CHALLENGES IN THE SUPPLY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE TVET INSTITUTIONS IN NYANZA REGION, KENYA

The supply of TVET education refers to the amount of education that the stakeholders are willing to supply to its people. The relevance of the supply of TVET education must transform into labour market, which enables people, to renew old skills and develop new ones. The supply of TVET education has been increasing rapidly in relation to meagre resources. The enrollment has been doubling in every five years which is the fastest rate of increase in the world. This has been prompted by the economic growth in respective African countries which needs TVET education. The question is: what are the challenges facing this sector in terms of infrastructure, teachers, students and programmes? The study adopted a descriptive research survey paradigm and the theoretical perspectives are guided by the law of supply of education. The results of the study show that the supply of infrastructure, teachers, students and programmes is inadequate. For example, the adequacy of the training facilities has a mean of 3.175 and a standard deviation of 1.022 also the average score of the respondents’ views on the adequacy of teachers in the departments have a mean of 2.93 and a standard deviation of 1.334 while there is an upward trend in the supply of students. The main challenges were: Inability to pay college fees; Poor entry behavior; Market demand; Negative attitude; Inadequate training facilities; Inadequate teaching staff. The study concluded that the supply of science and technology education in Nyanza region of Kenya remains a serious challenge. The study recommended that all stakeholders should increase their participation in marketing the supply of TVET programs for the benefit of the local communities.  Article visualizations

CHALLENGES OF THE INTERNAL EFFICIENCY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY EDUCATION TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE TVET INSTITUTIONS IN NYANZA REGION, KENYA

Globally technical training institutions have been established to promote quality academic and technical-oriented programs. This study was motivated by persistent low enrolment in most TVET programs despite reforms being undertaken by the government to support TVET. The purpose of the study was to analyze the challenges facing leaner’s demand for the science and technology courses in Nyanza Region. The results show that the average teaching workload in the TVET institutions is high at 24 hours per week against the recommended 15hour per week and this has compromised the quality and internal efficiency. The highest teacher/ student ratio was 1:50. This indicated that teachers were overburdened in most cases. In terms of dropout rate; 187 (52.8%) students consider the inability to pay college fees and low entry behavior as the most common challenge causing students to drop out of their training programs in the TVET institutions; more than three-quarters of the training programs have shown moderate average pass-rate and above for the last seven years (2010 to 2016) under study, the highest average pass-rate of 69.0876% was attained by the Institutional Management; with Building and Civil Engineering with an average pass-rate of 54.9487%, Automotive Engineering with an average pass-rate of 42.0523%, Electrical and Electronics Engineering with an average pass-rate of 41.2465% and Mechanical Engineering with the lowest average pass-rate of 33.9714%. Factors affecting academic performance included inadequate teaching staff, inadequate training facilities; low entry behavior. Strategies to improve internal efficiency included hiring more staff and the use of HELB to finance education programmes. The study concluded that there exists inefficiency in the TVET sector and recommends that the government should provide additional resources to the TVET sector.  Article visualizations

Growth rate of African catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) and plankton diversity in ponds under organic and inorganic fertilization

Aquaculture offers the opportunity for safeguarding local and global food security in the face of declining capture fisheries. However, the form of aquaculture that is commonly practised in Kenya is characterized by the use of agrochemicals such as fertilizers that negatively impact biodiversity especially when effluents from fish ponds drain into water bodies. This study aimed to determine differences in growth rate of Clarias gariepinus, an important aquaculture fish in Kenya, to assess plankton diversity, and to identify phytoplankton species associated with pollution under organic and inorganic fertilization regimens using chicken manure, Diammonium phosphate and urea, respectively. Average growth rate calculated per day was higher in the organically-fertilized ponds at 0.06 cm/day, followed by inorganically-fertilized ponds at 0.05cm/day and then, the control at 0.04 cm/day. Average weight gain was higher in organically-fertilized ponds at 0.08 g/day followed by ponds fertilized with inorganic fertilizer at 0.07 g/day and the control, at 0.06g/day. There were significant differences in growth rate across fertilization regimens (length: F2, 264 = 24.06, p = 0.0399; weight: F2, 264 = 20.89, p = 0. 0457). Specifically, although differences in growth rate of fish in organically and inorganically fertilized ponds were not significant, fish in fertilized ponds were on average, longer and weighed more than those in the control pond. Jaccard’s similarity index for phytoplankton was highest (0.38) between organically fertilized ponds and control but lowest (0.25) between inorganically-fertilized ponds and control. Use of chicken manure produced the highest diversity of zooplankton (Shannon-Weiner’s H in organically-fertilized pond = 1.886; inorganic = 1.044, and control = 0.935). The use of DAP and urea produced the highest proportion of phytoplankton species associated with pollution. These results do not support the commonly reported notion that ponds fertilized using inorganic fertilizers are more productive. Findings suggest that the use of inorganic fertilizers may threaten biodiversity in aquatic ecosystems through the production of toxic algae

