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Sexuality in Folktales: Asset or Liability to Socialisation of Learners in Zimbabwean schools
Get PDFThe portrayal of sexuality in folktale course-books that are prescribed for secondary school learners in Zimbabwe is indeed a cause for concern. Not much attention, if any, has been given to exploring the portrayal of ‘sexuality’ especially in ChiShona prescribed course-books. This article qualitatively explored through content and discourse analysis the portrayal of ‘sexuality’ in folktales prescribed course-books based on an Afrocentric perspective of Unhu and Ubuntu. The study sought to determine whether course-books are an asset or a liability for the socialisation of learners of both genders especially at the critical adolescence stage of development. This undertaking assessed gender attributes, norms, values, and behaviour patterns proffered in school course-books. The examination of the ‘sexuality’ portrayed in these course-books was based on the assumption that education is value-laden. The gender value inherent in these course-books being a vaccine for the social ills like gender inequalities bedevilling Shona communities. The major finding was that the portrayal of ‘sexuality’ in the course-books analysed in this study shows that they are more of a liability. The article recommended a gender discourse that evaluates and critically analyses the gender portrayals in the course-books to avoid losing the gender equality milestones achieved so far in Zimbabwe.Contribution: The study examined sexuality sensibilities secondary school learners are exposed to through the authority of folktale prescribed course-books: Hodza’s (1983) Ngano Dzamatambidzanwa and Fortune’s (ed. 1983) Ngano Volume 4. It adopted the Afrocentric perspective of Unhu and Ubuntu to assess the impact of these instructional materials on the learners’ socialisation processes
Enhancing religious education through emotional and spiritual intelligence
No full textIn the context of the changes and challenges of the 21st century, the main focus of education, especially religious education, is to prepare students to live purposeful and meaningful lives with well-developed analytic, emotional and spiritual abilities to assist them in achieving a life perspective that allows them to face the larger world with greater self-confidence and self-awareness. Therefore, the main objectives of the study are: to bring forward the concepts of religious education, emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence; to discuss the importance of emotional and spiritual literacy in children’s education; and to discuss the main strategies to enhance the educational process through emotional and spiritual intelligence. This article is a conceptual framework based on a theoretical review. The author reviews literature from books, scientific journals and research reports to develop relevant concepts.
Contribution: This study provides information about two important intelligence in Christian Orthodox religious education. Recognising emotional and spiritual intelligence has allowed teachers to engage with students and help them perform at their best. Emotional intelligence and spiritual intelligence promote self-efficacy, self-awareness, selfregulation, motivation, empathy and social skills, which help students perform management tasks in their future occupations but also help them to improve relationships with parents, colleagues and God
Unearthing the Liturgy’s true meaning to counter church secularisation: Father Alexander Schmemann
No full textSecularism is a very popular topic in social sciences and in theology. Father Alexander Dmitrievich Schmemann (1921–1983) addressed this topic and raised many questions, which are still very relevant in today’s Eastern European context. He presented the distinctive vision of the Eastern Church, according to which all the solutions to overcome the actual crisis caused by secularism can be found by rediscovering the Liturgy of the Church as the primary source not only for theology but for all other aspects of church life.
Contribution: The present article aims to discuss the whole problematisation related to the impact of secularism on orthodoxy and to present the highly topical solutions that Father Alexander Schmemann proposed for the survival of the Christian Orthodox ethos in the novel conditions of the postmodern world
Culture and religion creolization impact on digital advertisement of Muslim users of Instagram
No full textOver the last decade, digitalisation has been a subject of increasing attention among scholars and practitioners. The effect of culture and religion on advertisements, consumerism and marketing, is deniable. The main goal of this research is to present a comprehensive conceptual model based on cultural and religious diversity in digital marketing. This research mainly includes introduction creolisation concept and the elements (religion, music, clothes and custom) as the most important factor in digital advertisement and branding. In this regard, this study examines Instagram consumer products users from five different subcultures in Iran (Lor, Kurdish, Baluch, Arab and Azeri) and considers the impact of creolisation elements on digital advertising, brand identity and brand globalisation. Data were collected by sending 1200 questionnaire via email to subcultures and then analysed using LISREL software.
Contribution: The results demonstrated that Islamic religion between participants affects their brand loyalty, therefore the Islamic worth in advertising is necessary. It was suggested that creolisation elements significantly affect digital advertisement, brand identity and brand globalisation. Consequently, all hypotheses were accepted. On the other hand, the impact of brand identity and digital advertisement on the brand globalisation was also confirmed. Discussion and managerial implications concerning creolisation were explained. 
