UMA ANÁLISE CRÍTICA DAS DIFERENÇAS DE GÊNERO NA IDEAÇÃO E TENTATIVAS DE SUICÍDIO ENTRE ESTUDANTES SECUNDÁRIOS NO CONDADO DE MURANGA, QUÊNIA

The contemporary society is characterized by several problems among students in the secondary schools. Some may be psychosocial leading to suicide ideation and attempts. This study sought to assess the psychosocial factors in public secondary schools in Murang’a County. The objectives of the study were to explore the gender differences on suicide ideation and attempts among learners in public secondary school students in Murang’a County, Kenya. This study was guided by the psychosocial theory by Eric Erickson, Interpersonal theory by Thomas Jioner and Psychological theory by Edwin Scheidman. This was a mixed methodology study, whose design was survey and ex- posto facto for quantitative research while phenomenology was for qualitative research for the purpose of data triangulation.  The target population comprised of the 5940 students, 116 Guidance and Counseling teachers, 289 class teachers and 8 sub county educational officers, parents and suicide attempters. Overall, the sampled respondents were 642 covering all the categories of the study comprising 560 students using cluster sampling, suicide attempters and parents using snowballing, 56 class teachers, 8 sub county educational officers and 28 Guidance and Counseling teachers were sampled using purposive sampling. The data collection instruments comprised of questionnaires for the students, interview guide for Guidance and Counseling teachers, Sub County Educational Officers, interview guide for parents and suicide attempters and focused group discussions for the teachers. The collected data was analyzed using thematic analysis for qualitative data while quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics like frequency tables and the regression model. The findings established and concluded that personality traits, family history, school set-up and society setting had significant contribution to the frequency of suicide ideation and attempts in Murang’a County, Kenya. The study established that while girls attempt suicide more, it is the boys who die more since they use lethal means. The study recommended the empowerment of the students both boys and girls on positive self-esteem and confidence by the teachers, the use of various psychological therapies to deal with personality disorders by the guidance and counseling teachers.A sociedade contemporânea é caracterizada por vários problemas entre os alunos das escolas secundárias. Alguns podem ser psicossociais que levam a ideações e tentativas de suicídio. Este estudo procurou avaliar os fatores psicossociais nas escolas secundárias públicas do Condado de Murang'a. Os objetivos do estudo eram explorar as diferenças de gênero na ideação e tentativas de suicídio entre alunos de escolas secundárias públicas do condado de Murang'a, Quênia. Este estudo foi orientado pela teoria psicossocial de Eric Erickson, pela teoria interpessoal de Thomas Jioner e pela teoria psicológica de Edwin Scheidman. Este foi um estudo de metodologia mista, cujo desenho era de pesquisa quantitativa e ex post facto, enquanto a fenomenologia era de pesquisa qualitativa para fins de triangulação de dados.  A população alvo era composta de 5940 alunos, 116 professores de Orientação e Aconselhamento, 289 professores de classe e 8 funcionários de educação do sub-condado, pais e tentativas de suicídio. No total, os entrevistados amostrados foram 642, cobrindo todas as categorias do estudo, compreendendo 560 alunos usando amostragem de grupo, tentativas de suicídio e pais usando bola de neve, 56 professores de classe, 8 diretores educacionais do sub condado e 28 professores de Orientação e Aconselhamento foram amostrados usando amostragem proposital. Os instrumentos de coleta de dados compreendiam questionários para os alunos, guia de entrevistas para os professores de Orientação e Aconselhamento, oficiais educacionais do sub condado, guia de entrevistas para pais e tentativas de suicídio e discussões de grupo focalizadas para os professores. Os dados coletados foram analisados usando análise temática para dados qualitativos enquanto os dados quantitativos foram analisados usando estatísticas descritivas e inferenciais como tabelas de frequência e o modelo de regressão. Os resultados estabeleceram e concluíram que os traços de personalidade, história da família, estrutura escolar e ambiente social tiveram contribuição significativa para a frequência de tentativas e ideações suicidas no condado de Murang'a, Quênia. O estudo estabeleceu que enquanto as meninas tentam mais o suicídio, são os meninos que morrem mais, uma vez que usam meios letais. O estudo recomendou a capacitação dos estudantes, tanto de meninos quanto de meninas, sobre a auto-estima positiva e a confiança dos professores, o uso de várias terapias psicológicas para lidar com distúrbios de personalidade por parte dos professores de orientação e aconselhamento

The Influence of Parental Ownership Strategies on the Management of Academic Performance in Secondary Schools in Imenti South Sub-County, Meru County, Kenya

