An Investigation on Impact of Free Primary Education on Quality of Education in Kenya Primary Schools

Primary education in Kenya has become a constitutional right for every school going child. This was in fulfillment of international obligations like Education for All by 2015, in order to achieve this Kenya government introduced Free Primary Education (FPE) in 2003 to achieve universal primary education (UPE) by 2005. This noble policy in Kenya benefited 1.3 million school going children who would not have afforded many levies charged by primary schools. This notwithstanding the programme was implemented without proper preparation compromising the quality of education. The study looked at the implication of text book ratio, teacher’s pupils’ ratio and teachers’ perception on the quality of FPE in Kenya. The study used survey design whereby quantitative and qualitative data was generated. The target population was 71 public primary schools in Embu East Sub- County in Kenya. Simple random sampling procedure was used to select a sample of 30% of target population. The instruments used included open and closed ended questionnaires which were administered by the researcher to the respondents mainly schools head teachers and teachers. The data was analyzed through statistical programme where percentages were got and deductions made. The study found out that FPE had improved enrolment by 68%. Over 50% reported that the text book ratio was 1:3, teacher pupil ratio was observed to be more than 1:40 in 31.8% of the sampled cases and the perception on quality was found to be good at 86.4% of the respondents. The findings recommended adequate funds should be availed for FPE programme to ensure adequate teachers and textbooks to improve quality of education in Kenya Primary schools. Keywords: Free Primary Education (FPE), quality education, teacher-pupil ratio, text book ratio perception, pupil, teacher, head teacher

Social Determinants of Community Policing in Lurambi Sub-County, Kakamega County, Kenya

Community policing brings together the police and the community members through a partnership to prevent crime, control the crime, and solve social problems. There’s a deterioration in the level of trust, coordination and the level of crime is still high in Lurambi Sub-County. This study sought to investigate Social determinants of community policing in Lurambi Sub-County. The specific research objective was to analyze the effect of community characteristics on community policing in Lurambi Sub-County, Kenya.  The study was underpinned by the social capital theory, cognitive dissonance theory, and routine activity theory. Descriptive research design was adopted. The target population was community members in Lurambi Sub-County. The study targeted a sample of 384 community members as primary respondents. Besides, Police Officers and County law enforcement officers involved in community policing participated in the study as key informants. Stratified random sampling was used to select community members, while purposive sampling was used to select informants for the study. Primary data from community members was collected using questionnaires, while interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect secondary data. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach where quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analyzed. Study data were analyzed using the statistical package for the Social Sciences version 27 for windows. Descriptive and inferential statistics were calculated for the quantitative data, while thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data. Results of the study revealed a statistically significant relationship between community characteristics and community policing Lurambi Sub-County (r= 0.519; P<0.05) with a regression coefficient of determination (R2) at 0.233, implying that community characteristics accounted for 23.3% of the variance on community policing. The study findings concluded that community characteristics significantly influenced community policing. The study recommended that community policing actors and stakeholders develop policies that promote trust between the police and community members by cultivating teamwork and shared crime prevention goals since establishing and maintaining mutual trust is the central goal of community policing. Keywords: Social, Determinants, Community Policing DOI: 10.7176/PPAR/12-5-05 Publication date:July 31st 202

The Nexus between the Maasai Culture and the Education of Girls: the Case of Narok North Sub-county, Kenya

