Achieving Sustainable Universal Primary Education through Debt Relief: The Case of Kenya

primary schooling, universal education

An Assessment of the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Economic Growth: The Case of Kenya

HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa has been closely associated with adverse economic effects, and could thwart the success of poverty reduction initiatives. HIV/AIDS is fast eroding the health benefits, which Kenya gained in the first two decades of independence. The paper explores the different channels through which HIV/AIDS affects economic growth in a low-income country like Kenya. Within this framework, the paper attempts to analyse the impact of HIV/AIDS on Kenya’s economic growth by way of simulations using a macroeconomic model for the Kenyan economy. Some of the key channels explored are the impact of HIV/AIDS on productivity and labour force supply; asset accumulation of human, physical and social capital; and the gender channel.

The Relationships Between the Use of Lesson Plans and Pupils’ Performance in English Language at Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Non Formal Schools in Korogocho, Nairobi, Kenya

The aim of the study was to determine the influence of pedagogical practices on pupil’s performance in English language in Kenya Certificate of Primary Education in Non Formal Schools in Korogocho, Nairobi , Kenya. The objective of the study was to examine the relationship between lesson plans and pupils’ performance in English Language in Kenya Certificate of Education in Non formal schools in Korogocho , Nairobi, Kenya. The study was based on Instructional Theory. Seventy eighty (78) Non formal schools were targeted, 780 pupils, 78 directors and 180 teachers of English. The study employed descriptive research design. Purposive sampling was used to select 23 Non formal schools from which one director was drawn and two teachers of English were obtained. The sample size of the pupils’ were selected using Solvin’s formula . Data collection was by means of questionnaires, focus group discussion and lesson observation guide. Basing on the questionnaires of the objectives of the study , it established the validity of the questionnaires. Data was analyzed using SPSS and Excel programs, Pearson’s Correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship. Data was presented in text , tables, bar and pie charts. The study established that performance in English language was below average. Teachers avoided the use of lesson plans. It was also established that performance was affected by pedagogical practices used by teachers of English. The regression and inferential statistics showed that lesson planning method had significant relationship with performance in English language. This study is expected to provide useful information on instructional methods to be used in schools in Non formal schools. The study concludes by stating that teachers in Non formal primary schools should be exposed to modern methods of teaching. Similar studies should be conducted in other subjects across the primary schools in Non formal schools and a similar study should be conducted in public primary schools. The study further recommends that the Ministry of Education should encourage the use of lesson plans by the teachers of English in primary schools in Kenya as it gives confidence to teachers and help to arouse the interests of learners by involving the children straight away. The study also recommends workshops for teachers and in-service courses for teachers of English to have more knowledge on what to do when teaching young people. Keywords: Examine, Relationship, Lesson Planning, performance

Achieving sustainable universal primary education through debt relief: The case of Kenya

This study critically reviews the education sector in Kenya and the challenges facing the sector in achieving universal primary schooling. The study argues that the introduction of cost-sharing system in Kenya has resulted in high dropout and repetition rates, low transition and completion rates. These problems are exacerbated by the fact that children from poor households, whose parents cannot afford to pay fees, end up dropping out of school. Lack of textbooks has also resulted in poor performance in the national examination. The study also notes that as much as the government is subsidizing education in terms of paying teachers, reduction of debt overhang is important and that debt servicing must be addressed to free resources for social service provision, the case of education. The study argues that much more fiscal resources are being spent on servicing both external and domestic debts than are being spent on education and health. The paper therefore justifies the case for universal primary schooling in Kenya through debt relief. It discusses the key priority areas in education where resources from debt relief could be spent effectively to achieve sustainable universal primary education

