Comments on: eXtradordinary People, Perception, Attitude and Change http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change/ Tue, 13 Dec 2011 11:51:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Gayle Pescud http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-2033 Gayle Pescud Mon, 19 Sep 2011 13:06:32 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-2033 Hi Samuel, Thanks for your response to the article. It certainly still generates comments and we love that they come from Ghana! I think things are changing slowly in Ghana, but there's still a long way to go. Main thing is to keep an open mind and listen, and then we can make best choices for everyone concerned. Hi Samuel,
Thanks for your response to the article. It certainly still generates comments and we love that they come from Ghana! I think things are changing slowly in Ghana, but there’s still a long way to go. Main thing is to keep an open mind and listen, and then we can make best choices for everyone concerned.

]]> By: samuel http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-2018 samuel Fri, 05 Aug 2011 11:03:03 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-2018 hi Gayle. i'm extremely intrigued with your observations and subsequent inferences made about your encounter with a doctor. i agree his demeanor was most unfortunate. most of my colleagues have very good listening habits and i'm pretty sure you have seen a few aside this rude individual. i agree to a certain level with Seth. the education system is getting better and hopefully will make more strides in recognizing the full extent and diversity of intelligence. Ghana has a rather narrow ended education system that is based wholly on logic and mathematical intelligence alone and as you rightfully stated, children with conditions like dyslexia or a relatively weak mathematical and word sense have no hope whatsover of getting any breaks. but i have a dream and im sure it is shared by you and a lot of other very well meaning ppl, a new system of education that allows children to choose how they want to learn and what they want to learn. a system that explores to the fullest all the widest levels and regions of intelligence. a system that can complement the current system whiles it undergoes its changes. God bless you and Godwin. lets make this dream a reality. lets educate fully, the children and people we can. hi Gayle.
i’m extremely intrigued with your observations and subsequent inferences made about your encounter with a doctor. i agree his demeanor was most unfortunate. most of my colleagues have very good listening habits and i’m pretty sure you have seen a few aside this rude individual. i agree to a certain level with Seth. the education system is getting better and hopefully will make more strides in recognizing the full extent and diversity of intelligence. Ghana has a rather narrow ended education system that is based wholly on logic and mathematical intelligence alone and as you rightfully stated, children with conditions like dyslexia or a relatively weak mathematical and word sense have no hope whatsover of getting any breaks. but i have a dream and im sure it is shared by you and a lot of other very well meaning ppl, a new system of education that allows children to choose how they want to learn and what they want to learn. a system that explores to the fullest all the widest levels and regions of intelligence. a system that can complement the current system whiles it undergoes its changes. God bless you and Godwin. lets make this dream a reality. lets educate fully, the children and people we can.
samuel´s last [type] ..NEVER LET GO YOUR FIRST LOVE.

]]> By: Sylvia http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-1858 Sylvia Thu, 09 Dec 2010 12:31:08 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-1858 It is the truth well told. The education system in Ghana must put more emphasis on soft skills( People skills) I cant agree with the writer more,the things that touch lives most are always those that are not tangible. It is the truth well told. The education system in Ghana must put more emphasis on soft skills( People skills) I cant agree with the writer more,the things that touch lives most are always those that are not tangible.

]]> By: Eric Don-Arthur http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-1856 Eric Don-Arthur Wed, 08 Dec 2010 07:52:57 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-1856 Thank You Gayle, if you haven't done so already, it might interest you to consider Sir Ken Robinson's - "Changing Paradigms" at the RSA. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCbdS4hSa0s as well as his thoughts on "Creativity" (in another instance). Eric Thank You Gayle, if you haven’t done so already, it might interest you to consider Sir Ken Robinson’s – “Changing Paradigms” at the RSA.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCbdS4hSa0s as well as his thoughts on “Creativity” (in another instance). Eric

]]> By: Gayle http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-622 Gayle Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:35:31 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-622 Actually I don't know about cobbling together, I like diversity, but it can be frustrating. I get most relief these days sitting under the mango tree in Godwin's family's village in Bolga and chatting with the funny old men and women--they're truly generous and wise people and make me feel connected to life more than anything else I experience here. They have wisdom from years of working the earth in bucket loads! Actually I don’t know about cobbling together, I like diversity, but it can be frustrating. I get most relief these days sitting under the mango tree in Godwin’s family’s village in Bolga and chatting with the funny old men and women–they’re truly generous and wise people and make me feel connected to life more than anything else I experience here. They have wisdom from years of working the earth in bucket loads!