Niniejszy artykuł prezentuje badania, które miały na celu ustalenie, w jaki sposób kultura Masajów wpływa na edukację dziewcząt i kobiet w północnym hrabstwie Narok w Kenii. Edukacja jest instrumentem wyzwolenia, dominacji, rozwoju osobistego i wspólnotowego. Kształcenie dziewczynki zapewnia, że korzyści płynące z edukacji są odczuwalne na poziomie rodziny, a nawet przekazywane przyszłym pokoleniom. Mimo że rząd Kenii zrealizował politykę bezpłatnej edukacji podstawowej w 2003 roku i zadeklarował w 2020 roku przejście wszystkich uczniów ze szkoły podstawowej do szkół średnich, to nauka nadal pozostaje mirażem dla niektórych rodzin z północnego okręgu Narok. Dominująca kultura Masajów utrudnia aktualizację edukacji dziewcząt. Niniejsze badanie zostało przeprowadzone z zastosowaniem podejścia etnograficznego. Przeprowadzono również wywiady z różnymi grupami osób za pomocą wywiadów częściowo ustrukturyzowanych. Uzyskane dane poddano analizie tematycznej analizy narracji. Badanie wykazało, że społeczność nie była entuzjastycznie nastawiona do zabierania dziewcząt i kobiet do szkoły. Jeśli chodzi o zapisy do szkół w hrabstwie Narok, niewiele dziewcząt w porównaniu z chłopcami zapisywano do pierwszej klasy, podczas gdy przejście uczniów ze szkół podstawowych do szkół średnich wynosiło nieco ponad 60%. Niniejszy artykuł wskazuje na potrzebę połączenie wysiłków wszystkich interesariuszy w celu zwiększenia wysiłków na rzecz uzyskania wykształcenia. Wśród tych zaleceń jest włączenie Masajów do tego szlachetnego zadania, a także wspieranie programów edukacji dorosłych dla młodych matek i kobiet.This research seeks to establish how the Maasai culture impacts the education of girls and women in Narok North Sub-County, Kenya. Education is the instrument of liberation, domination, personal and communal development. Educating a girl ensures that the benefits of education are felt at the family level and even transmitted to future generations. Even though the Government of Kenya accomplished the free primary education policy in 2003 and went further and declared 100% transition of students from primary education to secondary education level in 2020, learning still remains a mirage for some families of the Narok North Sub-County. The dominant Maasai culture has hindered the actualization of the education of girls. This study was conducted using the ethnographic approach. Various groups of people were also interviewed using semi-structured interviews. The data obtained was analyzed using thematic narrative analysis. The study inferred that the community wasn’t enthusiastic about taking their girls and women to school. On school enrollments within Narok County, few girls, compared to boys, enrolled in grade 1 while the transition of leaners from primary schools to secondary schools stood slightly above 60%. This paper recommends radical combined efforts of all stakeholders as a technique of persuading the community to scale up its efforts on education attainment. Among these recommendations is incorporating the Maasai elders in this noble task and also supporting adult education literacy programs for young mothers and women.Uniwersytet Loránda Eötvösa (Węgry)45346

First evidence for a major cover crop effect on arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic maize growth

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are increasingly used in organic cropping systems to increase yields. Although cover crops are largely used in organic farming, there is little knowledge on the impact of cover crops on native mycorrhizal fungi. Here, we studied the effect of cover crop diversity on mycorrhizal colonization in subsequent organic maize cultivars differing in the level of genetic diversity. Experiments were conducted from 2010 to 2012 in a Mediterranean environment. First Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L. Czern.), hairy vetch (Vicia villosa Roth), a mix of seven cover crop species (Mix), and natural vegetation (Control) were cultivated as winter cover crops. Then, an organically and a conventionally bred maize hybrid and three organically bred composite cross populations were cultivated. Mycorrhizal propagule dynamics were measured. Results at juvenile stage show a higher mycorrhizal colonization in maize plants grown after hairy vetch, of 35.0 %, and Mix cover crops, of 29.4 %, compared to Indian mustard, of 20.9 %, and Control, of 21.3 %. The potential of soil mycorrhization decreased of 56.5 % following Indian mustard, higher than that of other cover crops, of 34.1–47.3 %. This finding could be explained by the release of isothiocyanates in soils. Moreover, maize shoot biomass, nitrogen, and phosphorus content across all maize genotypes at juvenile stage increased with mycorrhizal colonization. These findings provide the first evidence of the greater role played by cover crop identity in the enhancement of early mycorrhizal colonization of the subsequent crop and of soil mycorrhizal activity

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NON-MONETARY WELFARE PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AMONG NON-TEACHING STAFF IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN KENYA

Welfare programs are concerned with the total wellbeing of employees both at work and at home. Non-monetary welfare programs in the workplace are offered by employers in the hope of winning the satisfaction index of an employee and hence increasing employee engagement and commitment, which equally translate to increased productivity, reduced turnover and enhanced employee loyalty. Several experts assert that non-monetary welfare programmes have long lasting effects on employee performance since they are intrinsic in nature. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between non-monetary welfare programmes like safety and health programmes and pension and retirement schemes with employee productivity among the non-teaching staff in institutions of higher learning in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design. The population comprised staff from five private universities in Nairobi County which have been in operation for ten years or more from which a sample of 30% was selected. Data was collected by use semi structured questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics: frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Data was presented using tables and charts. The findings revealed that non-monetary welfare programmes have a significant relationship with performance. The study concludes that provision of employee welfare programs have positive impact on employee performance. The study recommends that organizations should learn and implement welfare programs in order to get the most out of the employees.  Article visualizations

