Abilene Christian University - Interview de Herintsoa Rakotonarivo

Publié le 22/08/2007 21:39 par elman

Abilene Christian University
.... Interview de Herintsoa Rakotonarivo

Ils sont 24. Ils (et elles) sont les 24 Malgaches sélectionnés pour suivre actuellement la formation de haut niveau dispensée par la "Abilene Christian University", Etats-Unis, Texas, et ce dans le cadre du Programme d'éducation scolaire élaboré par le Président Marc Ravalomanana pour la formation des élites malgaches. Madanight est allé à la rencontre de l'un d'entre eux, Herintsoa Rakotonarivo. Interview ( en Anglais ) .

MADANIGHT.COM : Hello Mr. Herintsoa Rakotonarivo! Can you introduce yourself please ?

Herintsoa Rakotonarivo : Hello everyone! I am 21, the eldest of four boys, from Fort-Dauphin Madagascar. In fall of 2004, I came to the United States to attend Abilene Christian University, along with 23 other Malagasy students under the Madagascar Presidential Scholarship Program. I am currently studying Political science, specializing in International Relations, Comparative Politics, and Business Administration. In the meantime, I also work part time on campus as a certified computer service technician at our IT department.

MN : What about the ACU ?

HR : Founded in 1906, ACU is a privately owned university and a not-for-profit institution in affiliation with the Church of Christ in Abilene, Texas. With a mission “to educate students for Christian service and leadership throughout the world”, ACU has an average annual enrollment of 5000 students mainly from across the U.S and also from all over the world. ACU offers undergraduate as well as graduate degrees in various fields such as Christian ministries, business administration, communication, education, political science, environmental science, Computer science, exercise science, biology, psychology, sociology, physics, mathematics, music and art.

MN : 24 young malagasy were selected in 2003 to follow this ACU program. What was the criterion to integrate the course ?

HR : The criterion was fairly simple. All applicants must have been graduated from high school strictly in the year of 2003, capable of speaking and writing in English, 18 years old and up. The selection process was divided in two steps. First was the narrowing down of the number of applicants to a minimum of 75 (because over a thousand students applied for this scholarship). The second step consisted of a final competition between these pre-selected students during a week of intensive written and oral tests held at the American cultural center of Antananarivo by three special envoys from ACU in order to complete the final selection of the 24 scholars.

MN : You seem to think that the main problem of the development in Madagascar is the lack of intellectual elites. But in fact, we know that these kind of persons exist in Madagascar and work hard for the development of the country. So ?

HR : I believe that the lack of intellectual elites is one of the key factors, not the only one, that are holding back the development of our country. Our country is too big and too wide to be developed by only few intellectually skilled individuals. This is the reason why it always seems to the local population that there is no development at all despite the efforts of those local hard working people in the governmental or private institutions. Making a country such as Madagascar develop requires a cooperative effort from everyone. A maximum input from the mass is needed in order to successfully achieve a maximum output. And this collective contribution of the mass would not be effective without the leadership of those who have achieved a higher level of education which, in their turn, should be more pragmatic than just all idealistic.

MN : After your training, what is your goal ? Do you really intend to "return home", to return to Madagascar ? What do you expect to do for your country and in which domain ?

HR : My plans are to return home and serve my country by contributing with the process of development. I intend to bring change, especially in the region I came from. In order for me to achieve this goal, I planned to start my own business in the field of Information and Communication Technology with the funds and financial support I personally acquired from the U.S. ® I chose this particular field because information and technology is the backbone of every country’s development as well as its future and, as a matter of fact, it is also the fastest growing industry in the world. In the mean time, I will also be involved in our local politics by mobilizing and motivating the local population, work together with young students like myself and support our local government to develop our region. I believe that building the economy of a country such as Madagascar is just like any type of building and it all begins at its foundation not at the top.

MN : 80% of our compatriots are poor or not educated. Do you think that a “rapid development” is realistic in this context ? Intellectual elites can elaborate “the plan” but what happen if there is nobody to achieve it ? In fact, isn't this reality the big problem that the President Ravalomanana has to resolve ? What's the solution ?

HR : I believe that a rapid and sustainable development is almost unrealizable with the current rate of illiteracy in our country. However, the government is already doing its best to promote education in Madagascar. Unfortunately, the majority of the population underestimates the value and importance of education as an assurance of their future. For instance, people would prefer to begin work very young and try to maintain a survivable living standard rather than attend school, which in fact could provide them innumerable opportunities of open windows in the job market. I agree with you when you say that the President himself faces this particular issue as an obstacle to achieve his action plan, especially in only a half of a decade. As far as I am concerned, I believe in the words of Aristotle as he said that “all who have meditated on the art of governing mankind have been convinced that the fate of empires depends on the education of youth.” The president’s effort about investing more on sending students abroad is actually quite genius, and will be very effective because these students are guaranteed to provide an immediate and very sophisticated service to the country upon completion of their academic programs.

