Research in Social Sciences and Technology (E-Journals)
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An Analysis of Students’ Mathematical Curiosity in Online Learning Viewed from Academic Level and Gender
Full text linkOnline learning affects students' curiosity, so it is important to develop students' curiosity during the pandemic. The purpose of this study is to describe and analyze students' curiosity about online learning. This study was conducted in the Department of Mathematics Education during the odd semester 2021/2022 with 106 students in three different courses. The research instrument was a mathematical curiosity questionnaire administered to students using the Google Documents application. The data analysis technique used was descriptive analysis. The results showed that the general curiosity of the students is classified as "strong" with a percentage of 75.17%. Academically, students with low, medium and high curiosity are considered strong with percentages of 74.07 percent, 76.5 percent and 75.12 percent. Measured by gender differences, the proportion of male and female students is 76.43 and 77.5 percent. Data analysis showed that in the era of the Covid-19 pandemic, curiosity about learning mathematics does not depend on the academic level of online learning or on gender differences. The effect of the result that the students during the Covid-19 pandemic, mathematical curiosity is still used in online learning and should be improved. This research contributes to the growing body of knowledge on mathematical learning in the digital age and offers practical recommendations for fostering mathematical curiosity in online. 
Advancing Young Learners’ Scientific Literacy Through School Media Resource Centres
Full text linkThis qualitative study explores the state of school media resource centres (SMRCs) and their impact on fostering scientific literacy among early-grade learners in Staff Primary Schools. Perspectives of primary school librarians were gathered through photovoice methodology and semi-structured interviews from four selected schools within Owerri Education Zone 1, Nigeria. Thematic analysis was employed to scrutinise the data, ensuring credibility and trustworthiness through member checking and triangulation. Findings reveal a glaring absence of functional SMRCs despite the presence of school libraries, impeding effective teaching and learning processes. Librarians expressed the significance of SMRCs in advancing scientific literacy, yet perceived constraints hinder their efficacy. Challenges include inadequate funding, technological infrastructure, security concerns, and outdated resources. Recommendations highlight the necessity for prioritised financing, professional development opportunities, and collaboration with external stakeholders to enhance SMRCs. Moreover, addressing electricity-related challenges, updating library collections, strengthening security measures, involving parents, and implementing talent development programmes are crucial. In conclusion, the absence of functional SMRCs in staff primary schools significantly impedes the progress and holistic development of scientific literacy of early-grade learners. Addressing these deficiencies is imperative to foster scientific literacy and ensure quality education in the 21st century. 
Mathematics Education Lecturers’ Experiences of a Virtual Writing Retreat and its Impact on Publication Output
Full text linkDepartmental writing retreats for academics in higher education are one of the strategies used to enhance publication outputs and information sharing as well as the development of research discourse. Using a collaborative autoethnographic reflexivity approach, the aims of this consolidative analysis were to identify the attributes that the participants (seven Mathematics Education researchers) regarded as effective in the online writing retreat and examine the components of the writing retreat that facilitated publication output. This paper employs Wenger’s Community of Practice as the theoretical frame to critically evaluate reflective experiences from the online writing retreats. Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis was used to analyse reflective experiences. The analysis unearthed many personal research needs and some of the key elements of the writing retreat that were regarded as conducive to fast tracking and advancing publication outputs. The elements I focus on in this paper are protected quality time and space to write; formation of a community of practice and attending to reviewers’ post-review comments. The contention is that researchers can achieve greater publication outputs for their departments and organisations during the writing retreats, particularly when provided with critical and formative feedback on their writing. Further research should be conducted to explore and examine researchers’ experiences of attending the writing retreats, especially using online platforms, as well as understanding the elements of writing retreats that advance the publication outcomes.  
Investigation into the Challenges Experienced by School Management Teams (SMTs) Post-Pandemic in Rural High Schools in the Mopani-West Education District
Full text linkThe purpose of this study was to investigate the challenges faced by SMTs in dealing with poor academic performance in the Mopani-West District of Limpopo Province, South Africa. Studies have indicated that schools in rural areas fail to meet their full potential due to a combination of factors including insufficient instructional resources, shortage of qualified educators, insufficient infrastructure, and poverty and inequality. The study adopted a qualitative approach following an interpretative case study design. Using purposive sampling a total of 18 participants, comprising six principals, six departmental heads, and six learners who met the research criteria were selected. The study sample included one principal, one departmental head, and one learner from each of these six schools in the Mopani-West District. Three schools from the sample were identified as high-performing, while the other three were identified as underperforming. Data were elicited using semi-structured interviews, followed by thematic data analysis to unveil rich narratives and patterns within the research inquiries. The findings of the study revealed that resource scarcity in schools significantly hampered the quality of education. Issues such as insufficient teaching materials, a shortage of teachers, and the absence of technology create stark disparities between less and more privileged schools. The study also highlighted the impact of inadequate infrastructure on learning as one of the pressing concerns that compromise quality teaching and learning. Recommendations were made accordingly
Is It Germane to Sustain Higher Education Research in The Post-Covid-19 Era?
Full text linkThe COVID-19 pandemic has severely impacted developing countries, causing educational and economic crises globally. This study explores the necessity of maintaining research in Higher Education (HE) amidst the pandemic's disruptions. It questions whether Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) can sustain research post-COVID-19 while balancing essential functions to avoid risks. Despite extensive studies on HEIs' research sustainability post-pandemic, there is a notable gap in understanding the precise strategies needed to balance essential functions, address risks, and foster resilience amid uncertainties. To bridge this gap, the study highlights the importance of reassessing research priorities and methods in the changing HE landscape. A systematic literature review was conducted, gathering relevant literature from various databases. The study employed an exclusion and inclusion design for research selection. It points out that maintaining HE research post-pandemic has not been sufficiently investigated, leaving a critical gap in understanding research practices. The conceptual model, serving as the study's theoretical foundation, offers an organized means of evaluating the need for HE research considering the pandemic's global economic impacts. This study underscores the importance of multi-stage educational research in the post-COVID-19 era, given the interconnectedness of HEIs. It advocates for a flexible and dynamic research environment and suggests comprehensive approaches to anticipate and meet emerging trends in higher education. The study emphasizes that future research should focus on mitigating post-pandemic challenges and preparing for shifts in HE, promoting resilience and creativity in the field. 
