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Innovation as an Enabler of Humanitarian NGO’s Performance: A Review of Literature
No full textInnovation is already and irreversibly part of the humanitarian organisations, driven by a demand for new models, growing private sector engagement, rapid technological change, need for better, faster, efficient and effective ways of assisting vulnerable communities. Donors and governments are demanding for ‘value for money’ for their contributions made through NGOs, The biggest risk is for NGOs not to innovate. Humanitarian NGO performance on the other hand remains an area that has received low interest to researchers and scholars, the situation has not been made better by the different opinions as to how to define and measure performance therefore the need to have clear empirical corroboration of NGO performance. The impact of innovations on performance of profit making organizations has received much attention to researchers, however from empirical studies on innovation as an enabler of Humanitarian NGO performance remains scarce. This paper attempts to review related literature on the subject with a view of highlighting it as an emergent agenda for more scholarly engagement. The review highlights theories underpinning innovation and performance, mentions some types of innovations and definition of performance from the humanitarian non-governmental organizations perspective and finally highlighting gaps in theoretical and empirical literature for further research on the topic.
Keywords: Product Innovation, Process Innovation, NGO’s & Performance
Effects of Financial Inclusion and Awareness Creation on Women Empowerment in Kalawa Ward, Makueni County-Kenya
No full textDespite the ever-increasing number of NGOs in Makueni County aimed at socio-economic empowerment of women, gender inequalities are persistent and poverty levels are high. This is evident by low participation of women in decision making process, control over ownership and access of resources and wealth, increased poverty levels, increased cases of gender-based violence. This has necessitated the need to establish the role of NGOs in women empowerment in Makueni County. The purpose of the study was to establish the role of NGOs in financial inclusion of women and the creation of awareness on property rights for women. The anchor theory for this study is the Women Empowerment Framework by Sara Longwe and the other theories used in the study include Kabeers 3-dimensional model; the public goods theory of financial inclusion. The study population was 60 women groups in Kalawa ward, Makueni County who have benefited from the NGOs programs. The total number of respondents were 1254 and a sample size of 294 was used. The findings revealed that financial inclusion and awareness creation on the right to own resources and property influence women empowerment. The focus group discussions highlighted that the NGOs are doing very little in regards to awareness creation on the right of ownership of resources and property. Women cited that discrimination, being left out of development agenda, illiteracy and patriarchal nature of the society as the major challenge. The study recommendations were that NGOs, National and County Governments should provide linkage to markets for the products from the income generating activities by women groups. Both Government and NGOs should develop frameworks to engage women in development agenda.
Keywords: Women Empowerment, Financial Inclusion, Awareness Creation, NGOs, Makueni County
Parental Involvement and Students’ Discipline in Twelve Years Basic Education Schools in Rwanda: A Case Study of Nyarugenge District
No full textIf the discipline of school-aged children is not given a high consideration by both parents and school, the school community becomes dangerous, the educational programs get disrupted and School becomes dysfunctional due to the low partnership between parents and the school itself. This study is entitled parental involvement and students’ discipline in twelve years basic education schools: a case study of Nyarugenge District. The main purpose of this research was to examine the involvement of parents on students’ discipline in twelve year basic education in Rwanda. This study was guided by three specific objectives: to identify cases of indiscipline in twelve years basic education in Nyarugenge District, to examine areas of parental involvement in students’ discipline control in twelve years basic education in Nyarugenge District and to establish the relationship between parental involvement and students’ discipline in twelve years basic education in Nyarugenge District. The findings of this study will serve as advantageous to school leaders, educational policy makers in MINEDUC, parents and other educational stakeholders in Rwanda who are involved in controlling the students’ discipline. The research design used was explorative, descriptive survey and correlational design. The target population was 400 respondents including 6 head teachers, 280 teachers, 42 parents’ representatives, and 72 students. Simple random sampling, stratified random sampling and purposive sampling were the techniques used. Slovin’s formula was used to select the sample size which came to 200 respondents to participate in this study. Data collection instruments were questionnaires and guided interview. Both quantitative and qualitative data analysis techniques were descriptive, inferential and thematic approach. Tables, figures, and textual models were used as techniques of findings presentation. Conclusions were drawn and recommendations given