Decisions about the future, whether physical infrastructure or social development, are made based on information reaching a decision-maker. The physical requirements are simply numbers, how many houses, apartments, commercial centers, schools and parks, what type and measurement of water treatment and distribution, electricity supply, road and bridge networks, all guiding future plans. The social requirements are much more difficult to identify, how many police officers to protect and serve, teachers to educate, service personnel to maintain the infrastructure, what type and level of skilled professionals to operate health centers and hospitals, courts and prisons, all making change or implementation problematical.Data on existing infrastructure and social impact, such as in the case of a school; the capital cost of lands and buildings, the book value of furniture and fixtures, its annual maintenance and security cost, its academic staffing numbers and cost, the number of students attending per class and per subject, the certified results, are available to researchers. Most research institutions, which gather and process the data into information (the prorated cost of educating one student or the most efficient class size for the best results), are linked financially to the Government or media groups.
The need for unbiased understandable information widely disseminated to transparently guide and justify decisions, for example; how many engineers or welders can the economy support, how many people will directly or indirectly benefit from a mass transit solution, what percentage of aid funds collected is reaching its target, can eliminate fears of corruption in a society. In other words, presenting a decision with the relevant information and its underlying data will win wide acceptance for that decision.
But what if the targeted audience does not get the message; the decision, the relevant information and its underlying data, is published but in an elitist fashion which does not reach its target. Many communities, because of geographic location, do not receive news on a regular and timely basis. Many young people remain uninformed simply because of the use of the wrong form of communication. The approach of reading news in schools, to reach the wider community, has evolved into community radio which unfortunately reaches the youth but leaves out the news. Making news and current affairs fashionable requires the latest mass communication technology and enhancement techniques, such as cell phones and prizes to gather and report the news.
Having received the news and now aware of the decisions, the relevant information and its underlying data that support take action, what do you think? Does the public education system teach individuals to think or is it purposely designed not to? Do you think the decision is right or best under the circumstances, do you have an alternative, or is there a case for doing nothing? These are questions which need to be answered before just opposing.
Rationale
T.A.J & Associates Company Limited uses this occasion to comment on topics that have been covered, both academically and by the mainstream media, to add its opinion and point out investment opportunity, not to invoke any social action.
