Enhancing Senior Secondary Students Knowledge of English Grammar through Two Modes of Explicit Grammar Instruction in Ibadan Metropolis

This study examined the effects of Direct Explicit Grammar (DEG) and Indirect Explicit Grammar (IEG) instructional strategies on achievement in English grammar and composition among secondary school students in Ibadan metropolis. The study adopted the pretest-posttest, control group, quasi-experimental design using a 3x3x2 factorial matrix. Three local government areas (LGAs) were randomly selected out of the five in Ibadan metropolis and three public schools were purposively selected from each LGA .Nine intact classes of 274 senior secondary II students were used for the study. The intact classes were randomly assigned to DEG, IEG and control groups respectively. Treatment lasted six weeks. The instruments used were: English Grammar Achievement Test (r=0.81), English Composition Achievement Test (ECAT r = 0.84) and Teachers Instructional Guides. Data were analyzed using Analysis of Covariance and Scheffe post-hoc test at 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that there was a significant main effect of treatment on students’ achievement in English grammar (F(3,273) = 8.373; ŋ²=0.03).The DEG group obtained the highest posttest achievement mean score (̅=21.95) in English grammar, followed by IEG (̅= 21.88) and control (̅ = 15.57) groups. Direct explicit and indirect explicit grammar instructional strategies enhanced students’ achievement in English grammar and composition in public senior secondary schools in Ibadan metropolis. Teachers should adopt both strategies in teaching English grammar and composition for improved performance.Keywords: English grammar and composition, Direct and Indirect explicit grammar strategies, Senior secondary schools, Ibadan metropoli

Statistical distributions for service times

Queueing models have been used extensively in the design of call centres. In particular, a queueing model will be used to describe a help desk which is a form of a call centre. The design of the queueing model involves modelling the arrival an service processes of the system.Conventionally, the arrival process is assumed to be Poisson and service times are assumed to be exponentially distributed. But it has been proposed that practically these are seldom the case. Past research reveals that the log-normal distribution can be used to model the service times in call centres. Also, services may involve stages/tasks before completion. This motivates the use of a phase-type distribution to model the underlying stages of service.This research work focuses on developing statistical models for the overall service times and the service times by job types in a particular help desk. The assumption of exponential service times was investigated and a log-normal distribution was fitted to service times of this help desk. Each stage of the service in this help desk was modelled as a phase in the phase-type distribution.Results from the analysis carried out in this work confirmed the irrelevance of the assumption of exponential service times to this help desk and it was apparent that log-normal distributions provided a reasonable fit to the service times. A phase-type distribution with three phases fitted the overall service times and the service times of administrative and miscellaneous jobs very well. For the service times of e-mail and network jobs, a phase-type distribution with two phases served as a good model.Finally, log-normal models of service times in this help desk were approximated using an order three phase-type distribution

Knowledge of HIV/AIDS among secondary school adolescents in Osun state, Nigeria

Background and Objectives: This study aimed to assess the knowledge of secondary school pupils in Osun State about HIV/AIDS and the sources of their information.Materials and Methods: A multistage random sampling technique was used to select 592 secondary school pupils from 5 local government areas of Osun State, Nigeria. A self-administered questionnaire was used which composed of questions on their knowledge and sources of information about HIV/AIDS.Results: About half believed that HIV can be contracted via mosquito bites and 53.7% believed via kissing. Half of the respondents agreed that a person who looks healthy can be infected and possess the ability to describe the look of an infected person. Majority (92.6%) claimed to have heard about HIV/AIDS prior to the study. More than half (67.8%) agreed that HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening disease, 29.4% said there is a cure for AIDS, and 77.6% thought that the government is doing enough to deal with the disease. The most important sources of HIV/AIDS information among the respondents were the media and the least important sources of information were the traditional healers (35.3%).Conclusion: This study revealed a high-level misconception among secondary school pupils in Osun State, Nigeria. Mass media was the major source of information with doubtful effectiveness evidenced by obvious erroneous beliefs. An improved multisectorial approach in HIV/AIDS education with greater participation of school and public libraries is advised

Awareness of Public Library and Utilization of its HIV/AIDS Information Resources and Services by Secondary School Adolescents

Public libraries have become become common ground for providing proactive prevention-focused AIDS information services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the awareness of presence of public librariesand low utilization of their AIDS information services. Librarians still have daunting work to do in Nigeria.  Secondary school students were recruited from Osogbo and Ile-Ife and were asked through a paper questionnaire to respond to whether they were aware of the public library in their city; positive respondents were then implored to provide answers to enquiries about their utilization of AIDS information resources and services. 420 students participated in the study, 52.9% of them were aware of public library in their city; prevalently found among females, senior students and respondents from Osogbo. About half of the respondents who were aware of public libraries actually visited one before. Library based services were used more by the males while the females used more of the outreach services.This study revealed moderate awareness of public libraries and low utilization of their AIDS information services. Librarians still have daunting work to do in Nigeria.Key words: Awareness, utilization, public libraries, students, adolescent

Indices of Conflict Triggers in Femi Ajewole’s Theatrical Performances in Oyo State, Southwest, Nigeria

