UFS Publications Platform (Univ. of the Free State)
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French Language Teaching and Learning at the Tertiary Level in a Pandemic Lockdown Nigeria: Pressures and Prospects
Get PDFA pandemic lockdown situation is not much different from a war situation. Nations brainstorm on how to get on, get by and survive and do what can be done while hoping for a quick return to normalcy. Teaching and learning have been affected all over the world to an alarming extent due to the sudden break in studies. The teaching and learning of French language are by extension affected too. The study examined the bright side of the pandemic that in every war situation, opportunities abound. This article suggests what the teaching and learning of French language in Nigeria should look like in a pandemic lockdown at the tertiary level. This article aims to point at some gains for the Nigerian French Language teachers and students in a pandemic lockdown. French language teachers, French students, parents of French Language students, and the government all have practical roles to play, ensuring that the learning of the French language is not halted in a pandemic. The article sets basis, Skinner’s theory of behaviourism and Krashen’s second language acquisition theory as it discusses alternatives to the French students’ immersion program and French language teachers’ language training abroad
Stakeholders\u27 Perceptions of their Roles in Enhancing Discipline in Rural Community Schools
Get PDFThis paper summarises the perceptions of stakeholders\u27 roles in enhancing discipline in rural community schools. A mixed research design (qualitative and quantitative) was used in the study. The population was stratified into three- State, Local Government Areas and Rural Communities within the Local Government Areas. A multi-stage stratified random sample of 432 stakeholders was drawn from the six rural communities of Arochukwu and Ohafia Local Governments in Abia State, Nigeria. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to the stakeholders while structured questions were used for the Focus Group Discussions. The results showed that the stakeholders are in agreement that disciplinary measures are devised to promote and maintain a well-disciplined school environment, quality and equity education (mean = 3.95±0.05); but disagree that the School Board and Parent Teachers\u27 Associations take initiatives in the formulation of school regulations (2.64± 0.06). While management and implementation of discipline jointly significantly (p < 0.05) predicts access to quality and equity Basic Education, the teacher discipline and environment factors are negatively correlated with access to quality and equity in Basic Education. The study recommends partnership between the parents, teachers, school, and the community in addressing issues of the learners\u27 indiscipline in schools. An introduction of modified corporal punishment appropriate to the learners\u27 age and disposition can be implemented to salvage the learners and improve their academic performances
Assessment of Community Empowerment Activities in Longido and Kiteto Districts, Tanzania
Get PDFTanzania, like other developing countries, strives to empower its people. However, the achievement of empowerment goals at individual and community is still a challenge in some areas. The purpose of this study was to assess community empowerment activities in Longido and Kiteto districts, Tanzania. The study involved 282 respondents (184 male and 98 female) aged 23 years and above. The study adopted a qualitative approach, and a case study design was used. Data were collected through focused group discussions, in-depth interviews, documentary review and non-participant observation. Content analysis was used to analyse data. The findings showed that the empowerment activities targeted social and economic aspects were gender-sensitive. The activities were effective, and they brought real changes in people’s lives at individual and community levels. The study concluded that there is a need for more training on the management of empowerment activities to ensure the efficiency and sustainability of the activities. The study, therefore, recommends capacity building through training, gender sensitivity in access to and control over the resources and improvement in health services
A Lexico-syntactic Analysis of Usages in Nigerian English: A Validation of its culturally Determined Context of Situation
Get PDFThis study aimed at validating Nigerian English as a language borne out of the culturally determined context of the situation of the Nigerian English speaker. It also aimed at analysing sentences from Nigerian English using Transformational Generative Grammar (TGG) to validate its grammaticality and syntax. The purpose was to validate Nigerian English as a variety of the English Language. This present study proposed that it was high time we stopped looking at Nigerian English as a deviation from the English Language and an error on the part of its speakers. In the article, we selected some Nigerian English expressions and analysed them using Transformational Generative Grammar rules to justify them to be grammatically and syntactically correct, and mutually intelligible. It was agreed that the issue of international intelligibility should not be the ground for judging if a language is incorrect. In the course of the study, it was discovered that Nigerian English is a variety of the English Language like Australian English, Canadian English, etc. which are also part of the world\u27s new Englishes born out of the cultural experience of the people and their attempt to express in clear terms their experiences. Based on our findings, we concluded that Nigerian English possesses all the properties a language should possess and should no longer be regarded as a deviation
