Forward thing KNUST is best in practice, Traditional Legon is best in ‘unread’ newsletters and journals TIG took me to Cape Coast last weekend to have fun, reflect and to present to us (students) a host of NGO’s (mostly headquartered in Cape Coast) that may need our services as interns and also present us opportunities to practice all or most theories studied in our development class. “Teach on the beach” was most amazing for me cos of their direct contact with underprivileged pupils and most importantly cos it is manned effectively by young Ghanaian girls and boys with a track record of successes. (I can’t be in Cape Coast cos of accommodation but I wish I had some ‘appreciating’ cedis to donate to them). Sabre Trust, an international NGO with offices in Ghana interested and doing well for GES and kindergarten pupils and their teachers was most challenging for me. Sabre Trust takes research findings from GES and with the necessary funding from UK, UNICEF etal, they implement the findings. (Exactly my thing) – What’s the use of research and research findings if not used to improve human development and dignity? Deciding which academic institution to attend after Senior High School wasn’t easy. Whereas my immediate family was looking at immediate employability after school (training college, UEW, UCC – BED), I had my own plans. My choice was KNUST for it had been rumored that, they did serious academic work and they were more practical. I was told of how they developed the KVIP concept and successfully implemented it. I ended up @ Legon and I am happy I did. What’s my beef this morning with UG, the school that has given me so much? Until my ‘second coming’ to the University of Ghana, African Studies Department precisely, I didn’t know Legon was into such ‘serious’ business. The University of Ghana boast of fine PhD brains with research findings in almost every aspect of the Ghanaian (African in general too) life. Unfortunately, these findings, unlike GES and Sabre trust continue to gather dust on library and bookshop shelves. Research findings on topics like Family relations, marriage, morality, business, politics and elections abound. Unfortunately, they end up in journals, newsletters etc. People need such information to make decisions. Parents need research findings to know recent and modern trends on parenthood and parenting. People are saddened by divorce and single parenting (The sociology department has answers.) Makola women need information on how to survive their businesses in the face of ‘depreciating’ cedi value. (The business school has answers). I was marveled to see ‘paper’ presentation on entertainment (Using Bukom Banku and Aryeetey Powers) at the African Studies Department of UG. Guess who are the audience of such newsletters, journals and paper presentations.( Lecturers, PhD students and a host of other people in the university community). The information doesn’t get to Parents, Market women, young people hoping to start their own businesses and looking for partners. No wonder young people choose UDS over Legon (maters level) in an attempt to understand development. 1. Legon is failing in its moral obligation to provide useful research findings to individuals who need such information to make decisions. 2. Pride is killing Legon professors who do not want to collaborate with Traditional media to disseminate their research findings. They (Some Professors) don’t understand why they have ‘big brains’ but earns little than some of these media guys. 3. Throughout my stay at legon as undergrad and now as a quasi (I don’t know if something like this exist and if this is the appropriate name) student, I haven’t seen any faculty having a press conference to discuss any of their research findings. 4. Could it be that the professors do not understand the role of the media in information dissemination? 5. Can the PRO of Legon be of help to these professors? #I am worried.
Posted on: Mon, 29 Sep 2014 09:22:40 +0000
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