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16.08.2015 Feature Article

The Rise In Protocol Admissions, A Clear Sign Of Fast Degrading Society

The Rise In Protocol Admissions, A Clear Sign Of Fast Degrading Society
16.08.2015 LISTEN

If there is one word which has gained notoriety in terms of admission into either second cycle or tertiary institution then it's Almighty "Protocol", however it managed to occupy that very important niche I can't tell but the real definition of Protocol is :

1. Code of correct conduct eg safety protocol, academic protocol

2. Forms of ceremony and etiquette observed by diplomats and heads of state.

3. A procedure for how an activity should be performed

4. The original copy of writing especially an agreement.

One cannot phantom why this all important word has been reduced and given such evil meaning when it comes to admissions, ideally admission protocol should simply mean how admission is done and the processes involved but rather in Ghanaian parlance, "protocol" admission means taking money from undeserving candidates and admitting whilst neglecting and wickedly denying intelligent and apt candidates who are poor from admission for selfish personal and parochial interest. Tertiary students are now been reduced to icons of ridicule because they are all being perceived by the general citizenry as fine and smart products of corrupt "protocol" admission, this criminal practise has denied a lot of brilliant but needy and vulnerable students from classroom and has further worsened their plight and that of their families, it has ironically given the impetus to the wealthy dumb headed individuals to perpetuate their gross ignorance and therefore visit a lot of intellectual mayhem on the innocent citizens of Ghana.

Surprisingly the policy makers are not oblivious of this disaster but what have they done apart from the mere rhetoric, these are few instances;

1. "Minister speaks against protocol admission of students", 28/2/2012. Vibeghana.com

2. "Head of institutions warned against "protocol" admission ", 18/11/2014. Modernghana.com

3. "Nurses Training College plagued by protocol admission", 15/3/2015. Myjoyonline.com etc. What has been done to curb this ugly menace, it demonstrates how uncontrollable the moral fiber of our society is breaking down, the evil deeds are always fast overtaking and triumphing over honourable deeds. The question is, is it not these same policy makers that are architect of this uncouth practise? What would be their moral justifications for taking any action that would sanitize the system?

Students in the various tertiary institutions especially the training institutions (Ministry of Health and Teacher Training) are always inundated with calls when admission forms are released or when admission starts by even sometimes unknown people just to solicit for support with the primary motive that they can be appropriately linked to the right people for "protocol" admission largely due to the fear of being left out during admission no matter their performance, this attest to how these tertiary students are being perceived by the citizenry. Is it how we want the society to be? Can the mantra of name and shame be at least applied to culprits of this hernious crime? Do we want to build a society where meritocracy is totally replaced by nepotism, cronyism and crass corruption? It is always funny to hear prominent people complaining about the alarming declining nature of our educational system, am not a prophet of doom but if this practise ("protocol" admission) is not stopped immediately then the system would crash on our head in the very near future and we would all be victims of our own wickedness and self serving desires, now our secondary schools have become a dumping ground for aggregate 45s and 52s, our tertiary institutions have become chocked with mostly "apo" infected incompetent students who are mostly facilitated by protocol admissions, how can they help mother Ghana in their respective fields? Why won't almost 50% of WASSCE students not fail mathematics and science? I was in one MoH training institution when the list of the students who have gained admission into the school was released but the comments from some bystanders and onlookers was heartbreaking.

The biggest question we all should be asking ourselves is who are those who fill the mosques, churches and the shrines? Fridays are busy day for all Muslim likewise Saturdays and Sundays for Christians so what do we go to church and mosque to do? Isn't this behavior a flagrant disregard for the religious values that we claim to hold in high esteem? It's a shame the way we conduct ourselves and obvious display of double standards. The most amazing aspect is these same cartel try to propagate moral values to the same students they extorted money from wrongfully before they were admitted, how would this Pharasee Gospel work?

The truth must be told that not all people are involved or agree to this unforgivable blunder, there are a lot of honest people in the system and some students were also selected based on the principles of meritocracy, the percentage error should not always be high as we are seeing and witnessing ie "protocol" admission should never exceed genuine admission.

My appeal is that those few cartels who have their neck deep in this practise and have made it their perpetual source of income and livelyhood when you go to church or mosque just pray for forgiveness and desist from it because it is as wicked as being murderer. Authorities should put measures in place to control and bring the few recalcitrant ones to book. Parents should desist from enticing authorities with money. Systems must work for collective good of the nation and the citizenry. Anytime you do a single protocol admission just bear it in mind that you have failed yourself, your family, mother Ghana and the God you serve.

We should always remember the golden rule ie Newton's third law of motion "To every action there is equal and opposite reaction"

Good bless Ghana our mother land.
SHAIBU ISSIFU (Jnr Prof)
CONCERNED CITIZEN
0548437494

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