Assessment of Item Parameter and Model-Data Fit of 4IR Teachers' Effectiveness Scale in Secondary Schools
No full textIn secondary schools in Southwest Nigeria, the Fourth Industrial Revolution Chemistry Teachers Effectiveness Scale (4IRCTES) items were evaluated for discrimination item parameter and model-data fit to the underlying construct. In this study, a descriptive survey research design was employed. The survey encompassed 4,986 Chemistry teachers in the southwestern region of Nigeria. 35 Chemistry teachers made up the study’s sample. 4IRCTES was the instrument utilised to collect the data. Research question two was based on the absolute overall model-data fit, or M2 statistic, whereas research question one used the Multidimensional Graded Response Model (MGRM) of the Item Response Theory (IRT) to analyse the item parameter (item discrimination). Result showed that items of 4IRCTES discriminated well between teachers with low effectiveness and teachers with high effectiveness. Finally, in the study, result showed that the MGRM of the IRT is the substantial model-data fit for the 4IRCTES. The study concluded that the 4IRCTES items effectively distinguished between teachers who were ineffective and those who were effective
The Role of the Writing Centre in Enhancing Student Employability a Case Study of a University in South Africa
Full text linkIn the quest of bridging the high graduate unemployment gap of South African graduates, universities introduced initiatives which sought to assist graduates gain the necessary working experience. South African graduates struggle to find sufficient employment due to lack of work experience. The peer-to-peer coaching led by senior students, who are postgraduate students, leads to the enhancement of graduate employability. Therefore, this paper sought to investigate the contribution of the writing centre in increasing the chances of employment for its consultants. In light of this, literature was consulted to reveal the role of the writing centre in promoting student employment. Unstructured interviews were conducted on fifteen (15) participants, who were identified through convenient sampling technique. Thematic analysis was adopted to analyse the collected data. The paper found that the programme equips students to be familiar with the working environment. The study further revealed that the writing centre office is under-capacitated financially. The study thus proposed that the programme must be financially supported by the university, Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and other external stakeholders to continue capacitating the development of students. The study, therefore, concluded that the writing centre office effectively promotes student employability and increases the working experience of writing centre consultants. 
Transforming Foundation Phase Life Skills Teachers’ Use of Learning and Teaching Support Materials Towards Sustainable Development of Teaching
Full text linkThis paper reports on transforming Foundation Phase teachers’ use of learning and teaching support materials (LTSMs) to sustain teaching and learning in Life Skills classrooms. This paper aimed to comprehend teachers’ perspectives on how they could transform their practices using LTSMs to improve their teaching and learner performance to contribute towards the sustainable development of teaching. The National Policy and Guidelines for LTSM stipulate that teachers must be teaching mediators. The study was informed by an analytical framework for studying classroom practices along the Activity Theory (AT) dimensions through teachers’ and learners’ interactions. The case study design was qualitative with an interpretive paradigm. Purposive sampling gathered information from three Grade 3 Life Skills teachers through semi-structured interviews, structured observations, and document analysis. Data were analysed, and themes emerged from the questions. Findings revealed that LTSMs are ineffective in improving teaching and learner performance due to shortages, overcrowded classrooms, and lack of professional development. We recommend that the Department of Education should provide more classrooms to assist teachers in their practices. Also, there should be more professional development activities for teachers to transform their practices for sustainable development
A Review of Official Documents and Literature on the Forgotten Victims of Parental Incarceration in South Africa
Full text linkThis article is a literature synthesis of the living conditions of black children after their parent's imprisonment. In Africa, the prison population currently stands at 1,194,497, while in South Africa, 147,922 people were being held in correctional facilities as of January 2021. Parental incarceration has affected all children, regardless of race, age, or cultural background. An increasing amount of research indicates that children with incarcerated parents are prone to internalized behaviors such as depression, anxiety, and withdrawal, as well as externalized behaviors including criminality and substance use. They may also experience cognitive delays, academic struggles, and insecure attachments in their relationships with both their imprisoned parents and primary caregivers. The term "caregiver" denotes the individual who assumes the role of the child's main caregiver while the parents are incarcerated. It is important to note that the literature focusing on child-headed households in South African informal settlements and townships may be limited. This paper is a narrative synthesis of the literature review and uses secondary sources.  
Determinants of Quality Jobs Among Youth: An Empirical Investigation Across Occupations in Lagos, Nigeria
Full text linkQuality jobs, a multidimensional construct, have been perceived differently in labour management literature. The view that the quality of earnings is the primary determinant of job quality has been criticized. This study, therefore, investigates the characteristics and major factors determining quality jobs among the youths in Lagos, Nigeria. Leveraging on the rational actor theory, Maslow's theory of needs, and Amartya Sen’s capability approach, four hundred (400) employees, mainly youths, across occupational sectors within Lagos, Nigeria, were sampled. Using descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis, the study revealed that though wage (quality of earning) is an essential factor determining youths’ perception of a job, findings revealed other vital factors that youths consider in determining quality jobs. The work environment, dignity, and workers’ protection, among others, are identified in this study as determinants of quality jobs. Far-reaching implications, both practical and policy-oriented, emerged for all stakeholders