Michael Okpara University of Agriculture, Umudike (MOUAU) Journal
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Effect of Self Regulated Learning Strategy on Senior Secondary School Students’ Achievement in the Agricultural Science Concept
No full textThis study was carried out to investigate the effects of training in self-regulated learning strategy on students’ Agricultural Science Concept achievement. The influence of gender and interaction of gender and self regulated learning strategy on Agricultural Science Concept achievement were also explored. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study was a non-equivalent control group quasi-experimental design, involving one treatment and one control group. The total population was 1160 SS I1 students in the public secondary schools in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State; while a total of 74 SS I1 students in two intact classes drawn from two public senior secondary schools in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State made up the sample for the study. In each school, one intact class was randomly selected and the intact classes were also randomly assigned to experimental and control conditions. One research instrument named Agricultural Science Concept Achievement Test (ASCAT) forms I and II and Self-regulated Learning Strategy Lesson plan and the conventional lesson plan were developed, validated and used by the researcher. The self-regulated learning strategy lesson plan was used for the experimental group while the control group received training using the conventional teaching method. The data obtained were analyzed using mean scores, standard deviation and 2 x 2 analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The major findings of the study were that intervention using self-regulated learning strategy significantly improved the Agricultural Science Concept achievement of senior secondary school students; gender was not a significant factor in the Agricultural Science Concept achievement scores of students exposed to self-regulated learning strategy. A major educational implication of the findings was that training in self-regulated learning strategy significantly improves the Agricultural Science Concept achievement of students. It was thus recommended that emphasis should also be given to training students on the use of self-regulated learning strategy without gender discrimination
Repayment Performance among Cassava Farmer-Beneficiaries of Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) In Abia State, Nigeria
No full textThis study investigated repayment performance among cassava farmer-beneficiaries of microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Abia state, Nigeria. The instrument for data collection used was a semi structured and pre-tested questionnaire. Multistage random sampling technique was used to select 120 cassava MFI- farmer beneficiaries. The period of data collection under review covered a duration of five years (2005 – 2010). Data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, discriminant function analysis and OLS multiple regression model. The empirical results revealed that the year 2006 under review has the highest average loan recovery rate of 86.0%, while the lowest average loan recovery rate was 78.0%.The result also revealed that 88 out of 90 MFI cassava farmer beneficiaries were grouped as worthy while 28 out of 30 were grouped as unworthy. The discriminant function analysis was significant at 1.0% with a canonical correlation of 0.795, wilk Lambda of 0.227 and a chi-square of 237.126 More so, cassava farmers with better education, larger farm sizes, good farming experience, extension supervision and low total operating expenditure to income ratio were credit worthy. However, cassava farmer MFI beneficiaries with lower loan to asset ratio were set to be non- credit worthy. Cassava farmers who repaid their loan according to the linear regression were those with better education, high loan volume and extension supervision all these variables had positive relationship to loan repayment. More so, the result revealed that farmers with more years of farming experience and late loan disbursement defaulted in their loan repayment. It is therefore, recommended that education and extension supervision should form a major trust in policy formulation in microfinance institution administration in Nigeria
Socio-political and Economic Imbroglios of Northern African Uprisings
No full textThe late 2010-2011 in the Northern Africa witnessed different levels of socio-political instabilities and sudden uprisings of civilians due to its long time socio-political and economic deprivations of citizens that brewed poverty, insecurity and underdevelopment across the land. Its resultant effect bastardised peaceful co-existence and metamorphosed into social uprisings that forced regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya out of power, and served as early warning signal to African socio-political leaders who have overstayed in governance. This is because state and governing institutions are established to harness and manage human and natural resources judiciously. This study, therefore, examined and discussed socio-political and economic imbroglios of Northern African crises, in terms of transparency and accountability in governance. The secondary method of data collection was used. Suggestions for social crises, prevention and uprisings management are proffered
Drying Kinetics of Preosmosed Acute Mud Snail Meat (Viviparous Contectus).
No full textThe drying kinetics of acute mud snail meat (Viviparous contectus) was conducted using convective oven dryer. The results were fitted into three thin-layer models; Lewis, Henderson and Page models. The constants and coefficients of the various models used were evaluated using non-linear regression methods, and the result showed that the Henderson model is the best for predicting the drying behaviour of acute mud snail and was followed by the Lewis model. Furthermore, as was expected, the drying rate was observed to have taken place in the falling rate period. The effective moisture diffusivity was determined using Ficks second law and the values ranged from 1.232x10-7m2/s to 1.198x10-6m2/s for acute mud snail. The temperature dependence of effective moisture diffusivity obeyed the Arrhenius Law with activation energy of 50.4KJ/mol.
