Accessibility and Usage of School Library Materials and Facilities by Social Studies Teachers in Sapele Metropolis

The study examined the accessibility and usage of school library materials and facilities by Social Studies teachers in Sapele metropolis. One hundred and four (104) social studies teachers were the selected study sample using the purposive sampling method. Two (2) instruments were employed for the gathering of data. They are an observation checklist and a questionnaire. The data gathered were analysed using mean. The study revealed that most library materials and facilities were not accessible. In addition, it was discovered that non-print media were lacking. However, textbooks and print assets and materials were accessible. Also, the study exposed that poor government funding and insufficient financial assets and materials of school libraries had mired teachers’ usage of school library facilities and materials. It was suggested that Libraries funding should be made adequate, library Associations in Nigeria should organise training and development courses for library staff to boost their efficiency in school library operations, relevant and modern books, educational facilities, and materials should be made available and accessible

The Impact of Socio-Cultural Systems on the Growth of Small Family Businesses in Ghana

The role of small and medium enterprises in Ghana cannot be overemphasized.  They provide the bulk of income for people in most of the deprived communities in the country. In rural Ghana, SMEs are the main source of employment, contribute to community and national development, and serve as a basis of entrepreneurial development.  Although statistics on the actual contribution of SMEs to GDP is not readily available, it is assume to contribute significantly to national income. To capture the contribution of small businesses to national output, it is often computed as part of private sector contribution to national output.  In Ghana, most of the small businesses operate as family owned venture.  Two important issues motivated the study. First, few empirical works have been done on family businesses as a breeding ground for some larger companies locally.  Second, the studies in small businesses have been limited to the few firms that are registered with the National Board for Small Scale Industries (NBSSI) and sometimes the Registrar of Companies, leaving out the significant contribution of other small size family businesses that are not registered. The study therefore seeks to determine how socio-cultural systems affect most of the non-registered SMEs’ growth, as well as well as assess their role in poverty alleviation. The survey technique is employed. Questionnaires were administered to 200 purposively selected small businesses from a selected town in the northern, middle and southern parts of Ghana. Analysis is done using descriptive and inferential statistics. It was found that family business growth is influenced by socio-cultural factors. The study suggests the integration of cultures that promote business growth into the management of small businesses in Ghana. Keywords: Socio-Cultural Systems, Growth, Small Family Businesses, Ghan

Discussion of Benefits and Challenges in Implementing Securities Transaction Taxes

This paper examines the views of financial market practitioners and academic researchers on whether or not to impose taxes on security transactions (STTs). The debate on whether to impose such taxes has recently been revived due to the urgent need for all governments both developed and developing to find new sources of income in the face of the unprecedented ongoing financial constraints they face. The paper uses the two main schools of taught one which is favour of STTs and the other which is opposed to such taxes. Those in favour of STTs argue with empirical evidence that such taxes have and could continue to raise substantial tax revenue to the tune of around $10 billion per annum in the US to augment existing tax revenues. They also argue that STTs are necessary weapons in any financial market to curtail the activities of speculators and ‘noise traders’ whose trading activities cause security prices to move away from their intrinsic values by diluting the quality of information revealed by market prices Those who oppose the imposition of STTs also argue that the cost of administering and implementing such taxes could far outweigh the revenue it could raise. They argue that imposing such taxes has the potential to increase the cost of capital for trading, reduce market efficiency and liquidity which could lead to reduction in security prices. They also argue that imposing STTs could affect the prices of various classes of securities differently which could ultimately affect the structure and volume of investment portfolios. The opponents also contend that imposing STTs could move security trading from countries where such taxes are in existence to countries where they non existing using the case of Sweden where in 1984 a 1% security transaction tax led to over 50% movement of trading volume to the London security market Comparing the two views, the authors conclude using the case of bail out strategies adopted by the US and the austerity measures being adopted by some European countries that imposing taxes on security transactions could be counter-productive which could ultimately affect growth that is so critically important to move countries out of recession. By adopting the bail-out strategy, the US is officially out of recession judging by the figures for the third quarter of 2013 released by the US Government, while their European counterparts which adopted the austerity measures are still grappling high unemployment rates and unmet growth targets. In line with the authors’ view, many countries notably India have either reduced their STTs rates or eliminated completely.  Where STTs are still being administered or intended to be administered, the authors’ recommend that for STTs to aid in growth targets, the tax rates should not be more than 0.5% based on empirical evidence otherwise it could lead to higher cost of trading which could affect trading volumes and ultimately reduce tax revenue for which the STTs are supposed to avoid Additionally, developing economies such as Ghana, might have to consider factors such as the size of the security market, the tax rate applicable, capacity of existing tax collection agencies, the capacity of the Securities and Exchange Commission and other related regulatory agencies if such taxes can work. Key words: Securities Transaction Tax, derivatives, stock markets, tax benefits, challenges.  

