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Stratégies, Besoins et Attentes des Elèves en Education Sexuelle en Milieu Scolaire Dans le Cadre du Cours D’éducation a la Vie
Get PDFObjectif: La présente étude visait à comprendre les stratégies, besoins et attentes des élèves en matière de l’éducation sexuelle en milieu scolaire dans le cours d’éducation à la vie en vue de contribuer à une éducation sexuelle saine.
Méthodologie: Elle opte pour l’approche qualitative par échantillonnage non probabiliste de convenance. Cette étude qualitative de type descriptif exploratoire est réalisée auprès des élèves de 2e et 3e année des humanités de l’école d’application de l’UPN. La collecte des données s’est faite de manière transversale au cours de la période allant de 10 Novembre 2023 au 19 Février 2024. Elle applique la méthode phénoménologique qui vise une description soignée et systématique de ce qui est perçu par les adolescents sur leur attente et besoins à l’éducation sexuelle en milieu scolaire.
Résultats: Il ressort via les entretiens avec les apprenants que les notions liées à la sexualité permettent de connaitre et protéger le corps; aider à la gestion des pulsions sexuelles, éviter des relations intimes précoces et entretenir l’hygiène corporelle et menstruelle, prévenir et/ou découvrir des Infections à transmission sexuelle. En ce qui concerne leur vécu scolaire, les adolescents révèlent que l’éducation sexuelle insuffisante en milieu scolaire intensifie l’ignorance et risque accru de contracter le sida voire l’abandon des études, ne pas enseigner la sexualité à l’école donnera place aux fausses croyances avec risque de perte de virginité, de conception précoce et/ou d’une exclusion scolaire. Les répondants déclarent que l’enseignement de qualité doit être fondé sur les vrais problèmes en matière de sexualité, décrient le déficit dans la communication pédagogique dont ils sont victimes en matière de l’éducation sexuelle et recommande selon nous une communication pédagogique et didactique limpide. Pour plus d’efficacité, les répondants préconisent l’utilisation de formules didactiques adéquates, prendre l’éducation sexuelle, comme une préoccupation à part entière pour permettre un bon encadrement. L’éducation sexuelle en milieu scolaire à Kinshasa et en RDC représente une réponse essentielle aux enjeux sanitaires, sociaux et éducatifs actuels.
Contribution Unique à la Théorie, à la Pratique et à la Politique : Cependant, pour que les stratégies mises en place soient efficaces, il est nécessaire d\u27adapter les contenus pédagogiques aux réalités sociales et culturelles, de former les enseignants et d’instaurer un dialogue ouvert entre les élèves, les parents, et les autorités éducatives. Les élèves attendent une approche qui les respecte, qui les informe et qui les prépare à faire face aux défis d’une société en mutation rapide. Il est donc crucial de continuer à sensibiliser, former et améliorer l’accès à une éducation sexuelle de qualité pour tous
Intercultural Citizenship Education in Post-Conflict Contexts: The Case of Ethiopia
Get PDFPurpose: In recent years, citizenship education has been the subject of much international attention, also in higher education. It is often called global citizenship, which includes a national and international dimension. By contrast, in some countries, especially those where high tensions between ethnic groups exist, citizenship education focuses primarily on preserving the country’s unity and the successful coexistence of multiple cultural, ethnic, and linguistic groups.
Methodology: The study reported here considers the situation in Ethiopia, a super diverse country with 80 different ethnic groups and 109 languages spoken. Ethiopia is viewed as a post-conflict context, where the society has recently experienced a violent ethnic conflict that affected the daily lives of many citizens. The paper reports an interview study investigating how Ethiopian university administrators from two universities view citizenship education in higher education. Their views concern the need to promote intercultural competence as an important aspect of citizenship and ways to promote this competence as part of intercultural citizenship via curricular and extracurricular activities.
Findings: The results show that universities avoid controversial issues or the highlighting of ethnicity, yet attempt to promote intercultural competence in their graduates via diverse approaches to intercultural citizenship education.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: We propose that the review and development of intercultural policies and practices are particularly timely because of the political and ethnocultural tensions still present in Ethiopian society
Training Needs Assessment for Teaching Obstetric Point-Of-Care Ultrasound (O-POCUS) and Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) Management; A Case of Nursing, Clinical Medicine, Radiography and Imaging Sciences Departments in Keny
Get PDFPurpose: This study aims to assess the preparedness of faculty in the Nursing, Clinical Medicine, and Radiography and Imaging Sciences departments in Kenya to teach Obstetric Point-of-Care Ultrasound (O-POCUS) and Postpartum Hemorrhage (PPH) management, in light of the 2024 National Guidelines requiring structured training in these areas. The purpose is to identify training gaps among educators and propose solutions to improve maternal health outcomes.
Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional design with a quantitative approach was employed to gather data from health educators using a structured self-administered questionnaire. The survey targeted tutors and clinical instructors across the three departments. The questionnaire, aligned with the 2024 O-POCUS guidelines, covered areas such as training gaps, resource availability, teaching methods, and institutional readiness. Data were analyzed using SPSS, with descriptive statistics and chi-square tests used to identify relationships between various factors.
Findings: The study revealed significant gaps in faculty training and resources. In the Nursing and Clinical Medicine departments, over 80% of educators had not received training in O-POCUS, and 60% in PPH management. The Radiography and Imaging Sciences department showed a similar trend, with 89% of respondents reporting a lack of training in both areas. Additionally, limited access to ultrasound machines and teaching materials hindered effective teaching. Respondents favored hands-on workshops, mentorship, and simulation-based scenarios as the most effective teaching methods. Curriculum inclusion of O-POCUS and PPH management was inadequate across all departments, with many respondents uncertain or unaware of its integration.
Unique Contributions to Theory, Policy and Practice: The study concluded that faculty members in the Nursing, Clinical Medicine, and Radiography and Imaging Sciences departments are inadequately trained to teach O-POCUS and PPH management, leading to gaps in student preparedness. Despite strong leadership support, there is insufficient resource allocation and curriculum integration of these critical topics. This lack of preparation impacts the quality of maternal healthcare education and hinders the implementation of effective practices in obstetric emergencies. To address these gaps, it is recommended that a comprehensive faculty development program be implemented, focusing on both theoretical knowledge and hands-on training in O-POCUS and PPH management. Curricula across all departments should integrate these topics with clear guidelines and balance between theory and practical application. Institutions must prioritize resource allocation, including the provision of portable ultrasound machines, phantoms, and standardized teaching materials
Physico-Chemical Properties of Selected Cassava Varieties Suitable for Fufu Processing in South-East Abia Nigeria, Nigeria
Get PDFPurpose: The physicochemical properties of cassava varieties have a major influence on the adoption and utilization for fufu processing and consumption across different locations in Nigeria especially the South-East region. This study evaluated the chemical composition, functional, and pasting properties of thirteen cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) varieties, including improved and farmer-preferred local varieties, to determine their suitability for fufu production in Abia State, Nigeria.
Methodology: These physicochemical properties were determined using standard analytical procedures. The data collected were analysised using R- statistical package.
Findings: The result obtained showed that the dry matter content of all the varieties ranged between 30% (NR8082) to 48.37% (the local clone). Starch content varied significantly, ranging from 47.46% to 61.20%, while total sugar ranged from 2.85% to 4.72%. Amylose and amylopectin contents indicated that most varieties could be classified as regular starch types, with desirable amylose-to-amylopectin ratios for fufu processing. The result of functional properties such as swelling power (9.12–14.99 g/g), solubility, and water absorption capacity also indicate these varieties are suitable for fufu processing. Pasting characteristics, including peak, final, and setback viscosities, revealed varietal suitability for specific textural and sensory attributes of fufu.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Overall, several improved cassava varieties exhibited comparable or superior quality traits relative to the local variety, suggesting their potential for adoption by processors and consumers seeking desirable fufu qualities
Nucleoside Derivatives: An Assessment of Its Synthesis and Application
Get PDFPurpose: This review advances the synthesis methodologies, biological roles, and therapeutic applications of nucleoside derivatives, emphasizing their pivotal role in the development of biomedical sciences.
Methodology: There are several methods for synthesizing nucleosides, including fusion reactions, metal salt procedures, and the Hilbert-Johnson method, each of which offers distinct advantages and challenges. These synthetic approaches take advantage of the interaction of sugars and nitrogenous bases, allowing for tailored modifications for specific applications.
Findings: Nucleoside derivatives, essential molecules that are the building blocks of nucleic acids such as DNA and RNA, exhibit diverse structural and functional properties. Their biological synthesis, through novel pathways or rescue mechanisms, ensures the availability of the primary genetic material. Synthetic nucleoside derivatives have found significant roles in medicinal chemistry, particularly in antiviral, anticancer and antibacterial therapies. Modifications of sugars or basic components have led to the emergence of pioneering drugs such as acyclovir, zidovudine and remdesivir.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Nucleoside derivatives have great therapeutic potential. They act as antiviral agents by disrupting viral replication and as chemotherapeutics targeting rapidly dividing cells in cancers. However, their efficacy faces challenges such as toxicity and development of resistance. Ongoing research aims to enhance their safety and expand their applications in molecular biology, diagnostics and nanotechnology
Relationship between Drought Frequency and Desertification Progress in Australia
Get PDFPurpose: The aim of the study was to analyze the relationship between drought frequency and desertification progress in Australia.
