Increasing the Buy-In and Effectiveness of a Social and Emotional Learning Class Program in a Single Sex, Urban and Charter High School: Social and Emotional Learning Specialists and Student Perceptions of Its Implementation.

Social-emotional learning has yet to be implemented in many schools in America. Without adequate social and emotional skills, students struggle to navigate their academic and social environments. Students attending a single-sex, urban charter school participated in focus groups and completed surveys about their perceptions of a social-emotional learning program that was implemented during the 2015–2016 school year. Social-emotional learning facilitators completed surveys and participated in focus groups to ascertain the strengths and weaknesses of the program. Graphs and themes based on the information gathered from the surveys, open-ended questions, and focus groups were used to analyze the data. Both students and SEL specialists reported that class sizes were too large, students should be given a letter grade, and that more buy-in was needed from various stakeholders. This data could be used to help implement SEL programs across the country. Students, parents, communities, and schools should benefit from having high-quality SEL programs implemented in schools. This movement could help bring about social change and equity in a number of schools across the country that struggle to meet student and community needs

Increasing School Social Worker Supports for Schools in Illinois: Policy Recommendations for Supporting Student Learning and Growth.

Administrators and board members at the Illinois State Board of Education recommended that schools with certain demographics hire one social worker for every 350 students. The policy has yet to be implemented despite high rates of student poverty, lagging test scores, school bullying, suspensions, and an increased number of school shootings. The Illinois State Board of Education’s social and emotional learning standards guide educators and policy makers to interact and educate each student. School social workers equipped with the necessary skill set provide services, implement district-wide social and emotional learning programs, and work with various stakeholders to monitor progress. A growing number of students in America grapple with social and emotional issues that are impeding their ability to make sound decisions, successfully navigate society, and make positive contributions to their families and community. Each child educated in a public school in Illinois should receive high-quality school social work services and social and emotional support from preschool throughout high school. Implementing high fidelity social and emotional learning programs in schools would produce better outcomes for all stakeholders. Social and emotional learning infused into a school’s culture and climate helps produce well-rounded individuals. The Illinois State Board of Education’s school social work recommendations should be enforced with urgent speed

ACCOUNTING REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS AND PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS’ COMPLIANCE IN NIGERIA

This paper is an attempt to investigate the rate of compliance of public institutions with the framework stipulations of accounting regulations in Nigeria. Series of accounting Regulatory Provisions guiding preparation and presentation of financial reports in public institutions were examined. Descriptive statistical methods - Simple Percentage Method (SPM) and Chi-square were used on 50 Respondents from Ministry of Finance and the Office of Accountant General of the State of Osun in Nigeria. The paper revealed that there is a positive relationship between regulatory framework and financial reports preparation and presentations in Osun State. The study recommends that Proper trainings on public sector accounting and establishments of performance evaluation of employees should be put in place in order to make public institutions account more effective in the State of Osun

Evaluating the Effectiveness of a Character Education Program in a Single-Sex, Urban Charter High School: Learning from Teacher and Student Perceptions of Its Implementation.

Students who are taught the Illinois State Board of Education’s social and emotional learning standards are granted skills that help them make positive contributions to society. Well-rounded individuals have acquired abilities that allow them to make sound decisions, interact with others, and develop self-awareness skills. Adept individuals who have the skills to teach students strategies that help them to develop an emotional intelligence should implement character education programs using evidence-based strategies. Students who attended a single-sex charter school in an urban area participated in a program evaluation to determine if it was being implemented with fidelity. Students and program implementers completed surveys and participated in focus groups. Focus group participants were chosen using random assignment. An open coding method and grouping the data into themes were used to analyze the qualitative data. Using percentages, quantitative data was streamlined into graphs. I used the Character Education Program evaluation to determine that the program was not implemented as designed, there was a lack of staff and student buy-in, and that teachers lacked essential capacities required for execution. These findings could assist schools in developing and implementing high-quality character education programs. Executing character education programs in schools across the country will help accelerate social change, as members of society will be competent, capable of making sound decisions, and managing adversity

Challenges in Implementation of Early Childhood Education in Nigeria: The Way Forward

Early Childhood Education (ECE) comprises essential programmes and activities which are critical to holistic development, academic success and future achievements of children. ECE is recognised by the federal government of Nigeria as a foundational and essential programme that Nigerian children must experience. This is why the government has given highly rated attention to it through various interventions that include formulation of policy documents and network of relationships among different sectors. Unfortunately, various challenges are facing the implementation of ECE in Nigeria. This paper examines the challenges that are militating against this important early education in pre-primary schools. Some practical ways to overcome the challenges are provided. Keywords: early years, early childhood education, challenges, implementatio

Management Accountants’ Functions and Control System in Informal Sector’s Business Decisions in Nigeria

This paper examined the effects of Ownership-Controls and Management Accountant(s) functions indecision making process of informal businesses (SMEs) in Osun State of Nigeria. Disparity cases that areoften experienced by Management Accountants on decisions and that of business Owners in informalbusiness sectors – One-man businesses, partnership businesses and other private companies necessitate thisstudy. Many Accountants in the informal business sectors are suffering from a lot of hardships through self - designed decisions usually imposed by business Owners at the expense of information generated throughcalculated parameters on business decisions. The study used both Simple Percentage Method andDescriptive Data Analysis Method (DDAM) to evaluate 10 informal businesses in Osogbo, the capital city ofOsun State of Nigeria. The study revealed that most informal Businesses failed due to the fact that Ownersare always ignoring the advice of Management Accountants in vital business decisions. The paperrecommends proper utilization of MCS principles in line with information supplied by ManagementAccountants in both formal and informal sectors of Nigeria economy so as to aid the function and servicedeliverance potentials and subsequent improvement in SMEs results in Nigeri

