An investigation of the problems experienced by primary school teachers and beginning teachers in the Yemen Arab Republic

AS the title of the thesis suggests, this is a study of the problems and concerns experienced by student teachers in The Yemen at different stages in their training (second, third, first year of teaching). An initial exploratory case study of one teacher training institute, using interviews, was utilized to generate items for two questionnaires (about problems, and related beliefs respectively) completed by about 800 student -s in all 11 General Teacher Training Institutes in the country. The items covered several areas: School Material Conditions and Resources, Teaching Demands, Relationships with Professionals and Adults, Teaching Competencies, Institutes' Courses, Job Rewards, Pupils' Response to Teaching, and Students' Security. Applying Factor Analysis to the ratings of the total population for the 'problems' questionnaire showed no sufficiently strong structure of problems (patterns). Further analysis using commonsense categories showed that most problem areas were of great concern to the majority of student teachers and beginning teachers and these concerns were stable across stages, except for Students' Social/Emotional Security which showed consistently decreased concern over successive stages. When males and females were studied separately, the patterns of change were different, and diverse changes ii were found for the various (single-sex) institutes. Variables such as Background (Urban/Rural), Institutes attended, Primary School Location, Job Location for beginning teachers, seemed to be dominated to a large extent by sex differences. Males mainly expressed higher concern about job rewards, females about their own ability to cope with the tasks of classroom teaching. Variables such as Age within Stages, and Stage of Joining Institutes, did not appear to have influence upon students and beginning teachers' problems. The results of the 'Beliefs' questionnaire were analysed similarly and showed patterns of results which did not correspond with the 'Problems' results in a way which could allow the concerns to be explained by the belief s. The initial exploratory case study sample was followed longitudinally by interviews. This approach showed different patterns of increasing concerns on entry to teaching. Possible explanations for the different patterns are discussed. Interviews with a sample of institutes' lecturers suggest an awareness by the majority of lecturers of some of the common problems expressed by student teachers. iii The substantive findings and methodological issues are discussed in relation to the literature (e. g. Fuller, Gibson, Lacey... ). Some suggestions for improving teacher education in The Yemen are offered

Data Visualization Using Figural Animation

One of the important objectives of business data visualization for decision making is to assist the user in their cognition and recall of prominent features and patterns of data. In this study, we extend Chernoff faces to full-featured animated figures to represent multi-dimensional data. A prototype has been developed that allows the user to easily assign data attributes to figural features as well as superimpose the data values. Once these settings have been made and the temporal dimension assigned, the animation is rendered through Poser and the video is embedded within the user interface. The figural animation contains VCR-type controls allowing the user to examine any particular data point or play any portion of the video at various speeds. A series of tests are being designed to determine if the application enhances the user’s ability to recall and display patterns in data

Peer-leaders’ Perceptions of Learning after a Semester of Peer Facilitation

The study examines the perceptions of a group of new peer-leaders of their learning during a semester of peer-leading training and experience working with a group of students. Data was collected through individual interviews in the beginning of the semester and through administering a survey at the end of the semester. The data was organized, analyzed and presented at the poster session

Impact on Health and Nutrition Outcomes in Sindh Province, Pakistan

We independently conducted the impact assessment of the Tawana Pakistan Project (a school?based feeding programme to improve the nutritional status of primary school girls in impoverished rural districts of Pakistan). The evaluation was conducted among school?going girls in four districts of Sindh, Pakistan. Pre? and post?intervention data was collected for anthropometric measurements, nutritional status and physical examination. Paired analysis of 1,028 girls (5–12 years) was undertaken using McNemar's test. 1 Our findings revealed a significant association of the school?based nutrition programme with reductions in the proportion of wasting (p<0.0001; CI 12.2%–15.7%) and underweight (p<0.0001; CI 9.2%–14.5%) while no association was established for stunting (p = 0.0817; CI 0.3%–5.5%). The results support the potential for such programmes in improving the nutritional status of primary school girls in impoverished areas and gains in health and improved growth

Factors associated with low birthweight in term pregnancies: A matched case-control study from rural Pakistan

Low birthweight (LBW) remains a significant public health problem in Pakistan and further understanding of factors associated with LBW is required. We conducted a hospital-based matched case control study to identify risk factors associated with LBW in a rural district of Pakistan. We found that illiteracy (AOR: 2.68; 95% CI: 1.59 - 4.38), nulliparity (AOR: 1.82; 95% CI: 1.26-2.44), having a previous miscarriage/abortion (AOR: 1.22; 95% CI: 1.06-2.35), having \u3c 2 antenatal care (ANC) visits during last pregnancy (AOR: 2.43; 95% CI: 1.34-2.88), seeking ANC in third trimester (AOR: 3.62; 95% CI : 2.14-5.03), non-use of iron folic acid during last pregnancy (AOR: 2.72; 95% CI: 1.75-3.17), having hypertension during last pregnancy (AOR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.13-2.20), being anemic (AOR: 2.67; 95% CI: 1.65-5.24) and having postpartum weight o

Prevalence and predictors of iron deficiency anemia in children under five years of age in Pakistan, a secondary analysis of national nutrition survey data 2011–2012

Background: Iron deficiency Anemia (IDA) in children is a recognized public health problem that impacts adversely on child morbidity, mortality and impairs cognitive development. In Pakistan information on the true prevalence and predictors of IDA is limited. This study sought to investigate IDA in children under five years of age using data from a nationally representative stratified cross-sectional survey. Methods: Secondary analysis was performed on the National Nutrition Survey in Pakistan 2011–2012. We used a pre-structured instrument to collect socio demographic and nutritional data on mothers and children. We also collected Anthropometric measurements and blood samples for micronutrient deficiencies. IDA was defined as having both haemoglobin levels of \u3c110 g/L and ferritin levels of \u3c 12 μg/L. Data analysis was performed by applying univariate and multivariate techniques using logistic regression through SPSS. Findings: A total of 7138 children aged between 6–59 months were included in the analysis. The prevalence of IDA was 33.2%. In multivariate regression analysis adjusted odds ratios (AOR) were calculated. Age \u3c 24 months (AOR 1.40, 95% CI 1.18–1.55 p \u3c0.05), stunting (AOR 1.42 CI 1.23–1.63 p\u3c0.05), presence of clinical anemia (AOR 5.69 CI 4.93–6.56 p\u3c0.05), having a mother with IDA (AOR 1.72 CI 1.47–2.01 p\u3c0.05) and household food insecurity (AOR 1.20 CI 1.10–1.40 P\u3c0.05) were associated with IDA. Living in a rural area (AOR 0.77 CI 0.65–0.90 p\u3c0.05) and being a female child (AOR 0.87 CI 0.76–0.98 p\u3c0.05) were associated with reduced odds of IDA. Conclusion: The prevalence of IDA amongst Pakistani children represents a moderate burden that disproportionately affects the youngest, growth retarded children, affected children are more likely to have mothers with IDA and live in areas where food security is lacking. National efforts to alleviate the burden of IDA should involve both short term vertical programs such as iron supplementation and long term horizontal programs including wheat flour fortification