Purpose: The study examined the influence of parental ownership on the management of academic performance in Imenti South Sub County, Meru County, Kenya. Approach/Methodology/Design: The study adopted a mixed methodology approach and concurrent triangulation design. The target population of the study was a total of 17568 respondents consisting of 16800 students, 48 principals, and 720 teachers. The researcher used stratified sampling to get the 8 principals and purposive sampling to get 720 teachers and 64 students. The researcher used questionnaires and interview schedules to collect data from principals, teachers, and students. Piloting of the research instruments was done in10% of the sample size in the neighboring Igembe Sub-County. Validity was measured by face and content validity, while the reliability of research instruments was checked through test and retest method. The reliability coefficient was computed using the Pearson Product correlation coefficient where a coefficient of less than 0.07 was deemed dependable. Qualitative data was analyzed using themes and presented using narratives, while quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 21. Findings: The results indicate that students were not performing well in their academic performance is because many parents are not involved. The study, therefore, recommended that with increased parental engagement through volunteering, ownership, guidance and support, the learners would perform better. Originality/value: This study has significant value in the sense that if the parents own the schools where their children study, then the academic performance would improve, and at the same time, there would be greater discipline among the learners

INFLUENCE OF PRINCIPAL LEADERSHIP VALUES ON THE MANAGEMENT OF TRANSITION RATES FROM PRIMARY TO SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN KAHURO SUB-COUNTY, MURANGA COUNTY, KENYA

The introduction of free and compulsory secondary education popularly known as 100% transition rate has met many schools unprepared. This has led to many principals facing various leadership challenges such as poor state of physical facilities; inadequate learning and teaching resources; inability to repair or provide learning furniture; inadequate trained teachers and high teacher turnover, low teacher student ration, and lack of supporting services. The study sought to examine the influence of principals’ leadership values on the management of transition rate in Kahuro Sub-County, Murang’a County, Kenya. The study was be guided by the System Theory of von Ludwig (1968) and Situation Leadership Theory as explained by Dr. Paul Hersey and Ken Blanchard. The researcher used mixed methodology approach and convergent parallel design. The study targeted 505 respondents comprised of 42 principals, 42 deputy principals, 420 BOM members and one Education Officer in the Sub-County. The researcher used purposive sampling method to sample 127 respondents comprised of 42 Principals, 42 Deputy Principals, 42 BOM Chairmen and the one Education Officer. The study used questionnaires for teachers and interview guides for the Principals, BOM Chairmen and Educational officer to collect data. To ensure reliability, validity, dependability and credibility, a pilot study was conducted in 10% sample size in Kigumo Sub-County. Reliability of the instrument was determined through split-half technique where, if the correlation coefficient (r 0.78 was obtained indicating that instrument was reliable. Content validity through supervisors and expert judgment was done to evaluate clearness of the questions in the research tools. Credibility and dependability were demonstrated through an audit trail, examining the documentation of data, methods, decisions and end product. Quantitative data in the questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics while qualitative data obtained from interview guides was analyzed using thematic data analysis. Frequency tables, graphs and pie charts and correlation coefficient statistics was used to present the quantitative data. The qualitative data was presented in form of narratives. The study showed that some schools had large classes, beyond the recommended ratio of 40:1. This could be attributed to the introduction of subsidized public secondary education program. The free schooling enabled those who could not afford education to attend school, increasing enrollments in schools. The study concluded that the curriculum could not be implemented effectively, hence low academic achievement among the learners, prequisite for increased indiscipline in schools which will call for principals in schools to improve their leadership values in order to manage the transition effectively.  Article visualizations

An Assessment of Capital Structure Decisions by Small and Medium Enterprises in Kenya

Many theories and empirical research that explain the determinants of capital structure, originated in the developed economies. These studies focus on large firms that issue complex financial securities for both debt and equity. Very little research has been carried out to establish the determinants of capital structure in emerging and the less developed countries. This research was done to establish whether the determinants of capital structure identified in the developed world are the same determinants of capital structures of Small and Medium Enterprises in developing countries. The study establishes that age, profitability, size, growth opportunities and tangible assets of the business greatly determine the leverage of the business. The study’s significance lies in the provision of newevidence on the determinants of capital structure of small and medium enterprises in developing countries with a special focus on Kenyan firms. Keywords: Capital structure, Small and Medium Enterprises, Kenya

Effectiveness of Voluntary Counseelling and Testing in the Fight against HIV/AIDS among the Youth: A Case Study of Thika District

Despite many initiatives to combat HIV/AIDS many youth continue to die and the number of orphans continue to increase. The old are taking care of the youth while in reality they are the ones who should be taken care of. The youth perceive themselves at no risk of HIV/AIDS. They believe that they will not be harmed; they do not imagine that they will come into contact with someone infected with the virus. They view HIV/AIDS as someone else disease like of the gay men and drug users. It is unfortunate that very few youth seek VCT services. This study then is timely as it seeks to find out why the youth do not visit the VCT centers, how effective are the current VCT centers and what needs to be done to make them more effective. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n5p24

Impact of Information Security Policies on Computer Security Breach Incidences in Kenyan Public Universities

The aim of this study was to investigate the Impact of Information Security Policies on Computer Security Beach incidences in Kenyan public universities. Information security policies are designed to safeguard network resources from security breaches.  The study utilized a questionnaire to collect primary data from Information Technology (IT) personnel in public universities with regard to their perceptions of how information security policies affect computer security breach incidents. A simple random sampling was used to identify 200 IT employees from public universities in Kenya. Pearson correlation analysis was used to study the relationships between the variables. Independent t-tests (2-tailed) and ANOVA test were used to determine the level of significance. According to the results of the study, there is a weak relationship between information security policies and security breaches. The study hopes to add to the body of academic knowledge in the public educational institutions in Kenya where information repository is a resource. Keywords: Information Security Policies, Security Breach Incidences, Kenyan Public Universitie

