scholarly journals Recruitment, Effort, and Retention Effects of Performance Contracts for Civil Servants: Experimental Evidence from Rwandan Primary Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 (7) ◽  
pp. 2213-2246
Author(s):  
Clare Leaver ◽  
Owen Ozier ◽  
Pieter Serneels ◽  
Andrew Zeitlin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Pay For Performance ◽  
School Level ◽  
Incentive Compatible ◽  
Performance Contracts ◽  
Fixed Wage ◽  
Standard Deviations ◽  
Pupil Learning ◽  
Effort Effect ◽  
Wage Contract

This paper reports on a two-tiered experiment designed to separately identify the selection and effort margins of pay for performance (P4P). At the recruitment stage, teacher labor markets were randomly assigned to a “pay-for-percentile” or fixed-wage contract. Once recruits were placed, an unexpected, incentive-compatible, school-level re-randomization was performed so that some teachers who applied for a fixed-wage contract ended up being paid by P4P, and vice versa. By the second year of the study, the within-year effort effect of P4P was 0.16 standard deviations of pupil learning, with the total effect rising to 0.20 standard deviations after allowing for selection. (JEL C93, I21, J23, J33, J41, J45, O15)

Recruitment, Effort, and Retention Effects of Performance Contracts for Civil Servants: Experimental Evidence from Rwandan Primary Schools

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clare Leaver ◽  
Owen Ozier ◽  
Pieter Serneels ◽  
Andrew Zeitlin
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Pay For Performance ◽  
School Level ◽  
Incentive Compatible ◽  
Performance Contracts ◽  
Fixed Wage ◽  
Standard Deviations ◽  
Pupil Learning ◽  
Effort Effect ◽  
Wage Contract

This paper reports on a two-tiered experiment designed to separately identify the selection and effort margins of pay-for-performance (P4P). At the recruitment stage, teacher labor markets were randomly assigned to a pay-for-percentile or fixed-wage contract. Once recruits were placed, an unexpected, incentive-compatible, school-level re-randomization was performed, so that some teachers who applied for a fixed-wage contract ended up being paid by P4P, and vice versa. By the second year of the study, the within-year effort effect of P4P was 0.16 standard deviations of pupil learning, with the total effect rising to 0.20 standard deviations after allowing for selection.

scholarly journals The developing role of occupational therapists in school-based practice: Experiences from collaborative action research in Pakistan

2020 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 375-386
Author(s):  
Debbie Kramer-Roy ◽  
Denise Hashim ◽  
Nighat Tahir ◽  
Areeba Khan ◽  
Asma Khalid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Action Research ◽  
Occupational Therapy ◽  
Inclusive Education ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Occupational Therapists ◽  
Collaborative Action Research ◽  
School Level ◽  
Collaborative Action ◽  
School Based

Introduction Occupational therapists around the world increasingly seek to support the participation of children with disabilities and special educational needs in mainstream education. Contemporary school-based occupational therapy practice is progressing from an individual, impairment focus towards collaborative, universal interventions at the whole class and whole school level. Participation-focused practice and collaboration is particularly important, but uncommon, in low-resource contexts such as Pakistan. Methods This article reports on collaborative action research that developed the role of occupational therapy in inclusive education in Karachi, Pakistan. A research team consisting of occupational therapists and teachers worked with five local primary schools, using the action research cycles of plan–implement–observe–reflect to develop practical strategies, materials and inclusive lesson plans to facilitate the participation of all children in all school-based occupations. Findings Support from school management and interdisciplinary collaboration were crucial for implementing change. In addition, strategies like inclusive lesson planning were found to benefit all children in class. Collaborative action research led to increased professional confidence in the teachers and occupational therapists, and skill development through developing a resource guide, running workshops and presenting at (inter)national conferences. Conclusion Collaborative action research was an effective means to develop the occupational therapy role in inclusive education practices in Pakistan, develop culturally appropriate educational resources, and upskill local therapists and teachers.