AN EXPLORATORY STUDY OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN NON-MONETARY WELFARE PROGRAMS AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE AMONG NON-TEACHING STAFF IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER LEARNING IN KENYA

Welfare programs are concerned with the total wellbeing of employees both at work and at home. Non-monetary welfare programs in the workplace are offered by employers in the hope of winning the satisfaction index of an employee and hence increasing employee engagement and commitment, which equally translate to increased productivity, reduced turnover and enhanced employee loyalty. Several experts assert that non-monetary welfare programmes have long lasting effects on employee performance since they are intrinsic in nature. The objective of the study was to investigate the relationship between non-monetary welfare programmes like safety and health programmes and pension and retirement schemes with employee productivity among the non-teaching staff in institutions of higher learning in Kenya. The study adopted descriptive research design. The population comprised staff from five private universities in Nairobi County which have been in operation for ten years or more from which a sample of 30% was selected. Data was collected by use semi structured questionnaires. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics: frequency, percentages, mean and standard deviation. Data was presented using tables and charts. The findings revealed that non-monetary welfare programmes have a significant relationship with performance. The study concludes that provision of employee welfare programs have positive impact on employee performance. The study recommends that organizations should learn and implement welfare programs in order to get the most out of the employees.  Article visualizations

Analysis of factors influencing formulation of strategic plans

Abstract The issue of organisational direction for organisations worldwide has generated growing interest in the recent past. As a result, formation of strategic plan by many organisations has attracted growing concerns due to environmental pursuit of organisational growth and survival in the long run. This study explores the link between formulation of school strategic plans with employee motivation, availability of funds, support by top school leadership, government policy and employee knowhow. The paper specifically analyses the factors that influence the formulation of strategic plans in secondary schools in Embu North District, Embu County, Kenya. The study was carried out in 24 public secondary schools in Embu North District, Embu County, Kenya. The following persons were involved; 24 Principals, 24 Chairpersons of Board of Governors and 24 Chairpersons of Parents Teachers Association in all the schools. Data was collected primarily through structured questionnaire and analysed using spearman's rank correlation analysis. The findings at 0.05 significance level indicated that employee motivation, availability of funds, support by top school leadership, government policy and employee skills had a statistical relationship with formulation of strategic plans in public secondary schools in Embu North district

Contrasting effects of cover crops on 'hot spot' arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities in organic tomato

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal (AMF) communities are fundamental in organic cropping systems where they provide essential agro-ecosystem services, improving soil fertility and sustaining crop production. They are affected by agronomic practices, but still, scanty information is available about the role of specific crops, crop rotations and the use of winter cover crops on the AMF community compositions at the field sites. A field experiment was conducted to elucidate the role of diversified cover crops and AMF inoculation on AMF diversity in organic tomato. Tomato, pre-inoculated at nursery with two AMF isolates, was grown following four cover crop treatments: Indian mustard, hairy vetch, a mixture of seven species and a fallow. Tomato root colonization at flowering was more affected by AMF pre-transplant inoculation than by the cover crop treatments. An enormous species richness was found by morphological spore identification: 58 AMF species belonging to 14 genera, with 46 and 53 species retrieved at the end of cover crop cycle and at tomato harvest, respectively. At both sampling times, AMF spore abundance was highest in hairy vetch, but after tomato harvest, AMF species richness and diversity were lower in hairy vetch than in the cover crop mixture and in the mustard treatments. A higher AMF diversity was found at tomato harvest, compared with the end of the cover crop cycle, independent of the cover crop and pre-transplant AMF inoculation. Our findings suggest that seasonal and environmental factors play a major role on AMF abundance and diversity than short-term agronomic practices, including AMF inoculation. The huge AMF diversity is explained by the field history and the Mediterranean environment, where species characteristic of temperate and sub-tropical climates co-occur

Size As a Determinant of Choice of Source of Entrepreneurial Finance for Small and Medium Sized Enterprises in Thika District

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