]]> By: Gayle http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-621 Gayle Fri, 16 Apr 2010 15:23:29 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-621 Thank you for these very insightful comments--and sorry for taking a while to reply myself. Our link is "too bad" this week! @Seth: I could not have said it better. Thank you. Your words in the final paragraph about paper qualifications being an end in itself are spot on. I believe Ghana will get it right, and there are quite a few people quietly working away at it, but it will simply take time. @Chris--I think it will truly help too. I mean, the founder of Ashesi is doing great things now. At the same time, I've met some very smart, organised and efficient people right here, but they tend to be closeted in places and socio-economic positions that blind others to their abilities and potential. Of everyone I'ver ever worked with here, it was 4 young men in Bawku, yes Bawku!, who were the most brilliant "can do" people I've met in Ghana. We hope to one day employ one or two of them, but it will be a while yet. The problem is that they're not university educated and they can't get a break, but they're so much smarter and more efficient than many graduates I've met. There are many examples of this and it's depressing when you hear truly talented people overlooked because either they don't have connections or money. @Nana, hey--thanks! It's true--endemic. Bit by bit, though, person by person, it will change. If any country in Africa has hope, it's Ghana. I think I have issues with it as an Australian from a culture that really doesn't tolerate using paper qualifications as justification for anything other than professions that require it. If we try that someone will call us a "wanker" and do their best to ensure we know we're no better than anyone else, just because we've been educated to a certain level. Australians have to prove themselves before anyone takes them seriously, generally, and I like that aspect of that culture. If only we could cobble together the best of all the cultures and trash the rest! Thank you for these very insightful comments–and sorry for taking a while to reply myself. Our link is “too bad” this week!

@Seth: I could not have said it better. Thank you. Your words in the final paragraph about paper qualifications being an end in itself are spot on. I believe Ghana will get it right, and there are quite a few people quietly working away at it, but it will simply take time.

@Chris–I think it will truly help too. I mean, the founder of Ashesi is doing great things now. At the same time, I’ve met some very smart, organised and efficient people right here, but they tend to be closeted in places and socio-economic positions that blind others to their abilities and potential. Of everyone I’ver ever worked with here, it was 4 young men in Bawku, yes Bawku!, who were the most brilliant “can do” people I’ve met in Ghana. We hope to one day employ one or two of them, but it will be a while yet. The problem is that they’re not university educated and they can’t get a break, but they’re so much smarter and more efficient than many graduates I’ve met. There are many examples of this and it’s depressing when you hear truly talented people overlooked because either they don’t have connections or money.

@Nana, hey–thanks! It’s true–endemic. Bit by bit, though, person by person, it will change. If any country in Africa has hope, it’s Ghana. I think I have issues with it as an Australian from a culture that really doesn’t tolerate using paper qualifications as justification for anything other than professions that require it. If we try that someone will call us a “wanker” and do their best to ensure we know we’re no better than anyone else, just because we’ve been educated to a certain level. Australians have to prove themselves before anyone takes them seriously, generally, and I like that aspect of that culture. If only we could cobble together the best of all the cultures and trash the rest!