English-Swahili Code Switching: An Intersection between Stance and Identity

The current study seeks to answer the questions of how and why bilinguals code switch as this are the essential questions that need to be addressed when looking at linguistic patterns of bilinguals. This study also incorporates stance, as a great tool for analysis of ways in which we can predict motivations for CS in bilinguals. In an endeavor to explain the language patterns in English-Swahili bilinguals in Memphis and Tallahassee Florida in the United States of America. The following study address how and why bilinguals code switch, and how different stance taking measures brings out the speaker identities. The study mainly focuses on the intersection between CS, stance and identity to attempt to give an explanation of CS behavior in bilinguals. Three hours of recorded conversations was used for the study. Subsequent to conversational analysis the study addresses how and why people code switch and kind of stances bilinguals take up to construct their identities. From the study it was found out that bilinguals use situational and metaphorical switching to exhibit how they switch and they switch for purposes of quotations, solidarity and to communicate culturally specific information. On the other hand, further results indicate that CS and stance taking are linguistic practices that enable speakers to construct, reconstruct and negotiate their temporary and permanent identities

Health service utilization patterns by preschool children with autism spectrum disorder compared to those with global developmental delay at a tertiary centre in South Africa

Background Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and those with global developmental delays (GDD) have complex health care needs that span long periods. Affected families in low resourced countries face substantial barriers in accessing care. Challenging behaviours in children with ASDs further complicates their service encounters and may result in forgone care, resulting in poor outcomes. Aim The aim of the study was to compare health service use (HSU) by preschool children with ASD and GDD attending developmental services at a tertiary hospital, and to explore the major factors impacting patterns of access. Methods A retrospective cohort study was done, where 240 children with ASD and GDD (Non -ASD) were enrolled at a ratio of 1:1. HSU was determined by a retrospective review of their medical records, in the preceding 1 year. A structured questionnaire administered sought information on socio-demographics, child characteristics, perspectives, family distress level, experiences, and level of service satisfaction. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis were used to evaluate primary study questions. Ethical approval was obtained by the University of Cape Town Human Research Ethics Committee (HREC: 397/2019). Families gave informed consent prior to enrolment. Results A total of 240 children were enrolled,116 had ASD and 124 had GDD. Their median age was 5.2 years, and male: female ratio was 2:1. Higher co-occurring syndromic diagnoses were documented in GDD vs ASD at (46/124, 37.1% versus 14/116, 9.5%); (p<0.01) as well as higher comorbid diagnoses in GDD vs ASD at (51/124, 41.0% vs 14/116, 12.1%); (p=0.0001). A higher mean total health care visits was reported in those with GDD vs ASD (13.3 versus 11.5 (p=0.02), primarily due to higher specialist visits at 4.0 (2.0-5.5) vs 2.0 (2.0-3.0) (p<0.0001). Attendance for other services were similar in both groups, including therapy 6.0 (2.0-10.0), auxiliary services xiii 0 (0-1.0), emergency visits 1.0 (1.0-2.0), and primary care visits 0 (0-1.0). Respiratory infections (91/240;37.9%) and unspecified fever (57/240; 23.8%) were the leading reasons for emergency visits in this cohort. Hospitalization was higher among children with GDD (38/124, 31%) than ASD (16/116, 14%), p=0.02. Factors associated with higher HSU included primary diagnosis of GDD (p=0.02), female (vs male, average 1.59 more annual visits, p=0.04), being younger at first diagnosis (<2 vs ≥ 2 years, 1.72 more annual visits, p= 0.02), and having a concurrent syndromic diagnosis (vs none, 2.19 more annual visits, p=0.01). On logistic regression, controlling for these confounders, parental employment emerged as the strongest residual predictive factor for increased HSU (β 1.49, 95% CI -0.02 to 3.00, p=0.05). Conclusion: Children with GDD had greater service use than those with ASD, primarily due to higher specialist visits for their higher syndromic and comorbid diagnoses. Core therapy services were underutilized despite being key interventions in both groups. Parental employment, an enabling factor, predicted greater service use. This calls for systemic reduction in access costs to optimize care

The decline in primary school enrolment in Kenya

school attendance;Kenya;economics of education;educational policy;primary education

