A Critical Assessment of Quality Education in Community Day Schools in Malawi: A Case Study of Mulanje District

Distance Education Centers (DECs) were intended to provide alternative formal secondary school education to school going age children who had passed their standard eight examinations but had failed to gain access to Conventional Secondary Schools (CSSs) due to limited places. However, despite increasing access, DECs did not offer appropriate instruction and usually produced poor results in national examinations. Among other things, there were acute shortages of teaching and learning materials in these schools. In addition, the majority of teachers in DECs were drawn from primary schools and, therefore, not qualified to teach at a secondary school. In December 1998, the Malawi Government and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology converted a large number of DECs to CDSSs. This upgrading was meant to unify secondary education system with the aim of improving quality in DECs. In addition, it also meant that the ministry would take full control of the DECs. This would involve, among other things, purchasing and disseminating of relevant teaching and learning materials, the supply of properly trained teachers, and improving and strengthening inspection and supervision services in these schools. This study, therefore, was aimed at assessing the current situation in Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs) with regard to quality education. The study used mixed methods design approach. Thus, both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods were used in order to have a comprehensive analysis and understanding of the problem understudy. Qualitative data were collected through interviews, observations, and review of school documents and records. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaire survey and observations. Although the policy on CDSSs was a welcome development in that it was intended to improve the quality of education in these schools, the present study has found that the implementation of the policy has not made much impact due to lack of basic resources. The study has found that 92 percent of teachers in CDSSs are not qualified to teach at a secondary school. In addition, there is shortage of teaching and learning materials. Furthermore, these schools have inadequate infrastructure and classroom facilities. In some schools pupils are still learning in temporary shelters and borrowed premises. The study also foun dthat there is evidence of community participation through school management committees (SMCs), but this has little impact as seen from the unfinished development projects. The above scenario, therefore, cannot facilitate quality teaching and learning processes in CDSSs that lead to attainment of much need quality education

Leucaena establishment on frontage country in the Queensland Gulf

Introduction and successful establishment of leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) has the potential to improve annual liveweight gains (LWGs) of grazing cattle in northern Australia, sustainably increase gross margins and mitigate methane production (Harrison et al. 2015). However, leucaena adoption in northern Queensland to date has been low (<2,500 ha established) compared with other regions of the State

Aquilegia, Vol. 37 No. 1, Spring 2013, Newsletter of the Colorado Native Plant Society

https://epublications.regis.edu/aquilegia/1141/thumbnail.jp

Assessing The Impact of Cluster Farming Initiatives on Small and Socially Disadvantaged Farmers, Ranchers, and Forestland Owners: A Case of The Southeastern Region of The United States

Farming in clusters is an economically viable practice to sustain small, limited resource, and socially disadvantaged farmers and forestland owners with their agricultural operations. The objectives of the study were to strengthen the capacity of clientele on cluster farming and to lower production and marketing costs by sharing input costs. Clusters were created and interventions were provided by project partners through several activities, including workshops, meetings, field days, loans, and materials/equipment. The results showed that 29 clusters involving 224 farmers, and 14 cooperatives involving 410 farmers were formed and strengthened. The number of farmers participating in workshops, training programs, field days, and meetings were, respectively, 4,921, 3,095, 1,426, and 1,285. The results also revealed that 190 producers received access to farm loans, mobile and stationary cold storage facilities, and marketing materials. Additionally, 930 farmers strengthened their knowledge and skills, and changed their behavior due to the implementation of the cluster farming approach

Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center Anniversary Celebration

The School of Music is proud to welcome back to campus several of our esteemed alumni for a special recital as part of the Bailey Performance Center 10th anniversary celebration! The School of Music celebrates the opening of the Bailey Performance Center with featured performances by the KSU Wind Ensemble Brass and Percussion, Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Singers, University Chorale and Chamber Singers Alumni Choir, along with pianist Robert Henry, soprano Jana Young, and more!https://digitalcommons.kennesaw.edu/musicprograms/1969/thumbnail.jp

Ternary structure reveals mechanism of a membrane diacylglycerol kinase

Diacylglycerol kinase catalyses the ATP-dependent conversion of diacylglycerol to phosphatidic acid in the plasma membrane of Escherichia coli. The small size of this integral membrane trimer, which has 121 residues per subunit, means that available protein must be used economically to craft three catalytic and substrate-binding sites centred about the membrane/cytosol interface. How nature has accomplished this extraordinary feat is revealed here in a crystal structure of the kinase captured as a ternary complex with bound lipid substrate and an ATP analogue. Residues, identified as essential for activity by mutagenesis, decorate the active site and are rationalized by the ternary structure. The g-phosphate of the ATP analogue is positioned for direct transfer to the primary hydroxyl of the lipid whose acyl chain is in the membrane. A catalytic mechanism for this unique enzyme is proposed. The active site architecture shows clear evidence of having arisen by convergen

Social Class

Discussion of class structure in fifth-century Athens, historical constitution of theater audiences, and the changes in the comic representation of class antagonism from Aristophanes to Menander

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London