Primary education expansion and the challenge of inadequate teacher supply in Sub-Saharan Africa

This paper focuses on the expansion of teacher education and the efforts to introduce universal primary education (UPE) in Africa. It also looks at the need for an adequate supply of primary school teachers. With specifi c reference to the expansion of teacher education in Kenya after independence, and the country’s issues regarding quality education, it shows that the poor supply of teachers in most African countries, following the introduction of free primary education, has more to do with (among other factors) the ad hoc manner in which UPE programmes were introduced, structural adjustment programmes (SAPs), and the teachers’ wage bill, rather than the inadequacy of inherited systems of teacher education.Proceedings of the 5th biennial International Conference on Distance Education and Teachers’ Training in Africa (DETA) held at the University of Nairobi, Nairobi, Kenya, 30 July - 1 August 2013

Effects of fermenten during the dry and early lactation periods of dairy cows

Fermenten is a commercially available by-product of lysine production recommended by the manufacturer (Biovance Technologies Inc., Omaha, NE) as a protein source for growing heifers and lactating cows. It has not been used in the diets of dry cows within 4 weeks of parturition. Three groups of 10 cows each, balanced for breed (Ayrshire and Holstein) and parity, were assigned to diets containing 0, 0.73 and 1.45 kg Fermenten dry matter/day. The diets were fed from 4 weeks prior to expected calving through 6 weeks of lactation. Dry matter intake of all diets decreased prior to calving, with the treatments significantly (P \u3c 0.05) lower than the control diet. Decline in intake between wk 2 and wk 1 prepartum was 3.6%, 20.4% and 15.8% for the control, low and high Fermenten diets, respectively. Postpartum nutrient intakes increased for all diets with treatments significantly (P \u3c 0.05) lower than the control at week one and marginally lower (P \u3c 0.10) for weeks 2 through 6. Intake of NDF was below 1% of body weight up to 4 weeks postpartum for all groups. Milk yield was significantly (P \u3c 0.05) depressed by Fermenten (6.50 and 5.95 kg/d for low and high levels, respectively). Milk fat and protein percentages were not affected by diets. Body weight and body condition score at calving were significantly decreased by Fermenten (P \u3c 0.05). Fermenten contains anionic salts, and was found to reduce urine pH. Cows fed Fermenten had a higher incidence of metabolic disorders. Based on these results, Fermenten is not recommended in the diets of close-up dry cows

A Review of Procedural and Jurisdictional Challenges in Enforcing International Human Rights Law under the African Charter Regime

The interpretation and enforcement of international human rights law has tremendously evolved since the adoption of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. The Charter introduced procedural and jurisdictional paradigms that have moulded this branch of law to resonate Africa’s context and values, by for instance, evolving concepts and approaches distinct from those of the other regions. While striving to achieve this, the Charter has also had to grapple with an avalanche of procedural and jurisdictional challenges. This Article highlights these challenges and proposes ways in which they can be surmounted. It proceeds on the premise that contrary to the usual and indeed mistaken presumption that the flaws in Africa’s regional human rights regime are irreparable, certain reforms could still be initiated and compromises made as a way of surmounting some of these challenges

Delegation and Job Satisfaction: An Evaluation of the Relationship within Ugandaas Primary Education Sector

Study Objectives The purpose of this investigation was to determine the impact of individual dimensions of delegation on primary teachers job satisfaction in Universal Primary Education sector in Eastern Uganda Research Design Methodology A cross sectional research design was used The study was carried on primary school teachers in schools in Eastern Uganda A total of 247 survey questionnaires were distributed with the help of research assistants The analysis was conducted using Structural Equation Modeling SEM with Analysis of Moment Structures AMOS software Results The findings of the study indicated that save for Decision making delegation dimensions of Autonomy Authority Responsibility predicted job satisfaction Research limitations implications The focus of the study was teachers working at Universal Primary schools in Eastern Uganda only Study was cross sectional therefore future studies should consider investigation job satisfaction of Universal Primary school teachers from a longitudinal angle since respondents views vary over time Also this study considered some schools in Eastern Uganda which puts the issue of generalizability into question Practical implications Considering the importance of Universal Primary education sector in Uganda the education managers policy makers and academic administrators should take necessary measures for the optimal delegation of authority autonomy and responsibility if they are realize satisfied teachers on their jobs Originality value The study contributes to literature by examining how individual dimensions of delegations influence job satisfaction in Uganda s primary Universal school sector which of late is still limited as evidenced from reviewed literatur

The Legal consequences of failure to obtain consent of the Land Control Board in agricultural land in Kenya

Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the Bachelor of Laws Degree, Strathmore University Law SchoolThe courts in Kenya have had a myriad of opportunities to interpret salient legal issues arising from the application of the Land Control Act (Cap 302 of the Laws of Kenya) and in particular section 6( 1 ). It has been the subject of many legal disputes owing to the fact that many dealing in agricultural land have negligently, ignorantly or otherwise failed to seek the consent of the Land Control Board and, therefore, rendered their transaction void for all purposes. 1 When such disputes are brought to court some Judges have tried to circumvent the provisions of the Act whereas others have helplessly refrained from any bold attempts to bypass the provisions of this Act. 2 This study investigated the adequacy of the laws that address the legal consequences of failure to obtain consent and analyzed different approaches taken by the courts in reaching a decision regarding section 6 (1) of the Act. The study took a legal approach in examining the theoretical framework on the freedom to contract and the requirement of consent of transactions in agricultural lands. Through the review of court decisions, the study was able to bring out the inconsistency and ambiguity in the approaches taken by the courts in interpreting section 6( 1 ). The study recommends that: consent should be amended by deleting the word void and replacing it with the word voidable and compensation for improvements on the land should be available. In the end, the study makes the finding that the law does not adequately address the consequences of failure to obtain consent of the Land Control Board

