EANSO East African Nature and Science Organization Journals
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Emotional Skills Development: Insights from a School Transportation Perspective
Full text linkThis study examines the role of school bus experiences in fostering the development of emotional skills among pre-primary learners in Uganda. While school transportation is commonly regarded as a logistical necessity, this research repositions it as a socially rich and emotionally formative environment that plays a significant role in early childhood development. The study is grounded in Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory and Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory, both of which emphasise the impact of environmental and social interactions on child development. Using a qualitative approach, the research investigated the lived experiences of children during their daily school transit. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews with teachers and caregivers, focus group discussions with bus attendants and parents, and non-participant observations of children during their commute. The study examined how these interactions influence emotional intelligence, with a particular focus on self-regulation, empathy, patience, and social adaptability. Findings indicate that the school bus serves as an informal but powerful learning environment. Children frequently engage in peer interactions that support the development of emotional competencies. Activities such as sharing space, taking turns, resolving disputes, and expressing needs or emotions offer children daily opportunities to practice emotional regulation and develop empathy. The study also highlights how predictable routines and guidance from adults, such as bus attendants, enhance emotional learning experiences. The research concludes that school transport systems should be recognised and leveraged as valuable spaces for nurturing emotional competence in early learners. Integrating this perspective into early childhood development strategies can enhance emotional well-being and promote holistic development beyond traditional classroom settings
Rhetorical Stylistics in the Selected Speeches of Wangari Muta Maathai
Full text linkThis study collected data through the means of close-textual reading, which facilitated the analysis of the rhetorical stylistics in eight selected speeches of Wangari Maathai. By utilising content analysis, the present study breaks new ground within literary discourse on how rhetorical stylistics as a technique of persuasion has been employed. What makes this study unique and worth scholarly attention is how Maathai utilises rhetorical stylistics to appeal to her audience to buy into her ideologies and beliefs, and also to persuade them. For that, our study seeks to break new ground by analysing how Wangari Maathai positions herself within different social and cultural locations, how she uses her brand for persuasion, and how she is able to adapt different subjectivities. To advance the research question and objective, the selected speeches are eye openers to her ideologies and expectations, and that is why they are worth our attention. Our current study is of an analytical design and qualitative in its nature, grounded in Kenneth Burke’s theory of identity, whose main tenet is that persuasion cannot occur unless there first exists identity. For the selected speeches, non-probability sampling is employed, through which Maathai’s speeches are subjected to document analysis. The items are judgmentally selected because of their intense plot, vivid description, presence of rhetorical stylistics, as well as analysability. The study reviews literature on identification, speeches, narrative voice, as well as other works done by Wangari Maathai. The study aims to fill the gap in the areas of rhetorical stylistics and how they are used for persuasion. Since the study relied on archived data, materials of speeches that have been retrieved from the Green Belt movement, it fell short of analysing non-verbal element
Characters' Reaction to Torments in Coetzee’s Selected Novels
Full text linkThis study aimed to demonstrate how selected literary texts by John Maxwell Coetzee portray how the characters react to torments surrounding the narration of social life and cultural order to embody and evoke characters’ cultural intricacies and anxieties. The study sought to explore the hidden tensions of the characters fighting within the self. The study also tried to examine how the characters are able or unable to deal with the trauma caused by the contemporary issues of violence, sexuality, and psychological distress. The texts, namely, Disgrace (1999), Slow Man (2005), and Waiting for Barbarians (1980), were purposefully chosen because of their suitability in data that exposes the characters’ torments. The most appropriate theoretical framework that allowed the selected texts to be read, interrogated, analysed, and interpreted, located within the lenses of Psychoanalytic Literary Theory and Concepts related to trauma by Sigmund Freud and Pallavi Sugoy. These theories allowed the analysis of all the important aspects of characters’ psyches, their psychological trauma, thematic concerns, and textual ideologies. The study was not necessarily focusing on trauma per se, but