Exploring tutors’ pedagogical practices in the teaching and learning of mathematics education: a case of three primary teachers’ colleges in Eastern Uganda.

The major purpose of this study was to explore tutors pedagogical practices in the teaching and learning of mathematics education in primary teachers colleges in Uganda. This study employed qualitative research approach. That being the case, Qualitative approach was based upon the interpretive constructivist underpinnings whose aim was to explain the phenomenon from the subjective reasoning based on participants’ opinions, realities, meanings, attitudes, and motivations that lie behind their social behaviour. This study used case study research design. A total of twelve (12) respondents participated in this study. These included six (6) Mathematics Tutors and six (6) Student teachers. Tutors were selected using purposive sampling technique also known as judgemental sampling and Pre-service students were selected using Convenience sampling. The study used face to face semi structured interviews and observation strategies for data collection. Data was collected using semi structured Interview guide and observation guide. From this study it was revealed that Tutors engage student teachers during the teaching and learning of mathematics through giving them a chance to respond to questions, through material production among others. They assess students through asking them oral questions projects and presentations. Finally, tutors provide feedback to student teachers verbally and sometimes in written form for example after marking their work. Upon thorough examination of the findings, the researcher discovered certain gaps and consequently, put forward the subsequent recommendations. Similar study should be done to cover a range of colleges to give a wider national picture for the best comparison on the extent to which pedagogical practices applied by tutors in Uganda influence the quality of prospective teachers in the teaching and learning of mathematics education. To enrich this study, another research can be conducted on integration of Information Communication and Technology (ICT) in acquisition of appropriate pedagogical practices by prospective teachers in the teaching and learning of mathematics

Exploring factors that affect the teaching and learning of woodwork and carpentry in Form V involving pre-vocational students at a high school Swaziland : an ethnographic case-study.

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.This study sought to explore factors that affect the teaching and learning of Woodwork and Carpentry as a pre-vocational subject involving Form V students at a selected rural high school in Swaziland. The researcher adopted a qualitative approach and employed an ethnographic single case study design. The theory of classroom teaching as developed by Mitzel (1969) guided this study. The location of the study was a rural high school offering pre-vocational subjects. Purposive sampling was used to select one rural high school, selected educators, and eleven Form V participants. Semi-structured interviews, a focus group discussion, observations and document analysis were used to collect the data that were thematically analyzed. The results showed that various factors negatively affected the teaching and learning of Woodwork and Carpentry such as a lack of adequate teaching and learning resources, inadequately qualified teachers, a lack of proper infrastructure, poor and limited funding, poor parental/guardian cooperation, and limited industrial participation and government support to sustain adequate educational outcomes for this subject. Based on the findings, it is recommended that a strategy to forge partnerships with private and public concerns be established to improve funding for the Woodwork and Carpentry subject. Moreover, industrial attachments that involve both teachers and students should be considered; sufficient instructional resources such as consumable materials, reference books, tools and machinery should be provided; and appropriately qualified teachers should be employed. Finally, the teaching and learning of this subject should be supervised and monitored by qualified officials on a regular basis. Key Words: Woodwork and Carpentry, TVET, pre-vocational subject, teaching and learning

A clinical assessment of the consequences of alcohol consumption in ‘communal’ drinkers in the Zimbabwean Midlands

A clinical study of the implications of alcohol consumption among Zimbabwe's rural imbibers admitted at health facilities due to alcohol abuse.It is true, a medical history is incomplete without inquiring into the history of alcohol intake. The range of medical diseases associated with excessive alcohol consumption are well known. There are also several established screening instruments for identification of those with harmful or hazardous drinking habits who are at risk of developing physical, medical and social problems. The amount of alcohol consumed can be measured fairly accurately in grams of absolute alcohol when a known quantity of an alcoholic beverage of known concentration is drunk. For instance a half-pint (290 mls) of ordinary beer or a glass of wine or a single measure of whisky (known as a unit of alcohol or one standard drink) contains approximately 10 g of absolute alcohol.5 A daily alcohol consumption of 20-40 g is known to be a risk factor contributing to accidents, injuries and chronic health problems

Drivers of International Migration in Zimbabwe

This paper sought to establish the major drivers of international migration by Zimbabwe citizens, emphasising on different reasons which stimulate most citizens to move to different parts of the world. Qualitative data was captured through desktop research, interviews and Focused Group Discussions with immigrants already in the diaspora and those that were actively seeking avenues to leave the country through application of visas and conducting of interviews with respective embassies. The paper reviews that the major drivers of international migration from Zimbabwe are divided into four groups namely predisposing factors, proximate factors, precipitating factors and mediating factors coupled with the social, economic, political, religious and environmental circumstances bedevilling the country. on. Keywords: international migration, diaspora, focused group discussions. DOI: 10.7176/RHSS/10-24-11 Publication date: December 31st 202

EFFECTS OF HUMAN RESOURCE PRACTICES ON TALENT MANAGEMENT IN PRIVATE TEACHER TRAINING COLLEGES IN BUNGOMA DISTRICT, KENYA.