Effect of wheat bran supplementation with fresh and composted agricultural wastes on the growth of Kenyan native wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]

Nutrient supplements and agricultural wastes used for mushroom cultivation are important in improving establishment and production of mushrooms. Agricultural wastes such as sawdust, grass, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw and maize cobs have successfully been used for the production of Kenyan wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]. However, the effect of varying concentrations of wheat bran supplements on their productivity has not been fully researched. In this study, fresh and composted agricultural wastes were supplemented with wheat bran at concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 20%. The cultivation experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Data was collected on days to spawn run, days to primordial initiation, primordial concentration quality and biological efficiency. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version 9.1. Mean separation was done using least significant difference (LSD) and effects were declared significant at 5% level.Keywords: Wood ear mushrooms, fresh and composted agricultural wastes, wheat bran, KenyaAfrican Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(19), pp. 2692-269

The economic implications of trade policy reform in South Africa for the automotive industry in the Eastern Cape Province

South Africa is no longer a pariah state and has been fully integrated into the global family of nations. With the country’s accession to multilateral agreements like the World Trade Organization (WTO), there has been pressure on the government to abandon its hitherto protectionist trade regime in favour of free and fair trade. Trade liberalisation has had profound implications for the country’s manufacturing sector in general, and the automotive industry in particular, which has seen tariff protection radically slashed and import restrictions greatly eased. Not only has the market share of domestic producers fallen, but increases in exports have to date not matched those of imports. As a result there has been a deterioration in the sector’s balance of trade and a reduction in employment levels, at a time when the country desperately needs to create new jobs. Recent developments, however, suggest that this scenario may be set to change. The thesis applies orthodox neoclassical and heterodox approaches to trade policy to an assessment of the likely economic impact of trade liberalisation on the automotive industry in the Eastern Cape, and by extension nationally. The thesis argues that reliance on orthodox trade theory to inform the direction of trade policy, especially in a developing country context, is unlikely to bring about an adequate increase in the level of exports and employment. This is because liberalisation of the import regime is likely to increase import levels without necessarily stimulating export levels, a scenario which serves to negate the presupposed benefits of liberalisation. The study uses information from surveys conducted on both motor vehicle assemblers and component manufacturing firms to investigate the effect of trade liberalisation on the sector in the Province and finds that, by and large, the motor assemblers have not fared as badly as expected and have in fact positioned themselves to export more vehicles and components. The components sector has had to contend with increased competition from cheaper imports. The thesis, while acknowledging that, as far as possible, free trade is an optimal position, nonetheless argues that governments still have an important role to play in the promotion of industrialisation. The scope of government intervention should, however, be limited to selective interventions which are aimed at counteracting market failure and facilitating innovation and the diffusion of technological know-how. The thesis argues that institution of supply side measures, such as the encouragement of research and development (R&D), skills development and industrial training, is necessary for sustained growth in the manufacturing sector to be realised. The thesis also finds that, contrary to expectations, the liberalisation of the automotive sector has not had the desired effects. Despite an increase in the value of automotive exports and an overall trend towards reduced net foreign exchange usage, employment levels are on the decline. The thesis also finds that without major export initiatives by both motor vehicle assemblers and component manufacturers, the future of the industry will be placed in jeopardy, especially with reduced protection and incentives

Socio-Demographic Characteristics Associated with Self-Induced Abortion with Misoprostol in Uasin Gishu County

oai:ojs2.hizarticles.com:article/2BackgroundThere are attempts to increase community access to misoprostol in Kenya. However, several factors may hinder such health-seeking behaviour. And to date, there are no documented evidence examining individual-level factors that may influence self-administration of the drug in Uasin Gishu County or any other part of Kenya. ObjectiveThis study examined the socio-demographic characteristics associated with self-induced abortion with misoprostol among women presenting themselves with abortion-related complications in public health facilities in Uasin Gishu County in Kenya. Material and MethodsFrom the sample, the study identified women who had induced their pregnancy with misoprostol. The association between self-induced abortion and the socio-demographic variables was then analysed using the Pearson Chi-square test. Significant variables were subjected to regression analysis after controlling for confounding. Odds Ratio (OR) with confidence interval(CI) was used where possible to ascertain the extent of the association. ResultsThe prevalence of self-induced abortion with misoprostol in the County was 25.6% (137). Women who had not completed primary school were .292 times more likely to self-induce their pregnancy with misoprostol, (OR, .292; 95% CI = .10, .83; p = 0.021)