forward after analysing collected data. From the research findings 39% of teachers, 57% of students and 63% of PTC representatives confirmed that absenteeism, noise in classrooms, truancy and drug abuse commonly occur in 12YBE schools. It was confirmed by 50% of teachers, 62% of students and 56% of PTC representatives that parents are not adequately involved in students’ discipline control in the areas of effective inter-communication with the teachers and other school authorities, rewarding students for good behaviours, visiting students for discussing their discipline with teachers and other school authorities and attendance of school meeting on discipline. The study on third objective found that a significant low degree of positive relationship exists between parental involvement and students’ discipline in 12YBE schools in Rwanda. This was supported by Karl Pearson coefficient of correlation (r) of 0.208 from teachers’ responses, 0.307 from students’ responses and 0.401 from PTC representatives’ responses. The study recommends that the parents should take into consideration their involvement in their students discipline control by adequately communicating with the teachers and school authorities, rewarding their students once they show pleasant positive behaviours and even visiting their students for discipline issues when it is not perfectly appropriate. School leaders should regularly prepare school meetings for the purpose of discussing and make decisions on the strategies of improving students’ discipline. It is also recommended that government policy makers in the ministry of education should set up a special policy to arouse parents to participate in their students’ discipline improvement and highlighting different areas under which parents should get involved in their students’ discipline control in 12YBE schools in Rwanda. The study suggests that the same study can be carried out in public boarding schools in any district in Rwanda other than Nyarugenge to come up with comparative analysis. Moreover, further research can establish the use of social media on the discipline of the students in 12YBE schools in Rwanda.
Key words: Parental involvement, students’ discipline, Twelve Years Basic Education
Effect of child abuse on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Rwanda
No full textThe improvement of students’ academic performance can be affected by various factors including factors including getting abused. The child abuse has taken as a high-risk factor that can significantly affect the level of students’ academic performance. The purpose of this paper therefore, was to identify the effect of child abuse on students’ academic performance in public secondary schools in Kicukiro district in Rwanda. The target population included 418 respondents that provided the sample size of 204 got using Yamane formula. Interview guide and questionnaire were used as data collection instruments. Correlation research design was employed. The findings revealed that sexual harassment, getting heavy work and heavy punishment to a child are considered to be one of the factors associated to abusing children. It was established that these factors associated with children reduce the level of students’ academic performance in public secondary schools of Kicukiro district in Rwanda like students’ grade and promotion rates. This study also established that child abuse can affect the level of students’ academic performance at 7.9% and the remaining 92.1% could be explained by other factors. The paper revealed there is a statistically significant negative relationship between child abuse and students’ academic performance where the Karl Pearson coefficient of Correlation (r) = -0.137 was obtained. This implied that abusing children in secondary schools affect their academic performance negatively. This paper recommended that Ministry of Education should make policy that strengthens the children right at school and outside in order fight against child abuse. Educational planners should make effective set up that should enhance students' academic performance so as to reduce the level of child abuse in public secondary schools in Rwanda. The study also recommended that school head teachers should follow up the implementation of rules and regulations so that students' academic performance can be improved and make sure that students are treated well at home and at school without being more stressed. The parents need to encourage their children to perform effectively so as to improve their academic performance.
Keywords: Child abuse, academic performance, abuse, heavy punishment and secondary school
Application of Information and Communication technology and in Singapore: Literature Based Review
No full textThe application of ICT in classroom has taken learning instructions in storm. ICT is being used to teach languages, math and sciences. This study was literature based relying on past studies to know the application of ICT in learning. Generally, technology is vital in many sectors of society and its application into the education practices has great impact for children studies. Through it, there is increased effective and efficiency to both learners and parents. It can as well prompt pedagogical change and solve problems which are hindering studying and learning. It can therefore be viewed as both a tool and a motivator for reforms. Learners should love it for them to gain and teachers ought to be willing to launch technology into the classes create and enhance their teaching activity. Teachers must have enough access to computers that are working and enough support that is technical.
