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Challenges of Top -Down Curriculum on the Quality of Classroom Instructional Practices
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Construction and Demolition Waste Characteristics in Tanzania
No full textThe construction industry generates a lot of construction and demolition (C&D) waste which puts some challenges to its management. For example, currently, in many towns in Tanzania, there are no landfill sites for solid waste disposal; and as a consequence open air dumping sites are used. Dumping C&D waste puts pressure for acquisition of large portions of land in order to accommodate the disposal of the growing waste generated from construction and demolition sites. Others include imposed economic burdens, social discomfort as well as sources of environmental pollution like air and water pollutants. Due to population growth and land limitation for waste disposal, the current practices will put extra pressure on C&D waste management in future as well. This paper aims to investigate the quantity and quality of C&D waste in Tanzania and the possibilities for reusing and recycling this waste in the production of building materials. The use of C&D waste for building material production can be a best option not only for waste management but also for providing alternative building material for present and future generations. Materials used in this study were cementitious rubble recovered from eight building construction and demolition sites in Dar es Salaam. Two samples from natural sources were used for comparison purposes. Secondary data from Dar es Salaam City Council was used to estimate the amount of C&D waste generated in Tanzania annually. Furthermore, the recovered C&D waste samples were crushed to get recycled aggregates that were used in laboratory analysis. The results showed that the C&D waste generation in Tanzania increased from 3.03 million tonnes to 7.9 million tonnes in the period ranging from 1994 to 2010 years. Furthermore, the results showed that the recycled aggregates were weaker than natural aggregates, however, mineralogically were not significantly different from natural aggregates. Thus, their chemical composition similarities suggest that recycled C&D waste is suitable for production of building materials in Tanzania. The recycling of C&D waste into building material will contribute to sustainable social, economic, and environmental improvements
Potentials and Challenges of Student Progress Portfolio Innovation Assessment for Quality in an ODL Context: A Case of The Open University of Tanzania
No full textThis paper aims at stimulating discussion on Students Progress Portfolio (SPP) Innovation in assessment. It analyses the potential and challenges of SPP as well as how it can be harnessed to improve assessment practices and its contribution to quality education. The paper is based on a recent qualitative research which used The Open University of Tanzania as a case study. The objectives of the study were to identify the knowledge of tutors and students on SPP innovation; analyse the information that student needed to fill in the SPP; and to examine the views of the students and tutors on SPP. Participants included: 23 students and 7 academic staff. Already filled 10 SPP forms were also analysed. The findings indicated that the potentials of SPP included that: it empowers students to participate in their own assessment; instils in students a desire to learn; enhances students’ better understanding of their learning skills and the need for improvement. SPP also allow tutors to identify gaps in students learning. The challenges found included: Lack/limited knowledge on SPP; discussions focused more on content rather than learning process. The conclusion was that SPP potentials outweighed challenges. The recommendations were that knowledge on SPP should be enhanced amongst students and teachers; SPP assessment should focus more on developing and improving students’ capacities for learning to learn; SPP should be graded; and there should be regular evaluation of tutors and students experiences with SPP
What is new in the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)?
No full textThis treatise highlights the recent dreams and dialogues of African Renaissance and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). These dreams and dialogues have been driven as much by Afro-optimism as by Afropessimism, by both the positive and the negative political and economic changes that have taken place in postcolonial Africa. The paper briefly surveys the resurgence of the idea of the African renaissance in the 1990s and the foundation of NEPAD at the turn of the 21st century. It then reviews the ingredients of the NEPAD policy document with the hopes for African redemption. This is followed by an assessment of NEPAD initiatives, focusing on the reality of its formulation, implementation and ownership. The essay concludes by trying to profess the future of Africa and the continent’s alternative efforts to find solutions to its peoples’ problems
Child Labour in Artisanal and Small Scale Mining: The Case of North Mara Mine
No full textThe study aimed at identifying the reasons for child involvement into North Mara Gold Mines conflicts. The concern of this study was that, children are used in mining activities while giving away their basic rights. Their propensity to intrude the large scale mines and steal rocks rich in gold was examined to establish the forces behind such motives. From the time African Barrick Gold took over the mining activities at North Mara, incidences of child intrusion were on increase. These acts perpetrated by children have negative impacts on their welfare, behavior, growth and development.    The study sampled children between the age group of 13-17 and employed an exploratory design to establish the reasons behind their pathetic behavior, attitudes and their actions. Focus group discussions are employed using small groups of 6 to 8 participants; whereby a total of 40 respondents were involved. The respondents were purposively selected based on their experience and knowledge on mining activities and children’s involvement in such activities. The study has revealed that, children are used by the family members to trespass into the mines with the wrong perception that if children are apprehended by owners of the mines, they will be released without being charged because the law doesn’t permit children to be incarcerated or punished. However, there were many cases where children were influenced by peers and environment, especially when they saw small children going around with plenty of money
Language and Cheating in Higher Learning Education Examinations
