Sprin Journal of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
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Recent Cult Related Killings in Awka Metropolis (2022-2024) and The Implications on the Society
Full text linkThis study examines the recent cult-related killings in Awka Metropolis between 2022 and 2024 and their implications for society. The research highlights the rise in violent activities associated with various cult groups, analyzing their causes, patterns, and socio-economic effects. Through qualitative and quantitative methods, the study explores factors such as youth unemployment, peer influence, drug abuse, and political manipulation as key drivers of cultism. Data were gathered from security reports, eyewitness accounts, and community surveys to assess the frequency and nature of these killings. Findings reveal an alarming increase in cult-related violence, leading to loss of lives, heightened insecurity, disruption of businesses, and psychological trauma among residents. Additionally, the study evaluates the response of law enforcement agencies and the effectiveness of government policies in curbing cult-related violence. The paper concludes by recommending proactive measures such as community policing, public awareness campaigns, employment opportunities for youths, and strict law enforcement to mitigate the menace. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on urban security and the need for collaborative efforts in addressing cultism in Nigerian society
Economic Statecraft and Strategic Decoupling: Evaluating U.S. and Chinese Use of Tariffs as Foreign Policy Tools
Full text linkThe present paper would explore tariffs employed by the United States and China to pursue their economic statecrafting as part of strategic decoupling. Based on realism, economic interdependence, and liberal institutionalism theories, the study examines how the two states have used trade policy as a weapon in achieving geopolitical aims especially in the Trump administration to the Biden period. The study will be devoted to Section 231 and 301 tariffs that are applied by the U.S., and counter measures of China that involve sensitive areas including agriculture, rare earth elements and high technology. The choice of case studies and empirical studies outlines how tariffs are used as an instrument of not only economic but also coercive policies, direction of resources back to the home country, and technological onshoring. The results indicate that tariffs have had a mixed level of success in meeting strategic objectives, but have contributed in great ways to breaking global supply chains, eroding the multilateral norms in the trade, and a drift toward bilateral and regional economic affiliations. It also examines the effects of having a strategic decoupling on the current global political economy since it enhances geoeconomic fragmentation and it undermines the usefulness of having the world trade organization. Finally, the paper demands that economic competition must be carried out in a fair and mutually supportive manner that will strengthen the stability of the global environment whilst protecting national interests
Effect of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) on Science Teachers’ Instructional and Assessment Practices
Full text linkThe purpose of the study was to determine the effect of Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) on science teachers’ instructional practices and assessment practices. Based on the pragmatist’s paradigm and mixed methods approach, the study used the Convergent parallel mixed methods design. Professional Learning communities (PLC) and Instructional and Assessment Practices Questionnaire (PLCIAQ) were used to collect data. The sample consisted of 17 in-service science teachers who participated in weekly PLC sessions in their schools for two years. The sample was purposively selected to include only science teachers. It was found that most of the teachers (76.5%) stated that PLCs positively affected their instructional practices. PLCs have a moderate effect on science teachers’ instructional practices (M = 3.71, SD = 0.92). It was found that PLCs have more effect on science teachers’ instructional practices (M = 3.94, SD = 1.03) followed by their classroom management practices (M = 3.88, SD = 1.27), student grouping practices (M = 3.82, SD = 1.13), science content taught (M = 3.71, SD = 1.26), teaching materials (M = 3.65, SD = 1.37), teaching methods (M = 3.65, SD = 1.41). It was also revealed that most of the science teachers (88.2%) think that PLCs positively affected their assessment practices. PLCs have a moderate effect on science teachers’ assessment practices (M = 3.73, SD = 0.71). It was found that PLC has influenced more on summative assessment (M = 3.94, SD = 0.75), followed by formative assessment (M = 3.82, SD = 1.07), and the kinds of questions asked (M = 3.71, SD = 1.05). Also, PLCs least affected frequency of assessments (M = 3.65, SD = 0.86) and assessments by collaborative teams (M = 3.41, SD = 1.12). Paired samples t-test revealed no statistically significant difference in science teachers’ instructional practices (M = 3.71, SD = .92) and their assessment practices (M = 3.74, SD = .71), t (16) = -.629, p = .791. However, Pearson’s correlation reveals a significant high correlation between science teachers’ instructional and assessment practices (r = .851, p = 0.000)
EXAMINING THE PERSONS DEPRIVED OF LIBERTY’S (PDLs) PARTICIPATION, PERCEPTION, AND SATISFACTION ON THE THERAPEUTIC COMMUNITY MODALITY PROGRAM OF BJMP CAUAYAN CITY USING MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
Full text linkThe fulfillment of human needs is one of the motivations for the optimal functioning of an individual. Maslow suggests that when these needs are unfulfilled, individuals may resort to frustrated actions. In penitentiary institutions, there exists a challenge to its fulfillment, which has impacted the reformation of PDLs. In this study, the researchers utilized a qualitative descriptive research design to determine if the Therapeutic Community Modality Program (TCMP) fulfills the needs of the PDLs. A semi-structured interview guide was crafted, and ethical considerations were strictly followed. The results show that in the TCM Program, PDLs serve as peer counselors, trustees, spiritual networkers, and Therapeutic Community (TC) leaders. Being in the said program, the PDLs experienced behavioral reformation, change in perspective, and spiritual recovery. The result also indicates that the PDLs’ needs according to Maslow’s theory were fulfilled in the implementation of TCMP especially in their physiological and esteem needs. However, such fulfillment indicates self-efficacy and social desirability bias. In terms of the impact of TCMP as a rehabilitating tool, it is perceived by the PDLs as a program with desirable results since it inculcates positive impacts. Conversely, this study also recognizes that PDLs receive negative criticism while undergoing the TCM Program
Faith, the subconscious mind and colonization: The construction of human reality