it sufficed to examine the concept of trauma briefly when analysing the characters in the selected texts. The qualitative research method was employed to explore how the characters react to torments in Coetzee’s selected texts. The study employed purposive sampling to select primary texts that vividly depict the specific torments of interest. Consequently, Coetzee’s works - Disgrace, Waiting for the Barbarians, and Slow Man - were chosen for their depth in illustrating these themes. An analytical research design was utilised to examine these literary texts, along with any supplementary secondary data that would facilitate a qualitative analysis of the material. The study aimed to offer insights that would enrich the discourse in the literary realm, particularly concerning the interplay of power dynamics, cultural conflict, and the quest for personal redemption. Since the characters’ experiences are based on the behaviour and incidents of real people, suffering from psychological, dysfunctional sexuality issues and identity, the study can be used in mental institutions to help patients with such problems
Influence of ERP-DRIVEN Data Analytics on Strategic Decision-Making in Public Universities in Kenya
Full text linkThis study investigates the influence of Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems on strategic decision-making in public universities, focusing on four key factors: ERP data accessibility, ERP data quality, ERP analytical capabilities, and user competency in ERP data analytics. Using a sample of 167 respondents from public universities in Nairobi County, Kenya, the study employed a quantitative research design with correlational and regression analyses to explore the relationships between these variables and their impact on strategic decision-making. The findings reveal that ERP data quality, user competency, and ERP analytical capabilities significantly influence strategic decision-making, while ERP data accessibility showed a weaker effect. The study concludes that improving ERP data quality, enhancing user competency, and investing in advanced ERP analytical capabilities are crucial for better strategic decision-making. Recommendations are provided for university administrators to optimise ERP usage and improve decision-making processes for long-term institutional succes
Masuala Ibuka Yanayowasilishwa katika Vikatuni vya Ubongo Kids
Full text linkUtafiti huu ulilenga kujadili masuala ibuka kwenye vikatuni vya Ubongo Kids. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na nadharia ya Elimu Burudani ambayo iliwekewa msingi na Miguel Sabido (2003). Elimu Burudani ni nadharia iliyofumwa kuelimisha na kubadilisha mitazamo ya jamii kupitia burudani. Nadharia ya Elimu Burudani ilimsaidia mtafiti kuelewa jinsi vikatuni vya Ubongo Kids vinavyoelezea hali halisi kuhusu maisha ya watu na jinsi watazamaji wanaweza kuchochewa kujenga maana fulani kwa kulinganisha matukio katika kipindi na maisha yao. Sampuli ya utafiti ilipatikana kwa kutumia mbinu ya usampulishaji kimaksudi. Mbinu ya usampulishaji kimaksudi ilimhitaji mtafiti kuamua kwa hiari yake sampuli iliyoweza kumpa data kutoka kwa video inayohusiana na lengo la utafiti. Ukusanyaji wa data ulitumia mbinu ya kiwango kifu ambapo hakuna masuala au maarifa mapya yaliyobainika na data ilianza kujirudia, jambo linaloashiria kuwa ukubwa wa sampuli uliokusudiwa umefikiwa. Hivyo, mtafiti aliteua video 10. Uteuzi wa video ulizingatia masuala ibuka, ubora wa elimu kupitia burudani, na uhusiano wa moja kwa moja na malengo ya utafiti. Pia, video zilichaguliwa kulingana na ubora wa kiufundi na kipindi cha ubunifu kati ya mwaka wa 2014 na 2025. Data ilikusanywa kwa kutazama kauli na matendo yaliyoashiria masuala ibuka na kauli yao kunukuliwa. Uchanganuzi pamoja na uwasilishaji wa data ulifanyika kwa njia ya maelezo. Utafiti ulibaini kuwa masuala ibuka katika vikatuui vya Ubongo Kids huwasilishwa kwa njia rahisi kueleweka, yakilenga kuelimisha watoto kuhusu changamoto za sasa kama mabadiliko ya tabianchi, ulinzi wa watoto, matumizi salama ya teknolojia, umuhimu wa lishe bora, elimu na usafi wa mazingira. Matokeo ya utafiti yatawafaidi walimu, wakuza mitalaa na watafiti wengine kwa kuonyesha ufaafu wa vipindi vya watoto kama kiungo muhimu cha elimu kando na kuburudisha
Athari za Mabadiliko ya Majina ya Vituo vya Mabasi katika Mkoa wa Kigoma
Full text linkUtafiti huu ulihusu athari za mabadiliko ya majina ya vituo vya mabasi katika mkoa wa Kigoma. Uchunguzi huo uliongozwa na malengo mawili. Lengo la kwanza lilikuwa kubainisha sababu za mabadiliko ya majina ya vituo vya mabasi katika mkoa wa Kigoma. Lengo la pili lilikuwa kubainisha athari za mabadiliko ya majina ya vituo vya mabasi katika mkoa wa Kigoma kwa jamii. Data za utafiti huu zilikusanywa kwa njia ya usaili na kuchambuliwa na kuwasilishwa kwa kutumia mkabala wa kitaamuli. Kadhalika utafiti huu uliongozwa na Nadharia ya Urekebishaji Nafasi (Spatial Reconfiguration Theory). Utafiti huu ulitumia usampulishaji nasibu kuwapata madereva na makondakta 50 wa mabasi. Matokeo ya utafiti huu yalionesha kuwa mabadiliko ya vituo vya majina ya mabasi yana athari mbalimbali kwa jamii. Hata hivyo, utafiti wa makala haya ulibaini kuwa athari hasi zilitamalaki kutokana na mabadiliko ya majina ya vituo vya mabasi katika mkoa wa Kigoma. Kutokana na uwepo wa athari hasi katika mabadiliko ya majina ya vituo vya mabasi, mtafiti anapendekeza ushirikishwaji wa jamii katika kutoa majina hayo ili kuepuka athari zinazojitokez