No full textThis study intended to examine the language used in cheating in higher learning education examinations. The study specifically sought: to explore the body language used in cheating during examination; identify reasons for choice of the used body languages in cheating during examinations; to identify linguistic expressions used to facilitate cheating in examinations. The study used both qualitative and quantitative approaches. The researcher used random sampling to obtain the sample. The study involved 350 students from Dar es Salaam regional centers of the Open University of Tanzania (OUT). The instrument used for data collection was the questionnaire. The data were analyzed through SPSS 16 version. The study found that, the most common forms of body language used in cheating during examinations are facial expression (81.4%) and hand- finger gestures (62.3%).However, the majority of the students rated high on the positioning of the invigilator (91.1%), number of invigilators during invigilation (80.0%)and the angle one sat(57.7%) as reasons for the choice of body language in cheating during examination.Furthermore, the students gave linguistic expressions of thebody language used during cheating in examinations like attention (eye brow movement), ready to help someone (head movement up –down), I don’t know (body posture- up- down shoulder movement or right left of the head) wait (up and down of the hand palm.). It can be said that, cheating during examination is obvious.Use of certain body language depends on the needs and intention of the students involved in cheating. It is recommended thatthe invigilators should be keen when invigilating, and the institutions should make orientation to invigilators on languageand techniques used in cheating in examination. Â
Project and Field Work Report Writing: “Bridging the Gap†into ODL Students’ Challenges
No full textThe study identified the challenges facing the ODL Undergraduate students in doing and writing their special projects and field work under ODL mode of teaching and learning. Data were collected though formal meetings, mobile phones and documentary survey. The quantitative data were analyzed using the Scientific Package for Social Sciences (SPSS Ver. 20). The qualitative data were analyzed though content analysis of the responses. The results revealed English language problems, financial constraints and the low internet connectivity environments ranged (70%); Poor writing and ICT skills; lack of enough cooperation from supervisor; too many responsibilities (60%). Long distance and bad roads environments for rural students, bureaucracy to get data and tips environments ranged (50%). Lack of permission from employers, electricity cut-outs problems and complicated log book/field/supervised reading instructions ranged (30%); lack of field work experts; scarcity of library reference books; lack of mates to discuss and share experiences for rural students environments ranged (20%). It is recommended to include English proficiency test in ODL mode; ICT and writing skills be integrated in all academic courses and programmes for first year undergraduate students. Supervisors establish good rapport with their students, likewise for the students and proper financial and time managements. Reduce environmental distance; decentralize the Regional centers to District level in ODL mode. Employers grant permission to employees to go to field for data collection. Instructions in log books be short, simple and clear for students and field experts to comprehend. Train students on technical aspects of conducting special projects and field work. Conduct workshops on research supervision skills and writing guidelines for supervisors and students. Motivate supervisors & students to present their research papers to local and international conferences to get exposure and polish out their research skills
Astro-Tourism as a High Potential Alternative Tourist Attraction in Tanzania
No full textBesides Tanzania's world famous traditional tourist attractions, the country has many hidden treasures. Among these are the stars in the night sky. Tanzania's geographic location near the equator offers 95% of the view of stars that can be seen in one night. Tanzania also has vast rural locations that are unaffected by light pollution, and allows viewers to experience the full glory of the night skies. Extreme light pollution in developed countries points towards the potential of Astrotourism as an alternative tourist attraction for Tanzania. Astro-tourism is a nighttime activity that complements traditional tourist activities. Fixed or mobile observatories can be set up with easily available good quality telescopes. Astro-tour guides can be trained locally and monthly night sky updates can be provided to highlight local delights
Implementation Challenges of the New Geography Diploma Syllabus in Tanzania: A Case Study of Korogwe and Dakawa Teachers’ Training Colleges
No full textThe study focused on implementation challenges of the new Geography Diploma Syllabus in Tanzania. The study used Korogwe and Dakawa Teachers’ Training Colleges as a case. Dakawa teachers’ training college is located in Morogoro region while Korogwe teachers’ training college is based in Korogwe district, Tanga region. The study was guided by two research objectives, namely: to investigate on implementation challenges of the New Geography Diploma Syllabus in Tanzania teacher colleges and recommend on ways to improve the implementation of the New Geography Diploma Syllabus in Tanzania teacher colleges. The study employed documentary analysis, interviews and observation as methods for data collection. The results of the study revealed that although Ministry of Education and Vocation Training (MoEVT) deemed adopting the new Geography Academic Syllabus to be the best in teacher training colleges; it has shown various implementation problems in teacher training colleges. The key problems included: poor selection of the diploma students to join the teacher training colleges, short time allocated to teach Geography academic topics, inefficient Geography teaching methods, lack of essential text books both for teachers and students, poor organization of the teaching practice and weak administration of continuous assessments. To address these gaps, MoEVT is advised to shift to the practice of training teachers using open and distance learning approaches as recommended by this study and other stakeholders
Why is the Red Spider Mite (Tetranychus evansi) a threat to Dry Season Tomato Growing in Tabora, Tanzania?
No full textDry season tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L.) growing is an important economic activity in semi-arid Tabora region of western Tanzania. However, red spider mite (Tetranychus evansi Baker & Prichard) has emerged as a threat to dry season tomato growing in smallholders’ fields. A study was carried out in Tabora, Tanzania in order to discover factors leading to increased red spider mite infestation in tomato fields. A survey of dry season tomato growing fields was carried out in June through September in the districts of Uyui, Urambo and Tabora Municipality, for a period of three years from 2012 through 2014. Discussions with farmers and collection of pesticide containers left in the fields helped us to understand the existing gap for establishment of an effective strategy for red spider mite control. It was found that farmers lack a strong agricultural extension support to effect the integration of basic technical guidelines of integrated pest management and safe procedures of pesticide handling practiced in intensive outdoor tomato growing system. The results show that there was a high significant difference (P<0.001) in the severity of attack by red tomato spider mites among tomato fields. Red spider mites attack a wide range of alternative host plants including weeds and field crops. Profecron 720 gm/litre insecticide was used by most farmers (55.5%). Red spide mites significantly (P<0.001) attached tomato leaves than stems and dry flowers. They caused up to 100% crop loss in tomato. Use of inefective chemicals, poor field sanitation, dry climate and lack of agricultural extension support in agronomy and pesticide use were identified as factors contributing to farmers’ inability to control red spider mites in the study area. Waging a war against red spider mites is urgently needed by stakeholders engaged in horticultur