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Influence of Entrepreneur and Firm Characteristics in Accessing Bank finance
No full textSMEs are mostly guided by the owners’ characteristics which is an indicator of the level of decisions taken in the firm. Access to credit is a prerequisite for a high performance of an SME. The paper aimed at establishing the empirical link between entrepreneurs and firm characteristics and access to bank financing by SMEs in Eldoret town. Descriptive and explanatory research designs were employed in the study. A chi-square test of association was used to determine the relationship between study variables. The study findings indicated that gender and number of employees had a significant influence on access to bank financing. Male entrepreneurs are more likely to get bank financing compared to their female counterparts, while an increase in the number of employees increases the success rate of getting bank financing. However, age, education, business form, number of years of operation, stage of business and average turnover were found to be insignificant in obtaining funding. The study concluded that entrepreneur characteristics namely gender and relation to business and firm characteristics specifically structure of the business, economic sector and the average turnover determines the likelihood of banks financing SMEs. Entrepreneurial and firm characteristics were found to be important in access to bank financing. The study recommended that government and other service providers incorporate additional simplified components to their training packages to cover such areas as bookkeeping and development of business plans. Banks should develop lending policies which are friendly to Small and Medium Enterprise contexts.
Keywords: Entrepreneur, firm characteristics, access, bank financing, SME
Public Institution Policy and Child Welfare in Rwanda: A Case of Duhamic Adri Kicukiro District
No full textThis research entitled “Public institution policy and child welfare in Rwanda, was carried out into one general objective which was: to evaluate the effects of public institution policy on child welfare in Kicukiro District-Rwanda. The study tackled on how to improve child welfare regardless of child hardships such as poverty among families. Some of families in Kicukiro District fail to send their children to school with results being hardships during their early ages. Descriptive research design was employed as a blueprint to guide the study. The sample size of this study is 190 respondents, selected from DUHAMIC ADRI beneficiaries, head of families, local authorities such as district and sector social affairs and owners. The purposive sampling technique; stratified random sampling and purposive techniques were used. Data collection methods were questionnaire and interviews in terms of focus group interview guide. The findings showed that 78.5% were at the agreement side that stakeholders play a big role in the implementation of public policies to child welfare activities, 87.9% of the local leaders affirmed that to ensure child welfare, ones should build the capacity of the families. A multiple regression analysis show that child welfare monitoring is more likely to affect the improvement of child welfare with a p value of 0.002, the correlation between ensuring child labor monitoring and reduction of child labor rate is revealed to be significant with a p value of 0.000, all other independent variables were statistically correlated with the child welfare since their p value was less than 0.05. The recommendations were drawn to the City of Kigali-Kicukiro District leadership which should enhance its monitoring and evaluation in order to ensure that child labor monitoring is implemented accordingly, while Kicukiro District and Sector levels should conduct regular inspections in order to maintain the labor laws and identify whether there are places where children indulge in child hardship.
Key Words: Child welfare, Child Protection Policy, Child Labour, and Child Right
Enriching Program Evaluation Utilization in Selected Chartered Christian Kenyan Universities through Human Resource Management and Development
No full textHigher education in Africa has marked a rise not only in the number of institutions, academic programs and students, but also in monitoring and evaluation of its processes and products. However, there is still scanty evidence of whether or how the evaluation results are used and what factors affect their use or non-use. The researcher adopted the quantitative correlation design to study associations between human factors and the use or non-use of PE results in selected Chartered Christian Universities (CCUs) in Kenya. A population census of program leaders of 50 accredited, operational and re-evaluated academic programs in three CCUs was conducted. A questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive and inferential analysis was done. Pearson Chi-square and Cramer’s V tests were used to determine the association between faculty and staff evaluation skills, involvement in program evaluation process, and commitment to use the evaluation results (independent variables) and use or non-use of program evaluation results (dependent variable). The findings revealed that evaluators’ and users’ evaluation skills, involvement and commitment to use the results had a moderate, positive and statistically significant correlation with the use or non-use of evaluation results to modify a component of the program. This was shown by ?2 (1df) =6.549a, p -value =.010 and Cramer’s V of .400 (p=.010) for the level of faculty and staff evaluation skills; ?2 (1df) =8.168a, p -value = .004 and Cramer’s V of .446 (p=.004) for faculty and staff involvement in PE evaluation process; and by ?2 (1df) =5.373a , p -value = .020 and Cramer’s V of .362 (p = .020) for faculty and staff commitment to use the evaluation results. The findings suggest that when the level of faculty and staff evaluation skills, involvement and commitment to use the results is high, the use of evaluation results is likely to increase. The researcher therefore recommends enactment of institutional policies and evaluation practices that will increase faculty and staff level of evaluation skills, participation in the evaluation process, and commitment to use evaluation results, since these human factors tend to enhance the use of evaluation results.