The study of Islamic teachings in education: With an emphasis on behavioural gentleness
No full textThe human being is the most wonderful creation of God and the highest sign of his infinite power. Humanity is capable of achieving all divine perfections. God created them to reach the position of God’s closeness and God’s successor on Earth, and this path will not be realised except by the correct education. A human is a divine being who has settled in this earthly world, and correct education is the only way to achieve that sacred truth. Divine prophets have come to prepare the Earth for this great transformation in human existence and guide them to the light of divine teachings. There is no doubt that if human beings are not educated according to divine standards, they will remain at the level of animality. The Holy Qur’an, as the most precious Islamic divine book, presents the best way of education based on the knowledge of the truth of humanity and their needs. In addition, it is appropriate to discuss the role of behavioural gentleness in the education of people, and in this regard, the Qur’anic verses have been reviewed carefully. Therefore, the aim of this manuscript is to study the Islamic teachings in education with an emphasis on behavioural gentleness.
Contribution: If curriculum planners and educators in general pay attention to Qur’anic teachings in education and base their curriculum and educational programs on Qur’anic teachings and according to characteristics and abilities and appropriateness of methods, and if the contents are paid attention to and educational programs are produced based on the will and authority of the educators, we will definitely witness progress and development in educational systems on the one hand and development and progress in all levels of life. 
Innoverende toegangsroetes in selfoonwoordeboeke
No full textDie toegangstruktuur van enige woordeboek is 'n belangrike struktuur omdat dit vir gebruikers 'n manier gee om die verlangde data te verkry of inligting te onttrek. Hierdie struktuur oorvleuel dikwels met alle ander woordeboekstrukture, hetsy die makro-, mikro- of kruisverwysingstruktuur, en sodoende vorm al hierdie strukture in werklikheid die roetes wat gebruikers volg om sy of haar leksikografiese behoeftes te probeer bevredig. In gedrukte woordeboeke word die toegangstruktuur reeds op die voorblad aangetref, terwyl dit in elektroniese of aanlyn woordeboeke gewoonlik al op die tuis- of landingsblad sigbaar is (Du Plessis 2015: 51-52). Gouws en Prinsloo (2005: 64) verwys na twee verskillende tipes toegangstrukture, naamlik die eksterne toegangstruktuur, wat verband hou met die soekroetes wat die gebruiker na die lemma neem, en die interne toegangstruktuur, wat o.a. die soekroetes en -sones binne die artikel self behels. Met aanlyn en selfoonwoordeboeke word die tradisionele funksies en gebruike van woordeboekstrukture aangepas vir die medium en om die gebruiker se behoeftes vinniger en makliker te bevredig. Dit het egter die gevolg dat dit soms moeilik is om tussen die verskillende woordeboekstrukture te onderskei (Müller-Spitzer 2013: 368-369). Die gelukkige toeval daarvan is dat e-woordeboeke meer vryheid het om op nuwe en innoverende maniere gebruikers na leksikografiese materiaal te lei. Hierdie artikel het ten doel om van hierdie innoverende toegangsroetes in veral selfoonwoordeboeke uit te lig en te evalueer. Dit word gedoen ten einde te bepaal watter toegangsroetes verdere aandag verdien of wat as standaardpraktyk in selfoon- en ander e-woordeboeke oorweeg moet word.
English title: Innovative Access Structures in Mobile Dictionaries. The access structure of any dictionary is an important one.
It provides the user with a means to obtain the required data or to extract valuable information. This dictionary structure mostly overlaps with other structures such as the macro-, micro- and mediostructure, which in turn creates different access routes a dictionary user can follow to try and satisfy his or her lexicographic needs. In printed dictionaries, the access structure can already be found on the cover, while in electronic or online dictionaries this structure is usually visible on the home or landing page (Du Plessis 2015: 51-52). Gouws and Prinsloo (2005: 64) differentiate between two types of access structures: the outer access structure, which relates to the access or search routes that lead a user to the lemma sign, and the inner access structure, which, among other things, involves the search routes and zones within a dictionary article. The traditional functions and uses of dictionary structures are adapted for the online and mobile medium in order to better satisfy user needs. The disadvantage of this, however, is that it is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish between different dictionary structures (Müller-Spitzer 2013: 368-369). Fortunately, e-dictionaries have the freedom to provide new and innovative ways for users to access lexicographic material. The goal of this article is to highlight and evaluate some of these innovative access routes, particularly in mobile dictionaries. This is done to determine which access routes deserve further investigation or should be considered as a standard practice in mobile and other e-dictionaries. 
