On waking up in the year 2005 to know that my beloved country has adopted information and communication technologies to help alleviate our poverty-stricken processes and services; I became a happy man. I said to myself meritocracy is once again been given a chance to function in the land where most citizens and the inhabitants have come to believe that to survive and prosper depends on ‘connection’, patronage, nepotism, associations and political party loyalty.
Most of my acquaintances did not share in my hope and enthusiasm but described the intervention as the proverbial nine day wonder policies and initiatives that have characterized our beloved country when it comes to the implementation of lofty and workable ideas. Examples are given as consolidated pay scheme for public servants; backyard garden concept for operation feed yourself; GV registration of all government vehicles. I have an interesting story of a revolutionist who refused to use a brand new Nissan vehicle because he wanted a change to the general public numbering system.; Vice President’s campaign on indiscipline; AMA Mayor’s 100 days in office pledge; demolition of structures in flood prone areas of the Accra metropolis, specifically in the Ga East and many more in the past 40 years. a. If he fails to make the grade for his first 3 choices, then the computer can allocate female only school.
b. If his first 3 choices are boys only school the system may not allocate because of the gender choice made
I allayed their fears and preached the virtues computer behaviour and the “new Ghana” to them. I did not stop there, but chastised them that their contemplation amounted to PHD syndrome to a Ghana flight that was already airborne exuding zero tolerance for corruption.
I started becoming worried when the duration of this year’s placement release travelled over a week. Some few days ago I heard one of Ghana’s 21st century all knowing media discussant comment or should I say raised questions about how long it had taken this time. Then I started to recall how some members of our society who espouse accountability, transparency, quality of service from everybody and any other thing expect when it’s expected of them to apply the same principle that they see such noble principles as unwarranted. Some big shots continue to raise the issue of protocol. Some months back a renowned old boy association in Ghana threatened to withdraw their services for a school that gave them an opportunity to shine because of they were no longer going to enjoy the ‘old boy protocol facility’. If you permit I would like to make some comments. Are we as people promoting mediocrity? Are we saying that when your ward is not capable of beating the pack, your money or position can? I say if we believe that this is the way to go, then we should be prepared to let the world know that our wards got in through the back door. But the question is how many are prepared to do this? If really there is a protocol list, then we should publish protocol list and define who qualifies. I am sure the list would be endless if the syndrome of ‘do you know me? Do you know whom you’re talking to? And the ‘honourable title’ may be included in the list. I don’t want to sound religious, but I can’t find a better example other than referring to the scriptures. Check out how the scripture describes personalities who use the ‘back door’ to achieve their parochial interests. I remember hearing a deputy minister of state saying their concerns would be met. With my utmost disdain for such inclusion I was humbled in spirit when I came across the argument of either a local chief or land owner or school head, who can not have his or her ward enrolled in a local school because of this process. I brewed over it and finally concluded that we needed to start from somewhere and that in all things, there are true and perceived casualties, but my conscience would serve me better if the rules are applied justly. This year I have come across students with aggregate 6, 7 and 8 not getting either their first or second choice schools. Before anybody runs riot, yes I know the parameters and have explained a few above. What is bothering me is information that has floated around since last year’s exercise. I tried to discount them but they are coming to the fore due to my difficulty in understanding what is happening this year. For example, how come a candidate with aggregate 12 ends up in a school that failed to pick an aggregate 11 student? Yes, I know the subject areas vary. However does the Ghana Education Service follow up to check that placed student and their scores tally with what was issued by the West African Exams Council after the placement exercise? I am made aware that heads of institutions are supposed to report back to the GES of any unfilled placement. Or has it become the new avenue for friends, family, protocol and you know, something changing hands, or better still a loophole for someone to benefit? I thought the exercise was to free our honourable heads of institutions and to reduce the usual pressure that is brought to bear on them at these times. I still have other questions; is the change of student’s choice of programme lawful, although to the students benefit? I am not talking about input errors. I have been briefed unintentional by a supposed beneficiary that that is it what is being done in the ‘computer room’ to aid those who chose something else and ended doing better in different elective areas to help make it into the ‘right’ school or his/her choice of school.