Plea For Indigenous Culture

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32385, 26 August 1970, Page 14

Plea For Indigenous Culture

With the establishment of universities in developing countries, it was important not to forget that such countries' had a culture of their own, and that this should not be “swamped,” Professor E. S. Simpson, of the University of the South Pacific, near Suva, said in Christchurch last evening.

Professor Simpson, who is in Christchurch to attend the conference of the Geographical Society, said in an interview that the aim of the University of the South Pa-

ciflc at present was to develop schools directly related to the development of the South Pacific, such as schools of education and economy. “But,” he said, “it is important that universities in

developing countries should help people to gain an insight into their own culture; to neglect this would be a mistake.

“In a way, these universities should look inwards to the heart of their own peoples, and thus, through study of their own culture, place themselves in the total world context.”

Professor Simpson emphasised that the University of the South Pacific was a regional university, there to encourage the development of the region but very grateful for the help and encouragement it had received from New Zealand and Australia. “It is very likely that the attainment of independence by Fiji will give rise to a greater sense of nationalism,” he said. “But it is there to serve the whole area, and although three-quarters of the student role of more than 400 come from Fiji, we are taking increasing numbers from Tonga and Western Samoa.”

Though the university, established only in-1967, was yet to have its first graduate, its students and staff

looked forward alike to the day when there would be a reciprocal exchange of graduate students with New Zealand. Australia, and the University of Papua-New Guinea. “But you have to remember that we are very new, and have very limited resources as yet,” Professor Simpson said. “We are particularly short of money, and we do hope to see further support from established universities.”

Professor Simpson, who joined the staff of the University of the South Pacific in January of this year, was previously on the staff of the University of Liverpool, having been seconded to the Ahmadu Bello University, in Northern Nigeria, from 196567.