The perception of correctional officers towards rehabilitation of offenders: A case study of selected correctional centres in the Limpopo Province

Correctional officers’ attitudes and perceptions about the treatment of offenders can affect an inmate’s experience within a correctional institution. Correctional officers meet offenders daily, and their influence on how offenders experience their detention cannot be overestimated. The perception of correctional officers towards the rehabilitation of offenders needs to be investigated for the benefit of the department, community, and offenders. The study aimed to determine correctional officers\u27 perceptions toward rehabilitating offenders. The study used a quantitative research approach. A probability purposive sampling approach was used to select the participants. The study found that correctional officers are key in communicating with offenders and providing trustworthy advice to improve their lives. Correctional officers working in correctional centres may assist in rehabilitating offenders by communicating needs and risks to parole officers, parole boards, judges, or probation officers. Offenders should be punished for the crime/s they have committed. Increasing the severity of punishment does little to deter crime. The study recommends that basic training of correctional officers should include issues of the rehabilitation of offenders. Correctional officers who engage offenders in rehabilitation should receive performance management bonuses. Moreover, correctional officers should be briefed on the content of the programmes offered by custodial therapists

Exploring stochastic volatility in financial market

Financial markets areconstantly fluctuating in response to a range of factors. These fluctuations connote volatility which are unpredictable behaviour that deviates significantly from the patterns observed in stable conditions. It is therefore important to use standard stochastic volatility models to capture the time-varying nature of volatility during periods of financial distress in other to make informed decisions. The aim of this study was to explore stochastic volatility in financial markets during periods of financial distress using a Heston model. The sample financial markets were, the CAC 40, the DAX, the JSE, the Nasdaq Index and the Nikkei-225. The 2007/2008 financial crisis and the Covid-19 pandemic were used as sample time frames. The findings of this study revealed extortionate stochastic volatility during the Covid-19 pandemic compared to the 2007/2008 financial crisis. Since the 2007/ 2008 crisis stemmed from a collapse in the financial system, the nature of the event was more localized within the financial sector and had a somewhat more predictable unfolding than the Covid-19 pandemic. By Implication, it may be suggested that it was more difficult to price assets during the Covid-19 pandemic due to extreme uncertainty which resulted in inflated option premiums as investors sought hedging strategies

Exploring the purpose and evolution of education: from informal learning to formal schooling, challenges, international legal frameworks and recommendations for the future

Education has transitioned from an informal, community-driven process rooted in family and tribal collectivism to a formalized system of structured learning within schools. This paper explores the historical evolution of education, beginning with its early roots in natural, informal interactions within communities and the pivotal role of parents and families in shaping foundational learning. It examines the shift to formal education, driven by the advent of written symbols and societal complexity, and highlights the critical functions of schools in socialization, skill acquisition, and cultural preservation. Foundational theories on education are discussed, emphasizing its social embeddedness and collective purpose. The paper further addresses contemporary challenges in formal education, including issues of accessibility, quality disparities, systemic discrimination, and the selective nature of assessments. These challenges are analyzed through the lens of international legal frameworks, such as the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) and the Convention Against Discrimination in Education (CADE), which provide a normative basis for addressing inequities in education systems. The methodology taking a doctrinal approach involves a critical review of historical accounts, theoretical perspectives, and legal instruments, to uncover both cultural nuances and global legal standards relating to education. The findings underscore the transformative potential of education when it is inclusive, adaptable, and aligned with societal, cultural and legal contexts. Recommendations include improving accessibility and quality. By emphasizing the role of law in advancing these objectives, the study calls for systemic reforms to achieve universal access to quality education and highlights the necessity of aligning education with the broader goals of societal equity and development

Factors affecting travel intention and purchase behavior of airline passengers: the mediating role of promotional discounts in airline tickets

This study examines the impact of social media exposure to promotional discounts on the travel intentions and purchasing behaviours of Millennials and Generation X airline consumers in the National Capital Region (NCR), Philippines, as social media and technology increasingly serve as vital instruments in the airline industry's marketing and promotional sales strategies. Due to the existence of studies on this topic elsewhere, there is a paucity of research and statistics available to reflect the current state of the Philippine aviation business. Considering that airlines are gradually rebounding from the challenges posed by the early pandemic and the tourism business is currently thriving, the researchers found it compelling and recognised the potential for more investigation on this topic. The researchers conducted an analysis of data from 390 respondents using PLS-SEM, revealing that social media exposure does not directly affect travel intentions, although both brand image and promotional discounts do have an influence. Travel intentions serve as significant indicators of purchasing behaviour. Promotional discounts act as an essential intermediary between social media visibility and brand perception regarding travel intentions. These findings underscore the significance of integrating Promotional Discounts into social media and branding efforts to effectively enhance customer Travel Intention. Scholars and researchers may significantly benefit from the conceptual framework and findings of the present study. Additional investigation into the interrelations among the elements may enhance the economic resilience of the tourism and airline industries during a pandemic. The findings indicate that promotional discounts serve as a mediator; therefore, marketers and decision-makers in the tourism sector should explore strategies to enhance their advertising and marketing approaches to boost travel intentions and foster business growth