The study assessed the effects of human resource practices on talent management in private teacher training colleges in Bungoma district. The study was guided by the following objectives: the effects of remuneration of workers on talent management in the private teacher training colleges; the effect of training and career development on talent management in private teacher training colleges; How working conditions and terms of service affect talent management in private teacher training colleges in Bungoma district;and the effect of employee welfare and services on talent management in private teacher training colleges in Bungoma district. The research findings are useful in improving employer’s chances of selecting employees who are committed to the organization. The study used descriptive research design and in particular the ex -post facto research design. Through this method, the researcher did not have direct control of the independent variables because their manifestation had already occurred or because they were inherent and not manipulative. The target population comprised principals, administrators and tutors in private teacher training colleges in Bungoma district. The district has 10 private teacher training colleges with 150 teachers, 10 principals and 40 administrators. A sample size of 40% of the target population was considered. Questionnaires and interviews were used as the main data collection methods. Secondary data was used to obtain information on specific issues from the district education officer, and quality and standard assurance officer. Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics in form of frequency distribution tables, percentages and pie charts. SPSS was used to process the data and present it in the right format

Control Activities and Financial Accountability in South Nyanza County Governments in Kenya

This study was about control activities and financial accountability in South Nyanza County Governments, Kenya. County governments in Kenya has been beset by a number of challenges; lack of both budget estimates and implementation document; there is no documentation against which accountability can be gauged. The objectives of the study were to examine the relationship between control activities and value for money, transparency and financial reporting. The study adopted descriptive cross sectional and correlational designs with both quantitative and qualitative approaches. From a total population of 2066 a sample size of 335 respondents was obtained using Slovene’s formula. Data were collected using self administered questionnaires and in depth interviews. Quantitative data was analyzed using Means and standard deviations, Pearson linear correlation coefficient and regression analysis. Qualitative data analysis was done using narrative and thematic analysis. The results indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between control activities and value for money(r=0.446, p=0.00), transparency(r=0.479, p=0.00.) and financial reporting(r=0.547, p=0.00).The contribution of value for money, transparency and financial reporting was 34.7% (R2=0.347). The model was significant (F=147.934, p=0.00). The study concluded that there is relationship between control activities and value for money, transparency and financial reporting. The study recommends that the management of the counties should consider control activities, value for money, transparency and financial reporting very important in order to achieve the objectives of financial accountability. Keywords: Control Activities, Value for Money, Transparency and Financial Reporting DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/11-6-04 Publication date:March 31st 202

Engaging youth in policy processes on agriculture and agribusiness

The recent CTA workshop on ‘facilitating next-generation ACP agriculture through youth entrepreneurship, job creation and digitalisation’ identified seven critical success factors for successful rural entrepreneurship and job creation: access by youth to investment and finance, scalable approaches and models that can be taken up, enabling policy environments for youth, agriculture that is attractive to youth, access by youth to markets, business models that work, and access to a pool of appropriate skills, capacities and knowledge and ways to grow these

Rock mounds as rock oyster (Saccostrea cucullata von Born, 1778) bed in an intertidal zone

Rock oyster (Saccostrea cucullata) or “sisi” are mostly gleaned from natural beds usually in a distant island. This limits the access and put gleaners, mostly women to risks. There is high demand of rock oyster and supply from the wild is not enough. There are various methods that have been tested to improve supply of raw materials however there have been no success. The paper explored the use of rock mounds as oyster bed in the intertidal zone of Catbalogan City. The peak of spawning in the rock mounds occurred in May. The length-width measurements were ranging from L=1.50-5.99 and W=1.0-5.49 cm, respectively; with mean L = 3.815cm; mean W=3.003cm. With a total surface area of 322.85 m², it produced a biomass at ~ 38.243kgs. Dominance and diversity indices were determined from a total of 62 quadrat samples. Overall mean of rock oyster settlements was at 328.2/m² with 99% relative abundance from a total of 20,546 individual samples, rock mounds were considered as effective growing cultch. The results also showed that it created relatively new biotic community, but Shannon diversity index (H’) ~0.071, and evenness index (e) ~0.028, showed <1.0, low value of indices of the community structure. Rock mounds are proven to be a better alternative in rock oyster farming. It was also found out that it also acted as coastal protection structure, serving as a breakwater

In silico peptide-directed ligand design complements experimental peptide-directed binding for protein–protein interaction modulator discovery

Using the protein–protein interaction of Mcl-1/Noxa, two methods for efficient modulator discovery are directly compared. In silico peptide-directed ligand design is evaluated against experimental peptide-directed binding, allowing for the discovery of two new inhibitors of Mcl-1/Noxa with cellular activity. In silico peptide-directed ligand design demonstrates an in vitro hit rate of 80% (IC50 < 100 μM). The two rapid and efficient methods demonstrate complementary features for protein–protein interaction modulator discovery