scholarly journals Adult learners’ barriers of learning: the world of married women

Author(s):  
Toni Ariwijaya ◽  
Lale Fatma Yulia Ningsih

The composition of university population has prompted researchers to examine the barriers of learning non-traditional students, typically 24 years old or older, encounter in their pursuit of a college education. The purpose of this study is to examine the live realities of six selected female adult learners in Universitas Islam Al-Azhar Mataram, Indonesia, as the institution provides programs for adult learners. Specifically, the study focuses on three types of barriers; situational, institutional and dispositional. In doing so, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions had been conducted for two academic calendars. Interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim and individual transcriptions were checked for clarity. The findings of this study reveal that cultural and personal aspects were strongly correlated with academic and non-academic struggles. Meanwhile, it is suggested that, for female adult learners to successfully overcoming the barriers, there is a need from college institutions to create more avenues of support.

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 193-201
Author(s):  
M. A. Islam ◽  
A.A. Wani ◽  
G.M. Bhat ◽  
A.A. Gatoo ◽  
Murtaza Shah ◽  
...  

Critical analyses of the perceptions on SWOT (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) have become a fundamental element of multi-criteria decision making for developing wicker handicraft entrepreneurship. The study examined the effectiveness and prioritization of entrepreneur's perceptions towards SWOT categories and factors and provided insights for developing wicker handicraft entrepreneurship in Pulwama district of Kashmir. Data were collected through structured interviews and focus group discussions of 100 wicker handicraft entrepreneurs of 20 villages selected by multi-stage random sampling. Simple descriptive statistics were used for the data analysis. Results showed that the factors like income generation (19.30%) and employment generation (19.00%) were viewed as most important strengths while labour intensive and less remunerative livelihood (18.80%) and seasonal subsistence (18.70%) were identified as main weaknesses. Further, poverty alleviation (20.70%), preservation of traditional art craft (19.00%) and improvement in public-private relations (17.50%) were adjudged as strong opportunities whereas limited marketing facilities (20.70%), lack of co-operative societies (18.90%) and harassment by officials in withies collection (16.50%) were seen as chief threats. The challenges (weaknesses and threats) (50.40%) for wicker handicraft entrepreneurship outweighed the prospects (strengths and opportunities) (49.60%) while the internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) (54.80%) prevailed over the external factors (opportunities and threats) (54.20%). F statistics (p<0.05) indicated significant differences between the internal factors (strengths and weaknesses) and external factors (opportunities and threats). The results projected the basis to the policymakers to prioritize and address the prominent challenges and reinforce the prospects for conceptualizing, formulating and implementing the strategies for strengthening the wicker handicraft entrepreneurship.


2018 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaw Owusu-Agyeman ◽  
Magda Fourie-Malherbe ◽  
Liezel Frick

Adult learners have unique educational needs that require attention from Higher Education Institutions, facilitators and industry. While several theories and policies have been developed to address the bourgeoning educational challenges confronting adult learners in Higher Education Institutions, not much has been achieved in the wake of growing knowledge and skills demands of employers. Using a mixed method approach, a survey (n = 200) and focus group discussions (n = 27) were conducted among adult learners who were also professionals studying engineering programmes in three diverse universities in Ghana. Additionally, interviews were conducted with representatives from industry and from the three engineering departments in the three universities. The study revealed that while the development of separate programmes for adult learners in Higher Education Institutions is not plausible in meeting the educational needs of adult learners, a different pedagogy could be used in addressing the unique knowledge and skills needs of adult learners. We present the implications of our study in relation to theory, practice and further research.


2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 156 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bridget Bwalya Umar

This study utilized 120 semi-structured interviews with smallholder farming households and two focus group discussions; as well as several key informant interviews with experts to explore the promotion and uptake of conservation agriculture (CA) in Mufulira, Zambia. Results reveal that ridges and flat culture continued to be the preferred tillage systems (97 per cent and 55 per cent respectively) despite the farmers having been trained in the use of a minimum tillage technique. None of the interviewed farmers perceived CA as a solution to any of their agricultural related problems. The NGO promoting CA in the district had framed it as suited for and claimed to target labour constrained HIV/AIDS affected households. Conversely, farmers complained that CA was challenging for them due to its high labour demands (23 per cent); poor harvests (18 per cent) and was unsuited to the rainfall patterns of the area (10 per cent). Local agricultural experts contested the promotion of basins in Mufulira. The framing of CA as a solution to labour constraints did not seem to hold in the study area. This effectively limited the contestation spaces available to the public officials with dissenting views on the suitability of basin CA in the district.