The Effect of Automation on Stock Market Efficiency: A Case of Nairobi Securities Exchange

The automation of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) in 2006 was expected as one of its objectives to improve market efficiency. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of automation on market efficiency. This study investigated the effect of the automation on market efficiency of the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) using monthly market returns from the closing NSE 20-Share index and monthly closing equity price list from 2002 to 2012. Two study periods were considered pre-automation period (January 2002 to June 2006) and post-automation period (July 2008 to December 2012). The study adopted a longitudinal research design. The firms considered were listed and had data spanning the study period. The study used secondary data in its analysis. The discussion of the effect of automation on security markets efficiency is very scanty in the literature, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. The findings from the study will be useful to advancing knowledge in the literature on the effect of automation on security markets efficiency. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the study. The results indicate that the introduction of the ATS had no statistically significant effect on market efficiency at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Overall, the results indicate that automation had not yielded the anticipated benefits in improving efficiency of the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Keywords: Nairobi security exchange, NSE share index, market automation, market efficienc

TEACHER QUALIFICATION AND STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT GAINS IN KISII, KENYA: A MULTILEVEL ANALYSIS

The study investigated the effects of teacher professional qualifications (measured by teacher educational level and experience) on student science achievement gains in both low and high performing public secondary schools in Kenya. The study utilized highest education level of teachers in general and also in Chemistry as well as experience of teaching chemistry in general and also at an examination grade. Two level Hierarchical linear modelling was used with a Value added approach to analyze data from 2000 grade 12 students and 200 teachers from 60 public secondary schools in two Counties in Kenya. The study found out that teachers with advanced degrees in Chemistry positively and significantly predicted student achievement gains than those with advanced degrees in any subject major. With respect to experience, years of teaching at any grade level did not significantly predict student chemistry achievement while higher grade 12 experience positively and significantly predicted student chemistry gains. Conversely, novice teachers with few years of teaching but with higher grade 12 years of teaching coupled with teacher professional development positively influenced student achievement gains.  Article visualizations

The B Movement in East Africa: A shift in the culture of business

There is a culture shift underway to harness the power of business to help address society’s greatest challenges. B Lab East Africa and its network of global partner organisations are uniquely positioned to accelerate this culture shift and ensure it is both meaningful and lasting. We use an integrated approach to systemic change by: (1) building a global community of thousands of credible leaders, Certified B Corporations (B Corps), that meet the highest standards of performance, accountability and transparency, (2) creating pathways that drive millions of businesses to follow these leaders in managing their impact with as much rigour as their profits, and aligning their interests with those of society and (3) inspiring billions to support business as a force for good. B Lab East Africa is engaging with hundreds of African businesses, large and small, as well as investors in assessing, comparing and improving their social and environmental impact. To align their strategies with impact, businesses need to understand where they stand against their perceived impact, how they compare to their peers and how they might improve. To do so, the B Impact Assessment (BIA) offers measurable ways that companies can have a positive impact. It offers step-by-step guidance to assess business practices and tools to make positive changes. By actively measuring their impact, leveraging resource to improve impact and engaging with all stakeholders on impact, we believe this will lead to a more shared and durable prosperity for all

Foreign Exchange Risk Hedging, Corporate Governance and Financial Performance: Evidence From Kenya

Globalization, Kenya’s floating foreign exchange rate regime, and international trade have exposed Kenyan firms to foreign exchange risk. Empirical studies have demonstrated that hedging minimizes cash flow volatility, hence enhancing financial performance.  The management of these risks is critical in overall financial management, since its helps increase the financial performance and the overall returns earned by investors. Understanding factors that influence foreign exchange risks hedging is a crucial step to the effectiveness of the overall risk management process. Against this background, this study sought to evaluate the effects of foreign exchange risk hedging, corporate governance and the financial performance of listed companies in Kenya. The target population constituted all the 54 firms that were continuously listed on the Nairobi Securities Exchange during the study period, from 2011 to 2016. The study used longitudinal research design. Secondary data was obtained from financial statements of the listed firms. The data was coded and analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics—correlation and regression—with the aid of STATA software. The feasible generalised least square model was used to test the hypotheses. The results show currency hedging has a positive effect on financial performance.  The study also revealed that corporate governance, moderates the relationship between foreign exchange risk hedging and financial performance. In the light of this findings, management should explore the whole repertoire of risk amelioration techniques, particularly those available in the roster of innovative techniques of hedging. In order to take full advantage of such techniques, however, the regulator and the securities exchange must lead from the front by introducing cutting-edge financial instruments. In addition firms should endeavor to strengthen corporate governance which enhances the effectiveness of risk management. Keywords: Foreign Exchange risk, Hedging Techniques, Corporate Governance. DOI: 10.7176/RJFA/10-5-08 Publication date:March 31st 201