Rational homotopy type of the component of inclusion in the nthspace of continuous mappings from Gr (k, n) to Gr(k, n + 1)

Paper presented at the 4th Strathmore International Mathematics Conference (SIMC 2017), 19 - 23 June 2017, Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya.A complex manifold can be embedded in some complex projective space CP (N ), in particular, the Grassmann manifold Gr(n, k) of k dimensional subspaces in Cn can bembedded in some complex projective space CP (N ).Moreover G(k, n) ‹→ G(k, n + 1). For k = 1, we get a one dimensional vector space which is the complex projective plane and is an embedding of CP (n)in CP (n + 1).The Grassmanian admits a CW structure and any CW structure on a space provides a filtration relative to the empty space. To a simply connected topo-logical space, Sullivan associates a commutative differential graded algebra(∧V, d) which encodes the rational homotopy type of X. This is called aSullivan model of X. Given that H∗(CP (n), Q) is the truncated polynomialalgebra ∧x/(xn+1), one gets a a Sullivan model of the form () ∧ (x, y), d)where |x| = 2, |y| = 2n + 1 and dx = 0, dy = xn+1. For k ≥ 1, one might usethe homeomorphism G(k, n) = U (n)/(U (k) × U (n − k)) to find a Sullivanmodel. In this paper, we use a Sullivan model of the inclusion Gr(k, n) −→ Gr(k, n+1) to compute the rational homotopy type of the component of the inclusionin the space of mappings from Gr(k, n) to Gr(k, n + 1)

Fluoride removal performance of phosphoric acid treated lime: Breakthrough analysis and point-of-use system performance

Fluoride in drinking water above permissible levels is responsible for dental and skeletal fluorosis. In this study, removal of fluoride ions from water using phosphoric acid treated lime was investigated in continuous and point-of-use system operations. In the continuous column operations, fluoride removal performance was investigated as a function of the fluoride concentration, flow rate and amount of adsorbent mass. Early saturation and lower fluoride removal were observed at higher flow rate and initial concentration, and at lower mass. Two domestic defluoridation point-of-use systems operated intermittently to process 20 ..day.1 of water were used. High fluoride uptake capacity (FUC) from groundwater was observed depicting the suitability of the new media in defluoridation. However, further research is required to optimise the point-ofuse systems performances

Effect of wheat bran supplementation with fresh and composted agricultural wastes on the growth of Kenyan native wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]

Nutrient supplements and agricultural wastes used for mushroom cultivation are important in improving establishment and production of mushrooms. Agricultural wastes such as sawdust, grass, sugarcane bagasse, wheat straw and maize cobs have successfully been used for the production of Kenyan wood ear mushrooms [Auricularia auricula (L. ex Hook.) Underw.]. However, the effect of varying concentrations of wheat bran supplements on their productivity has not been fully researched. In this study, fresh and composted agricultural wastes were supplemented with wheat bran at concentrations of 0, 5, 10 and 20%. The cultivation experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design (CRD) and replicated three times. Data was collected on days to spawn run, days to primordial initiation, primordial concentration quality and biological efficiency. The data collected was subjected to analysis of variance using SAS version 9.1. Mean separation was done using least significant difference (LSD) and effects were declared significant at 5% level. Key words: Wood ear mushrooms, fresh and composted agricultural wastes, wheat bran, Kenya

Functionalised natural zeolite and its potential for treating drinking water containing excess amount of nitrate

An excess level of nitrate in drinking water is responsible for methemoglobinemia, or ‘blue baby’ disease. Consequently, management of nitrate in drinking water is universally of public health interest. In this study, clinoptilolite functionalised with cationic surfactant hexadecyltrimethyl ammonium (HDTMA) was used for the removal of nitrate from drinking water. The effects of surfactant loading, adsorbent dosage, pH, coexisting ions, temperature and environmental water quality on the adsorption of nitrate were investigated. It was found that adsorption was optimum when the initial concentration of the functionalising surfactant was 3 000 mg∙ℓ-1. An increase in adsorbent dosage raised the percentage removal of nitrate. The valency of the coexisting anion had a major effect on nitrate removal, with the presence of phosphate (a trivalent anion) leading to the lowest removal ability. Temperature and pH had negligible effects on adsorbent performance. Environmental water samples (natural groundwater samples from Limpopo Province, South Africa) were tested and it was found that the World Health Organisation (WHO) regulatory compliance can be achieved even when the initial concentration of nitrate exceeds 300 mg∙ℓ-1. Equilibrium data was modelled using the Freundlich and Langmuir isotherms and the data conformed well to the Freundlich isotherm, indicating the heterogeneous nature of the active sites. Kinetically, nitrate adsorption was best described by the pseudo-second rate equation.Keywords: adsorption, zeolite, nitrate, kinetics, equilibriu