Legal and institutional arrangements for damage caused by wildlife in Kenya and Botswana

In both Kenya and Botswana, wildlife is a valuable natural resource in terms of its economic value, nutritional value, ecological value, medicinal value, educational and scientific value, as well as recreational and socio-cultural value. Despite this beneficial value, however, wild animals in both countries also cause damage and impose heavy losses on society. They also disrupt peaceful existence in local communities living in close proximity to wildlife areas. The damage they cause includes attacks on people and livestock, destruction of crops and other property as well as infrastructure. This has resulted in a human-wildlife conflict, with people having negative attitudes towards wildlife. Initially people seem to be the victims when wild animals attack them or destroy their property. Later, the animals are the real victims when people in retaliation start attacking, ensnaring or poisoning them. Contrary to the belief that it contributes to poverty alleviation, many people in the local communities in wildlife areas strongly believe wildlife has contributed to their poverty. Unless the governments of both Kenya and Botswana maintain efficient legal and institutional arrangements for wildlife damage, the future of wildlife conservation in both countries is bleak. These arrangements, if effectively enforced, have the potential to: reduce retaliatory killing of wildlife; ensure incidents of wildlife damage are reported; alleviate the losses and suffering associated with wildlife damage; and bolster public support for conservation programmes. It is encouraging that both countries recognize wildlife damage as a major problem and have put in place legal and institutional arrangements to address this problem. This study evaluated the legal and institutional arrangements in Kenya and Botswana on wildlife damage, assessing their suitability, adequacy as well as their effectiveness. While several studies have been conducted on wildlife damage, most of them mainly focus on institutional arrangements and the actual abatement measures adopted, few of them approach the subject from a legal standpoint, in the way this study does. Those studies do not, for instance, discuss the legal basis of the need for legal arrangements for wildlife damage alleviation and the various approaches and actual forms of legal intervention. This author through the use of semi-structured interviews, self-administered questionnaires, focus group discussions, and literature survey investigated the problem of ii wildlife damage in Kenya and Botswana. A central part of this investigation was on the types of damage, the animals involved, whether and how this problem has influenced public attitudes towards wildlife conservation, and suggestions for solution. Research for this study was conducted in the Laikipia region of Kenya and the Okavango delta region of Botswana between January and December 2006. This researcher interviewed 44 respondents from each country, comprising households from the local communities within wildlife areas, senior ranking government officials, leaders of NGOs that actually work on wildlife issues, experts in natural resource management as well as eminent scholars in environmental and natural resources law and policy. Research for this study established that while the governments of both Kenya and Botswana have established certain legal and institutional frameworks on wildlife damage, there are factors that hamper their efficient operation. These factors include the relevance and suitability of the existing laws, as well as their acceptability to stakeholders; lack of appropriate policy framewoks and dispute resolution mechanisms to support the regulatory regime; institutional problems such as overlapping responsibilities, lack of adequate resources and lack of motivation among staff. These factors together with others have continued to be a major challenge to the quest for appropriate and effective legal and institutional response to the problem of wildlife damage in both countries. The study found that in both countries the law vests in the state the power to manage wildlife wherever it occurs within the national boundaries. Botswana’s community-based wildlife management model, however, offers more incentives for conservation to local communities than Kenya’s state-centered system which largely disregards the role of local communities in wildlife matters. This author has argued that local communities are critical stakeholders and the success of any conservation programmes will depend on their goodwill. Besides, while the state has a duty to protect wildlife from harm by humans, it also has a corresponding duty to protect humans and their property from damage by wild animals and to ensure that wildlife does not undermine the people’s livelihoods and development. This is, however, not usually the case as in practice the state in both countries, and especially in Kenya, iii seems to favour wild animals at the expense of the people. The study has recommended certain reforms which need to be undertaken if Kenya and Botswana have to maintain appropriate and efficient legal and institutional arrangements on wildlife damage

A DFT computational design and exploration of novel direct band gap silver-thallium double perovskites

Researchers have addressed the non-traditional power generation schemes as alternatives to the traditional fossil-fuel methods enormously since the scientific community has serious concerns about shortages of energy on our planet for future generations. In this scenario, the innovative materials for photovoltaic and thermoelectric device applications are required by addressing current issues of instability and efficiency. Perovskites are very popular in this regard particularly having higher power conversion efficiency of 25.2% in the case of solar cells. In the current article, we investigated innovative small direct band gap double perovskites (elapsolite) Cs$_2$AgTlX$_6$ (X= Cl, Br) with a comprehensive discussion on structural, electronic, optical, and thermoelectric properties using a first-principles approach. The compounds under investigation are found stable, efficient, and economical with alluring optical and thermoelectric properties. The higher absorption peaks in the visible range, substantial optical conductivities (~10$^{16}$ sec$^{-1}$), and a lower percentage of reflection in the visible range make these compounds fascinating for solar cell applications. Whereas large values of Seebeck coefficients, electrical conductivities, the figure of merits (greater than unity), and small values of thermal conductivities suggest the applications of these compounds in thermoelectric generators.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figure