLUE WATERS OF THE PACIFIC OCEAN, HAD CERTAIN INVITING QUALITIES.

BUT, FOR ME, IT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE A VIABLE OPTION.

I RECALL MY OWN AND OTHERS’ UNCERTAIN HOPES AND MIXED EMOTIONS WHEN WE WERE PREPARING TO LEAVE SCHOOL.

THESE ARE COMMON HUMAN EMOTIONS AT TIMES LIKE THIS.

THEY SOMETIMES INCLUDE A CERTAIN NERVOUSNESS ABOUT WHETHER ONE IS MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES, AND WHETHER THE DIRECTIONS WE TAKE WILL LEAD TO THE DESIRED GOALS.

THUS IT IS THAT, WHILE I ACKNOWLEDGE THE ROLE THAT THIS SCHOOL HAS PLAYED IN PREPARING ME FOR FUTURE LIFE, I AM ALSO ACUTELY AWARE THAT MY FUTURE WAS MINE - AND MINE ALONE – TO MAKE.

EACH OF US HAS TO FACE THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE IN THE WORLD FOR OURSELVES, WHATEVER OUR CIRCUMSTANCES MIGHT BE, AND HOWEVER THEY CHANGE.

THE BARRIERS AND CHALLENGES THAT DIFFERENT PEOPLE FACE MAY INCLUDE RACISM, UNFAIR AND INHUMAN LAWS, LACK OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES, AND AN UNDERDEVELOPED SYSTEM OF EDUCATION.

THIS WAS CERTAINLY TRUE IN THE PAPUA NEW GUINEA OF MY YOUTH.

IT IS, REGRETTABLY, TRUE FOR MANY MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD, INCLUDING ACP COUNTRIES.

THESE CHALLENGES ARE COMPOUNDED IN THE CASE OF STATELESS PEOPLE AND REFUGEES.

THIS BRINGS ME BACK TO OUR SCHOOL MOTTO.

“MACTE VIRTUTE ET LITTERIS” - “GROW IN CHARACTER AND SCHOLARSHIP” - IS NOT A PRINCIPLE LIMITED TO OUR YEARS AT THE SCHOOL.

UNDERSTOOD PROPERLY, IT APPLIES THROUGHOUT LIFE.

IT CHALLENGES AND ENCOURAGES US TO STRIVE AND SEARCH FOR THE TRUE VIRTUE OF LEARNING AS WE LIVE AND CONTINUE TO GROW.

EDUCATION AS A TOOL

AS PROFESSOR ALICE TAY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION ONCE SAID - QUOTE:
EDUCATION IS NOT ABOUT MORALISING, TELLING PEOPLE WHAT IS GOOD FOR THEM. IT IS NOT ABOUT INDOCTRINATION, TRYING TO CONVINCE OTHERS TO THINK LIKE ONE DOES. IT IS NOT ABOUT PROVIDING SIMPLISTIC FORMULAE, TO SUGGEST THAT THINGS CAN BE DONE WITHOUT PAIN AND STRUGGLE, DISCIPLINE AND EVEN SACRIFICE.

EDUCATION, RATHER, IS GROUNDED IN THE GATHERING OF KNOWLEDGE, FACTS AND INFORMATION, RULES AND PROCESSES, ABOUT THE WORLD AROUND US AND HOW IT WORKS. HOWEVER, IT IS MORE BROADLY A PROCESS OF GROWTH WHICH TAKES AN INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP OF PEOPLE ON A JOURNEY OF UNDERSTANDING,INTELLECTUAL DEVELOPMENT AND CONSIDERED ACTION – UNQUOTE.

IN OTHER WORDS, CONTINUE TO GROW IN THE ESSENTIALS – CHARACTER AND LEARNING – FOR A LIFE WHICH IS GOOD FOR THE PARTICULAR PERSON, AND BENEFICIAL TO OTHERS.

EDUCATION TODAY

MEMBERS OF THE UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL, SCIENTIFIC AND CULTURAL ORGANISATION (UNESCO) SAY THEY BELIEVE THAT THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT. IT OCCUPIES A CENTRAL PLACE AMONG HUMAN RIGHTS. IT IS INDISPENSABLE FOR THE EXERCISE OF ALL OTHER RIGHTS. IT IS ESSENTIAL TO DEVELOPMENT.