 
Counsellors’ Perception of Roles of Record and Record Keeping In Evaluation of Guidance Programmes
No full textThis paper considered counsellors’ perception of the roles of records and record keeping in guidance programme evaluation, using the 28 secondary school counsellors in Onitsha educational zone of Anambra State. Three research questions guided the study. The design was survey. Instrument used to collect data was a 23-item questionnaire titled counsellors’ Perception Questionnaire (CPQ). It was validated by 3 experts and its reliability index was 0.79 using Cronback Alpha. Analysis of data was done using mean. Results showed that counsellors positively perceived the role of records and record keeping in evaluation of guidance programme except that school principals’ provision of fund is based on the success of a guidance programme. The result also showed that school counsellors do not keep record of all the counseling programme services. They often keep records for group and individual counselling and educational concern of students only. Challenges to keeping of counselling records include lack of adequate funding and frequent transfer of the counsellors. Based on the findings, one of the recommendations was that record keeping materials such as computers, tape recorders, video cassettes, file jackets among others should be made available to counsellors in schools
Effects of IEPT Constructivist Instructional Model on Students’ Academic Performance in Mathematics
No full textThe study explored the effects of IEPT constructivist instructional model on students’ Academic performance in Mathematics. The study adopted a pre-test post test control group design. One hundred and ninety Junior Secondary two (JS2) students in two co-educational schools in Umuahia Education Zone of Abia State were used for the study. The experimental group was taught using invitation, exploration, proposing explanation, taking action (IEPT) constructivist instructional model and the conventional method (CM) served as control. The main instrument for data collection was the Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). The pre-test was administered before the experiment while the post-test was administered at the end of the study. One research question and one hypothesis guided the study. The research question was answered by mean and standard deviation while hypothesis was analyzed with the use of analysis of covariance (ANCOVA). The result obtained shows that students who were taught using IEPT constructivist instructional model performed significantly better than students taught with conventional method. It is recommended among other things that there should be a “paradigm shift” from the traditional expository method to active teaching/learning where teachers will be able to help students create cognitive maps, link ideas, address misconceptions and reinforce meaning
Soil Microbial Inhibitions on the Impact of Four Herbicides on Plantain Plantation (Musa paradisiaca) in FECOLART, Owerri- West, Imo State, Nigeria
No full textThe increased use of herbicides in agricultural soils causes contamination of the soil with toxic chemicals. These chemicals exert certain effects on non-target organisms, including soil microorganisms which are responsible for the numerous biological processes essential for increase in soil fertility and food production. In line with this, the study assesses the Soil Microbial inhibitions of Four Herbicides using concentration level of 0.33mg/l diluted with 10 litres of water and applied on 1 hectare of land: Glyphosinate; Basta -15; Roundup and Atrazine were applied on Plantain Plantation (Musa paradisiaca) in FECOLART. Soil samples were collected at 0-15cm and 15 – 30 cm depths with the herbicides evaluation: 1DAT, 2DAT, 3DAT, 4DAT 10DAT respectively. The results showed that , the herbicides treatments significantly inhibited the development of microbial populations in the soil and the degree of inhibitions closely related to the rates of their applications which varied with the type of herbicide used. Glyphosinate caused the highest percentage of inhibitory effect on bacterial populations at 15-30cm with a scanty growth of Streptococcus progenies when applied at the recommended field rate, but at 0-15cm, yielded a moderate growth of Clostridium when isolated, and when sporadically applied Basta-15 yielded no bacterial growth in the soil. The results also shown that, the fungal populations were mostly affected by Roundup at 3DAT.Atrazine recorded the least inhibitory effect on soil microbial population. The highest fungal inhibition was observed at 3 days after treatment (DAT) followed by a drastic decrease of inhibition by 4 DAT, while 10 DAT recorded zero inhibition. Ultimately, the result showed that inhibition of fungi and bacterial growth increased with increased herbicide rates. The degree of fungal growth inhibition by the herbicides were in order of Glyphosinate >3DAT, Roundup >3DAT, Basta >2DAT and Atrazine> 1DAT. The degree of growth inhibition by the herbicides on bacteria were in order of Basta >1DAT; Glyphosinate > 2DAT; Roundup >3DAT, and Atrazine>2DA
Beyond the Neoclassical Paradigm: A Real World Economics Proposal
No full textThe paper examines the case against the neoclassical school of thought by the Real World Economics movement with the aim of highlighting their key proposals and policy prescriptions. The paper was able to review the important messages of the Real world Economic Movement, by tracing their ideological origins from the strengths and weaknesses of neoclassical economics which stands for mainstream economics. Arguing for noble changes in the teaching and practice of economics, the paper was able to establish the core argument of the Real World Economist against neoclassical economics; a need for pluralism in the teaching and practice of economics.
 
Effect of Income and Income Distribution on Population Health in Nigeria: A Multi-Level Approach
No full textThis study focuses on the effect of income and income distribution on population health in Nigeria using the multi-level approach of econometric analysis with data from Nigerian Demographic and Health Survey, (2013) and annual abstract of statistics from National Bureau of Statistics (2013). The findings show that absolute income has significant effect on population health in Nigeria with significant variations in absolute income of the population. It is equally evident that relative income has insignificant effect on population health with no substantial differences in relative income of the population in Nigeria. The Gini coefficient and the Pietra inequality indices mimic each other for both absolute and relative income. The Gini coefficient expresses a near maximum inequality for the population health due to absolute income and near perfect equality of the population health due to relative income. The policy in a nutshell is hinged on the need for better and effective way of improving income and to promote quality health care for the public, private and the ordinary citizens of Nigeria
Effects of Audit Education and Work Experience on Audit Expectation Gap in Nigeria
No full textThe duties which auditors perform in establishing the credibility of management stewardship function have often been misconceived by users of financial statements. This wrong perception is evidently the cause of misjudgement and unending blame heaved on auditors and the accounting profession in all reported cases of corporate failures. This study investigated the extent to which audit education and work experience minimize audit expectation gap in Nigeria. The quasi-experimental non-equivalent group design was adopted using three intact groups of accounting students from three tertiary institutions in Abia State. A modified four-point likert questionnaire which covered important issues of audit expectation gap was administered to a sample of 353 students at the end of 2012/2013 academic session. Multiple regression and ANOVA were used in analyzing the data. And results show that perceptions of students without audit education and those with work experience significantly differ from those of students who have audit education, whereas the difference in the perceptions of students without audit education and those with work experience is not statistically significant. The study also observed that audit education has an inverse effect on audit expectation gap to a greater extent than work experience. Therefore, the study concludes that audit education is a major tool for the reduction of audit expectation gap and recommends that the relevant authorities should install appropriate legal frameworks and campaigns for increasing financial information users’ knowledge and awareness of the nature, process, scope and limitations of an audit through proper audit education programmes