EFFECT OF STOCK MARKET REGULATIONS AND REFORMS ON INVESTORS’WEALTH IN NIGERIA

This paper examines the impact of stock market regulations and reforms on frequent wealth–loss often experienced by investors in Nigeria Stock Exchange Markets right from March, 2008 in Nigeria. Secondary data on two selected banks-listed on the Nigeria Stock exchange market in Nigeria before April, 2003 using random selection method, viz: First Bank of Nigeria and Union Bank of Nigeria. The data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistical method of time series and Simple Percentage Method (SPM). The study revealed that share values are attractive and considerably stable in term of return to investment of shareholders during the preshare crisis period due to the effectiveness of the enabling stock market regulations than in the post share crisis period when value of shares went into spiralling declension. Stock market regulations and reforms is now under serious challenges as the percentage of indigenous investors has reduced drastically from 19% to less than 14% in the Nigeria Stock Exchange markets. Thus the study recommends more proactive regulations and reforms, potent enough to bring back confidence to investors in this post share crisis periods in Nigeria

RESPONSES OF UPLAND RICE TO TILLAGE, SEEDING METHOD AND SPACING IN THE INLAND VALLEY OF RAINFOREST/SAVANNA TRANSITORY ZONE OF NIGERIA

Two field trials were conducted at Abeokuta and Ibadan with the aim of investigating the performance of upland rice (NERICAª¤¢î 2) in inland valley Rainforest / Savannah transitory zone of South West Nige-ria as influenced by tillage practise, seeding method and spacing. The trials were arranged in split-split plot fitted to randomised completely blocked design, replicated thrice. The main plot was tillage (minimum tillage and conventional); sub-plot was seeding method (dry dibble and transplanting) and the sub-sub plot was spacing (15 cm ªª? 15 cm, 20 cm ªª? 20 cm and 25 cm ªª? 25 cm). Dry dibble had significantly more number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation than transplanted rice at both locations. Most growth parameters, at both locations had a significant increase with increasing plant population density, except dry matter accumulation. At both locations, transplanted rice had a significant longer flowering and maturity duration than dibble method. In Abeokuta, conventional tillage had significantly longer panicle length than minimum tillage. Dry dibble method had significantly more number of panicle/m2 at Abeokuta, while significantly more number of grains/panicle was observed at Ibadan than transplanting. Increasing plant population density significantly depressed some yield com-ponents and yield at Ibadan

RESPONSES OF UPLAND RICE TO TILLAGE, SEEDING METHOD AND SPACING IN THE INLAND VALLEY OF RAINFOREST/SAVANNA TRANSITORY

Two field trials were conducted at Abeokuta and Ibadan with the aim of investigating the performance of upland rice (NERICA® 2) in inland valley Rainforest / Savannah transitory zone of South West Nigeria as influenced by tillage practise, seeding method and spacing. The trials were arranged in split-split plot fitted to randomised completely blocked design, replicated thrice. The main plot was tillage (minimum tillage and conventional); sub-plot was seeding method (dry dibble and transplanting) andthe sub-sub plot was spacing (15 cm × 15 cm, 20 cm × 20 cm and 25 cm × 25 cm). Dry dibble had significantly more number of tillers, leaf area index and dry matter accumulation than transplanted rice at both locations. Most growth parameters, at both locations had a significant increase with increasingplant population density, except dry matter accumulation. At both locations, transplanted rice had a significant longer flowering and maturity duration than dibble method. In Abeokuta, conventional tillage had significantly longer panicle length than minimum tillage. Dry dibble method had significantly more number of panicle/m2 at Abeokuta, while significantly more number of grains/panicle was observed at Ibadan than transplanting. Increasing plant population density significantly depressed some yield components and yield at Ibadan

FOOD AND FEEDING HABITS OF SOME FISH SPECIES IN OGUN STATE COASTAL ESTUARY, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA

The food and feeding habits of eight (8) fish species Elops lacerta, Chrysichthys auratus, Schilbe mys-tus, Sardinella maderensis, Synodontis schall, Hepsetus odoe, Tilapia zillii and Mugil cephalus in Ogun estuary, Ogun State, Nigeria were studied and estimated for six months, between February and July, 2014. A total of 470 fishes were randomly collected from the commercial fishermen during the study. Results from the stomach contents analysed using frequency of occurrence and numerical methods showed that S. mystus, E. lacerta, S. maderensis, H. odoe, S. schall, T. zillii, M. cephalus and C. auratus were predators, piscivores, herbivores, piscivores, omnivores, herbivores, herbivores and omnivores respectively while H. odoe and S.mystus partly fed on E. lacerta and T. zillii respec-tively. The Diet Breadth (D) ranged from 0.76 to 0.88 and the percentage Gut Repletion Index (GRI), a reflection of frequency of feeding, ranged between 60-100%