MN : What's wrong with Madagascar and/or with Malagasy ? So many countries have succeeded in their development, sometimes in a very short time. Why are we so “archaic”, so "medieval", even if we are now in 2007 ?

HR : The problems in our country are multiple and ranges from political, social to economic. I do not think it is necessary for me to cite all I know about those issues here. However, I can tell from what I have learn here abroad that the very root of our problems in our country is our mentality, which generally dictates our way of life and thoughts. In comparison with other countries that managed to develop rapidly, Madagascar is left behind and it is our own fault. We remain undeveloped because we choose not to change our mentality. We want to become like the modern societies but persist on our traditional thoughts and practices. Our urban areas show some aspects of development but also the worst aspect of poverty. And our rural areas….you already knowïŠ. In any case, the government is already doing its best in making those changes by implementing some authoritarianism (infrastructures, transportation, etc…)

MN : “Quid de la politique ?” What is your conception of politics ?

HR : Politics is a very complex term to define. From what I have learnt, politics is the art of governing a society by a group of elected or appointed people to provide, promote, and preserve the common interests of the General Public. Politicians are supposed to cooperatively search for the best solutions to our problems not to fight for power by crashing and taking advantage of the weak and ignorant public. My personal perception of the politics at home is that most of those who are involved do not really know what they do or what they say. Moreover, those who seem to know what the problems are and seem to have the solutions are not courageous enough to take action, but instead they prefer to simply debate over it. Even more unfortunate, those who could be taking actions are rather outside Madagascar arguing with each other over the web forums. The games of politics, I came to understand, is not just about talk and talk, but is most importantly about actions.

MN : How do you perceive the immense presence of foreigner in Madagascar ? The president Ravalomana himself is surrounded by a lot of foreign counselors, so ?

HR : I do not see any problem at all with the immense presence of foreigner in Madagascar. Even the U.S, the most developed country in the world, their economy is heavily dependent on external intellectual resources. It should not really matter who actually handle the principal industrial sectors as long as they help contribute with our GDP which is actually the main key indicator of a country's development. As far as the President being surrounded by foreign counselors, I personally perceive that as one good strategy of his own. I know that those counselors have heavy background in political leadership in their country of origins. And they mostly come from developed countries. So I believe that their service to our country by the sides of our president is a vital asset to our own development.

MN : Herintsoa Rakotonarivo, thank you for your answers. Have you got a message to deliver to our intellectual elites ... who live outside Madagascar ?

HR : Former U.N Secretary General Kofi Annan once said that “Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development.” So by this, I encourage those who are still pursuing their education to think of themselves as the assurance of our country’s future. Those who have achieved their highest level of knowledge are also encouraged to consider themselves as the main actors that the development of our beloved country mostly depends on.

Thank you all

c'est un peu facile à dire tout ça, on veut bien rentrer et faire évoluer le pays mais c'est pas évident. Dans mon cas personnel, après mes études j'étais rentré et je voulais faire quelque chose pour mon pays, après 5 ans peine perdue et fibre patriotique avec... pourquoi ? parce que la mentalité des gens est tellement différente de ma conception de la vie, moi je suis parti sur une base "miara miotra mba ho tafita" mais non ceux et celles qui travaillaient avec moi ne pensaient qu'à ruiner le petit patron... en me volant ou en ne pas travaillant... Je suis un peu aigri depuis et je suis retourné en occident. Peut être que je me suis mal pris dans mes démarches (relationnelles), j'ai toujours detesté la hierarchie à l'européenne dans le travail, mais apparemment les malgaches ont besoin d'un chef qui leur botte le cul à chaque fois..dommage!!!

#1 écrit par Invité le 23/08/2007 11:11

Herintsoa l'a dit : tant que la masse ne sera pas éduquée et jusqu'a ce que les politiciens arrêtent de penser à leurs petits interêts, il n'y a aura pas développement.

#2 écrit par Invité le 23/08/2007 11:16

way to go Davy!

#3 écrit par Invité le 23/08/2007 17:26

Tandremo fontsiny sao milentika tsy mody aty an-tanindrazana rehefa vita ny fianarana, miandry anareo ny vahoaka malagasy.

#4 écrit par Invité le 23/08/2007 18:18

Matokia fa ho voninahitra ho anay mpianatra aty @ ACU ny hiverina any an-tanindrazana, hiasa ho an'ny firenena sy hoa an'ny vahoaka mpiray tanindrazana.

#5 écrit par Invité le 23/08/2007 19:55

hay v!