Conflicts may be triggered by various factors. When not managed can lead to conflict escalation. This paper interrogates the theatrical performances of Christ Chosen Vessels (CCV), a Christian Drama Ministry. Scholars have established theatrical performances remain a tool for change. However, there is limited literature on the role of theatrical performances in peace and conflict studies. This paper analyses the conflict triggers in the theatrical performances of CCV. This study is guided by social identity theory by Henri Tajfel. It adopted qualitative research and case study design. Primary sources of data include KII (2); IDI (2); police reports; and video CDs (3) of selected performances of CCV. Secondary sources include books, journals and theses. Descriptive methods were used to analyze data. Findings showed religious codes, language, characterization, and costume served as conflict triggers. It was concluded that theatrical performances can trigger conflicts. This paper recommends theatrical artists must consider the sensitivity of others in the process of creativity in respect of diversity for peaceful coexistence

Synthesis and catalytic performance of hierarchically structured zeolitic materials

The work presented in this dissertation involves the investigation of the synthesis methodology of hierarchically structured zeolite and their catalytic performances. To create these materials, an inert templating agent, chitosan, as macro-template was used along with microporous templating agent to produce titanosilicate, aluminosilicate and titano-aluminosilicate systems with MFI structure. Firstly, synthesis of the titanosilicate (TS-1) system was carried out. It was found that, while the use of chitosan did not affect production of crystalline, phase pure TS-1, the preparation of precursors indeed is an important factor in the insertion of titanium in the silicalite structure. A range of characterisation methods were used to establish the nature of titanium species in the catalyst and also the nature of pore structures present in the system. The catalysts developed here were evaluated for liquid phase epoxidation of cyclohexene and styrene with their activities and selectivity correlated with the amount of chitosan included in the synthesis precursors. Secondly, the chitosan was transformed into a rigid three dimensional structure (scaffold) and used as macro-template to form the alumino-silicate (ZSM-5) zeolite. Parameters such as the amount of zeolite precursor to chitosan scaffold and the ratio of silicon to aluminium in the starting precursor were found to influence the acidity, pore distribution and the crystal morphology. The selectivity and coke formation of these zeolites were evaluated for the methanol to hydrocarbon reaction. Finally, a zeolite with both redox and acid sites was synthesised in the presence of chitosan. This catalyst was investigated for direct conversion of cyclohexanone to caprolactam in the liquid phase. The influence of the amount of chitosan in the synthesis, reaction conditions and solvent medium on activity and selectivity was studied. In summary, the project successfully investigated the use of chitosan in the production of hierarchical MFI type zeolite and evaluated the performance for a range of catalytic reactions

Challenges of Paper-Based Reporting and Willingness of Primary Health Care Workers to the Use of Electronic Immunisation Registry in Kaduna State, Nigeria

This study assessed challenges of paper based reporting and willingness of Primary Health Care workers to use Electronic Immunisation Registry (EIR) in Kaduna State, Nigeria. Qualitative approach of In-Depth-Interview (IDI) was employed to obtain information from 50 Officers-In-Charge of PHCs on (i) Time and effort required in reporting paper-based RI data (time spent in completion of RI reporting tools, travel time to LGAs monthly for submission of RI data/report, and waiting time in LGA). (ii) Cost of reporting (stationery cost and transportation cost) and (iii) Security and Storage issues (iv) willingness to be trained and use of EIR for RI data reporting.  This study shows that PHCs spend a mean time of 67.7 minutes for the completion of RI data reporting tools, 104.7 minutes for travel to LGA headquaters for monthly submission of reports and 36.5 minutes as waiting time at LGA headquaters. They also spend a mean amount of ₦1,500.50K on stationery and ₦1,340.50K on transportation to the LGA headquaters monthly. In addition, paper-based RI data lacks adequate security and storage. Moreover, PHC workers expressed their willingness to be trained on the use of EIR.  In view of the challenges of paper-based reporting systems and willingness of PHC workers to use EIRs as shown in the study, there is a need for the implementation of EIR for efficient RI data reporting. Keywords: Paper-based reporting, Routine Immunisation data, PHC workers, willingness to use EIR, Kaduna State. DOI: 10.7176/JBAH/11-12-01 Publication date:June 30th 202

Influences on smoking behaviour of adolescents and young adults in a Nigerian university

The study investigated whether parenting style, parental level of education and smoking peers have any influence on the smoking behaviour of adolescents and young adults. The participants were students of Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. Purposive sampling technique was adopted in the sample selection. Three hundred students who consented participated in the study. A self constructed questionnaire was used to collect the data. The validity of the instrument was determined. The reliability of the instrument was also determined using test retest method. Correlation co-efficient of 0.75 was obtained. This study revealed that there is a significant influence of parenting style on the smoking behaviour of students (x2 = 36.03, df = 6, p ≤ 0.05). It also showed that there is a significant relationship between parents’ educational attainment and students’ smoking behaviour (x2 = 60.40, df = 6, p ≤ 0.05). Finally, it was revealed that there was a significant influence of peers on smoking behaviour (x2 = 19.97, df = 2, p ≤ 0.05). KEY WORDS: Smoking, Behaviour, Parent, Adolescent, Universit