Key words: Information Technology, teaching, Singapor
Outcomes of Technology Integration in Instruction by Higher Learning Institutions in Asia: Perspective from Malaysia
No full textMalaysian Higher Learning institutions have embraced ICT skills in teaching and learning to ensure career readiness among learners. Information Communication Technology tools provide the opportunity for educators to address problem-solving and project-based learning in both face-to-face and blended learning. However, there have been issues of educators’ awareness and skills in utilizing the technology tools in the instructional processes. The purpose of the study was to establish the Outcomes of Technology Integration in Instruction by Higher Learning Institutions in Asia with a focus on Malaysia. The paper was a literature based in which comprehensive review of existing literature on technology integration in Education was interrogated to come up with study themes. The empirical literature was reviewed to identify main themes and conclusion drawn based on the reviewed literatures. The study found that factors that influenced integration of ICT in the primary teacher training colleges in Malaysia included: adequacy of internet connectivity, adequacy of computer hardware, adequacy of computer software, maintenance of ICT infrastructure, training of personnel in ICT, teacher workload, teacher gender, teacher age, presence of ICT policy and adequacy of fund. Additionally, lecturers were found to be aware of the relevance of Web 2.0 tools for instructional purposes. However, they highlighted low internet speed as the main challenge in their efforts to integrate technology into their instructional activities. This research contributes to the area of TPACK (Technology Pedagogical Content Knowledge) by highlighting the application of computer-related technologies into classroom instruction and how such technologies are matched with learner-centered instructional strategies to enhance learners’ 21st century skills that are essential for career readiness. This paper concludes that integrating technology in instruction will serve as a strategy for leveraging education in Malaysia if first-order barriers such as insufficient ICT infrastructure, limited ICT competency among teachers and tutors and lack of comprehensive ICT training are addressed effectively. The study recommends that, the managements of higher learning institutions in the country should provide teachers with regular trainings and seminars on how to adopt ICT in the teaching and learning process.
Key words: Technology integration, higher learning institutions, ICT, Malaysi
Role of Occupation, Teaching Related Matters, Working Conditions and Interpersonal Relations on Job Satisfaction of Teachers Working in Rural Secondary Schools in Murang’a South District, Kenya
No full textThe paper sought to examine the role of occupation, teaching related matters, working conditions and interpersonal relations on job satisfaction of teachers working in rural secondary schools in Murang’a South District, Kenya. Descriptive survey design was used to carry out the study, while the research instrument comprised questionnaires, interview schedules and observation. Both stratified and simple random samplings were employed to select schools and teachers, while purposive sampling was used to sample principals and their deputies. Further, purposive sampling was used to collect data from interviews. The sample size comprised 139 participants (12 were principals, 17 deputy principals and 127 teachers). Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The study findings indicated that younger teachers recorded a higher satisfaction than older teachers. Female teachers unlike in the other findings reported lower level of job satisfaction. Teachers with higher academic levels of education were slightly more satisfied with the teaching profession than those with a diploma level of education. The study concluded that the fact that over half of the teachers expressed overall job dissatisfaction should be a cause for alarm. Thus, issues of teacher job satisfaction related to occupation, teaching-related matters and working conditions should be addressed urgently by the relevant authorities. The study recommended that understanding factors that contribute to teacher job satisfaction is essential in improving the information base needed to support a successful educational system.