#6 écrit par Invité le 23/08/2007 21:38

Je trouve que les bourses de formation de ce type sont et seront toujours nécessaires pour les étudiants malgaches. La vue d'autres horizons est extrêmement bénéfique pour une personne, surtout s'il s'agit de formation. Mais la question qui se pose à tout boursier est "après la bourse, quoi faire??? Créer chacun(e) une micro-société qui vont se concurrencer et être avalée par une société étrangère disposant de plus de moyens? Travailler dans l'administration où les compétences ne sont pas les mieux valorisées sauf si on a un poste de chef de service et plus? Lorsque je pense qu'il y ait tellement d'agronomes mais le pays manque de riz, tellement d'historiens mais la majorité des livres sur notre histoire aient été écrites et publiées par des etrangers, tellement de docteurs mais la majorité des malgaches même dans les grandes villes manquent de soins, tellement d'électriciens et d'électrotechniciens mais il a encore des délestages, et bien d'autres encore... Ce qui manque dans notre pays c'est une politique réelle globale d'accueil des diplômés. Les besoins existent mais l'Etat ne peut ou ne veut pas investir dans des postes nécessaires mais qui coûtent et doivent coûter. Malheureusement, ce ne sont pas les investisseurs étrangers qui vont cultiver le riz (pas intéressant puisque c'est facile d'importer). Ce ne sont pas eux qui vont installer des dispensaires dignes de ce nom en rase campagne (pas rentable), ... Ma remarque n'était qu'une constatation de l'existant dans notre pays. En tout cas, quoi que vous choisissez, soyez dynamiques, ouverts à tous les horizons parce qu'en tant que cerveaux, vous êtes l'avenir de la nation toute entière.

#7 écrit par Invité le 23/08/2007 23:22

Miora!! hay ve io ndry e!! Elyte malgache! sambatra an! Irina ihany ity e

#8 écrit par Invité le 24/08/2007 17:26

Mahaleova mahalasana letsy a! Aza mora kivy na be aza ny mpanakina, ny tsy mahavita ihany matetika no be vava, izay mahasa ihany no tafita.

#9 écrit par Invité le 25/08/2007 12:58

slt daholo aaaannnn! mahafinaritra b ny mihaino anareo miresaka eto fa ... maninona moa no tsy mba misy miresaka mihitsy ny any amin'ny anjerimanontolo rehetra eto mkara??? maninona no tsy mba atao izay maha raitra sy fakantahaka ny anjerimanontolontsika eo anivon oseana indianina, afrika, aty amin'ny tany an-dalampandrosoana ary erantany mihitsy aza. mazotoa ry mpitondra fanjakana sy ry mpianatra eraky mkara manandratra avo ny eto amintsika aaaahhhhhhhhh

#10 écrit par Invité le 25/08/2007 15:35

Pactole Alison!!! Malagasy iray monina sy miasa aty Etazonia aho.betsaka ny zavatra nahavariana ahy raha vao tonga taty,zava-dehibe amin'ny amerikanina ny fianarana.alohan'ny hiditra"university" ny olona iray dia mila "sur" izy fa ho tiany( mety amin'ny toetrany sy ankafiziny:oh-olona tia biby,mianatra momba ny environnement... ) ny asa hataony aorian'ny fianarana ary efa mahafantatra sahady ny karama arakaraka ny diploma azo ka tena mampazoto mianatra izany.marihiko fa andoavam-bola avokoa ny fianarana aty USA ary tena lafo,maro ny olona sady miasa no mianatra ary anisan'izany ny tenanay.Ny saram-pianarana ataoko izao dia $2000/ semester.Lafolafo kely izy satria karama iray volana TTC ho an'ny fianarana enim-bolana. Ny tiako ho tenenina fotsiny dia mazotoa mianatra ry zoky sy zandry Malagasy,na dia efa miasa aza ianao ka hitanao fa mbola ambany lavitra ny fari-piainanao raha mitaha amin'ny "Promotion"-nao tany amin'ny lycee na univerity dia tsaratsara ny mianatra sady miasa,mino aho fa maro ny "course"(cours) azo atao any Mada.tadidiko ny tenin'i President nilaza hoe"Mbola sambatra ny mpianatra Malagasy fa mbola manana univerity tsy andoavam-bola ary au contraire mbola manana zo hitaky ny vatsim-pianarana. Izay ny hafatra tiako mba tiako hatsipy fa dia mazotoa jiaby.

#11 écrit par Invité le 29/08/2007 18:31

vous critiquez facilement les gouvernants mais LES problemes actuels proviennent d une mauvaise gestion des annees passees alors a qui la faute?

#12 écrit par Invité le 01/09/2007 08:57

Ry zalah elite zany io a! mazotoa mianatra ry zalah fa nareo no ho avin'ny firenena!!

#13 écrit par Invité le 05/09/2007 04:46

K'aiza ra Devi a!! tena ho politician matanjaka nareo zany a. kozy.

#14 écrit par Invité le 05/09/2007 04:47

Izay indrindra no irina. mba te hanaraka ny tenin'A/toa PM britanique Tony Blair hoe: "the job of a politician is to have a good program, get elected for that program and carry that program through."

#15 écrit par Invité le 13/09/2007 15:26

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