FURTHERMORE – QUOTE – ‘AS AN EMPOWERMENT RIGHT, EDUCATION IS THE PRIMARY VEHICLE BY WHICH ECONOMICALLY AND SOCIALLY MARGINALIZED ADULTS AND CHILDREN CAN LIFT THEMSELVES OUT OF POVERTY, AND OBTAIN THE MEANS TO PARTICIPATE FULLY IN THEIR COMMUNITY’ - UNQUOTE

NONE OF THE CIVIL, POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL RIGHTS RECOGNISED BY THE UNITED NATIONS CAN BE EFFECTIVELY EXERCISED UNLESS THE PEOPLE TRYING TO CLAIM AND ASSERT THEM HAVE, AT LEAST, A CERTAIN MINIMUM LEVEL OF FORMAL EDUCATION.

IT IS EDUCATION WHICH ENABLES PEOPLE TO LEARN OF THEIR RIGHTS, AND TRY TO ASSERT THEM.

HOWEVER, DESPITE THE MANY COMMITMENTS GOVERNMENTS HAVE MADE IN INTERNATIONAL INSTRUMENTS INTENDED TO PROMOTE EDUCATION FOR ALL - ESPECIALLY FREE AND COMPULSORY, QUALITY BASIC EDUCATION - MILLIONS OF CHILDREN CONTINUE TO LACK EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES. POVERTY IS OFTEN THE REASON.

ACHIEVING THE RIGHT TO BASIC EDUCATION FOR ALL IS, THEREFORE, AMONG THE GREAT MORAL AND PRACTICAL CHALLENGES OF OUR TIME.

AS PRODUCTS OF RGS: DO WE HAVE RESPONSIBILITIES?

WE, AS PRODUCTS OF THE ROCKHAMPTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL - YOU, WITH THE SACRIFICES AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF YOUR PARENTS, AND ME, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF SCHOLARSHIPS, SINCE MY PARENTS DID NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO PAY FOR MY EDUCATION ABROAD - ARE AMONG THE VERY FORTUNATE PEOPLE TO RECEIVE A FULL, FORMAL SCHOOL EDUCATION.

WE, THEREFORE, HAVE A SPECIAL RESPONSIBILITY – WHICH WE MUST NOT ABUSE OR AVOID, BUT ACCEPT AND ENJOY AS A CHALLENGE – TO ADVOCATE, SUPPORT AND PARTICIPATE IN EFFORTS TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO FORMAL EDUCATION FOR PEOPLE LESS PRIVILEGED THAN OURSELVES.

THE REALITY IN MANY COUNTRIES IS THAT THERE ARE CHILDREN, WHO ARE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY, BUT WHO ARE NOT RECEIVING PROPER – AND, IN SOME CASES, ANY - EDUCATION. THIS IS TRUE EVEN IN A RELATIVELY PROSPEROUS COUNTRY LIKE AUSTRALIA.

THE SITUATION IS, OBVIOUSLY, EVEN WORSE IN MANY DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, INCLUDING ACP MEMBER-STATES.

WHEN WE REFLECT ON YOUR FUTURE, I AM SURE THAT MANY OF YOU WILL BECOME SCIENTISTS, LAWYERS, PROFESSORS, AGRONOMISTS, BUSINESSMEN AND BUSINESSWOMEN, AS WELL AS LIVESTOCK OR AGRICULTURAL FARMERS.

THE DECISIONS YOU MAKE AND THE ACTIONS YOU TAKE WILL OFTEN HAVE SIGNIFICANT, ULTIMATE EFFECTS FOR OTHERS, WHETHER THEY BE IN TRADE, POLITICS, PEACE AND SECURITY, THE ENVIRONMENT, OR GOVERNMENT POLICIES.

IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO ENSURE THAT THE EDUCATION WE RECEIVE CONTRIBUTES TO THE IMPROVED WELLBEING OF OTHER FELLOW-HUMAN BEINGS.

I HOPE THAT THIS IS THE CONCLUSION YOU WILL DRAW FROM MY PREVIOUS REMARKS – AND, EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, THAT YOU WILL RESPOND WITH PRACTICAL ACTION.

CONCLUSION

LET ME, THEREFORE, CONCLUDE BY QUOTING A PASSAGE FROM AN ADDRESS MADE BY ONE OF OUR MOST DISTINGUISHED HEADMASTERS IN 1958.

