Ghana’s deteriorating standards is evident in various institutions and the Ghana Institute of Journalism(GIJ), one of Africa’s finest and Ghana’s premier journalism institution is no exception.
GIJ has only received vain promises since its inception in 1959 as the school is yet to experience the innumerable promises given by politicians and various rectors of the school.
The school’s authorities promised a relocation to Okplongo and after four years, students still attend lectures at the small old premises which can barely contain the total number of students at the institution.
[contextly_sidebar id=”iJzuTIseRjkmxnzWD2S92OuocvC6yhnF”]The situation has compelled authorities of the school to introduce a shift system so lectures can cover the total number of students.
One would have thought that a 59-year -old institution would have witnessed tremendous expansion by now but the school has no halls, though it has created imaginary ones in the minds of students. GIJ’s outmoded infrastructure is having dire implications on academic work.
This problem doesn’t only affect the retention level of students but also leads to poor performance in examination.
The school has been upgraded to university status however, I still cannot seem to understand the basis on which it met the requirements for the upgrade.
How can a school with inadequate space for lectures, accommodation and other learning tools be called a university.
A journalism institution should offer students the opportunity to explore the career on a practical level but apart from the internship for a month or two, students only do the theoretical aspect throughout the two or four year stay in school.
A student of the Institution who shared her story with me said ” I have not written an article before”. I was angry and surprised because I couldn’t believe that a full fledged journalism student could not write an article after spending about a year in a journalism school.
Is feature writing not supposed to be a common quality that characterizes a journalism student? I don’t however blame the student . It is those lazy, dogmatic and boring lecturers who should be held liable .
They only know how to give handouts that have been virtually copied from other sources.
These lecturers sometimes even fail to credit the source of their information neither do they demand same from their students.
Most of the lecturers hardly assign journalism students to conduct interviews and follow up on news stories.A lecturer can use his whole lecture period sharing unnecessary stories.
So my question is: What is the purpose of attending GIJ for about four years if a student can’t write an article or a news story ?Perhaps, GIJ should reconsider its decision of introducing a masters programme. I think it will be a total waste of time.
I don’t think I’m being rude by exposing flaws in Ghana’s educational systems.If the Commissioner for Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice(CHRAJ) could spend about 180,000 dollars on rent alone with the endorsement of government, why should a state owned educational institution like GIJ be neglected? Why isn’t anyone assessing the kind of teaching and learning that goes on at the institute.
The government and the management can consider these recommendations if they are so inclined.
Below are some recommendations that I believe can make the Institution a better and an outstanding one.
Government should construct more lecture halls and provide accommodation for students at an affordable rate.
The school should do more of the practical than the theoretical; lecturers should assign students to do stories that will give them an opportunity for more practical work.
This will give students some experience which will in the long run make their work easier when they are gainfully employed.
By:Philippine Onyamedea Yeboah/citifmonline.com/Ghana