2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 118-118
Author(s):  
Z. Ghorashi ◽  
◽  
E. Merghati Khoe ◽  

Objective: In Iran, sexual understandings are strongly determined by religious teaching among women in particular. The aim of this study was to determine the role of religion on Iranian women’s sexual practice evolution. our purpose was to detect women’s individual conceptualization of Islamic Shiite principles and their practice upon these conceptualizations. Design and Method: In this qualitative study, 52 married women in their reproductive age were interviewed (n=4) and participated in eight focus group discussions. They were selected from public health centers in Rafsanjan. Emerged data from the interviews and focus group discussions were analyzed using content analysis. Results: Findings are categorized in three major themes: “unconditional obedience”, ”inconsistency between obedience and virtue”, “misunderstandings”. Conclusions: Religious teaching has a basic and comprehensive role in sexual behavior construction and sexual health of women. However, occasional inconsistency between believes, learning and sexual expectations, practices and situations would lead to jeopardize the psychological and somatic health of women. Misunderstandings have essential role in making such problems.


2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Jones ◽  
Nyoman Anita Damayanti ◽  
Nicola Wiseman ◽  
Neil Harris

Five focus group discussions (FGDs) with 61 pregnant women were conducted in June and July 2019 at primary health care (PHC) services within five urban areas of Surabaya, Indonesia. In addition, five semi-structured interviews with five midwives were carried out to explore the experiences of pregnant women accessing Antenatal Care (ANC) and the factors shaping uptake of ANC services. Data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and translated into English, and analyzed using thematic analysis. Findings from focus group discussions suggested that fears of negative diagnosis before initial ANC appointment and personal beliefs and myths surrounding pregnancy may delay uptake of ANC. Further, the influence of husbands, family, and friends and long waiting times with overcrowding leading to limited seating shaped timely access and return visits. In addition, feeling comfortable with the quality of the service and receiving a friendly service from the practitioners assisted women in feeling comfortable to return. Finally, midwives acknowledged feeling afraid of being referred to a hospital if deemed a high-risk pregnancy-shaped return ANC visits. The findings highlighted several factors needing to be addressed to increase the promptness of first ANC visits and ensure return visits to achieve great ANC coverage.


2016 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-84 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mufaro Magidi ◽  
Rinie Schenk ◽  
Charlene Erasmus

The culture of gang violence has become deeply entrenched in South Africa. The present study explored the experiences of non-gang school-going adolescents regarding gangs and gangsterism in Hanover Park in the Western Cape. A qualitative exploratory approach was used. Data collection instruments were focus group discussions supported by qualitative semi-structured interviews involving 18 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 18 from two secondary schools in Hanover Park, Cape Town. The data were thematically analysed. The results have shown that the presence of gangs affects the learners’ school attendance, restricts their mobility, increases bullying at school and seriously disrupts family and community life.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (02) ◽  
pp. 77-86
Author(s):  
Anisah Aninditya Rahmaputri ◽  
Dianti Endang Kusumawardhani

Teachers have an important role in educating students well. One way that teachers can do to be able to increase motivation and school engagement is by providing social support to students. This study aims to find out the overview of perceived social support from teachers by high school “X” students in South Tangerang. The research method is descriptive qualitative research with data collection techniques through focus group discussions and structured interviews. The results of data retrieval show that the perceived social support from some teachers by high school "X" students is quite satisfying for students but not from every teachers. This means it can still be improved again. This is because not all teachers are considered good enough at providing social support to students. The total number of teachers are 17 people and for students are 67. It should be able to be improved in communication skills so that they can provide better social support to students. Keywords : Adolescent, School, Social support. Abstrak Guru memiliki peran penting dalam mendidik siswa dengan baik. Salah satu cara yang dapat guru lakukan untuk dapat meningkatkan motivasi serta keaktivan siswa di sekolah adalah dengan memberikan dukungan sosial kepada siswa. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mencari tahu gambaran dukungan sosial dari guru yang dirasakan oleh siswa SMA “X” di Tangerang Selatan. Metode penelitian berupa penelitian kualitatif deskriptif dengan teknik pengambilan data melalui focus group discussion dan wawancara terstruktur. Hasil pengambilan data menunjukkan bahwa gambaran dukungan sosial dari guru yang dirasakan oleh siswa SMA “X” cukup memuaskan bagi siswa tetapi masih dapat ditingkatkan lagi. Hal ini dikarenakan belum semua guru dianggap sudah bagus dalam memberikan dukungan sosial kepada siswa. Total guru yang berjumlah 17 orang untuk siswa sebanyak 67 orang seharusnya dapat ditingkatkan dalam kemampuan komunikasi sehingga mampu memberikan dukungan sosial kepada siswa dengan lebih baik lagi.


