Folks, I am back to your walls after a very long break. Whether I am welcome or not is another matter. Taking into account the number of calls and messages I had from friends and cherished readers, the obvious is a warm welcome. Enjoy this first piece which will touch on a few issues hammering more on the use or misuse of the 30% of placement in Senior High School for 10km radius catchment area.
During the break, a lot of things happened including the brawl between hon. Cobby Acheampong and L/Cpl Annan. Hmmmmmmmmm! I could not comment on this matter at Sena Radio 104.7fm because the two parties involved in this matter are all not worth defending. Three months ago, I went to the Ministry of Interior with two cadres of the NDC; well known hard working members of the party to see the minister. We were told upon arrival that the minister was out of town with the Chief Director but the deputy minister was in the office. The problem on hand was one that could be handled by the top 3; Minister, deputy minister and Chief Director; so we asked to be allowed to meet with the deputy minister. We filled a form which was delivered to him but he declined to attend to us. What impudence!
All three of us at the ministry had huge hearts that could accommodate his rubbish. He did not work any harder than any of the folks I went there with to bring the NDC to power in 2008. He was an office, TV and radio soldier who could not be compared to the hardworking foot soldiers. Every contribution matters and should be respected. None of us is a beggar. We needed vital information for the good of our party. Cobby was disrespectful to us and does not deserve my respect and defence in anyway. My personal experience aside, he should learn to be man enough and stop this insulting behaviour. What kind of honourable is this?
Whilst advicing the cat, it is appropriate to also advice the mouse. Bringing out the insulting behaviour of Cobby does not in anyway vindicate the police. The police have in the past acted in criminal fashion in order to extort cash from innocent citizens of our motherland. Hiding in curves, valleys and uphills is no longer secret. You can only be saved if a fellow driver signals you that the police is ahead. Surprisingly, most of their guns will get you moving at 75km/hr. On the Takoradi road, that was the speed; Goviefe on the Hohoe road, it was the same speed; at Sarpeiman on the Nsawam road, it was at that speed and at Peki Adzokoe it was the same speed. Why?
My experience at Nungua barrier with L/Cpl Forkuo should be mentioned. This policeman thought that any civilian driving a soldier's car should remove the army stickers even if he is doing so at the instance of the soldier. To get me to succumb and part with some cash, he asked three unnecessary questions in a row without waiting for an answer. I had to restrain myself from engaging in a scuffle with this policeman. He actually told me that I was talking rubbish; can you imagine? A young ugly looking and disrespectful policeman. If it was his kind that met Cobby, then it serves them right.
In my earlier write ups, I remember mentioning that I was an average student sometimes, 'shark' sometimes and block headed some other times. It was catchment area concession that helped me to gain admission into my alma mater. Some students were entering with aggregate 6 when I was perambulating schools with aggregate 20+. The 30% also gave students within the catchment to enter with higher aggregates. Fortunately, I did well and even better than some of those who entered with single digits. Thanks to the decision maker. My daddy did not want to be part of any bribery to get his son into school. My poor mother did the 'carrying around' of her son without a dime. Thank God she succeeded in securing a school at last.
Why am I revealing what you will consider a secret? I am telling you because I have out grown it. I have learned beyond that and today, I have a second degree. That near failure did not cripple me into quiting. It strengthened me to work harder. My family and friends were by me in prayers and finance. Since then, I have pledged to support others who find themselves in my old shoes. No wonder I led Ataa to secure admission in a good school with a near aggregate 30 result and kwabie with aggregate 30.
The announcement of the controversial 30% concession for students in certain catchment areas came to me as a re-opening of a window of opportunity for my kind of students. I agreed to send this student with aggregate 17 to benefit from the opportunity but to my surprise, teachers are selling the 30% for cash between GHc 100.00 and GHc 400.00. The use of 'some teachers' is not an option here because, out of the six schools we visited yesterday, all the 24 teachers we spoke to demanded money within the stated range. Finally, I could only say; God, teachers too? On teachers' day when the state was honouring teachers, such a crime should not be committed by teachers.
The 30% per cent concession is not a bad idea but its implementors will surely make it bad. The intention is not bad but the children are not watching the father. Teachers, watch your father and make it good for those it is meant for.
I still haven't got admission for the poor girl so if anyone has a free admission, inbox me. Admission for aggregate 17 without bribe is what I am asking for.
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