Lecture method recoil: Effect of formatıve assessment and simulation activities on the learning outcomes of social studies students

Traditionally, teachers use the face-to-face method, but with the improvement of high technology, such as internet and video technology, there is the necessity to embrace innovative and studentcentred instructional methods. Furthermore, in every formal learning, achieving enduring quality in students’ learning outcome depends on well-conceived approaches to assessment that have both simulation and formative functions. For active learning to occur, the teaching style needs to be innovative. The study explored formative assessment and simulation activities effect on Social Studies students’ learning outcome. Quasi-experimental as a qualitative research method was employed. The Social Studies Learning Outcome Test (SSLOT) with 25 test items was the tool/instrument for data gathering with Upper Basic 8 students. The study results established that formative assessment had a significant statistical effect on learning outcome of students; simulation activities had a significant statistical effect on learning outcome of students. The study conclusion was that formative assessment/evaluation and simulation activities would advance students’ learning outcomes if used for social studies instructions/classrooms; if embraced, formative assessment and simulation activities can be successfully utilized within the regular class period to boost the students learning

In Search of a More Effective Strategy: Using simulation Games Instructional Strategy for the Teaching and learning of Social Studies in Secondary School

This study investigated the effect of simulation game instructional strategy on academic performance of students’ in secondary school Social Studies. The quasi-experimental design was employed. Six schools of one hundred and sixteen (116) Upper basic 2 students constituted the study sample. 50-items multiple-choice Social Studies Achievement test (SSAT) was used to collecting data. The SSAT was tested for reliability, and a value of 0.79 was obtained. Means, Standard Deviation, Analysis of Covariance were used to analyse and interpret data obtained. The result of the study showed that simulation games instructional strategy enhanced Social Studies students’ performance; gender did not influence students’ academic performance. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that; simulation games strategy should be used Social Studies teaching but while doing this, no special attention should be attached to the sex orientation of the students concerned; Social Studies educators and curriculum planners should incorporate innovative, problem and activity-based instructional strategy like simulation games instructional strategy in all institutions where teachers are trained

Corporate Social Responsibility and Performance: A Case Study of Mining Companies in Ghana

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become very important in recent years, especially its impact on business operations. Using mining companies in Ghana as a case study, this study investigates the extent to which CSR activities engaged by companies relate to their performance.Content analysis is used in measuring the CSR activities of mining companies in Ghana. The study reveals a positive relationship between return on equity and all the CSR variables(environmental management systems, employee relations and community performance). Net profit margin relates positively with CSR activities such as environmental management system and employee relations whilst return on asset was found to have a positive relationship with only oneemployee relations. Mining companies should be engaged in CSR activities that positively impact on financial performance since this eventually translate into creating value for host communities. Keywords: corporate social responsibility, mining companies, financial performance

INTERNET ACCESS AND USAGE: IMPACT ON STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE IN SOCIAL STUDIES

The study investigated the impact of Internet access and usage on students’ academic performance in Social Studies. The study adopted a correlational research design. The population consisted of 55,303 male and female JSS II students from which 576 students were selected. The instrument for the study was the questionnaire and students’ academic records. The data collected were analysed using correlational statistics. The result of the study revealed that there is significant relationship between internet usage for academic work and students’ academic performance; there is significant relationship between internet access and usage and students’ assignment submission; there was significant relationship between time spent on the internet and students’ academic performance. It was recommended that students should use the internet to enhance their academic performance of which they should restrict themselves from non-academic purposes; teachers should evolve regulations to guide the extent of Internet usage to avert over dependency among students.  Article visualizations

Challenges of Material Resource Management among Social Studies Lecturers in Nigerian Universities

The study is focused on the challenges of material resource management among social studies lecturers in Nigerian Universities. The study population is one thousand eight hundred and fifty five (1855). The sample size comprises one hundred staff, one hundred and twenty students, and forty internal material resource managers were randomly selected from secondary schools in Delta and Bayelsa States. A 20 item questionnaire was drawn for the study. This was validated by experts and a test for reliability was conducted using the test- retest method. With the Pearson product moment correlation coefficient, the reliability test was established at 0.89. The questionnaire was personally administered by the researcher with some research assistants. Two research questions and one hypothesis were formulated for the study. The mean (x) and z-test were used in analyzing the data. The findings show that the appointment of an internal material resource manager is appropriate and that material resource management in schools should not be the sole responsibility of the school administrator. The role of the school administrator differs considerably from the material resource manager. Plausible recommendations were made

Analysis of Risk Management Practices in the Oil and Gas Industry in Ghana. Case Study of Tema Oil Refinery (Tor)

Risk management refers to an interactive process consisting of steps, which when undertaken in sequence, enable continual improvement in decision making. The aim of risk management is to obtain understanding by all parties and agreement around what the risks really are and how they will be managed to improve performance, increase the value of firms and reduce financial distress .We used primary and secondary data in our analysis The study identified risks confronting Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as instability in global oil prices, depreciation of the cedi against major currencies, health and safety, political interference, environmental pollution, brain drain, shortage of crude oil, huge debts as a result of subsidizing of petroleum products by government and default on the part of oil marketing companies to pay for products and  high operational risks .Other challenges as apathy on the part of staff to abide by safety rules was identified. TOR incorporates risk management in their strategic plan and have operations and Audit risk department but have been battling with effective implementation. Made recommendations to government and management of TOR on how to overcome the problems in implementing risk management in order to achieve the goals of the only refinery in Ghana. Keywords: Risk Management Practices, Management and industr

Foreign Students’ Experience in Ghana

The study was to determine foreign students’ experience in Ghanaian tertiary institutions with the primary objectives of empirically; Determining the demographic characteristics of foreign students in Ghana Determining how their overall perception and attitude influence their behavioural intentions. Data was collected from a total of 351 students selected purposely from six tertiary institutions in Ghana using questionnaire. The results of the study indicate that Ghana is an emerging destination for foreign education particularly among African countries. A total 38 different nationalities are pursuing university education in Ghana. The current study shows that feedback from lecturers, quality of teaching access to lecturers and professionalism of support staffs are perceived to be the most important variables influencing foreign students’ satisfaction and that the overall perception and attitude that a foreign student develops towards a host country is a function of the student’s institutional experience and country experience. Overall the students were generally satisfied with the experience in Ghana and in Ghanaian tertiary institutions. Key words: Foreign students, Ghana, institutional experience, country experience, behavioural intention