Author(s):  
Evelyn Aguirre ◽  
Solomon Faller

The usefulness of teachers’ mentoring program cannot be underestimated. Some universities and colleges in the Philippines have been implementing this kind of program with different approaches, content, and scope. The extent of mentoring programs to improve teaching careers has been studied here and abroad. Results remain inconclusive. This case study with a phenomenological peg has explored the lived experiences of neophyte teachers through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Their experiences in the first years of teaching were characterized by uncertainties, anxieties, struggles, and difficulties emanating from their lack of expertise on various aspects related to teaching practice, lack of knowledge about the culture and context of the university in which they were teaching, and lack of knowledge about the learners. With these specific inadequacies identified and the novice teachers’ implicit desire to be mentored, cues for a viable neophyte teacher’s mentoring program are drawn in the context of a teacher-training university.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 14-20
Author(s):  
Audrey Muyuni ◽  
Austin M. Cheyeka

The study sought to investigate the reasons that led to youth conversion from mainstream to Pentecostal churches in Emmasdale and in the neighbourhood of Matero. The study was guided by Horton’s intellectualist theory of conversion in Africa. It used a case study design. The method of data collection included semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and questionnaire. Findings of the study were that, there was automatic conversion taking place among the youths in mainstream churches to Pentecostalism. This was evident in all respondents in mega Pentecostal Church who had a mainstream background. Church leaders in mainstream churches were aware of youth converting to Pentecostal churches by accepting back the youths who had converted to a Pentecostal Church but had later made up their minds to go back. The study further revealed that non-Pentecostal parents supported and encouraged their children who converted to a mega Pentecostal Church owing to incentives such as; scholarships, employment and supportive programmes provided to their children. The study recommends that: sermon presentation should be revised in some mainstream churches. Explaining scriptures should not be exegetical only but linking scriptures to real life struggles of the youth. The church leaders in mainstream churches must formulate programmes that are more practical and youth oriented like charismatic prayer service, provision of scholarship, employment and positions of responsibilities through different ministries within the mainstream churches. Non-Pentecostal parents should not be too sceptical about children who associate themselves with Pentecostalism but encourage them to genuinely convert to this brand of Christianity.


1970 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
KK Jha ◽  
VS Salhotra ◽  
AP Weerakoon ◽  
L Shrestha ◽  
P Malla

Nepal has progressed from a HIV low prevalence country to one with a concentrated epidemic in certain subgroups of population. It has been documented that girls and women are more vulnerable to HIV infection. However there is little documented evidence on the risk behaviour among women in Nepal. This study was conducted to assess the pattern of risk behaviour for HIV among women in Nepal. Methodology : The main component of the study comprised a community based cross-sectional study, using a multi stage random sampling technique. Data was collected by trained field health workers using an interviewer administered questionnaire. Eight focus group discussions were also conducted to supplement the findings. Statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 13. Results : A significant number of un married (13.7%) women and 2.2% of married women indulged in high risk sexual behaviour. A significant positive association was observed between sexual risk behaviour of married women and monthly family income less than 5000 Nepali Rs ,age group 25-34y and young age group (15- 34) in unmarried women. Nearly 70% of participatory women have heard about AIDS and have satisfactory level of knowledge about HIV/AIDS. However, significant number of respondents had misconceptions that one could contract HIV through hand shaking, mosquito bites and hugging. Using Condoms during unprotected sexual intercourse in both married and unmarried women were low (19.4% and 6.2% respectively). Findings of Focus Group Discussions revealed there is a strong stigma associated with HIV/AIDS in this rural community in Nepal. Conclusions : One in every seven unmarried woman in Nepal indulged in high risk sexual behaviour, which is much more compared to married women. There is an urgent need for reproductive health education especially among teenagers and for the National HIV/AIDS Control Programme to expand its awareness generation activities. Keywords : HIV/AIDS, women, risk behaviour, Nepal DOI: 10.3126/saarctb.v6i2.3051 SAARC J. Tuber. Lung Dis. HIV/AIDS 2009 VI (2) 1-10


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