Being a student is the best way to really see what the world does not see of an academic organization. They make sure always that the media sees what the well dressed highly fluent qualified people represent. But when once inside you see something totally different in every organization. You are able to see lecturers, instructors, office staff and other management representatives of different heights physically and mentally.
I have been to few different academic organizations and have seen differences but never so far have seen such misrepresentation of the management.
You could be the next victim!
08th August 2006
I walked into the class to find my instructor leaning to a wall and the classmates looked worried and distressed. From the first looks I realized that they were discussing about something not related to the lessons. They were for sure discussing something and the moment the door was opened they stopped talking. When I took a seat I was told the most unfortunate news, "Our classes are rescheduled, would you be able to come?" It was such a shock. They changed our timing because we were unable to finish the course according to a schedule they had already issued. It was the last day of our course according to their schedule and they gave extra 5 days, extra five days for special classes.
"Where have I just walked into?"
The management just told our classmates that the students were not up to the mark and did not complete work the students should have done to the date. Does it make any sense? Is it the students who make sure that the course content is covered on time? Or is it the management which should make sure that the content is covered?
The picture became clearer.
The manager walked out just before I walked in. The manager told our classmates that the classes are rescheduled and will be held from 1700 to 1900. Our "regular" classes are over because the course was scheduled to be over by 8th August 2006.
"Were we given any choice?"
The "principal" came in and instructed "the students" to come at 1700. We were not given a chance to even talk. I was "not happy" with the timings. We are not slaves to PSA, after all we are getting a service from them after paying a lot of money. The class agreed to invite the manager in and have a conversation with him.
"Please, could you join us?"
The manager came into our class and took a seat. There were 6 candidates, a lecturer and the manager himself. The lecturer was still away from us, not taking part in any of the conversations. The manager was right in front of the six of us. I myself wanted to say really less if at all possible, just wanted to be the silent one in the meeting. Different candidates started to express their thoughts of inconveniences and the manager did not accept that the management failed. According to him, there were five special classes arranged because of the candidates' to failure to complete the course according to his proposed schedule. Candidates' failure it is, because one night the class was not conducted as the promised books were not supplied to the candidates by PSA and the candidates went on a strike, the other night it was raining cats and dogs and only 3 out of 10 candidates turned out and the class was cancelled.
"… the bloody management…"
"Are you saying that the course was not finished in time because of us? It was the bloody managements' problem. Not ours!" I just could not be the silent one I wanted to be in the meeting, I shouted out. The manager got furious and started to shout out louder than I did, he took it more personal this time. He pointed at my eyes. He tried to teach me English. He tried to teach me professionalism. He wanted me to take back 'the bloody', I denied aloud!
06th November 2005
I walked into PSA at about 08:55 the second time ever after about 20 days from the first visit. In the first visit to the PSA I met the PSA's sales representative and the instructor for the course and discussed about the holiday I had already planned. This time I did not go alone to attend the class but accompanied another candidate for the course. When we went in, we were told that the classes were rescheduled to be held in the evening from 20:00 to 22:00. It was my second visit to the organization and the person who I accompanied with had no idea that the class was rescheduled. Though this was my first time to attend to the already ongoing class, the candidate I was going with was attending the classes during the month of Ramazan while I was on holidays. Disappointed we went back to our respective offices hoping that the management will improve.
"Which atoll are you from?"
I went to PSA to attend the class at about 19:55. I was new to the premise and was looking for where I belonged. Before I went to PSA I called the sales representative and talked to him. When once I was there I asked the help desk for help. I explained why I was there and I was redirected to the manager after a while. I explained again why I was there to the manager. He was very concerned. He asked me which atoll I am from. I asked him if it matters and he insisted that it matters, the office I work for was not any he was concerned about. He clearly told me that the people who come from "islands" are incompetent for the course which is only intended for professionals of the field and I was not very willing to accept it. To summarize, I did not make a very good impression in my first meeting with him.
25th June 2006
It was a second program I was joining at PSA, another professional course after about 4 months from the first course. The candidates were put in a classroom where familiar faces greeted us. The introduction was humble: "This course is very tough! So far only 2 students have passed. We are successfully running this program here at PSA." Now that is a summary of what was said. This time of course we had no manager to greet us but it was the sales representative and the instructor for the program.
08th July 2006
The manager insulted the students of the recent two batches of the program. He did take it personally and attacked me verbally in everyway he could. He insulted our intelligence and he stated that we are incompetent. He specifically stated that I was incompetent and to prove his point he pointed out that I had not taken the online examination for the previous program because I was not self-confident. He also stated that I was not qualified to be in the class. He finalized that the class schedule cannot be changed because there was a program arranged for some Dhiraagu personnel at our "regular" time. After all the damage was done, satisfied with his completed successful work he left the class saying that he will think about arranging extra classes during the weekend. Extra classes for the incompetent?
"… I mentioned to him that the management is bloody, because that is how I have seen it."
While we were in the class beaten to it, we noticed the presence of one of the directors in the office. We invited him into our class and had a conversation. Was the management misrepresented? Or is Professional Studies Academy with an Unprofessional Management?
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