Publicité
Uteem can contribute to public debate
Ahmad Macky (l?express, 30th ) takes issue with Cassam Uteem?s suggestion in his open letter (l?express, 16th May) to Finance minister, Rama Sithanen, in the run-up to the forthcoming budget that young schoolchildren might be aided in their educational progress by a change of practice in elementary schools in Mauritius. Uteem wrote: ?Un repas chaud servi à la mi-journée dans nos écoles primaires pourrait? faire toute la différence et contribuerait dans une très grande mesure? à faire les enfants pauvres réussir leur scolarité primaire.?
Apart from making some gratuitously stupid remarks ? ?If his suggestion is implemented, primary schools will sooner than expected change into three-star hotels. And we can say ?Adieu? to any worthwhile teaching? -- Macky questions the motives of the former president of the Republic when he declares that Uteem ?? has become fond of writing articles or opinions and giving press conferences every now and then without plausible reason? What games is he playing? Is he doing it for the gallery??
Of course, questioning the motives of someone who is trying to make a contribution to public policy is extremely widespread in political (and other) circles but it is quite wrong. If it wasn?t, I could quite legitimately question Macky?s motives ? ?Is Macky motivated to get on his computer and write something about Uteem?s latest suggestion by the psychic satisfaction he gets when he sees his letter printed in l?express?? (Or worse). Then Macky could question mine and, before you know it, no one could say anything because all arguments would be reduced to the motivations and interests of the people who have come up with them and dismissed accordingly.
I have news for Macky and others who think like him ? it doesn?t matter what Uteem?s motives are or what he did or didn?t do when he was president of the Republic of Mauritius. Like any other Mauritian citizen or other interested party ? like me ? Cassam Uteem has every right to put forward his ideas into the public domain and see if they fly or get shot down by supporters and critics on the basis of available facts. Put simply, Uteem?s suggestions deserved to be judged as ideas independently of his personality or, indeed, even whether they are consistent or not with his political history.
But while we are on the subject of food and learning among primary schoolchildren in Mauritius it is relevant to record, however, the findings of a panel of eight leading economists, including five Nobel laureates, which reported last Friday that tacking malnutrition among children in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia should be the world?s top priority for aid and development ? ahead even of other major challenges like climate change, the Doha development agenda, immunisation and terrorism ? because it could cut mortality rates by 23 per cent and make the world a better place.
Perhaps Cassam Uteem is on to something. Maybe a proper debate based on the evidence of the link between nutrition and learning in childhood should start because ? Macky did get something right ? a free hot meal served to primary schoolchildren has to be paid for by Mauritian taxpayers.
Dr Sean CAREY </B> Roehampton University</I>
 |
<B>Misused leisure time</B>
Separating entertainment from vice can be quite challenging especially when their respective meanings are not well assimilated in the mentality. Although work can be a source of pleasure, it is a legitimate aspiration to get ?time free? from it to enjoy life differently. This free time, referred to as leisure, is generally dedicated to amusements. However, when entertainment threatens one?s welfare as well as others?, it turns into an ?immoral and criminal practice?, a ?vice?, as defined by the Oxford dictionary.
Sharing a drink with friends and family complements a natural need for happy social interaction. Yet, when its consumption is uncontrolled to the point of becoming a compulsive habit which ruins health and families, alcohol turns from friend to fiend. When mixed with driving, when it is the ?major cause for the maltreatment of children, sexual aggression and incest?, alcohol is more a killer than an entertainer.
Pregnant with such devastating consequences, alcohol consumption should come with adequate education aimed at keeping it within the boundaries of responsible usage. Only then, will it be considered as a possible and avoidable complement to leisure rather than an entertainment in itself . According to the World Health Organisation ?countries with very high estimated unrecorded alcohol consumption include Mauritius? (11 litres per capita for population older than 15 years), a change in perception might contribute to a decrease in consumption and help free our country from the adverse consequences.
Lovemaking is a timeless and natural occupation that can easily turn into a vice if moral rules are not respected. Unsafe sex is behind the transmission of STDs while dissolute sexual activities bring in their trail broken families, rapes, pregnant teens, broken hearts and tarnished reputation. Hence to prevent it from turning into tragedy, sexual education is a must for children and adults. When the line is crossed, what is for pleasure becomes torture for victims as displayed in news, the latest being the atrocious rape of a student at Sodnac.
Another example of leisure turned into vice is time wasted in frivolous gossip. We draw great pleasure out of sharing views and experiences but it?s unfortunate how we sometimes use these privileged moments to spread rumours. It is so regrettable that it is even showcased in some adverts to suggest how low some telephone rates are!
Gambling is a highly volatile amusement that can flare up into an addictive vice. The thrill of gambling is so strong that there is no need to woo people into this hasardous activity. Yet, in tiny Mauritius, people are made to believe they can play blindfolded, while betting is openly associated to distraction in an environment wanting in healthy entertainment outlets. In some ways it?s better for those in this business to encourage people in keeping their eyes shut while laying bets because the day they open their eyes on its bad effects, they surely will race away from it! According to Einstein, ?If A equals success, then the formula is A equals X plus Y plus Z. X is work. Y is play. Z is keep your mouth shut.?
If we keep on gambling between ?play ? and ?vice? as well as open our mouths to spread rumours instead of keeping it shut, we won?t be as successful as we would wish to be. Would it not be regrettable?
Alain JEANNOT</B>
Publicité
Publicité
Les plus récents
