Students must learn from books

THIS New Year will bring another chapter to every student, and for some there’s the urge to find solace in a mentor.
While many would look far and beyond our shores, there are nationals that deserve similar accolades and one exceptional pin-up would be Dr Musawe Sinebare, an academic and former Deputy Director of the National Research Institute, and now Secretary for Department of Education.
A straight-thinker, this Simbu lad of Sina-Sina will add that egg-on for any strider in life.
Author of Melanesian School Mathematics Dictionary, Path to Success and Papua New Guinea: Developmental Strategy for Socio-Economic Empowerment  along with other books, Musawe is an accomplished writer, a strategic thinker and a fine mentor to those who have worked with him.
Musawe was born in 1959 at the picturesque village of Mu in Kamtai district of the Simbu Province.
Growing up in the 70s and 80s was a challenge, as first born child there were traditional responsibilities in addition to the demands of school.
His elevation and passion to succeed is shared in his book Path to Success,  a must buy New Years gift for students.
Musawe has accolades of administrative accomplishments having served the University of Goroka since 1982 as a lecturer, pro vice chancellor and concurrently as vice chancellor from 2002 to 2004.
He served the Eastern Highlands provincial administration soon after as its deputy provincial administrator for two years before joining the government’s think tank from 2008 to 2011.
Musawe has a Masters degree and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Information Technology from the University of Wollongong in Australia, another Masters degree in Education from Birmingham University in United Kingdom, and a Diploma and Bachelors degree from University of PNG in Secondary Teaching and Education respectively.
He owes his achievements to many people, notably God, his family and most of all his parents, whom he acknowledged in his doctoral thesis: “who brought me up and influenced me to pursue into the unknown forest of knowledge, and leave an indelible trail for others to pursue further in search of knowledge”
As an emissary of PNG Vision 2050 and advocator of good governance, Musawe has written over 100 commentaries on socio-political and ICT issues in the Sunday Chronicle, Post Courier and The National.
He is now developing these commentaries into yet another book which will be on the market soon.
His new book, Leadership will be published this year while he is currently writing another one capturing his experience in the current job as education secretary.
In a New Year email message to his ex-NRI colleagues, he wrote: “My intention at Fincorp was to make a difference, however insignificant they may be, as my predecessors have done their bits to make a contribution, and it’s now my turn to do the same in the time I have.”
Based now at Fincorp Haus, Port Moresby, one of Musawe’s bigger tasks ahead is to tackle the major challenges of the PNG Education system.
Part of the problem Musawe admits is lack of quality education, revealing “a way out is for every student to develop a reading culture, this way they will improve their writing and also change their attitudes without expecting too much from teachers and their parents”.
“I still remember the first books I read about Raka, Ranu, Noka, Tabu, their dog Maski and Mr White from my primary school days many years ago.” recalled Musawe, saying that “a book is like a door which readers travel into the world of an author, who creates a world of knowledge, and considers useful to share, regardless of gender, age or class.”
Adding joviality to his occasional speeches, Musawe used to share this interesting story in the value of books:
When I was in school we used to sing about London Bridge is Falling Down and not ‘Simbu Bridge is Falling Down’. So when I went to London I was looking out to see London Bridge on the River Thames.
There is not one London bridge but more than one over the River Thames. Not many of my classmates have seen the London Bridge and will never see it but are silently singing London Bridge is Falling Down.”
“Having travelled to London to see ‘London Bridge’ not falling down, I think our focus should be on encouraging students and teachers/parents to write books” Musawe reveals, stressing: “books create in us lasting memories because they shape our perceptions and personalities”.
When Musawe was with NRI, researchers were encouraged to advance their research skills by writing more publications.
An outstanding trait of him is instilling in those, the habit of  writing. He has the view that although many people are not born writers, they still have potential.
Since Independence, a lot about PNG and the curriculum has been written by foreigners. In many ways, this does not reflect much about our cultures, biodiversity and history. This is a great concern.
As a student attending Mu community school in the 1970s, this is what Musawe says of  “students who are not eager to develop their writing skills”:
“There is no shortage of topics to write about in PNG. When you say, ‘I don’t know what to write about’ – I say write about yourself or your family because in them lies your expert knowledge that no one else can claim.
You are the only expert on your family. The skill of writing is putting written words to capture your spoken words. When you write stories they become books that others can read about.”
Books that people write can travel to places the writer himself has not even been to, says Musawe, “and people the writer have never met will read it”, using one of his books as an example, located in Library of Congress in USA.
“PNG people can go on hours telling stories and every once in a while they excite their audience with sense of humor – all categories of age groups have a tendency to congregate and tell stories – both fiction and non-fiction.” says Musawe, articulating that writing books can have rare benefits of influencing others to behave and react in different ways.