Methodology: This study adopted a desk methodology. A desk study research design is commonly known as secondary data collection. This is basically collecting data from existing resources preferably because of its low cost advantage as compared to a field research. Our current study looked into already published studies and reports as the data was easily accessed through online journals and libraries.
Findings: Frequent droughts in Australia accelerate desertification, particularly in arid regions like the Murray-Darling Basin. Rising temperatures, reduced rainfall, and extreme weather events degrade soil, reduce vegetation, and threaten agriculture. ENSO-driven droughts worsen water scarcity, impacting ecosystems and farming. Satellite data show declining soil moisture and groundwater levels, increasing land degradation. Without sustainable land management, reforestation, and water conservation, desertification risks will rise, threatening biodiversity and food security.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Theory of desertification, aridity index and climate variability theory & threshold theory of land degradation may be used to anchor future studies on the relationship between drought frequency and desertification progress in Australia. Implementing drought-resistant crops, precision irrigation systems, and soil conservation techniques can significantly reduce the rate of desertification in agricultural regions. Governments should establish joint climate resilience frameworks, particularly in transboundary drylands and shared water basins, to prevent cross-border desertification effects
Livelihood Enhancement through Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration in Central Rift, Kenya
Get PDFOver the past few decades, there has been pressure to meet basic needs by citizens in developing countries as a result of conventional livelihood sources to support such provisions which have gradually dwindled for a variety of reasons, key among these being land degradation, climatic changes and land sub-division. Alternative and sustainable livelihoods for poverty reduction and enhanced income for households are desirable for adoption. This paper discusses the effect of the application of Farmer Managed Natural Regeneration (FMNR) in Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASAL) regions by Word Vision (WV) on food security, household income and livelihood enhancement. Case studies of farmers’ success stories supported by WVK are presented. Further, the paper outlines the roles of stakeholders in the implementation of the strategy and associated benefits to farmers in three counties of Baringo, Elgeyo Marakwet and Nakuru. A discussion of the relations between poverty, income and household food security in relation to SDGs 1 and 2 is presented. Major findings from the study include; FMNR has contributed to improved food security, from 42.6% in 2018 to 73.6% in 2021 (31%). Increased household income was reported from 25.2% in 2018 to 52.5% in 2021, representing a rise of 27.3%. Emerging alternative livelihood sources include beekeeping, mango farming and processing, poultry, pasture seed production and coffee farming. The paper concludes that the implementation of FMNR in the Central Rift is still small scale and majorly aided by World Vision Kenya in the three Area Development Programmes (ADPs). The adoption of FMNR as a livelihood enhancement strategy in arid and semi-arid areas to enhance food security, improve household income, reduce poverty and support environmental conservation efforts is recommended
Comprehensive Assessment of Quality Index of Groundwater of Selected Government Schools in Patna District of Bihar, India
Get PDFPurpose: This study assesses groundwater quality in Government Schools of Patna, Bihar, with a focus on its impact on student health and education. Groundwater, a critical resource for drinking and sanitation, is increasingly compromised by urbanization, industrialization, and inadequate waste management.
Methodology: Utilizing the Groundwater Quality Index (GWQI), water samples from schools were analyzed for parameters such as pH, total dissolved solids (TDS), alkalinity, conductivity, total hardness, calcium, magnesium, sulphate, nitrate, chloride, fluoride, and iron ion concentrations were analysed using standard devices. A correlation matrix of twelve parameters, among themselves and with water quality index (WQI) was constructed.
Findings: The values of all parameters were within the permissible limits (BIS: 2012) except iron concentration was found to be exceeding the prescribed standard limit. WQI has revealed the suitability of most of water samples for drinking not in all samples collected from fourteen different Government Schools. As findings revealed significant contamination in few schools, posing health risks, these issues adversely affect student attendance and academic outcomes.
Unique contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This research aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 6, aiming to ensure clean water access and underscores the urgent need for sustainable groundwater management in educational institutions. The results serve as a call to action for policymakers, educators, and stakeholders to prioritize water quality improvements, safeguarding children\u27s health and fostering a conducive learning environment
Poverty of Transition Period in Albania
Get PDFPurpose: The objective of this paper is to analyze the state and underlying causes of poverty in Albania during its transition period. To achieve this, several key objectives have been outlined: examining the concept, types, and measurement of poverty; presenting major theories related to poverty; analyzing the extent and methodologies used to measure poverty in Albania across different periods; reviewing research findings on poverty and discussing their implications; and providing conclusions and recommendations for government policies aimed at reducing poverty levels.