Full text linkFaith has been a transformative force in humanity, allowing the development of beliefs that, regardless of their objective veracity, have influenced behavior and the perception of the world. This article explores the relationship between faith, the subconscious mind, the imposition of new belief structures through colonization, and the search for truth as something not always desirable. It examines how precolonial cultures used faith as a means to activate their subconscious mind in healing processes and how the imposition of new religions and systems of thought altered this dynamic. If man dedicated his life to the search for absolute truth, would his inevitable destiny be despair or self-destruction
Educator-Athlete Mentorship: Experiences of Secondary School Sports Coaches in Balancing Academic and Sports Responsibilities
Full text linkIt is a qualitative-phenomenological research that examined the lived experiences of teacher coaches in a secondary school based on the private Catholic institution in Tagum City. The data were gathered through in- depth interviews and focus group discussions. Results showed that teacher-coaches had to deal with strong challenges, such as heavy time pressure, role conflict, institutional pressure and role strain, which resulted in exhaustion. However, respondents embraced different coping mechanisms like active planning, support amongst colleagues, and self-coping systems. The paper identifies the need to have well-organized support frameworks and policy changes that will foster sustainability and well-being of teacher-coaches in their holistic well-being and effectiveness as an educator and a sports mentor
If God exists eternally and creates at least one universe, then he creates an infinite number universes
Full text link According to many religions, God has created the world, i.e., he has created our universe. The universes, that God creates, we will call local universes.
Under Universe we will understand everything, i.e., all matter and energy that has existed, exists and will exist and outside of the universe there is nothing.
The principal result of the present paper is as follows: if God exists eternally and creates at least one universe, then he creates an infinite number of local universes and the initial moments of these local universes are unbounded from below and from above on the time axis. The union of these local universes is the whole universe (Theorem 2.2).
The above stated result is an addition to the basic situations about the creation of the world according to Roman Catholicism, Christianity and other religions.
Furthermore, in the paper a review is done of some results in relation with the three fundamental open questions of cosmology of the universe as a whole, namely:
1) does time of the universe have a beginning,
2) is the universe infinite or not and
3) origin and development of the universe as a whole and not of its separate regions
INTEGRATION OF FLIPPED CLASSROOM MODEL IN TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMME
Full text linkModern education requires new teaching methods that promote active learning, critical thinking, and digital literacy, as traditional approaches are insufficient to engage today's learners. The Flipped Classroom Model offers educators a chance to prepare for 21st-century classrooms by fostering active learning, integrating technology, and adopting a more student-centered pedagogy, wherein content is delivered outside the classroom and classroom time is utilized for interactive activities. The analysis aims to emphasize the integration of flipped classrooms in teacher education programs, the benefits of this model for student involvement, and evaluate the challenges faced by pre-service educators during the implementation of the flipped classroom approach. The researcher employed an exploratory research methodology and conducted a field survey to ascertain trainee instructors' perceptions and experiences of the flipped classroom idea in teacher education. The study participants were individuals who have experienced flipped classroom instruction as students or trainees. The research indicates that flipped classroom training improves pedagogical competence, technological skills, and the readiness of pre-service teachers for contemporary teaching, as facilitated by a structured curriculum and digital technology. It fosters engagement, direct instruction, personal reflection, and learner-centered pedagogy. The challenges include digital inequalities, faculty resistance, workload demands, and institutional obstacles. The study concludes that the flipped classroom model is a technology-driven strategy that cultivates essential pedagogical and digital competences in pre-service teachers, so preparing them for 21st-century teaching
Professional Engagement of Muslim Women: A Case Study in the Ampara District of Sri Lanka
Full text linkThe main objective of this study is to analyse the engagement of Muslim women in the professional fields and the influencing factors. As this is a qualitative-based research, data was collected from both primary and secondary sources through in-depth interviews and review of literature, respectively. Findings show that Muslim women’s involvement in professional field has increased. However, their contribution in the field of nursing, engineering, law and other sectors are very low except teaching and development officers. Moreover, even though women’s participation is higher in medical field, their involvement in special fields is lacking. The research identified that there are several factors led to dearth of professional filed such as job satisfaction in teaching profession, lack of family support and family responsibilities, social recognition, cultural practices, Religious obligation and values and financial difficulties. In Future, researchers can expand this topic based on specific fields and several other geographical regions
Working Conditions and Challenges of Motorcycle Repair Workshop Workers: Evidence from Lagankhel, Nepal
Full text linkThis paper examines working conditions and issues faced by workers in motorcycle repair workshops in Lagankhel, Nepal. Motorcycles are commonly used as a means of transportation in Nepal, particularly in urban areas like Kathmandu Valley. It is based on primary data collected during fieldwork. Using purposive sampling, data were collected from 30 workers through interviews and observations. The study highlights that most motorcycle repair workshop workers in Nepal are male and come from diverse caste and ethnic backgrounds, with many migrating from the Terai region and India. Working conditions of workers are worse, such as inadequate drinking water and toilets, and they face challenges such as long working hours, low wages, irregular payments, and job insecurity. The majority of the workers are experiencing insecurity in employment, having a daily wage of up to NPR 500, and excessively long working hours, such as 11 hours or more per day. Health hazards were common, including frequent cases of skin diseases, work-related injuries, and respiratory problems due to prolonged chemical exposure