The Influence of Personal Attributes on Demand for Bachelor of Education Degree Among Non-Graduate Teachers in Transnzoia County, Kenya

2021 ◽  
pp. 62-71
Author(s):  
Joseph Amulioto Opanda ◽  
Maureen Olel ◽  
Tony Okwach
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Economic Factor ◽  
Rapid Expansion ◽  
School Level ◽  
Personal Attributes ◽  
Minimum Requirement ◽  
Learner Performance ◽  
Bachelor Of Education ◽  
In Trans ◽  
Education Degree

There has been a rapid expansion in the field of of higher education. This has been precipitated by factors of demand and supply leading to various innovations in programmes and modes of study. A new trend has emerged where a wide scope of working professionals, including teachers are undertaking continuing education. To teach at the primary level in Kenya, a Primary 1 (P1) certificate is minimum requirement. However, a significant number of teachers at this level either hold or are pursuing a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) degree. As of December 2016, of the 4,406 teachers in public primary schools in Trans-Nzoia, 896 possessed a B.Ed. degree. Despite the minimum qualifications for the primary school level teaching, there is concern over the increasing number of teachers pursuing B.Ed. degree without corresponding improvement in learner performance in KCPE where the mean mark has remained below 250 for over a decade. The purpose of this study was to determine the personal attributes that influence demand for a Bachelor of Education degree in Trans-Nzoia County, Kenya. The findings indicated that personal attributes, occupational, institutional and socio-economic factors all account for the surge in demand for B.Ed. degree although the economic factor is the most important one. The study also found that teachers’ qualifications have a significantly low effect on learners’ academic performance. The findings will help policymakers and educational planners plan for relevant, efficient, effective, equitable and quality education.

scholarly journals A school-based oral health educational program: the experience of Maringa- PR, Brazil

2004 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Alberto Conrado ◽  
Sandra Mara Maciel ◽  
Márcia Regina Oliveira
Keyword(s):  
Health Care ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Oral Hygiene ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Oral Health Care ◽  
School Level ◽  
Educational Approach ◽  
Entire Study ◽  
School Based ◽  
Study Population

The main purpose of this study was to evaluate the preliminary results of a school-based oral health educational strategy adopted in public primary schools from the city of Maringa, State of Parana, Brazil. The study sample was composed by 556 children and adolescents aged 6 to 17 years old, 124 schoolteachers and a group of 55 mothers. The educational approach was implemented for 18 months and consisted of reinforcements of interventions addressed to students and schoolteachers at school level and few activities targeted at the mothers, performed by means of home visits. Baseline and follow-up interviews focused on oral health care were undertaken for the entire study population. As a stimulus for the students to achieve proper oral hygiene habits, the simplified oral hygiene index was assessed at three different moments. A statistically significant improvement in their oral hygiene index (p<0.001) was recorded. The results achieved suggest an encouraging tendency towards the improvement in the levels of oral health care among the school-age youths studied. They also point out the need of intensifying the preparation of schoolteachers in oral health topics, as well the instructions to the mothers for their oral health care. Moreover, they highlight the importance of the continuous implementation of school-based programs to promote the oral health.

scholarly journals Primary schools and the amplification of social differences in child mental health: a population-based cohort study

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Marryat ◽  
Lucy Thompson ◽  
Helen Minnis ◽  
Philip Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Population Based ◽  
School Level ◽  
Social Emotional ◽  
Level Data ◽  
Mental Health Difficulties ◽  
Early Primary ◽  
Additional Support

BackgroundThis paper examines socioeconomic inequalities in mental health at school entry and explores changes in these inequalities over the first 3 years of school.MethodsThe study utilises routinely collected mental health data from education records and demographic data at ages 4 and 7 years, along with administrative school-level data. The study was set in preschool establishments and schools in Glasgow City, Scotland. Data were available on 4011 children (59.4%)at age 4 years, and 3166 of these children were followed at age 7 years (46.9% of the population). The main outcome measure was the teacher-rated Goodman’s Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (4–16 version) at age 7 years, which measures social, emotional and behavioural difficulties.ResultsChildren living in the most deprived area had higher levels of mental health difficulties at age 4 years, compared with their most affluent counterparts (7.3%vs4.1% with abnormal range scores). There was a more than threefold widening of this disparity over time, so that by the age of 7 years, children from the most deprived area quintile had rates of difficulties 3.5 times higher than their more affluent peers. Children’s demographic backgrounds strongly predicted their age 7 scores, although schools appeared to make a significant contribution to mental health trajectories.ConclusionsAdditional support to help children from disadvantaged backgrounds at preschool and in early primary school may help narrow inequalities. Children from disadvantaged backgrounds started school with a higher prevalence of mental health difficulties, compared with their more advantaged peers, and this disparity widened markedly over the first 3 years of school.