Methodology: To achieve these objectives, primary data on poverty from relevant institutions are analyzed, with a particular focus on the measurement data collected by the Institute of Statistics during the transition period. Graphical analysis is employed to identify poverty trends and the key factors influencing them. This method also helps assess the variations in measurement approaches used by the Institute of Statistics over the years. Additionally, the study examines poverty levels across different periods, explores the root causes of poverty, and compares Albania’s poverty levels with those of other countries in the region. Furthermore, a comprehensive review of both domestic and international literature on poverty is conducted.
Findings: The analysis indicates that, despite improvements in various economic indicators, the poverty level in Albania remains high. Between 2002 and 2008, poverty declined; however, the 2008 financial crisis negatively impacted the Albanian economy, primarily by slowing economic growth. As a result, overall poverty increased from 13% in 2008 to 14% in 2012. In 2016, new measurements for the food basket were conducted in accordance with the Food and Agriculture Organization’s recommendations on minimum calorie requirements based on age and gender.
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: Theories on poverty measurement have served as the foundation for analyzing the results of poverty assessments conducted in Albania. Based on these findings, recommendations have been formulated for government policies aimed at reducing poverty levels. The Albanian government should implement efficient macroeconomic policies focused on economic restructuring and identifying priority sectors for growth. In this context, increasing agricultural production is particularly important, as rural poverty remains significantly higher than urban poverty. Also, the institutions responsible for the measurement and control of poverty, such as Institute of Statistics, Bank of Albania, Ministry of Finance, etc., must precede the recommendations for the government with analyzes and scientific studies
Closing the Digital Gap: Challenges and Prospects for Gender Equality in South Africa
Get PDFPurpose: In order to bridge the digital divide and advance women’s empowerment in South Africa, the study set out to analyse the opportunities and potential solutions.
Methodology: A more thorough grasp of the problem was obtained by the study by combining quantitative and qualitative data. Surveys revealed the frequency of challenges encountered by a larger group of women and case studies gave in-depth explanations of effective programs and their effects. Policymakers, non-governmental organizations and tech companies striving for a more equitable and inclusive digital landscape for everyone in South Africa that can benefit greatly from this article analysis of existing research by Pokpas, Craffert, Van Audenhove and Marien (2019) and its presentation of successful initiatives that address these issues. Regarding the sampling technique of this target population, it included non-Heterosexual women who have been affected by digital divide in rural and urban areas of South Africa and that are interested in policies, non-Governmental organizations and tech industries. The target population was drawn from women who are working class and those that are not working and a total of 100 participants were selected based on both the stratified random sampling technique and purposive sampling technique. In the research study, both the techniques used to sample the participants included: The stratified random sampling was used to ensure that the sample represents the target population, while purposive sampling was used so that I could get participants who had more information on the issues at hand.
Findings: The study produced a number of useful findings. For example, a systematic review of previous research identified the main barriers that women face which include unequal access to devices and internet connectivity especially in rural areas (Pokpas,et al, 2019). Women’s ability to use technology effectively is limited by significant gaps in digital literacy (Alozie & Akpan‐Obong, 2017). Women are discouraged by cultural norms and traditional gender roles from engaging in online activities or pursuing careers in technology (Hernandez & Roberts, 2018). Concerns about gender-based violence cyberbullying and online harassment prevent women from fully utilizing the digital world (Sicat,et.al, 2020). The World Bank blog on [Leveraging technology to close gaps between men and women] highlighted successful initiatives that address these issues including mobile applications created through hackathons to empower women to report violence and programs that offer digital literacy training specifically for girls (GirlCode).
Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study was informed by Intersectionality Theory to investigate how women’s experiences of the digital divide in South Africa are influenced by the intersection of gender race class and disability. Feminist Theory also investigate how gender norms and stereotypes sustain the digital gender gap this study draws on feminist theory emphasizing the need for interventions that question conventional gender roles and advance women’s digital literacy by looking at how these norms restrict women’s ability to engage in the digital economy. The study supports community-based programs that encourage digital inclusion. These programs have the potential to establish secure and easily accessible environments for women to acquire digital skills and establish connections with online resources by collaborating with local organizations and community leaders. Women can take advantage of the opportunities provided by digital technologies if policymakers integrate gender equality considerations into national digital strategies. This study highlights the significance of funding digital infrastructure especially in underserved and rural areas. The digital divide can be closed, and a more equitable digital environment can be created for all South Africans by policymakers through increasing broadband access and enhancing connectivity