LEADERSHIP

This semester has been marked by lot of activities; campaign, hall weeks celebrations, and presentations. Early this semester, lot of students vied for the student leadership/administration. In facts, some of them conveyed very good messages. Others were also building castle in the air. I was much interested in voting on the students represented council (SRC). Other positions included local NUGS, Hall executives etc. It was the first time we did electronic voting (e-voting). It was very efficient and reliable. It allowed no room for rigging. Most of my favorite candidates carried the day.
While the political campaign was ongoing , various hall week celebrations were also in progress. It was very unfortunate that I couldn’t attend any of them. I even felt reluctant to attend that of my hall.
Academic activities are also in progress. It is severe as usual. I made very good presentation for my group in one of the courses (ECONOMY OF GHANA). It was a controversial presentation. Our lecturer could easily disqualify a group. Four presentations carried out that day were disqualified except that of my group. We impressed the lecturer. That was my initiative as a good group leader.
The first step of the SmartKids selection, 2011 has taken place. Letters have been sent to the regional directors of education of two regions: Western and Central region. We are communicating with them on regular basis in order to get things done the way we want it. I hope that there is going to be very good selection.

SMARTKIDS JUNIOR BOARD@ BARCAMP 2010 MEETING

Last year,November, 2010, the SmartKIDS junior board attended a meeting organized by some investors in Ghana. It is organized each year to bring together investors and resourced persons from all the sectors of the economy to help others to cope with the ongoing economic situation of the country,Ghana,to generate ideas for development through partnerships and networking.We were there to make presentation of the SmartKids FOUNDATION. We had the opportunity to meet so many caliber of people from almost all sectors of the economy including NGO's who had similar missions as SmartKids foundation. They showed keen interest in the foundation especially the headmaster of Takoradi Technical institute,representative from UNICEF, resource person from the oil industry, business men, students and invited guest.
It was such a successfulness meeting. We took pictures of the event.The pictures can be accessed from this link.http://picasaweb.google.com/SmartKidsFoundation. or click on the picture above to link you to the rest of the pictures.

SmartKids Documentaire 2005 - Het tegengaan van braindrain.

This is SmartKids foundation documentary.I'm always inspired whenever i watch it.

BACK TO SCHOOL

Another semester has begun. Back to academic work. Last week, I registered the courses I’m going to read for the semester. Five courses summing up to fifteen credit hours. They are nice courses indeed. I have to work hard to make good grades in all.

The just ended vacation was remarkable. I attended SmartKids Junior board meeting. We discussed issues of concerns. Dealt with the issue of getting SmartKids Foundation bank accounts, SmartKids handbook, business cards for the junior board, programme of activities(annual to do list) of SmartKids foundation and other pertaining issues. Mr. Kees is yet to receive answers.

ON VACATION BREAK

I have really had a good but tough semester. Even though I enjoyed some strike break but multiply paid for it. Few weeks to prepare for the exam. I wrote three out of five papers in three days. It was such a tedious task. For good three days I never had a good sleep because I had too much to read. I completed the exam in eleven days. However, not withstanding that, the exam went well. I did my best. I know it will yield good fruit.

I am already in the house. I came home on the 14th of December. That was also the day I completed my exam. I am resting for some few days so that I will make it to Kumasi to deal with SmartKids issues. There are lot to do; untackled and unfinished task to accomplish, decisions to be made, etc. Also, I have personal issues to attend to. School resumes within the first week of January next year,2011.

RESUMES TO CLASS

Much work to do after we resumed class after the strike action. Hum! There is always something to put in good shape. Workload is more than doubled. I'm almost always in class. Lecturers are trying to wrap up the course outline even though I see it to be impossible. The student are bearing the greater part of the total effect of the strike. There has also been extension of the academic calendar. More cost to bear.

We are going to have our end of semester exam in two weeks time. however next week is a revision week. i only have to prepare to face the exam. I have started that already. I'm still left with some quizzes to write. I wrote two of them just this morning. they were much demanding.
Today is a holiday.An Id Adha holiday. I get this day to browse.I will be much busier after today.

SUFFERS FROM STRIKE ACTION

Lectures have been more successful for the past one month. However, very sad issue is happening. Our lecturers are on strike. We no more attend lectures. I don’t actually know when they will attend to the classroom. Why this strike action is a question that blows into the minds of students. But it seems students do not bother much about the decision of our lecturers. Maybe the lecturers want to enjoy Ghana’s new salary structure (single spine) which it implementation is in the pipeline. Indeed, it’s very pathetic. Any way, we are also relieving ourselves from attending too much lectures. I can know relax but to keep learning to keep up good pace with my lecture notes. Get enough time to tackle my assignment and to prepare for impending quizzes.