WHEN COMMENTING ON CERTAIN CRITICISMS CONCERNING THE SCHOOL’S POLICIES, MR FITZROY JARDINE SAID - QUOTE:

ALL SCHOOLS, I AM AFRAID, SUFFER FROM A GOOD DEAL OF CRITICISM FROM PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THEY HAVE SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS TO EXPRESS AN OPINION ON WHAT IS RATHER A TECHNICAL SUBJECT --- FOR THE MOST PART, THESE CRITICS, WHO ARE UNABLE TO DIFFERENTIATE BETWEEN INSTRUCTION AND EDUCATION, SEEM TO HOLD THE VIEW THAT A SCHOOL IS A KIND OF GILBERTIAN SAUSAGE MACHINE, INTO WHOSE MAW IS FED A MISCELLANEOUS COLLECTION OF INGREDIENTS WHICH DULY PROCESSED INTO A HOMOGENEOUS WHOLE ARE EXTRUDED, ENCASED IN THEIR HANDSOME SHINY SHEATHS - SCHOOL BOYS WITH THEIR PUBLIC EXAMINATION CERTIFICATES. IT DOES NOT SEEM TO MATTER THAT A MULTITUDE OF DEFECTS AND DEFICIENCIES MAY BE CONCEALED BENEATH THE OUTER VENEER, WHICH IS BOTH FOREIGN TO, AND UNRELATED TO THE MATTER ENCLOSED WITHIN.

IF A BELIEF THAT STUDENTS SHOULD EMERGE FROM A SCHOOL AS WELL BALANCED INDIVIDUALS, ADJUSTED TO LIVE IN HARMONY WITH THE COMMUNITY, WITH INTEREST QUICKENED IN THOSE SUBJECTS IN WHICH THEY HAVE PARTICULAR APTITUDES AND INTEREST, THEN THIS SCHOOL IS OLD FASHIONED AND INEFFICIENT.

IT IS OUR POLICY TO DEVELOP THE INDIVIDUAL – TO EDUCATE HIM NOT MERELY FOR EXAMINATION PURPOSES, BUT FOR THE LIFE WHICH LIES BEFORE HIM. THIS IS THE IDEAL OF THE MODERN EDUCATIONALIST AND THE FUNCTION OF THE MODERN SCHOOL – A POLICY APPROVED BY THE TRUSTEES AND IMPLEMENTED BY THE STAFF - UNQUOTE.

LONG MAY THE GREAT VISION AND INTELLECTUAL WISDOM IN MR JARDINE’S WISE REMARKS CONTINUE TO FLOURISH!

THE ABILITY TO THINK CLEARLY AND LOGICALLY, TO RESEARCH AND ANALYSE ISSUES AND INFORMATION, AND DRAW COHERENT CONCLUSIONS ARE PRODUCTS OF THE KIND OF EDUCATION MR JARDINE WAS ADVOCATING.

IT PROVIDES A SOUND BASIS FOR RESPONSIBLE PARTICIPATION IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMMUNITY, THE NATION, AND THE BROADER, REGIONAL AND GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT IN WHICH WE LIVE.

THIS WAS THE ESSENCE, THE PURPOSE, AND MEANING OF THE STATEMENT MADE BY MR. JARDINE NEARLY 50 YEARS AGO.

THROUGHOUT MY 40 YEARS OF PUBLIC SERVICE, I HAVE FOUND BOTH SOLACE AND STRENGTH IN MR. JARDINE’S WISE INSIGHTS AND VISION.

THEY HAVE HELPED ME IN MANY DIFERENT SITUATIONS, INCLUDING THOSE IN WHICH I HAVE BEEN CONFRONTED WITH ABUSES OF HUMAN RIGHTS OR THE NEED TO RESOLVE DEADLY CONFLICTS AND BUILD LASTING PEACE.

THEY ARE AS RELEVANT NOW TO SITUATIONS OF CONFLICT AND OTHER HUMAN DISTRESS IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD AS THEY WERE WHEN I VISITED NIGERIA AFTER THE EXECUTION OF 8 OF ITS CITIZENS IN 1995, AND, MORE RECENTLY, IN MY ENDEAVOURS TO HELP RESOLVE CONFLICTS IN BOUGAINVILLE, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, FIJI, AND SUDAN.

IN CLOSING, I AM SURE YOU HAVE NOTED THAT I HAVE ALREADY ACKNOWLEDGED THE PRESENCE OF PARENTS AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS, AND EXPRESSED SINCERE APPRECIATION FOR THE DIVERSE WAYS IN WHICH YOU HAVE SUPPORTED YOUR CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN, SISTERS AND BROTHERS, OR OTHER RELATIVES, AS THE CASE MAY BE.

IT NOW REMAINS FOR ME TO THANK THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES, THE HEADMASTER AND STAFF, AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS CONTRIBUTED IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER TO THE EDUCATION OF ALL THOSE PRESENT HERE TONIGHT.

THANK YOU FOR THE HONOUR AND OPPORTUNITY OF ADDRESSING YOU, GOOD NIGHT, AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL OF MY FELLOW-STUDENTS AS YOU VENTURE FORTH AND MEET THE CHALLENGES LYING AHEAD.