KovsieJournals - University of the Free State (UFS)
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Apologetics in Africa: An introduction
Get PDFThe book "Apologetics in Africa: An introduction" by Ndereba, K.M. (ed.), (Bukuru: ACT and Langham Publishing, 2024), pp. 382, ISBN 9781839736629, is reviewed
The Christian God: Collected Essays
Get PDFThe book "The Christian God: Collected Essays" by Shutte, A. (Ed. Patrick Giddy), (Johannesburg: UJ University Press, 2024), ISBN 1923206370 is reviewed
Navigating educational challenges amidst civil unrest: An in-depth exploration of the impact on access in the north and south-west region of Cameroon
Get PDF Expanded educational opportunities symbolise the development of civil society and reflect the government’s commitment to the nation’s people. Unlike other parts of Africa, such as Sudan, which is known for its high level of civil unrest, Cameroon has traditionally experienced relative tranquillity. However, recent years have seen a surge in civil unrest, particularly in the North-West and South- West regions, profoundly affecting educational access. Through indepth interviews, this qualitative research investigates the intricate dynamics of how civil unrest significantly impacts educational access for students, teachers, parents and community leaders in conflict-affected regions. By employing a phenomenological inquiry design, the study aims to capture the lived experiences and understanding of 16 purposefully selected stakeholders across the community. Findings from the interviews highlight a disruption of normalcy in educational institutions, with schools frequently forced to close because of security concerns, impacting the quality of education. Challenges in Commuting to and from schools present challenges and fears of abduction. Also, the imposed ‘ghost town’ school disruptions on Mondays have led to irregular attendance. The socio-political context also influences curricular content, shaping the perspectives and values imparted to students. The study aimed to inform policy formulation and intervention strategies. The need for practical recommendations to mitigate the adverse effects of civil unrest and its effects on educational access in conflict-ridden regions of Cameroon was essential. By understanding how civil unrest affects education, this study contributes to the growing body of research on the impact of conflict, providing a nuanced perspective that considers the local context and amplifies the voices of those directly affected
Fragmented strivings: A scoping review of inclusivity and internationalisation in higher education policies and practices
Get PDFEquality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) policy frameworks are enacted to establish and maintain equitable and fair conditions for marginalised students. However, marginalised students, specifically refugees and forced migrants, face multiple obstacles when entering higher education (HE). The ability to overcome many of these hindrances rests in the formation and implementation of inclusive policies and good practices at national and institutional levels. However, since little research has hitherto been conducted on how inclusivity informs HE internationalisation policies and practices globally, an attempt was made to explore this notion. A scoping review was conducted to discover how inclusivity informs internationalisation on a global scale regarding policies and practices, along with a specific focus on how inclusivity informs policies and practices for refugees. A total of 35 studies published between 2018 and 2023 were included in this review. The findings illustrate that the Global North still dominates the conversation with little collaboration across the socio-political divide. In addition, the literature shows that globally, very few countries have effectively adopted policies and practices in terms of inclusivity to accommodate displaced students within mainstream internationalisation. In addition, those countries that have adopted policies often present social and administrative challenges for refugees. Consequently, specific sub-areas of policies and practices needing inclusive reform were identified. Finally, articles that explore how institutions have altered their policies and practices to address inclusivity were reviewed. Results revealed an inconsistent approach to and application of inclusive policies and practices within internationalisation in HE. Research on mainstream internationalisation identified limited literature on policy and practice implementation to address the HE needs of forced migrants. Despite a call for inclusive education, policies and practices in HE remain largely theoretical. This article aims to provide a perspective on these issues by discussing the trends and challenges discovered in the literature and making recommendations to potentially address the transformation of contextual spaces for refugees in HE
The role of career development, technostress, and organisational commitment in shaping the work performance of elementary school teachers: Insights from Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (SEM-PLS) analysis
Get PDFThis study examines the complex relationship between career development, technostress, and organisational commitment in influencing the performance of school teachers in Aria Kemuning, West Java, Indonesia. The main objective of this study is to identify how the three constructs individually and interactively contribute to teacher performance in the context of an increasingly digital and demanding educational environment. A quantitative approach was used by a survey method of 162 respondents selected through the proportionate stratified random sampling technique. Data was analysed using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to evaluate the direct effects and mediation between variables. The results of the study show that career development and organisational commitment have a significant positive effect on work performance, while technostress has a negative influence. Interestingly, organisational commitment partially mediates the relationship between career development and technostress on teacher performance. This indicates that career development initiatives can directly improve performance, but the effect will be more optimal if they are accompanied by a strong organisational commitment. In contrast, technostress can lower performance, but its negative impact can be reduced through increased organisational commitment. The authenticity of this study lies in an integrated analysis of the psychological, organisational, and technological dimensions in the teaching profession, using SEMPLS in the context of developing countries. The study provides new insights for schools and education policymakers to simultaneously address digital pressures and career satisfaction in order to optimise teacher effectiveness. The theoretical contributions and practical strategies offered are also useful in the management of human resources in the education secto
Pre-service teachers’ views of an ideal teacher for a fast-changing world
Get PDFThis article reports on a study that explored final year preservice teachers’ conceptualisations of an ideal teacher for a fast-changing world. The study was framed by literature on reflective practice. A basic qualitative research design was used to examine how the preservice teachers constructed meaning of the phenomenon under study. Data were collected via semi-structured interviews and thorough analysis of the preservice teachers’ research projects on the topic. The findings are that ideal teachers for a fast-changing world must: be adaptable; be digitally literate and fluent; encourage agency in the teaching and learning environment; use innovative teaching methods; and value continuous professional development. The findings lead to the question as to whether teacher education programmes pay sufficient attention to preparing pre-service teachers for the fast-changing world, in the curriculum and through practices taught.