Keywords: Program evaluation, evaluation use, evaluation human factors, evaluation capacity, quality education, higher education, Christian universities
Challenges Facing the Implementation of the Low-Cost Boarding Primary Schools in Kajiado County and Suggestions to Assist in Improvement of the Implementation of the Programme
No full textThe Kenya National education sector strategic plan 2018-22, highlighted the challenges facing the ASAL region in relation to provision of education to include: the mobile nature of the community which make the provision of formal learning in fixed schools difficult; Persistent security issues in some ASAL regions that frequently interrupt learning; inadequate boarding facilities in the Low-cost Boarding Schools; Geographic barriers such as the rough terrain and long distances to the existing schools; Weak management and capacity of school boards of management; weak co-ordination frame work between various stakeholders that support education provision in ASAL regions; Poor school performance in national examinations; inhibitive cultural practices that impact negatively on access to quality education and high levels of poverty that makes it difficult to provide for hidden educational costs. The Government of Kenya established low-cost boarding primary schools (LCBPs) in the ASAL regions and pledged to provide boarding facilities, food items and all other supplies while the parents provide students personal effects to operationalize the LCBPs initiative. Eleven (11) of the (392) Kenya’s LCBPs were in Kajiado County with an enrollment of 4,176 in 2016 and were under enrolled by the national standards. This process evaluation of the LCBPs used Sequential Mixed method, cross sectional and a case study designs. The sample of the study was drawn from all pupils, teachers, and head teachers in low-cost boarding primary schools in Kajiado County. Education officials and representatives of development partners supporting provision of education in Kajiado County provided useful information. Data was collected using questionnaires, interview schedules as well as observation of facilities. The findings of the study revealed that some of the challenges that were facing the implementation of LCBPs in Kajiado County were; inadequate funding by the national government, inadequate boarding facilities (both infrastructure and other facilities), inadequate teaching and support staff, delayed disbursements of funds by government, the levies charged by School prohibit local pupils from accessing LCBPs, nomadic–pastoral parents were unable to pay the charges by LCBPs, there was low awareness on value for education by nomadic parents, the dormitories in the LCBPs were congested forcing learners to share facilities like beds and mattresses that made them uncomfortable, food was inadequate and not balanced, instructional materials were inadequate and the LCBPs environment is unsecure for girls. The study concluded that most schools had inadequate water and poor sanitary facilities like toilets and that the school compounds had no fence around them exposing the learners to insecurity, there was poor transport networks serving the schools and majority of the schools had introduced unregulated levies which had affected enrollments. The study thus recommended that the Ministry of education should establish a strategy with a multi- sectorial outlook to coordinate and link up all service provision in the ASAL regions by all Ministries and departments for the benefit of education provision.