Influence of egg shell as heterogeneous catalyst on the viscosity of transesterified jatropha oil
No full textThe use of renewable sources of energy such as biodiesel has become one of the solutions towards the problems generated as a result of the use of fossil fuels. Biodiesel can be produced through various methods such as transesterification, micro emulsion and pyrolysis. The influence of egg shell as heterogeneous catalysts on the viscosity of transesterified jatropha oil was investigated. The physical properties of the catalyst were studied using Xray diffraction (XRD) characterizations. The crude Jatropha oil was purified; transesterified and 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3wt%, 0.5wt% and 0.5wt% of egg shell were used as heterogeneous catalyst during transesterification process. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) was used to determine the functional group of the samples. Brookfield viscometer was used to measure the viscosity of crude, purified, transesterified and transesterified with 0.1 wt%, 0.2 wt%, 0.3wt%, 0.5wt% and 0.5wt% of egg shell as catalyst were measured for comparison. XRD characterizations indicate that the catalyst is Calcite with hexagonal crystal system and 3 as its chemical formula. The FTIR indicates the present of ester (biodiesel) on the samples. The viscosity of the samples decreases as the temperature increases but at 0.2wt% shows significant variation at equal range of temperature. This indicated that the egg shell has influence on the viscosity of transesterified jatropha oil
A modified logistic model for population growth of fishes in an environment
No full textThis paper focuses on the modified logistic differential equation model for population growth of organisms in an environment. The situation considered was that of a fish population that were stocked in an environment, with the fact that the environment has a particular carrying capacity and the organisms are increasing as the other factors for their survival are kept constant. We incorporated a condition where the farmer is constrained to stock the same environment with additional fishes and another environment. These constraints led to the modification of the logistic differential equation model whose solution is based on the calculus approach. The results of the modified model demonstrate superiority over its classical counterparts in terms of carrying capacity with increase in the interval and step sizes
Aerobically enhanced nano-bioremediation of diesel oil contaminated soil and water using myco-synthesized silver nanoparticle as biostimulating agent
No full textTo demonstrate the potential use of myco - synthesized silver nanoparticles in the nano -bioremediation of hydrocarbons contaminated soil and water using diesel oil as a model pollutant, a laboratory study with the objective of evaluating enhanced aerobic nano – bioremediation of diesel oil contaminated soil and water using was performed. The myco - synthesized silver nanoparticle was physico – chemically characterized using standard nanotechnological procedures. Soil and water samples were artificially contaminated with diesel oil and exposed to 5-, 10- and 15-mL concentrations of the myco - synthesized silver nanoparticle under ambient conditions for 60 days treatment periods. The results revealed that the physicochemical and spectral outcomes obtained confirmed the particle to be silver nanoparticle (AgNPs). The degradation of diesel oil residue after each treatment periods was evaluated spectrophotometrically. The result showed the ten and fifteen millilitre concentrations had the highest percentage degradative values of 93.40 % and 92.90 % after 60 days while the same concentrations had the lowest percentage degradative efficiency values 88.00 % and 84.90 % after day 1 in diesel oil contaminated water and soil, respectively. The exposure of AgNPs at different doses to waste diesel oil contaminated water and soil does not significantly (P > 0.05) quicken the nano - degradation of waste diesel oil. The reactions kinetics satisfactorily followed either first - order or second - order kinetics while the rate constant increases with a corresponding decrease in half -life time. Therefore, the study showed that myco - synthesized silver nanoparticle could be effective in the rehabilitation of diesel oil polluted environment
Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa among women with urinary tract infections attending antenatal care in Kaduna, Nigeria
No full textThis study determines the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa among women with urinary tract infections attending antenatal care in Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital Kaduna, Nigeria. A total of 230 mid-stream urine samples were collected and the organisms were identified using cultural (MacConkey agar and Cetrimide agar respectively) and biochemical methods. Antibiotics susceptibility test was performed using commercial disc. The overall UTIs prevalence was 22.17% (51/230) among which 14.78% (34/230) were Klebsiella pneumonia and 7.39% (17/230) were Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Klebsiella pneumonia was most sensitive to Augmentin, Ciprofloxacin (100% susceptible to the isolates respectively), and Amoxicillin (88.24%). It was moderately sensitive to chloramphenicol (67.65%), Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole (44.17%), Gentamycin (38.24%) and Pefloxacin (29.24%), while being least sensitive to Sparfloxacin (26.41%), Streptomycin (26.41%) and Ofloxacin (Tarivid) (11.76%). The highest susceptibility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was observed in Amoxicillin (94.12%) followed by Ciprofloxacin (84.35%) and then Augmentin (76.47%), while being least susceptible to Chloramphenicol (41.18%), Sparfloxacin (35.29%), Pefloxacin (23.53%) and Tarivid (14.23%). On the other hand, isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa obtained from the urine cultures exhibited intermediate susceptibility to Streptomycin (70.59%), Septrin (64.71%), and Gentamycin (58.82%). In conclusion the uropathogens examined were 100% susceptible to Augmentin and Ciprofloxacin for Klebsiella pneumonia and Amoxicillin was more sensitive to Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Health education among women, especially pregnant mothers, on the risk, transmission and prevention of infection with uropathogens should be embarked upon by relevant authorities. Furthermore, health care personnel should be proactive in taking steps to prevent nosocomial transmission of these pathogens during antenatal visits of expectant mothers