 
Indoor thermal comfort comparison of stabilised latscrete and sandcrete blocks as walling materials in buildings in Port Harcourt Metropolis, Nigeria
Get PDFStabilised sandcrete (sand-cement) and latscrete (clay/mud-cement) blocks are the most commonly used materials for masonry building walling material in Port Harcourt metropolis. Despite the hot, humid tropical climate in this region, the interior thermal comfort benefits of selecting suitable walling materials for buildings are frequently overlooked. In addition to the interior thermal comfort in buildings, rising energy usage is also a cause for concern. The choice of material for wall building is influenced by cost, strength, and durability. However, interest in employing sustainable green architecture and thermally comfortable building materials has increased in recent years. Selecting appropriate wall materials that can be energy efficient and lower cooling load is necessary, since external walls play a significant role in thermal insulation. Therefore, the study evaluated indoor thermal comfort, comparing commonly used stabilised latscrete blocks as walling material in two model buildings. To evaluate the characteristics of the two walling materials, a series of tests were performed to determine the water absorption rate, compressive strength, splitting tensile strength, and flexural strength, following the standards set by the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). Readings of relative humidity and indoor temperature of the two buildings were respectively taken and recorded for a period of twelve months. The data were collated and analysed using the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI), Heat Index (HI), and Effective Temperature Index (ETI). To compare the thermal comfort performance of the building models, the ASHRAE 55-2020 standard scale was used. Latscrete was found to be a better thermal comfort performer than sandcrete and was, therefore, recommended as an alternative local walling material for building in the study area
Provincial inequalities in Iran: A comprehensive planning model for budget allocation
Get PDFAlthough regional disparities were declining in Iran between 2001-2013, the provincial allocation of budgetary resources in Iran is not done fairly. The absence of a clear model for optimal budget distribution hinders achieving regional balance between Iran’s provinces. Making use of applied research, this study identified 47 development indicators in 3 main development dimensions (economic-infrastructural, educational-cultural, and health-therapeutic) as the indictors to assess the characteristics of each province (level of development) to identify provincial inequalities of development in Iran. Descriptive analysis and the VIKOR model were used for the provincial development ranking in Iran during the years 2011 to 2021. Using comparative analysis, the K-means clustering method, the CV method, and GIS were used for calculating and mapping provincial inequalities. The results revealed severe inequalities among provinces. Tehran and Yazd provinces have had the highest development levels. CV calculations of the provincial indicators based on two scenarios (equal coefficients and AHP coefficients) showed that a budgetary resource distribution model that provides the percentage of budget allocation, by taking into account the territorial divisions, features, and sustainable development indicators of each province, might reduce inter-provincial inequalities, and would help achieve sustainable and equitable development at the provincial level. This model uses a method that optimally allocates financial and budgetary resources based on the degree of development of the regions and environmental characteristics
The promise of planning: Global aspirations and South African experience since 2008 by Philip Harrison and Alison Todes
No full textThe book covers an expansive range of topics across 14 chapters: international and domestic contexts, South African planning at national, provincial, and municipal scales, the role of organised civil society, the national space economy, spatial transformation, social transformation, environmental challenges, the COVID-19 pandemic, the planning profession, as well as planning education and research. It draws from a wide-ranging review of existing research and from 68 interviews with planners and academics. A key contribution of the book is a review of the many initiatives that have been put in place since 2008. Internationally, this includes the 2015 Sustainable Development Goals, the 2016 New Urban Agenda, and the 2016 Paris Agreement. In South Africa, major initiatives include the Cities Support Programme of National Treasury established in 2011, the 2012 National Development Plan, the 2012 National Infrastructure Plan (revised in 2022), the 2013 National Planning Commission Spatial Planning and Land Use Management Act, the 2014 Infrastructure Development Act, the 2016 Integrated Urban Development Framework, the District Development Model announced in 2019, and the 2022 National Spatial Development Framework. At the municipal scale, innovative policies were introduced on transit-oriented development and inclusionary housing.
‘Chakachenjedza Ndochakatanga (Once Beaten Twice Shy)!’: Zimbabwe and the Economics of Mistrust
Get PDFThis article details Zimbabwe’s enduring monetary crisis by using the concept of trust in economics. It posits that mistrust between citizens and the state and the mistrust among citizens themselves significantly accounts for Zimbabwe’s never-ending economic malaise. In the economy of mistrust, actors operate on the belief that monetary policy will unceremoniously change as has happened many times before — hence, the ChiShona idiom chakachenjedza ndochakatanga, which encourages one to stand guard, aptly describes the prevailing economic scenario. In making its arguments, the paper historicises monetary developments in Zimbabwe since its independence in 1980 to 2022. During the period under review, money became the primary commodity bought and sold on the local market, forcing every individual and entity to trade in money. Relying on monetary and fiscal policy statements, newspapers, statutory instruments and interviews, the article concentrates on the overt actions of the state in creating and sustaining the economics of mistrust and how economic players navigated it. It reveals three aspects of Zimbabwe’s monetaryhistory that are veiled or absent in the literature. First, it demonstrates the politics of money and monetary institutions, arguing that the ruling ZANU-PF uses the monetary system as a tool for regime survival. Secondly, it describes the impact of monetary policy pronouncements on the day-to-day practicalities of navigating Zimbabwe’s economic landscape.Finally, it questions aspects of economic orthodoxy, particularly the spirit and consequences of central bank independence and how the regulation has manifested in Zimbabwe’s monetary system