Keywords: Challenges, Implementation, Suggestions, Improvement, Assistance, LCBPS, Programme
Effects of Technology on School Going Children in United States of America
No full textIn the last few decades, technology has completely revolutionized the way we do things, from the way we socialize and everything in between. One of the most noticeable differences is in the way children play and interact with each other compared with previous generations. The amount of time children spend on their devices has increased exponentially, and there is a concern that it is affecting their overall growth and development. Even though the recommended screen time by the American Pediatrics Association is at most 2 hours for preschool children and no screen time for children below the age of 2, a study by the University of Washington found that 66% of children under the age of 5 exceed this limit having an average of 4.1 hours' screen time a day. By adolescence age, their screen time soars to about 7.5 hours a day with more than a fourth of the time used multitasking between media leading to a total average time of about 10 hours, 45 minutes. It is, therefore, possible to see that technology has a negative effect on children since it affects their physical, mental, and social development as well as bring about adverse health outcomes. Children have become so stuck on their screens that they are not able to live in the real world. This has led to an increase in the rates of child obesity, mental health problems, a decline in social skills, among others. To facilitate the development of more holistic and healthy individual's parents should teach their children responsible and conscious behaviors when it comes to the internet. They should also limit and monitor online usage to ensure that children stay safe from potential risks and dangers that lurk on technological devices as well as ensure that they don't expose children to technology at an early age to make sure they are able to develop properly in their physical, mental and social capacities.
Keywords: Technology, Children & United States of Americ
Relationship between Church Appointed School Administrative Leadership and the Management of the Students’ Unrest in Siaya County
No full textThis study analyzed the relationship between church appointed school administrative leadership and the management of the students’ unrest in Siaya County. The study was underpinned on the structural functioning theory. The study targeted catholic sponsored secondary schools in the county from which the sample size was taken. The study adopted a pragmatic approach method therefore employing concurrent triangulation mixed method design. Questionnaires, interviews and document analysis were used as data collection methods. The quantitative data was analyzed descriptively through frequencies and percentages using SPSS Version 26. Qualitative data was transcribed and analyzed through content analysis approach. The outcome of the study was evidence of disparities between numbers of student unrest among the church appointed school administrator institutions in comparison to the government appointed school administrator institutions. The church appointed administrators had less incidences of student unrest in comparison to those schools with government appointed administrators and this difference was statistically significant. The findings indicated a positive and significant correlation between church appointed administrative leadership and sponsorship of development projects with the management of student unrest. The study concludes that student involvement and inclusion in planning of development projects of church sponsors and students would contribute to the reduction of student unrest cases. The study thus recommended that the sponsor should actively participate in school operations for stability; facilitation of spiritual guidance and development projects. There is need for more channels of communication between students, the church, and school management on issues and matters that may result in student unrest.
Keywords: Church appointed, School administrative, Leadership, Management Students’ unrest, Siaya County
Effect of Capacity Building of Teachers on Performance of the Students in Higher Institutions of Learning in Turkey
No full textPerformance is the measurement of student achievement across various academic subjects. Teachers and education officials typically measure performance using classroom performance, graduation rates and results from standardized tests. Academic achievement is vital for the successful development of young people in society. Students who do well in school are better able to transition into adulthood and achieve occupational and economic success. Thus, the study sought to examine the relationship between teachers' capacity building and students' performance in higher institutions of learning in Turkey. The research was a desktop review. The findings and inferences were based on the results from previous studies. The research findings indicated that the relationship between the capacity building of teachers and the performance of the students in higher institutions of learning is positive. The study results showed that capacity building for teachers is done through continuous professional development to improve the quality of education. Capacity-building approaches purposefully minimize an over-reliance on outside experts/lectures as sources of knowledge, resources and solutions. The study recommended that capacity building of the teachers should be encouraged within the higher learning institutions in Turkey. The study further recommended the capacity building of the teachers can include organizing for benchmarks, seminars and enrollment in tertiary instructions. Further, it was recommended that teachers be given some holidays/breaks so they can refresh themselves. Capacity-building methods that are participatory and develop a culture of shared learning need to be encouraged within institutions. Further, it was recommended that needs analyses, essentially the capacity-building methods need to be examined regularly. This will facilitate the institutions to identify and determine the capacity that needs to be built in teachers.