Keywords: Occupation, Working Conditions, Interpersonal Relations, Job Satisfaction, Rural Secondary Schools, Murang’a South District, Keny
Impact of Student Councils involvement in School Policy Formulation on School Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Meru County
No full textThe cases of students’ unrests in secondary schools have been rampant across the country. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of student council’s involvement in school policy formulation on students’ discipline in public secondary schools in Meru County. The study adopted mixed methods approach. The target population was deputy principals, heads of departments of guidance and counselling, and presidents of student councils all drawn from 326 secondary schools of Meru County summing up to a total population of 978 respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect data from heads of guidance and counselling department and presidents of student councils while interviews schedules were used to collect data from deputy principles. The findings indicated that students’ council involvement in policy formulation was statistically associated with the level of students’ discipline in secondary schools. This was supported by the log odds result where a unit increase in students council involvement on policy formulation does improve the odds of the level of discipline being satisfactory as indicated by the exponential beta results (Exp (B) = 6.271). An improvement on student councils’ involvement on policy formulation increases the probability of having satisfactory discipline in secondary schools by 6.271 times. Therefore, at P= 0.023<.05 level of significance the null hypothesis is rejected and accepts the alternate hypotheses implying that student council’s involvement in school policy formulation has a significant influence on students’ discipline. It can therefore be concluded that schools with high students’ council involvement on policy formulation have higher chances of having higher level of students discipline as compared to those without or with low student council involvement in policy formulation. The school administration should involve student’s council in the management of discipline by engaging them in amendment, formulating and enforcing school rules and regulations. This would reduce indiscipline cases in the school and improve on their management of students’ discipline.
Keywords: Student Council’s Involvement, School Policy Formulation to enhance, Students’ Discipline, Public Secondary School
Security Reporting System and Performance among Police Officers in Lamu County, Kenya
No full textIneffectiveness in police performance has been a major problem among many policing organizations the world over. Inadequacies in the organizational structure can damage workers and their efficiency, which in turn affects the performance of the organization. This research determined the effect of security reporting system on performance of police officers in Kenya. The descriptive research design was adopted. Qualitative and quantitative techniques of data analysis were used. The findings indicated that coefficient of security reporting system had a positive and significant relationship with performance of police officers (r=.572, P=.000). This denoted that performance of police officers increases as the reporting system improves. The study concluded that reporting procedures are complicated, information received is not sufficient for decision making and there is no access to real-time information. It was recommended that the National Police Service should put up measures to streamline the reporting system and free it from complications. Also, modern equipment and technology to enhance reporting need to be installed.
Keywords: Security Reporting System, Performance, Police Officer
The Relationship between Corporate Governance and Performance of Insurance Companies in Kenya
No full textThe environment in which insurance companies operate has been fraught with various corporate governance challenges that have hindered their progress. Thus, a deliberate effort has to be made to avoid future corporate mismanagement and company failures given the important role insurance plays in the economy of Kenya, especially towards the development of the small and large scale firms through ensuring financial security. This study sought to establish the relationship between corporate governance and performance of insurance companies in Kenya. This study was anchored on Agency theory. Positivism philosophical foundation was adopted with a cross-sectional survey. The study population comprised of 52 insurance companies in Kenya licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA) as at December 2017. The insurance companies constituted the unit of analysis. The respondents were the Senior Managers and the general employees. This study utilized primary data collected using questionnaires. The influence of corporate governance was evaluated based on dimensions of three constructs namely transparency, board responsibility and ownership structure. The results indicated that corporate governance was positively and significantly associated to performance. This was an indication that corporate governance portrayed a strong connection with performance. The null hypothesis of the study was that corporate governance has no significant relationship with performance of insurance companies in Kenya was rejected. The study concluded that corporate governance influences performance. Subsequently, insurance firms need to maintain good corporate governance practices by having appropriate board structures and composition that takes into consideration diversification of expertise. The study recommends that policy and decision makers need to ensure that appropriate corporate governance mechanisms are implemented in insurance companies. This constructs of corporate governance play a key role in effective governance of insurance companies. Policy and decision makers can use the findings in developing codes of governance that govern the practice.
Keywords: Corporate Governance, Transparency, Board Responsibility, Ownership Structure, Performance, Insurance Companies & Kenya