Emmanuel O. Adu

Correlating Demographic Variables with Occupational Stress and Coping Strategies of Pre-School Educators: A Literature Review

Abstract The present study draws from an on-going study on the effects of demographic variables on work stimulated stressors and coping strategies among pre-school educators. The initial findings suggested that no study was found to have jointly taken-up the relationship between the demographic variables and work-related stressors. Findings also suggested that no attention is being given to the events of stress among pre-school educators in South Africa. The researchers contend that without jointly investigating the association between stress and teachers’ race, age, marital status, gender, qualifications and location of school, discussions on how these variables impact the psychosocial wellbeing of teachers would remain speculative. The current research expected to obtain empirical evidences relevant to impact policies on the psychosocial wellbeing of preschool educators in South Africa.

Parents’ Perception of the Adolescents’ Attitudes towards Premarital Sex

Abstract The study was aimed to identify the parents’ view and perceptions of their adolescents’ attitude towards premarital sex. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated. The instrument used for data collection was a questionnaire for the adolescents’ attitudes towards premarital sex (AATPSQ). The statistical analyses used were means and standard deviations for the research questions and a t-test for the hypotheses. The findings, among others, revealed that the male adult parents have no less than 21 permissive attitudes towards adolescents’ premarital sex, while their female counterparts have 14 permissive attitudes toward premarital sex. Gender has a significant influence on the adult parents’ views on the adolescents’ attitude towards premarital sex. It was however recommended among others that the State Education Commission should work in collaboration with the curriculum designers to plan how best the adolescents in schools could be helped with sex and sex-related matters.

Strategies Adopted by Women Entrepreneurs to Ensure Small Business Success in the Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape

Abstract The important role women entrepreneur plays to combat unemployment should not be underestimated, especially in countries with growing unemployment rates such as South Africa. This study examined the strategies adopted by women entrepreneurs to ensure small business success in the Nkonkobe Municipality, Eastern Cape. The objectives of the study were to identify business strategies adopted by women entrepreneurs to remain sustainable and completely effective in the market. The study also identified the impact of financial challenges on failure of women entrepreneurs.The study adopted survey research design. A structured questionnaire was used to elicit information from the respondents and simple random sampling method was used to select the samples for this study. The instrument that was validated and its reliability measured was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings showed that the strategies adopted by women entrepreneurs have a positive effect on the success of small businesses. Recommendations were given to women entrepreneurs to take some time to study the nature of challenges other women have faced in business and possibly provide solutions to such issues before starting their own business.

Institutional, Personal and Reward System Factors as Determinants of Teachers’ Productivity in Public Secondary Schools in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract The standard of any education has to do with the level of the teachers’ productivity and it has effect on the labor force. This study examined the relationship that exists between an institutional reward system, and personal factors and teacher productivity in public secondary schools. The study adopted a survey research design, which is descriptive in nature. Basically, it is a simple non-experimental study. The study revealed that personal factors (β= -0.53; t =- 8.57; p < .05) and reward system (β = -0.40; t =7.73; p < .05) were relatively significant to teacher productivity while institutional factors (β = 0.08; t= -1.72; p>0.05) were not relatively significant to teacher productivity. Moreover, personal factors explained the most variation of teacher productivity, followed by the reward system. It is obvious that these are the factors that significantly impact teacher productivity when considered individually. Based on the findings of this study, the education stakeholders and school management should take into consideration the personal factors and reward system that can promote teacher productivity.

The Effects of Cooperative Learning on Students’ Economics Achievement and Attitude towards Economics

Abstract There has been a trend of poor achievement in Economics in Secondary Schools. Hence, this study was to determine the effects of cooperative learning on economics achievement and attitude towards economics as a school subject. This quasi-experimental study was carried out ontwo Senior Secondary School classes in Lagos, Nigeria. The two groups were pretested on achievement test and attitude towards economics prior the implementation of the experimental study. At the end of the study, a post-test was administered. Data was analysed using the t-test to determine level of performance by comparing the mean of the post-test for treatment and control group.The results of this study showed that cooperative learning methods improve students’ achievement in economics and attitude towards economics.The researchers concluded that cooperative learningis an effective approach, which economics teachers need to incorporate in their teaching, if improved results are to be achieved.