scholarly journals Analysing the Nature of Meaning in Modal Auxiliary Use in Standard Six English in Nakuru County, Kenya

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-62
Author(s):  
Njuguna Jane Ngoiri
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Language Use ◽  
Mental Representations ◽  
School Level ◽  
Appropriate Use ◽  
Written Composition ◽  
Linguistic Feature ◽  
Auxiliary Verbs ◽  
Research Findings ◽  
The Mind

The objective of the study was to describe appropriateness of modal auxiliary verbs in class six written English. The study focused on the use of English modal auxiliary verbs by class six pupils from diverse language backgrounds in Kenyan primary schools. Modal auxiliary verbs are difficult as their use entails syntactic and semantic appropriateness. As such, most pupils often find themselves unable to use this complex linguistic feature in written English. In spite of this, there is no known documentation that focuses on modal auxiliary verbs among children. It is this gap that the current study sought to fill. Forty pupils were randomly selected from four primary schools in Nakuru County. Data was elicited by means of written composition and grammar exercises. Further, it was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively and presented in the form of graphs and tables. The Representational Theory of The Mind was used to explain the research findings. The findings revealed that modal auxiliary verbs are indeed difficult and their appropriate use present difficulties in pupils' written work. It was therefore recommended that learning of English should be meaningful. In order to enrich pupil's mental representations pupils should be exposed to a linguistically rich environment to enhance acquisition and learning. It is hoped that these findings will be of benefit to school stakeholders in ensuring that appropriate learning environment is created for pupils. Additionally, it could be a reference for researchers interested in language use at the school level.

scholarly journals “I start learning English through speaking”: Social agency demand and inter-school readiness for Indonesian young English learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 218-225
Author(s):  
Sri Setyarini ◽  
Bachrudin Musthafa ◽  
Ahmad Bukhori Muslim
Keyword(s):  
School Readiness ◽  
English Learners ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
English Language ◽  
National Curriculum ◽  
Critical Factor ◽  
Literacy Skills ◽  
School Level ◽  
Social Agency ◽  
Young Learners

Preserving Indonesian as a national identity and institutional readiness to perform the national curriculum 2013 instruction has become a critical factor in the exclusion of English as a compulsory subject at the elementary school level. This leaves rooms for teachers’ confusion and creativity, leading to various practices at different school clusters, depending on parental demands and school readiness. This study thus tries to cast light on the social agency demand and inter-school readiness for young learners in the Indonesian EFL pedagogical contexts. This instrumental case study portrays the practices of English language teaching at three clusters of Indonesian primary schools; local, national, and independent, as well as responses of parents and students to these practices. Involving 4-6 grade students and English teachers of six primary schools, the data were garnered through classroom observation, interviews, and document analysis. The findings revealed that although teaching English to young learners is somehow communicative and fun, it more emphasises  literacy skills (reading, writing, and grammar), particularly at local schools as the majority cluster across the country. Since English is a non-phonetic language, this literacy-focused practice is rather contradictory to what parents as social agencies expect, that is, to develop their children’s English oral proficiency. The study also offers ways by which teachers and schools can accommodate this social agency’s needs for speaking skills by focusing more on student-centred and oral English proficiency activities and assessment.

scholarly journals THE IMPACT OF POSITIVE SCHOOL EXPERIENCES AND SCHOOL SES ON DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS IN CHINESE CHILDREN: A MULTILEVEL INVESTIGATION

2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Yang Yue
Keyword(s):  
Depressive Symptoms ◽  
Hierarchical Linear Modeling ◽  
Teacher Support ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
School Connectedness ◽  
School Experiences ◽  
School Level ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Youth Depressive Symptoms ◽  
School Ses

