BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

Having high qualifications doesn’t mean one can be a good leader.

Member for Aoke Langalanga and Opposition leader Matthew Wale said this when responding to the question that one should become a Member of Parliament (MP) to meet certain criteria.

“So, you know education is not a decisive factor for good leadership. On one hand, we do need, we look at quality leadership at the national level and we can say that we set the bar,” he said.

Speaking during a recent Podcast, Mr Wale said that some countries have jurisdictions that have criteria that qualify one to become a Member of Parliament (MP).

“For instance, Indonesia. You have to have a degree and other jurisdictions impose similar criteria,” he said.

He stressed that he sees such a system as a reaction that reflects something worse to address an existing issue.

He however said that a more fundamental is that the leader represents his people and the judgement of the people has to be trusted or valued.

“And so, you can set a bar in the constitution for example, but it is better to set it in the minds and hearts of the people so they can ensure to achieve good leadership or to choose their MP,” said Wale.

“Because once you have a highly educated person but he/she is a crook, you just have a highly educated crooker. Similar to illiteracy or lack of education in itself, is a factor for bad leadership,” Wale said.