Aspirations

Today I was interviewed by the Editorial Board at Tema Secondary School.  They had many questions for me about high schools in the U.S. and the comparisons I could make between their school and Catalina.  It was a great interaction with an exceptional group of young people.  At the end of the interview, I was given the chance to ask them questions.  The most important question I had was about their goals, dreams, and futures.  Esteban had the same idea when he asked about the aspirations of students.  So, here is my list for this post:

• Elvis wants to go to university and study law or political science.
• Grace W. wants to go to university and become an actress.
• Jeffrey wants to go to university and study medicine to become a surgeon.
• Eyram wants to go to university and study medicine to become a surgeon.
• Selena wants to go to university to study business administration.
• Lydia wants to go to university and study law or political science.
• Priscilla wants to go to university and get a degree in human resources.
• Alvin wants to go to university to become an accountant.
• Grace A. wants to go to university to study business administration.
• Jacob wants to go to university to study medicine.

This group of students has already been accepted to one of the strongest secondary schools (high school equivalent in the U.S.) in the area.  Depending on their WASSCE (West African Senior School Certificate Examination) results and family's financial situation, they will be able to attend university, at the very least.  In other words, their aspirations are probably in reach. 

Yesterday during a school visit to a middle school, I did not ask this question.  These students' aspirations appear to be tied to the results of tests that will determine if they will qualify for secondary school. 

 The word aspiration did make an appearance during a meeting with a school district official who said, "Schools exist to prepare students to reach the aspirations and demands of the nation."  I have to admit that I was surprised to hear this as a rationale for the existnece of schools.  I flipped this sentence to see if it makes more sense, "Nations exist to prepare schools to meet the aspirations and demands of students."  or "Students exist to prepare nations to meet the aspirations and demands of schools."  From what I've seen and heard from education officials, teachers, students, and administrators,  I do think the original statement is an accurate description of the educational expectations in Ghana.  My feeling is that students should play a more active role in this scenario.  If we say, "children are the future", does that mean only in regard to our country's well-being?  Should a global vision be an explicit part of our aspirations for ourselves and others?  My brain is rather full of this entire experience.  I'm wondering if any blog readers: teachers, administrators, parents, citizens can make sense of these words.

The Tema Secondary School Editorial Board with gifts from students at Catalina Magnet High School.

Students at Aggrey Road Junior Secondary School in Tema, Ghana.