Dynamics of the sweetpotato potyvirus aphid pathosystem in Louisiana

Sweetpotato potyviruses [Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG) and Sweet potato virus 2 (SPV2)] commonly infect sweetpotato and weedy morning glories in the USA. These viruses are transmitted in a non-persistent manner by various aphid species and cause up to 15% yield loss. Sweetpotato is vegetatively propagated, and in the USA growers are supplied with virus tested propagation material to minimize impact of viruses. However the rapid re-infection of these materials with viruses warranted further studies to determine factors that influence the epidemiology of these viruses. The objectives of this study were: (i) to determine if differences in acquisition hosts, aphid species and infection status influenced transmission of SPFMV; (ii) to determine how aphid abundance, aphid species diversity and virus titers relate to the spread of potyviruses in Louisiana sweetpotato fields; (iii) to determine the effects of virus infection on the population dynamics of aphids on sweetpotato and morning glories; and (iv) to determine the effects of virus infection on stylet penetration behaviors of aphids. SPFMV was transmitted at a greater rate from morning glories which also had greater virus titers compared with sweetpotato and from mixed infection sources than from singly infected sources, and Aphis gossypii was the most efficient vector. Aphids were captured in fields during the entire crop cycle, and A. gossypii and Rhopalosiphum padi, were the most abundant species occurring throughout the growing season. Virus infection of sentinel plants occurred mainly during the months of June to August when virus titers were high in sweetpotato plants. SPFMV was more commonly detected than SPVG or SPV2 in sentinel plants. Myzus persicae had a significantly greater reproduction on sweetpotato cvs. Beauregard and Evangeline with mixed virus infection compared with non-infected plants. Stylet penetration behaviors were variable depending on host and virus infection status. Differences in virus transmission rates depending on host plant, aphid species, virus species and virus titers, and pattern of spread in sweetpotato fields suggest the dissemination of sweetpotato potyviruses is influenced by the source of inoculum, the quantity of inoculum, virus species and aphid species vectors

PLANNING AS A MANAGEMENT FUNCTION AND THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THEMATIC CURRICULUM (ITC) IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN DABANI SUB-COUNTY IN BUSIA DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: The study investigated how planning as a management function affects the implementation of the Thematic Curriculum (ITC) in P/S in Dabani Sub-County, Busia District.  Methodology: The study randomly sampled a population of one hundred and eighty (180) people to form a sample size of one hundred and twenty-three (123) respondents.  Results: 89 (74.2%) of the respondents were male and 31 (25.8%) were female which implies that there were more male teachers than female. There is a strong positive correlation between planning (providing more learning materials) and implementation of a Thematic Curriculum (doing exercises on a blackboard). This can be seen clearly from the correlation significance at 0.01 levels of 0.34 (r=0.34, p&lt;0.01) This means that planning affected the implementation of a thematic curriculum, especially in the provision of teaching and learning materials.  Conclusion: The major conclusion of the study was that planning as a management function affected ITC.  Recommendation:   The recommendations were that the Ministry of Education and Sports in collaboration with District Education Officials should carry out more studies on; the recruitment and deployment of teachers in schools, the teachers' preparations, the teaching and learning process, and then factors that affect the setting of the minimum performance standard and making corrections from deviations in the ITC

An Assessment of the Impact of HIV/AIDS on Economic Growth: The Case of Kenya

HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa has been closely associated with adverse economic effects, and could thwart the success of poverty reduction initiatives. HIV/AIDS is fast eroding the health benefits, which Kenya gained in the first two decades of independence. The paper explores the different channels through which HIV/AIDS affects economic growth in a low-income country like Kenya. Within this framework, the paper attempts to analyse the impact of HIV/AIDS on Kenya's economic growth by way of simulations using a macroeconomic model for the Kenyan economy. Some of the key channels explored are the impact of HIV/AIDS on productivity and labour force supply; asset accumulation of human, physical and social capital; and the gender channel