TEACHERS / LECTURERS

When we see a lawyer, doctor, farmer, building contractors do their job we admire them, but most at times we forget that they all passed through and were taught by teachers, this scenario do really underline and confirm the importance of teachers who are major stakeholders in our education system.

There the duty of this post on this blog is to take a look at the whole teaching profession, some challenges and how best to improve it.

For people in some of the profession, mentioned above to be successful and experts in what they do must and should have a good foundation to their career by their education, thus, teachers employed at the basic level should be really qualified and trained to understand the minds and psyche of their pupils to be able to cater for each of them. The basic level is quiet delicate and important because if a student does not get a grasp of what he or she is being taught it may go along way to affect him or her, therefore teachers recruited to teach at this level as said early on should come from our teacher trainee institutes and be diligent in their live of work.

Even though some people are in a profession due to the passion they have for it, motivation is very important in discharging their duties and like almost every profession there is some way of motivating their employees to deliver and of course the teaching profession is included. Good remuneration thus the salaries and other promotional monies, good accommodation, among others are a few ways of motivating a teacher.
However considering Ghana , there have been so many litigations between teachers' association and government over various  issues most of them monetary. Therefore we edge the government of the day to resolve all issues with teachers since most of the outcomes of these disputes are strike action by the teachers which really disrupt and affect studies, again underlining the importance of teacher which is never in doubt.

Again, teachers have got to be equipped with the necessary equipment and well resourced to put in their best. For a basic level for instance, the chalks, marker and required texts books should be more than accessible and available to teachers to aid in their work. At least projectors, computers among other gadgets should also be made available at the tertiary level for lecturers

TERTIARY LEVEL OF EDUCATION

University ! the craze about this word may be somewhat be justifiable and no one can be grudge any young student who aims to get to the university at a point in his or her education ladder. Mind you tertiary educations is not only about university but training colleges, health or nursing schools, polytechnics among others.

However, achieving this feat thus, gaining admission into the tertiary level is not an easy task. This point takes a look at the general overview of tertiary education a case study of Ghana's.

In an attempt to get into the tertiary level, a senior high school level student will obviously sit for the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE)  and will need to pass and gain the admission. Between the aftermath of the exam and the 'pass' lies a challenge or problem. The 'D7' challenge  as I call it is really causing stir between students and authorities. In Ghana, for a student to get an admission into a  University, he or she should avoid a 'D7' or grade in especially the core course or subjects . Some of the arguments for and against this requirement has been that, some students will perform creditably well in other subject areas but may not gain or will exceed the 'D7' in for instance just a core subject and students who are victims of this status and their parents would the authorities consider them. Again some argue that not all student are at par or blessed intellectually compared to their colleagues therefore should not be discarded or discourage just not getting the admission requirement right. However, people who believe and support this stance argue that if student with 'D7' and over are admitted it is a compromise on quality and that theses students out of the university are not worthy graduates, therefore if this decision stands it will force SHS students to stud hard knowing there is some 'scare' ahead. At this juncture,we believe the arguments will continue wherever you are but one believe there will be a compromise to favour both students and tertiary authorities.

Looking at the tertiary education, there have been talks about courses being taught that are not appropriate for the job market for students who offer these courses especially at the university. Some students are not offered the courses they choose during the selection stage and some would reluctantly study these course simply because, they want to be at the university. Some solutions to this problem has been that, course or programmes should be structured to favour students for the job market, some which should include empowering entrepreneurial skills to help them establish their own job after school.

One other thing about tertiary education is the lecturer-student relationship, way of lecturing and what not. Style of lecturing has at most at times be a lecturer prepares his note, comes to class to give it to students and provide them with 'hand-outs' and other texts. This style has been criticised as being a ban for students to relax and be lazy and should be a much more demanding and interactive approach. Again, one sad venture at tertiary level has been sometimes not cordial relationship between students and their lecturers, where male lecturers and in rare cases female  lecturers ask for sexual favours from the opposite sex and if not offered may be referred or dismissed, vice-versa some students especially the female one knowing she did not perform well in a subject will try and entice a lecturer into such activities. Therefore students and lecturers are advised to be careful and if appropriate them to the appropriate authorities to help curb this canker out of our schools and society in general. However, after all this challenge and problems, tertiary or university life is quiet fun and enjoyable having experience it myself there, readers of this blog and particular this post who are yet to enter university will be edge to study hard and get there soon.