Professor expresses concern about standard of English

Accra, July 6, GNA - Professor Edwin Gyasi of the University of Ghana, Legon, at the weekend expressed concern about the quality of both written and spoken English, as the medium of education.

Recalling an instance at the Department of Geography and Resource Development of the University three years ago, he said an undergraduate who had visited his office for discussion on a long essay topic could not utter any thing intelligible in English despite persistent prodding. "So out of exasperation and realising that he bore a typical Akan name, I asked him to speak in Twi, whereupon he promptly obliged and so we proceeded to communicate - in Twi," Prof Gyasi said.

He was delivering a keynote address at a fund-raising for the Akuapem Campus of the Presbyterian University College in Accra, during which more than 63 million cedis in cash and pledges out of a five billion-cedi target was raised for the project estimated at 65 billion cedis. Prof Gyasi pointed out that the case of the undergraduate was not an isolated one and said many students "turn instant stammers" because of the lack of command over spoken English when chatting with their teachers.

He said he had just completed grading long essays and examination scripts for the academic year, adding that, "it is a relief for me to forget and leave behind the incredible errors of spelling, grammar, punctuation marks, not to mention logic". "Such is the state of affairs that many students are no longer able to compose essays and prepare reports in comprehensible English. Now, good English is the exception, rather than the norm. It is endangered," he said. Prof Gyasi said poor English had become a source of complaint for employers as new university graduates pass it down the educational ladder.

He said the art of public speaking; formal ways of dressing, table manners and other social etiquette that characterised University education "are now a very nearly lost culture". Prof Gyasi suggested the development of a special programme aimed at correcting deficiencies in written and spoken English and rejuvenating social and cultural etiquette targeted at young graduates. Such a programme, which he called University Education Finishing Touch, could address "a looming national educational crisis".