Keywords: Capacity Building, Teachers, Performance, Students, Higher Institutions of Learning, Turke
Influence of Motivation on Academic Performance of Students in Germany
No full textMotivation builds determination to achieve something. Motivated learners put in their maximum effort for achieving high academic performance in school. Thus, the study sought to examine the influence of motivation on the academic performance of students in Germany. The research adopted the cross-sectional research design. The target population was 374 teachers and students. The study did a sampling of 193 respondents that were selected from the target population of 374. Questionnaires were used to collect the data. The analysis of the data was done using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study results indicated that motivation is positively and significantly related to academic performance (B=.243, p=0.017). The results implied that when motivation improves by one unit, the academic performance among the students in Germany will increase by 0.243 units while other factors that influence the academic performance are held constant. The research concluded that sub-factors such as self-efficacy, active learning approaches and success goals have positive and considerable relationships with academic performance among the learners. The research suggested that the motivation of the students’ needs to be fostered by teachers. The motivation of the students can maintain students' attention and behavior as well as provide with more energy to needed to lead tasks to completion. The study also recommended teachers need to encourage students, make learning fun, have one-on-one conversations and get parents involved in the students' learning process. It was also recommended that performing students be rewarded. The study further recommended that teachers need to give students as much control over their own education as possible and let them choose the topics that interest them in some cases.
Keywords: Motivation, Academic Performance, Students, German
The influence of the Headteachers’ Provision of Security Measures on Retention of Girls in Community Day Secondary Schools in Mchinji District, Malawi
No full textThe purpose of the study was to investigate whether provision of security measures by the headteachers as strategy influence retention of girls in community day secondary schools in Mchinji district. The study was triggered by the concerns emanating from the teachers on increase of school dropouts among girls in community day secondary schools in Malawi. The study was anchored on Tinto’s theory of retention. The study employed explanatory sequential mixed method research design. The target population included: the students, teachers, headteachers, education officer and chief elders. The study purposively sampled 15 headteachers, one education officer and five chief elders. Additionally, the researcher sampled 80 teachers and used simple random to sample 315 girls, with a total sample size of 416 (12.4%) of the target population. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) software Version 21. The study used descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages to summarize the data and present it in form of tables. Qualitative data were manually analyzed by organizing into themes and interpreted in a narrative form and direct quotes. The findings revealed that community day secondary schools in Mchinji district did not have fences, security guards, hostels, locked gates, doors and windows to increase the security of the students and of the school, an indication that community day secondary schools lacked security measures to retain the students in Mchinji district. The study thus recommended that headteachers should cooperate with the board of management Parent teacher Association (PTA) to make sure that security measures are found in order to retain girls in Community Day Secondary Schools.
Keywords: Headteachers’, administrative strategy, provision of security measures. Retention of girls, dropout, Community Day Secondary Schools
Impact of Internal Mechanisms on Corporate Governance: Case of Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals Limited, United Kingdom
No full textCorporate governance is the collection of systems, procedures and relations utilized by numerous parties to regulate and run a business. Governance structures and principles identify the distribution of rights and responsibilities among different participants in the business, such as the board of directors, managers, shareholders, creditors, auditors, regulators and stakeholders. The study sought to examine the impact of internal mechanisms on corporate governance in GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited in the United Kingdom. The study adopted the descriptive research design. The target population included employees from the management level in the company. The research instruments adopted included questionnaires. The results of the study showed that Internal Mechanisms has a positive and significant association with Corporate Governance in GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals Limited. The regression results depicted that internal mechanisms explain 26.4% of the variations in corporate governance. Further, it was established that a positive and significant relationship exists between internal mechanisms and corporate governance. The study showed that internal mechanisms included the oversight of management, independent internal audits and structure of the board of directors. The study concluded that internal mechanisms are key in determining corporate governance. The study recommended that there is a need to have clarity in corporate governance because it assists in operating the business properly since more shareholders and investors are willing to invest in the particular business. The directors and owners of the business should be people of great integrity and highly qualified to run the business in a professional way that will not bring losses or failure in the future. Employees who perform excellently should be rewarded to continue with that spirit of hard work that makes the business thrive well.
Keywords: Internal mechanisms, corporate governance, Glaxosmithkline Pharmaceuticals Limited, United Kingdo