MADE GOOD GRADES IN THE UNIVERSITY

Wallowing on campus in another semester. Intensive lectures have started. Anyway I’m doing good. I have not found any problem with any of the courses. I get to make it this semester too. I have registered for the following courses this semester: Intermediate Microeconomics 1, Project Appraisal, Economics of HIV/AIDS, Sociological Theory, and Socialization. Last semester, I made the following grades in the various courses:
Social Structure of Ghana B+
Social Statistics A
Research Methods for Social Scientist B+
Element of Economics (MACRO) B+
Mathematics for Economics 2 B+
GPA 3.6
I know I can still do better this semester. I’m not content with these results. Hm! it never easy. Anyway, are the results okay?


This semester, I have done one assignment. I had to move from book to book, internet cafe to internet cafe finding answers to the question. The question was, Analysis of actual food consumption function suggest that some particular individuals may not be consistence in their choices. Under what conditions might people find in their own interest to demonstrate some irrationality in their choices of food item? I think you might have helped me solve this question. Already, I have presented my solution.

Yesterday, I got bored in the lecture hall. Nine hours continuous lectures. I think I should not enjoy such displeasure with continuous lectures again. Our time table should be adjusted to favor some of us. I think every course mate will be happy too if there should be any adjustment in the timetable especially, on Mondays.

SEMESTER BREAK

I had great moments this time around with my former school, SmartKids, family and colleagues. In fact, I have loved just ended vacation. I re-united with my juniors and teachers in my former school. The annual SmartKids meeting gave me the opportunity to get into contact with Kees, Mad. Comfort, Dr. Ross and almost every SmartKid during the annual SmartKids meeting. You know being at SmartKids annual meetings is a great turn in my life.

During the vacation I had a good stay at Kumasi. I have never regretted going back to my former school to help prepare the students for their impending examination. I met my teachers who taught me when I was in the same school for my S.H.S education. School authorities welcomed me with great pleasure. They were happy to see me come back and not just back but to help them as well. I was the assistant Economics teacher. I was given three classes to handle and did the job with great recommendation. I had good rap ore with the students I taught. Anyway, they were my juniors who never met me in school.

The SmartKids annual meeting organized on 26th June, 2010 and ended on 29th was a memorable one. It was a colorful annual meeting which everyone enjoyed much. We had a good attendance. Mr.Kees (international coordinator), Madam Comfort (Board chairperson, Ghana), Dr.Ross (coordinator, Ghana), Marc (web designer, Holland) and other dignitaries as well as almost ever SmartKid was present. We were happy to see Kees returned to Ghana after a year of departure from us. We also enjoyed Marc’s presents.
We are yet to begin another semester. I’m even on campus for my courses registration for the third year first semester.I think I’m going to have another good semester.

On vacation

Good to be back from school after a successful semester. Everything that has a beginning has an end. The semester was good with few setbacks. Lecturers were more punctual. Classes were very effective. However, some students were referred in some courses. It is often sad to see students fail in some courses. Among such courses include Economics. It is more or less demanding at University of Cape Coast. Not withstanding that, general performance was relatively good.
I wrote twelve quizzes, six assignments in five courses for the semester. My assessment was okay. I had an average score of 29 out of 4o marks for the assessment. I hope the examination will as well be okay.
Being in the house is the beginning another project. I have enjoyed four days out of 120 days of the vacation duration in the house. I ought to rest for a while. I have interacted with more friends and families in the house. They are happy to see me again from school. Anyway they are very proud of me. I will travel to Kumasi on Monday to start my attachment. I will teach Economics in the senior high school. I will stay on the school’s premises for three months. I will get back to school at the beginning of August My family and friends are also going to lose me once again.
I will attend smartKids junior board meeting at the end of this month at Kumasi. This is to plan for smartKids annual meeting that would be held on 26th of June and to plan effectively for Selection of new kids for the SmartKids Foundation. This year’s selection will cover two or three regions in the southern part of Ghana. Already, we have sent Letters to the Regional Directors of education of two regions about the Foundation’s intention to select kids from such regions. The old selection process still holds. As soon as we are done with the general meeting, the selection theme will travel to the various regions to start the selection. For more regular update of information you can follow my tweets,www.twitter.com/smartaliu1
I have to visit other smartKids in the junior high school (Joystandard international school) on regular basis for my three months stay in Kumasi and also working effectively forsmartKids Foundation. Some of them recently graduated from the junior high school. They will proceed to senior high soon. Those who graduated from the senior high last year are soon to be enrolled into the tertiary. Indeed,SmartKids Foundation is growing.
At the moment, we are waiting for Mr.Kees’ (Founder, SmartKids Foundation) arrival from Holland. It been a long time we had face-to-face interaction with him. We missed his absence. He is to arrive in Ghana with other Board of directors on 12th of next month. I wish him a safe journey to Ghana