Uchanganuzi wa Maadili kwa Watoto kwa Mujibu wa Fasihi ya Watoto katika Riwaya za Wema Kasande na Kivuli cha Madhila
Full text linkMaadili ni kiungo bora katika maisha ya binadamu kutoka utotoni hadi utu uzima. Utafiti huu ulikusudia kuchanganua maadili miongoni mwa watoto katika fasihi ya watoto jinsi inavyojitokeza katika riwaya ya Wema Kasande (2022) iliyoandikwa na Paul Nganga Mutua na ile ya Kivuli cha Madhila (2023) iliyobuniwa na Clara Momanyi. Mtafiti alilenga kubaini dhima ya maadili bora miongoni mwa jamii changa kama mwamba bora kwa maisha yao ya sasa na baadaye. Maadili yasiyoterereka yalirithishwa kutoka kizazi hadi kingine yalidhaminiwa na jamii ya mwanadamu kwa kiasi kikubwa ili kukuza kizazi chenye taadhima ulimwenguni. Uchunguzi uliegemezwa kwenye Nadharia mseto za Uhalisia pamoja na ile ya Maadili ili kubaini masuala halisi ya maadili, dhima yake kwa watoto na mchango wa maadili bora kwa ujenzi wa jamii mpya. Utafiti huu uliongozwa na malengo matatu ambayo ni ; Kutambua vipengele vya maadili miongoni mwa watoto, Kujadili dhima ya maadili kwa watoto na kisha Kuchanganua mchango wa maadili bora katika ujenzi wa jamii kwa mujibu wa riwaya mbili teule. Mtafiti alilenga kubaini ni vipengele vipi vinavyojenga maadili kwa watoto ambavyo vina dhima kuu katika maisha yao ya sasa na ya baadaye. Ili kupata data kamili kuhusiana na utafiti huu, mtafiti alitembelea maktaba ili kusoma matini na kazi za fasihi za waandishi mbalimbali zilizoandikwa kuhusu mada ya maadili kwa jumla. Kule maktabani, mtafiti alipata nafasi ya kusaka vitabu, magazeti, majarida pamoja na tasnifu za watafiti waliotangulia kuangazia mada hii yenye umuhimu mkubwa kwa vitengo vyote vya wanajamii. Vivyo hivyo, mtafiti alisakura mitandaoni kwa kusudi la kurutubisha data yake kwa kuangazia kazi za wasomi tofauti ulimwenguni walioshughulikia suala la maadili miongoni mwa watoto wa umri wa chini. Baada ya ukusanyaji wa data, mtafiti alitumia mbinu ya kimaelezo ili kuchambua data aliyoibuka nayo kisha kuiwasilisha kwa lugha ya nadhari kwa kuongozwa na malengo ya utafiti. Ilibainika kuwa baadhi ya vipengele vinavyojenga watoto ni pamoja na heshima, utiifu, nidhamu, bidii, amani, huruma, ujasiri, msamaha, shukrani na matumaini. Maadili huwafanya watoto wapendwe, waaminiwe na kutunzwa na wenzao. Maadili pia hupisha nafasi ya kushauriana, kufaana, kupendo na kuwa na utu miongoni mwa wanajamii. Data iliyozalishwa itakuwa na umuhimu kwa taasisi mbalimbali wakiwemo wakufunzi wanaofundisha maudhui ya maadili kwa wanafunzi katika taasisi za elimu. Pia wazazi na walezi watafaidika kwani watakuwa na ufahamu zaidi wa kuwaadilisha watoto wao wakati wa malezi. Vile vile, vitengo vya ushauri nasaha vitaongezewa maarifa ya kuwaasa watoto katika warsha zao za mara kwa mara kwenye vikao vyao. Kwa upande mwingine, utafiti huu utafaidi jamii kwa jumla kwa kupata maarifa ya kuwaasa walio na umri mdogo ili kujenga jamii ya usoni iliyoadilika. Hatimaye, utafiti huu utawafaa watafiti na waandishi wa baadaye kwani utakuwa marejeleo mwafaka kwa kazi zitakazojengwa kwenye suala la maadili katika jami
Effects of Crop-Livestock Diversification on Household Food Security in Homabay County, Kenya
Full text linkFood is the most basic need according to Abraham Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. Thus, food insecurity has been a global concern, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. Many organisations have recommended intensive investment in agriculture as a way of boosting food production to reduce the rising levels of food insecurity in SSA nations. This work reviewed the types of crops and livestock that can do well in Homabay county, as well as the effect of crop-livestock diversification on household food security. The study used peer-reviewed literature published in English from literature sources such as Scopus, Web of Science, Research Gate, among others. Data from the selected articles were extracted and analysed to assess the types of crops and livestock in Homabay as well as the effects of crop-livestock diversification on household food security. The study used Microsoft Excel to list the studies based on the topic, publication date, authors, year of publication and key results. The findings showed that food crops such as maize, beans, cassava, cowpeas, sweet potatoes, millet, and sorghum can do well in Homabay County. In addition, cash crops like tomatoes, vegetables, and cotton can also perform well due to the fertile soils and good climate in Homabay County. The findings also showed that crop-livestock diversification boosts household food security by producing more household foods, increasing farmers’ purchasing power for additional foods that are not produced by the farmers, reducing farm risks, nutrient gaps, and overreliance on food imports. The study recommended that farmers should incorporate many crop types and livestock species in their farms. The government can also support farmers through diversification trainin
Smallholder Farmers’ Management Practices and Perceived Constraints to Robusta Coffee Production in Mid-Altitude Zones of Central Uganda