Nexus between Family Socioeconomic Status and Alcohol Consumption Moderated by Religiosity among Secondary School Adolescents in Uganda
Get PDFThis paper focuses on the relationship between family socioeconomic status and alcohol consumption. It further covers the moderation effect of religiosity on the relationship between family socioeconomic status and alcohol consumption among secondary school adolescents in Bushenyi Ishaka Municipality in Uganda. The study employed a cross-sectional survey with quantitative method of data collection and analysis. The schools for the study were selected through a stratified proportionate sampling method. Schools were categorised into two strata; government and private secondary schools from which 6 of them were sampled and simple random sampling techniques were used to arrive at the final sample study of 404 participants from six schools. Data was collected using a self-administered questionnaire with standardised scales. The instrument comprised biodata, SES scale, religiosity, spiritual scale for Youth, and AUDIT Test for Alcohol use. Responses were obtained from a total of 404 participants who included females as the majority (54.7%). The mean age of the students was 15.91. Results show that there was a significant relationship between family socioeconomic status (SES) and alcohol consumption. Religiosity had significant positive moderation effect on the relationship between family socioeconomic status and alcohol consumption among secondary school adolescents. Religiosity is a strong resilience and deters adolescents from consuming alcohol regardless of their family socioeconomic status
Influence of Socio-Demographic Factors on the Beliefs and Attitudes of Male Students towards Help-Seeking in Universities
Get PDFYoung male adults in the tertiary institution are often reticent to seek help for their psychological concerns. It is necessary to investigate beliefs and attitudes underlying male students\u27 decision to seek or not to seek help, to increase understanding about why this occurrence is so. This study aimed to examine the influence of socio-demographic variables on the beliefs and attitudes of male students towards help-seeking within a University in Nigeria. A standardized questionnaire examining beliefs, attitudes as well as factors that influence help-seeking behaviours of male students in Nigeria was used to elicit responses from 323 male students from all faculties and across all levels. Analysis of data revealed that religion, family type and previous counselling experience demographic variables had a significant influence on the beliefs and attitudes of male students towards help-seeking. Practitioners and policymakers attempting to improve male students\u27 help-seeking behaviour need to pay more attention to underlying factors that influence help-seeking. This understanding will assist them in designing tailor-made intervention programmes to enhance help-seeking.  
Human Resource Career Development Practices and Retention of Secondary Schools’ Teachers in Rubabo County, Rukungiri District, Uganda
Get PDFThis study examined the relationship between human resource career development practices and retention of teachers in secondary schools in Rubabo County, Rukungiri District, Uganda. The objectives of the study were to establish the relationship between employee performance appraisal, staff training practices, promotion practices and retention of teachers in secondary schools in Rubabo County Rukungiri District. The study adopted the correlational research design on a sample of 153 using a self-administered questionnaire. Data were analysed using quantitative data analysis methods namely; descriptive statistics that were frequencies, percentages and means, and inferential analyses that were correlation and regression analyses. Descriptive analysis revealed that teacher retention, performance appraisal, training practice and promotion were moderate. Regression analysis revealed that training had a positive and significant influence on the retention of teachers but employee performance appraisal and promotion practices had a positive but insignificant influence on the retention of teachers. Therefore, it was concluded that training was a pre-requisite for promotion retention of teachers. However, employee performance appraisal and promotion in the schools were weak to influence the retention of workers. It was thus recommended that the government of Uganda and schools’ authorities provide teachers with opportunities for training. Still, the Education Service Commission, headteachers and foundation bodies which are responsible for the promotion of teachers should reform the promotional practices in order to provide higher chances of promotion since promotion was almost non-existent. In addition, school headteachers should implement an effective performance appraisal system because it was low in schools
