Why Education
Nov. 03, 1951
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... From truth alone is born liberty and only an educated people can consider itself as really free
and master of its fate. It is only with an educated people that representative and democratic
organs of government can exercise their influence for national progress ...
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...However, Our programs undertaken in the economic field for augmenting the material welfare of
Our subjects, has not made Us forget that, accoring to the words of the Bible, "man does not live by
bread alone." We believe that the spiritual and moral welfare of Our people is as important as their
material well-being. Thus, it is that following the liberation of Ethiopia from the yoke of the enemy,
We have devoted a very large part of Our budget and national revenues for the establishment and
development of schools. During this short period of ten years no less than fifteen secondary
schools, of which the last, the General Wingate School, was opened by Ourselves this year, have
been established directy as a result of Our initative and direction. The number of students enrolled
in schools in Ethiopia has nearly tripled during that same period. Shortly, the University, the
foundation-stone of which We have laid, will be opened under Our direction. We face with
confidence the future of public instruction in Ethiopia.
If We have made so many sacrifices for the education of Our youth, it is because We are convinced
that only through intellectual progress and universal education can Ethiopia come into its own and
make its just contribution to the history of the peoples of the Middle East. We believe that from
truth alone is born liberty and that only an educated people can consider itself as really free and
master of its fate. It is only with an educated people that representative and democratic organs of
government can exercise their influence for national progress. Our Address from the Throne
therefore testifies to the importance which We attach to education and, at the same time, to your
role as representatives, in the development and progress of Our people....
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Haile Selassie the First - November 3, 1951
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