Full text linkDespite its importance, Robusta coffee production in the mid-altitude zone of central Uganda is threatened by climate variability, especially erratic rainfall, which reduces coffee yield and increases the yield gap. Upscaling climate-smart management practices can narrow the yield gap. The study aimed to identify climate-smart management practices conducted by farmers in adapting Robusta coffee to climate variability and closing the yield gap, and to identify the major perceived constraints to Robusta coffee production under varying rainfall thresholds. Primary data from a cross-sectional survey on farmers’ management practices and perceived constraints, collected from 150 randomly sampled coffee farm households, were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics in Stata and R software. Results indicate more households are conducting mechanical weed control (100%), de-suckering (98%), pruning (74%), and shade management (51%). Though less than half of households conduct manuring (48%), herbicide (44%), fertiliser use (22%), water for irrigation (19%), pesticide use (13%), and soil erosion control measures (24%). A significant number (p=0.0011) of households still use indigenous local planting types, primarily in areas with low rainfall. Nevertheless, more households were using climate-smart practices at moderate than at high and low rainfall thresholds. The main perceived constraints across thresholds included drought and erratic rains, lack of access, and expensive inputs, pests, and diseases. Consequently, the study recommends policy interventions on expediting the provision of quality planting materials, greater access to modern and affordable forms of irrigation, judicious use of fertilisers, manure, pesticides, and developing guidelines for identification and control of Robusta coffee pests and diseases, and increased education to scale out climate-smart practices. These would sustainably increase Robusta coffee productivity, narrow the yield gap, and aid Uganda in achieving its target of 1.2 million tons and US$1.5B year-1 by 203
Assessment of the Contributions of Religious Activities on Students’ Academic Performance in Higher Learning Institutions of Mbeya City
Full text linkThis study assessed the Contributions of Religious Activities on Students` Academic Performance in the Higher Institutions of Mbeya City. The specific objectives of this study were: To identify the kind of religious activities available at Catholic University of Mbeya (CUoM), to examine the contribution of religious activities on students` academic performance at CUoM as well and to find out the strategies for enhancing religious activities to enhance students` academic performance at CUoM. The study used a Convergent parallel design in the investigation. Purposive sampling and the simple random sampling technique was applied to get the respondents to participate in the study. The target population comprised third-year students, instructors and religious leaders of CUoM. In order to get data from the respondents, the researcher used questionnaires for students and instructors and an interview guide for religious leaders. Quantitative data was analysed in the form of frequency and percentages and presented in tables with the help of the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Version 21. Qualitative data was analysed through building themes, narration and direct quotations from respondents. The findings revealed that the religious activities done at CUoM are prayer groups, religious studies courses, religious clubs, religious counselling services, seminars, visiting the needy people, religious teachings, also religious mentorship programs. Also, the findings revealed that among the contributions of religious activities at CUoM are to influence good behaviour in Students, influence studying hard, encourage good relationships among Students, enhance guidance and counselling to Students, create fear of God in Students, as well as motivate Students to reach their dreams. Again, the findings on the strategies for enhancing religious activities on students’ academic performance at CUoM include employing more religious teachers, creating a religious timetable at the university, allocating rooms for religious activities, improving good relationships between the university and religious leaders, as well, improving a good environment for implementing the religious activities and motivating irreligious students to engage in religious activities. The study concluded that the presence of religious activities in universities increases Students' academic performance because they encourage students to study hard, provide guidance and counselling to Students, instil fear of God in Students and motivate Students to reach their dreams. Thus, government and other education stakeholders should work on this by employing more religious teachers and ensuring a good environment for religious activities, like the presence of a hall for religious activities. The researcher recommended that the religious institutions should be given enough opportunities for providing religious education in the university, good relationships between universities and religious institutions, like churches, should be maintained, and there should be connectivity between religious leaders and the university’s administration so as to support the program of conducting religious activities