Effect of Individualised Creative Mapping on Students’ Conceptual Understanding and Sustained Knowledge in Biology
Get PDFSustaining national development, which emerges from science and technology activities, is not dissociated from effective science education. This connection is anchored on adequate understanding of the concepts and processes of science. The quest for comprehensive scientific understanding and sustained knowledge by citizens necessitated the need to examine the effect of innovative teaching strategies in this wise. This study examined the effect of individualised creative map construction on students’ conceptual understanding and sustained knowledge in Biology. Four null hypotheses, tested at 0.05 level of significance, guided the study. A pretest-posttest delayed posttest control group, quasi-experimental design with 2×2 factorial matrix. Sixty-two biology students were purposively selected from two secondary schools as participants. The instruments used for the study were Biology Conceptual Knowledge Test (r=0.85) and Teachers’ Instructional Guides on Mindmapping strategy. Data were analysed using Analysis of Covariance and Estimated Marginal Means. The results revealed that treatment had a significant main effect on students’ conceptual understanding (F(1,57) =50.67; p<0.05, partial ?2 = .47) and sustained knowledge in biology (F(1,57) = 31.26; p<0.05, partial ?2 = 0.082). Treatment and gender had no interaction effect on students’ conceptual understanding and sustained knowledge in Biology with p>0.05. The study concluded that individualised creative map construction had significant positive effect on students’ conceptual understanding and sustained knowledge in biology than lecture method. It was recommended that teachers and curriculum developers should employ creative cognitive maps which enable the students to plan, coordinate and regulate their learning to enhance improvement in biology learning and sustain scientific concepts for future generatio
Work Environment and Provision of Instructional Facilities as Correlates of Academic Staff Job Performance in Nigerian Universities
Get PDFThis study investigated work environment and provision of instructional facilities as correlates of academic staff job performance in Nigerian universities. Descriptive research of survey design was used to carry out this study. The population of the study consisted of all academic staff in all the public universities in Southwest, Nigeria. The researchers utilised two sets of research instruments titled Academic Staff Job Performance Questionnaire (ASJPQ) and Infrastructure, Allocated Funds and Job Performance Questionnaire (IAFJPQ) for students and lecturers respectively. Data analyses indicated that there is a significant relationship between work environment and academic staff job performance and also a significant relationship between the provision of instructional facilities and academic staff job performance. Based on the findings, it was concluded that adequate attention should be paid to work environment and provision of instructional materials by the universities management for effective teaching and learning process in the universities. Recommendations were made on the need by the government to improve on the funding of the universities in order to ensure good quality in the instructional delivery
Socio-Economic Laxity on University Students: Implication for Social Values and Sexual Morality
Get PDFThe rate at which social values are being eroded in recent times among the Nigerian university undergraduates is very alarming. The position of their parents’ wellness and economic power are pointers to values erosion and compliance. Morality has degenerated globally, with particular reference to university undergraduates in southwest Nigeria. This calls for concern and urgent attention to ameliorate the upsurge. The study adopted descriptive research design of the survey type. The population consisted of all university undergraduates in both public and private universities in southwest Nigeria. The sample size consisted of 1,581 undergraduates were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure. An instrument tagged “Values Awareness and Compliance Questionnaire” (VACQ) was used to collect data for the study. Cronbach’s Alpha reliability Coefficient Analysis was used to determine the reliability coefficient which stood at 0.92 after the face and content validity had been ensured by experts in Social Studies, Sociology, and Tests, Measurement and Evaluation. The data collected were analysed using ANOVA and t-test analyses. The three hypotheses generated were tested at 0.05 level of significance. The study revealed that socio-economic status of parents did not significantly influence university undergraduates’ social values however, the socio-economic status of parents significantly influenced university undergraduates’ sexual morality. Based on the results, it was recommended that private university proprietors should identify the reasons behind the problems of undergraduates’ values degradation and parents of university undergraduates should not use their bad past experience and present affluence living to jeopardize the inculcation of right values in their wards as regards compliance and assist them to desist from sexual immorality especially as it involves more male undergraduates than female undergraduates