The current study investigates the effects of teacher support, school connectedness, and school socioeconomic status (SES) on youth depressive symptoms. Data were collected from a sample of 881 students in Grade 6 from 10 primary schools in Northwest China. Hierarchical linear modeling indicated that higher levels of teacher support, school connectedness, and school SES were significantly associated with fewer depressive symptoms. Further, the relationships between school-level SES and youth depressive symptoms varied by the participant’s perceived level of teacher support and perceived level of school connectedness. These findings underscore the importance of positive school experiences on child psychological outcomes. Implications for future research on Chinese youth are discussed.

scholarly journals Associations between deprivation, attitudes towards eating breakfast and breakfast eating behaviours in 9–11-year-olds

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 582-589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham F Moore ◽  
Katy Tapper ◽  
Simon Murphy ◽  
Rebecca Lynch ◽  
Larry Raisanen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
School Level ◽  
Eating Behaviours ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Breakfast Skipping ◽  
Breakfast Eating ◽  
Eating Breakfast ◽  
Causal Nature

AbstractObjectivesTo examine school-level relationships between deprivation and breakfast eating behaviours (breakfast skipping and the healthfulness of foods consumed) in 9–11-year-old schoolchildren and to examine whether attitudes towards eating breakfast mediated these relationships.DesignCross-sectional survey.SettingOne hundred and eleven primary schools in Wales.SubjectsYear 5 and 6 pupils within the 111 primary schools. Measures were completed by 4314 children. Analysis was conducted at the group (school) level, with each school representing one group.ResultsDeprivation was positively associated with breakfast skipping and consumption of ‘unhealthy’ items (i.e. sweet snacks, crisps) for breakfast. A significant negative association was found between deprivation and consumption of ‘healthy’ items (i.e. fruit, bread, cereal, milk). Deprivation was significantly inversely associated with attitudes towards eating breakfast. The relationships between deprivation and (1) breakfast skipping and (2) consumption of ‘healthy’ items for breakfast were mediated by attitudes towards eating breakfast. The hypothesis that attitudes mediated the relationship between deprivation and consumption of ‘unhealthy’ breakfast items was unsupported.ConclusionsDeprivation is associated with adverse breakfast eating behaviours amongst children aged 9–11 years, in terms of breakfast skipping and the quality of breakfasts consumed. Socio-economic differences in attitudes towards eating breakfast are apparent amongst this age group, and appear to relate to social gradients in breakfast eating behaviours. Research is needed to examine the causal nature of these trends and to elucidate factors underlying the development of socio-economic differences in eating-related cognitions.

Exploring the effects of authentic leadership on academic optimism and teacher engagement in Thailand

2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-45 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhirapat Kulophas ◽  
Philip Hallinger ◽  
Auyporn Ruengtrakul ◽  
Suwimon Wongwanich
Keyword(s):  
Education Reform ◽  
School Leadership ◽  
Work Engagement ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Authentic Leadership ◽  
Academic Optimism ◽  
School Level ◽  
Equation Modeling ◽  
Suitable Model ◽  
Content Type

Purpose In the context of Thailand’s progress towards education reform, scholars have identified a lack of effective school-level leadership as an impeding factor. The purpose of this paper is to develop and validate a theoretical model of authentic leadership effects on teacher academic optimism and work engagement. Authentic leadership was considered a suitable model of school leadership in light of Thailand’s explicit recognition of the importance of developing the moral capacity of students and emphasis on ethical leadership. Design/methodology/approach The study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Survey data were obtained from 605 teachers in a nationally representative sample of 182 primary schools. The data were analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling. Findings The results indicated that the model of authentic leadership effects on teachers’ academic optimism and work engagement was validated. A moderate relationship was observed between authentic leadership and the dependent measures of teacher attitudes. Practical implications The study identified a potentially important lack of alignment between the espoused values and actions/decisions of school principals in Thailand. When combined with prior research conducted on leadership for educational reform in Thailand, our findings highlight the systemic nature of the problem faced in changing traditional patterns of behavior in Thai schools. More specifically, despite change in the nation’s educational goals, human resource management of the nation’s school leaders continues to produce administrators and managers rather than leaders, either instructional or moral. Originality/value The study extends prior studies of school leadership in the context of Thailand’s education reform that focused more specifically on principal instructional leadership in Thailand. In addition, this study of authentic school leadership is one of only a few conducted outside of Western societies.

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