A Ghanaian English phrase
meaning ‘they’ve finished their exams’… In Ghana students ‘write’ exams…
another Ghanaian English twist on words. ICT was the last exam and of course I
was interested in this one as I had been supporting one particular
Form 3 class over the last couple of months since their school received the
computers through the government scheme.
I had spent 4 hours in the Afrikids ICT Academy on Saturday with 15 of the 23 Form 3 students setting up e mails and practising, replying, ccing, using hyperlinks and so on. An attempt for some last minute learning/revision before their exam on Monday.
On Monday I met them at their exam venue. Unfortunately their given room in Zamestech (the local Senior High School)
where the exams were held was full of the potent smell of the open drain
outside. It would seem all of their
exams had suffered the same smelly environment… I felt so sorry for them. Many were covering their faced with handkerchiefs
to limit the smell. I admired their
T-shirts they had had made to celebrate the end of their time at Junior High School
(just the kind of things that would happen in the UK).
I gave them some last minute ICT reminders and some stern exam advice; namely, read the questions… you’d be surprised how many don’t. I gathered 8 mobile phones and left them 15 minutes before the exam so they could get themselves sorted. Then I waited for one long nervous hour at the spot round the corner for them to complete the first ICT exam, just 45 minutes long and an ‘objective test’ – multiple choice. They came out to meet me after it, full of it! I could have been in the UK the response was identical; some worried, some not, some nonchalant, all high on adrenalin. So high they started ‘snapping’ photos and Azonto dancing which I fast put a stop too (just call me a spoil sport), told them it wasn’t over yet and to get their heads together for the final exam, (the second ICT paper – longer answer questions) and sent them on their way once more gathering the mobile phones.
By 3.15pm the bell had rung indicating the end of the final exam and the roar of elation was audible for quite some distance. They came running back to the spot still full of it emulating very much a western response to finishing their exams, exhausted but still on that adrenalin high. Madame Priscilla brought them all a mineral and they relaxed and chatted ‘small small’ before heading off home. It was a great day to experience, so many parallels with the UK, yet much simpler.
I gave them some last minute ICT reminders and some stern exam advice; namely, read the questions… you’d be surprised how many don’t. I gathered 8 mobile phones and left them 15 minutes before the exam so they could get themselves sorted. Then I waited for one long nervous hour at the spot round the corner for them to complete the first ICT exam, just 45 minutes long and an ‘objective test’ – multiple choice. They came out to meet me after it, full of it! I could have been in the UK the response was identical; some worried, some not, some nonchalant, all high on adrenalin. So high they started ‘snapping’ photos and Azonto dancing which I fast put a stop too (just call me a spoil sport), told them it wasn’t over yet and to get their heads together for the final exam, (the second ICT paper – longer answer questions) and sent them on their way once more gathering the mobile phones.
By 3.15pm the bell had rung indicating the end of the final exam and the roar of elation was audible for quite some distance. They came running back to the spot still full of it emulating very much a western response to finishing their exams, exhausted but still on that adrenalin high. Madame Priscilla brought them all a mineral and they relaxed and chatted ‘small small’ before heading off home. It was a great day to experience, so many parallels with the UK, yet much simpler.
However, there are huge contrasts
of opportunities lost, or not available for these young people…They
don’t start SHS (assuming they pass) until September; this leaves them with 4
months to ‘kill’. It’s too long. Often they are sent, or willingly go to
Kumasi in the south where they find work, start earning money and don’t come
back. Sometimes this ‘work’ is akin to
slavery, and sometimes violates their rights as a child. Some find their way
into prostitution, in these extreme circumstances they are often not allowed to
leave by their Master or Pimp. Don’t get
me wrong, it’s not the majority of children who will succumb but enough for it
to be an issue that needs to be dealt with.
I wonder how many of my 23 students (albeit for a short time), will pass
their BECE exams. I wonder how many will
pass ICT (I hope it beats the 17% of students last year). I wonder how many will complete the Afrikids ICT
course they seemed so keen on doing during the extended ‘summer’. I wonder how many will ‘go south’ for
work. Most importantly I worry how many
will return… safe.
