CONFERENCE; CHAIRMAN, MR SVENDSEN, SPEAKING; PROFESSOR DURAND (IVORY COAST); DELEGATES; DR ROUTH, THE ORGANISER, SPEAKING; INDIAN DELEGATE; DELEGATES.




Initials SW/VS/PW/SGM



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A FIVE-DAY INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON THE TEACHING OF ECONOMICS IN AFRICA BEGAN ON MONDAY (MARCH 31ST) IN DAR-ES-SLAAM. IN THE EVENING 40 DELEGATES FROM 25 COUNTRIES HELD A PUBLIC D BATE AT THE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE.

THE SEMINAR HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY A VISITING AMERICAN LECTURER AT THE UNIVERSITY, DR. G. ROUTH, AND HAS BEEN FINANCED BY THE DANISH GOVERNMENT. THE CHAIRMAN IS MR SVENDSEN OF DENMARK.

THE TEACHERS FROM EVERY MAJOR AFRICAN UNIVERSITY ARE PRESENT, AND THERE ARE OBSERVERS FROM THE UNITED STATES, GREAT BRITAIN, DENMARK, NETHERLANDS, CANADA, CZECHOSLOVAKIA, AND INDIA.

AFTER THE PUBLIC DEBATE, THE DELEGATES WERE DUE TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS SUCH TOPICS AS THE METHODOLOGY OF ECONOMICS, ECONOMIC THEORY AND PUBLIC POLICY. THE INTENTION IS TO TRY TO DISCUSS WAYS TO MAKE ECONOMIC TEACHING IN AFRICA MORE RELEVANT TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE CONTINENT.