Pre-service Teachers’ Challenges during Teaching Practice in One University in the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract Teaching practice provides student teachers with the chance to express their personal educational philosophies, theories and understandings and creates an opportunity for student teachers to experiment and test their knowledge and skills in the profession of teaching and learning. However, student teachers face challenges during this professional exercise. Hence, the study examines challenges encountered by pre-service teachers during teaching practice. Thisqualitative study adopts an interpretativist research paradigm. 67 files were purposively selected for analysis and discussion. It was discovered that a conducive environment, exploration of experiential knowledge, student centeredness, and teaching language as a social practice are the fundamental teaching philosophies. The study concludes that the student teachers were able to identify most of these challenges, which to the researchers is a good starting point for finding solutions. The study recommends among others that school based mentors should ensure that student teachers are supported during their work integrated learning since they require opportunity for personal growth.

Reviewof the Usage of E-learning Facilities by Economics Teachers in Eastern Cape Secondary Schools, South Africa

Abstract E-learning in South Africa and African countries is generally increasing and dramatically growing. However, while there is a great deal of knowledge about how e-learning is being used in developed countries, there is not much information on its usage by teachers in developing countries. Hence this study was to appraise the assessment of the usage of e-learning facilities by Economics teachers in secondary schools in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. The study adopted a survey research design. A total of 100 questionnaires were distributed to Economics teachers across government secondary schools in the province out of which eighty eight were retrieved and the data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The study finds that most secondary schools lack the necessary e-learning devices for teaching and learning and therefore recommends the need for school management and government authorities to brace up to this challenge through provision of modern e-learning infrastructures.

Action Learning, Value Clarification, Conventional Lecture Method, and Secondary School Students’ Attitude to Information and Communication Technology Concepts in Social Studies in Rural Learning Ecologies

This study determined the effectiveness of action learning and value clarification instructional strategies as well as conventional lecture method on students’ attitude to information and communication technology concepts in social studies in rural schools. It also determined the confounding effects of variables such as academic ability and gender on secondary school students’ attitude to ICT concepts in social studies. Deploying a randomized pretest-posttest quasi-experimental paradigm using intact classes, 24 students were exposed to action learning instructional strategy, and 29 students benefited from the value clarification instructional strategy, while 93 were in the control group. The results show the rare benefits of using conventional lecture method over science-based instructional strategies to teach ICT concepts in social studies in rural learning ecologies. Further research is proposed to evaluate the sustainability of the observed effects in rural schools.

Truancy and Academic Performance of Colleges of Education Students in South-Western Nigeria: Implication for Evaluation

ABSTRACT This study investigated the existence of relationship between college physical environment and truancy behavior of college students. Moreover, the study shows the effect of gender influence on truancy behavior. Stratified and simple random sampling method was used to select 120 students each from four colleges of education. The total number of 480 students was involved in this study. The instruments used were three namely: Lecturers Record of Attendance, Statement of Students Result and “College Environment Questionnaires” (CEQ). The research questions answered in the study were four. The statistical tools used to analysis the data ranges from descriptive to Chi-square and t-test. CEQ was checked and validity of the instrument was established by a team educational evaluator. The reliability coefficient was established with test-retest at 0.75. The study shows that there is an existence of truancy among college students and it varies based on gender and the environment. It was concluded that truancy should be eradicated or reduced drastically in other improve on the academic performance of the students.

School Experience: Institutions’ Expectations from Pre-service Teachers

ABSTRACT This paper examines the expectation of the institution on the pre-teachers during teaching practice. It emphasises that becoming a teacher is a process that involves training through mentorship. The study also provides information on the imperative areas of mentoring in order to have an effective teaching and learning during school experience, these area includes preparation of lesson plan, presentation of the lesson, assessment of students outcome, classroom management, maintenance of discipline, understanding administrative procedure, developing professionalism, modelling, feedback to the students, pre-teachers and their subject mastery, involvement in extracurricular activities. The study concludes that the school experience exercise centered on the students is an important component of the teacher education curriculum because it prepares the pre-teacher to become not only a teacher but eventually becoming a mentor. It recommends that institutions should give proper and adequate attention to school experience so that institutions will rely on such experiences as the adequate criteria necessary to be certified as teacher in the chosen field or course of study.