I got employed in US IT industry as a programmer with a third class degree from University of Ghana, Legon. Before you say dzi kor didi, those who made second class or better from the department couldn’t apply for some IT jobs after graduation. I have worked with the best brains and did not ever find myself wanting. Yes, I had a third class partly because I stopped dubbing Maths homework assignments when I could not solve them. Those who made second class had archives of past homework solutions handed to them by those who had passed through the system. They will copy the solutions to homework and present them for marking, they had high marks and were laughing at some of us who chose not to copy. The late professor Acheampong called me into his office and complained about my Maths grades. I told him, I am focusing on learning a skill, computer programming and not interested in a high GPA. He sacked me from his office.

During my national service at the Data Processing Center of the University of Ghana, I had developed an application using a self taught DBASE IV software to print mark sheets for lecturers to collate examination grades to be keyed into the main GPA calculation software system. Prof Acheampong came to collect his mark sheets and he was told, the programmer was on break. He had to wait for me. When I came back and printed his mark sheets for him, he was proud and said to my Boss, I was his student, proudly claiming I am his product, even though he knew my Math grades were not high.

So yes, I agree to some extent with Senyo Hosi, but as Professor Acheampong once said in class, lectures only give you 30% of what you need to know. If you graduated and you can’t apply for a job or perform high at a Job, don’t wholly blame the institution. Blame yourself for not acquiring the right skills whilst at the institution. When I saw the Maths Curriculum, I knew this will not help me acquire the skill I needed to get into the Job I wanted after graduation, so I decided not to adhere to the curriculum.

University of Ghana is a good school and the curriculum can be tailored for modern jobs, however, it is the students who cheat like many students elsewhere do, in other schools abroad, you sign a code of conduct never to cheat and the university make sure cheating is not allowed. Students have been sacked from UG for cheating in exams. Senyo Hosi mentioned thesis being written for students, as one of the reason he claim the university does not produce thinkers. I think the University should look into this and make sure cheating is minimized.

The Ghanaian culture condone cheating generally, there were some Ghanaian students who were sacked from Duke University for cheating. So the issue about UG not producing thinkers is a cultural Ghanaian issue.

Our leaders should make it difficult to cheat and Ghanaians should revel in accomplishments without short cuts. The world is leaving us behind in technology, we need to produce thinkers to solve the myriad of solvable problems facing our country. Senyo Hosi may be right to some extent and this should not be debated extensively but then no action is taken just like many other issues that come up for debates.

Our Country is in a big mess and when the brave speaks, they should be given audience and solutions sought to fix them.

Source: FB Timeline