]]> By: Nana http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-619 Nana Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:04:59 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-619 Great analysis Seth, but I do agree with Chris that nothing will change unless a lot, and I mean tons of diasporan Ghanaians come back to Ghana. I know a few that have tried but gave up because of the lack of support. Its across the board, from foriegn educated ministers to local legends. I had an incident with the director of the Tema port. His words to me was "do you know that you are talking to an oxford educated person?" This was from me questioning him about the lack of urgency from his workers. It took me two weeks to get my car out of the port after paying every fees they asked for. Great analysis Seth, but I do agree with Chris that nothing will change unless a lot, and I mean tons of diasporan Ghanaians come back to Ghana. I know a few that have tried but gave up because of the lack of support. Its across the board, from foriegn educated ministers to local legends. I had an incident with the director of the Tema port. His words to me was “do you know that you are talking to an oxford educated person?” This was from me questioning him about the lack of urgency from his workers. It took me two weeks to get my car out of the port after paying every fees they asked for.

]]> By: Chris Scott http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-606 Chris Scott Tue, 13 Apr 2010 12:25:41 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-606 Won't happen, Seth unless you diasporan Ghanaians come back in your numbers.... Won’t happen, Seth unless you diasporan Ghanaians come back in your numbers….

]]> By: Seth, London http://www.g-lish.org/green-blogging-stuff/extradordinary-people-attitude-and-change//comment-page-1#comment-598 Seth, London Sun, 11 Apr 2010 18:03:59 +0000 http://www.g-lish.org/?p=670#comment-598 Hi Gayle, I have just read your encounter with the doctor in Accra and it confirms what I already know. However, what puzzles me is that on this occasion you were paying privately. I know this happens to poor and working class Ghanaian who visit state hospitals like Korle Bu. The moment you pay privately the attitude changes and the doctor treats you like a client rather than as an inconvinient patient. To have had that treatment when you were paying privately tells a lot about the arrogance of this doctor. Thats why they don't survive when they come over here in London. For those doctors who survive here they have to adjust considerably and improve on their communication skills with patients. I think it is symptomatic of the kind of training they receive at the medical school. Emphasis is not placed on communication skills and the need to be responsive to the needs of patients. With regards to education, Ghana has not improved on its educational system that was bequeathed it by the colonial masters. As a result the practices that used to go on in the 1950s are same teaching methods and practices that is still in existence till today minus a few cosmetic changes. Education in Ghana is more about rote learning and with little nurturing of critical thinking abilities. I say this as someone who was educated in Ghana to degree level (KNUST) before leaving Ghana. Perhaps a lot more needs to be done to change attitudes but educationist who travel abroad for further education and become aware of modern teaching methods do not return to teaching or lecturing because it is a poorly paid profession in Ghana. And in Ghana people tend to see paper qualifications as end in itself rather than as a means to improve on upon the performance of the organisation they work for or to improve the life of the society at large. Thats why we have a lot of square pegs in round holes but hey I will like to think that gradually we will get it right. Hi Gayle,
I have just read your encounter with the doctor in Accra and it confirms what I already know. However, what puzzles me is that on this occasion you were paying privately. I know this happens to poor and working class Ghanaian who visit state hospitals like Korle Bu. The moment you pay privately the attitude changes and the doctor treats you like a client rather than as an inconvinient patient. To have had that treatment when you were paying privately tells a lot about the arrogance of this doctor. Thats why they don’t survive when they come over here in London. For those doctors who survive here they have to adjust considerably and improve on their communication skills with patients. I think it is symptomatic of the kind of training they receive at the medical school. Emphasis is not placed on communication skills and the need to be responsive to the needs of patients.

With regards to education, Ghana has not improved on its educational system that was bequeathed it by the colonial masters. As a result the practices that used to go on in the 1950s are same teaching methods and practices that is still in existence till today minus a few cosmetic changes. Education in Ghana is more about rote learning and with little nurturing of critical thinking abilities. I say this as someone who was educated in Ghana to degree level (KNUST) before leaving Ghana. Perhaps a lot more needs to be done to change attitudes but educationist who travel abroad for further education and become aware of modern teaching methods do not return to teaching or lecturing because it is a poorly paid profession in Ghana.

And in Ghana people tend to see paper qualifications as end in itself rather than as a means to improve on upon the performance of the organisation they work for or to improve the life of the society at large. Thats why we have a lot of square pegs in round holes but hey I will like to think that gradually we will get it right.

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