Contribution of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices to the wellbeing of communities around the North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices of privately owned mining companies have been argued to create benefits to communities’ wellbeing in areas of their operation. However, little is known on the CSR of partly owned government mining companies. Therefore, this paper ought to: examined the contribution of CSR practices of the North Mara Gold Mine in Tanzania to the wellbeing of communities living around the mine. Specifically, it examined and compared levels of household wellbeing before and after the implementation of CSR practices. The study used cross sectional research design and involved 358 households which were selected using systematic random sampling method. The wellbeing index was used to measure levels of wellbeing. Besides, the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to compare wellbeing levels before and after the implementation of the CSR practices. The results revealed that the CSR practices of the North Mara Gold Mine company enabled people to own improved quality housing and valuable assets. Also, the household wellbeing index score was significantly higher after the implementation of the CSR practices. There was a significant difference in wellbeing levels (p<0.001) before and after the implementation of CSR practices. It is recommended that CSR plans to be integrated into company business operations and carefully monitored, evaluated and strictly audited regularly for effective community development

Why do I change my health behavior? the role of mobile health monitoring and health consciousness

This study probes how mobile health monitoring contributes to health behavior change, with a particular focus on the roles of self-quantification and health consciousness. The findings indicate that mobile health monitoring effectively facilitates positive changes in health behaviors. Moreover, there is a significant interplay between self-quantification, mobile health monitoring, and behavior change—individuals are more likely to adopt healthier lifestyles when they can independently monitor and interpret their health data. Health consciousness further reinforces this relationship, as individuals with higher health awareness are more likely to transform data-driven insights into actionable and sustained health behaviors

Effects of staff development training on self-rated performance: a case of selected South African companies

A subtle inherent contest exists between supervisors and subordinates during performance appraisal sessions. Examining the moderating effect of training on employees\u27 self-appraisal to foster curiosity. This study seeks to analyse the value proposition of self-appraisal in the context of 360-degree organisational performance. A self-appraisal was conducted among a random sample of employees from five companies in South Africa. The research employs a positivist paradigm, utilising a deductive approach characterised by quantitative methods. It incorporates a longitudinal study and a pre-post quasi-experimental survey design to gather data from a randomly sampled population of 526 participants. Utilising diverse multivariate statistical methods, such as analysis of variance (ANOVA) and correlation and regression modelling, for data analysis. This study illustrates that training improves self-efficacy, learning outcomes, and performance. Additionally, it highlights the integrity of self-appraisals in the post-training context, with 66% of participants favouring self-rated performance over supervisor assessments due to perceived bias. This paper offers insights for both practitioners and scholars, highlighting how a strong culture of human capital development (T&D) enhances self-efficacy and predicts positive organisational behaviours and optimal performance.     

Evaluating the effectiveness of social media advertising strategies across different demographics and platforms

This paper aims to evaluate the effects of demographic targeting, platform selection, and engagement metrics on the effectiveness of social media advertising campaigns. In this paper, it is also aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding of how these factors influence conversion outcomes. We employed a hybrid analytics method combining ANOVA, correlation, and regression analysis to examine patterns of user engagement and ad performance. A dataset of 200,235 ad campaign records conducted in the United States was analyzed to assess variations across gender, age groups, and platforms. The main findings of the study demonstrate that (i) women consistently exhibited higher conversion rates compared to men, highlighting the potential of gender-specific content strategies; (ii) users aged 35–44 achieved the highest engagement, suggesting that middle-aged audiences may be more responsive to targeted campaigns; and finally, (iii) among platforms, Instagram led in conversion performance, while Facebook showed comparable engagement rates, and both significantly outperformed other platforms in terms of overall impact. Click-through rate was found to be moderately correlated with conversions, whereas impressions showed weak returns, indicating diminishing value at higher exposure levels. These results underscore the importance of optimizing both message and delivery channel to specific audience segments.This study contributes to digital marketing literature by integrating demographic variables, engagement indicators, and platform performance into a unified model. The insights derived offer practical implications for businesses and advertisers aiming to enhance return on investment and optimize campaign strategies in a fast-paced, digitally driven advertising landscape

Motivation strategies in the mining sector: Lessons from Tronox KZN sands

The mining sector is vital for economic growth, yet it encounters considerable workforce challenges, such as hazardous working conditions, fluctuating job security, and low levels of employee motivation. This study investigates the motivation strategies implemented by Tronox KZN Sands to tackle these issues, offering insights that can be beneficial for the broader mining industry. Utilizing Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory as a foundation, the study assesses the effects of intrinsic and extrinsic motivators, leadership, and organizational culture on employee engagement and productivity. A quantitative methodology was adopted, with data collected from 100 employees at Tronox KZN Sands. The findings indicate that concerns regarding job security, limited recognition, and insufficient financial incentives notably affect motivation levels. The study emphasizes that while hygiene factors, such as workplace safety and equitable compensation, are critical for preventing dissatisfaction, motivators—including career development opportunities and recognition programs—are essential for enhancing engagement and performance. Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has intensified workforce challenges, highlighting the necessity for adaptive motivation strategies. The research advocates for a balanced approach that integrates both hygiene factors and motivators to maintain employee commitment. Recommendations include enhancing financial incentives, establishing structured career development initiatives, and promoting a culture of recognition and empowerment. Furthermore, organizations should emphasize transparent communication and workforce stability to alleviate uncertainty and improve job satisfaction. These insights offer practical guidance for stakeholders in the mining sector aiming to formulate effective motivation strategies to enhance workforce productivity and retention

Analyzing the impact of social media platforms and audience demographics on advertising campaign performance

This study investigates the strategic effectiveness of social media advertising by analyzing the relationship between platform selection, audience demographics, and campaign performance metrics. Using a dataset encompassing Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, and Twitter, the research evaluates key indicators such as engagement, conversion rates, and return on investment (ROI). By employing statistical methods like ANOVA and regression analysis in SPSS, the study aims to identify optimal platform-audience combinations and assess how different campaign goals influence outcomes. The findings will provide valuable insights for advertisers and businesses seeking to enhance their social media strategies and maximize advertising effectiveness