scholarly journals An Assessment of the Implementation of Integrated Task Focused Adult Education Program in Estie Woreda: Challenges and Opportunities

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 ◽  
pp. 3408-3441
Author(s):  
Yihunie Alemayehu

This study was conducted to assess the implementation of task integrated focused adult education program (ITFAEP) in Estie woreda: South Gondar Zone.  The study also sought to assess the challenges face and opportunities for effective implementation of this program. Mixed methods design was employed for the study and both qualitative and quantitative techniques were used. The participants of the study were 6 woreda adult education professionals, 33 cluster school supervisors, 114 ITFAEP facilitators, and 48 adult learners. The sampling technique used to select these participants was comprehensive sampling technique for the first three participants (150 in number). The 48 adult learners were selected first by cluster then by lottery system sampling technique. Questionnaires were used to collect quantitative data while qualitative data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis. All selected participants were participated in giving responses to the questionnaire except adult learners. Interviews were held with the 6 woreda adult education professionals and 8 cluster school supervisors. The adult learners were participant for the focus group discussion. The documents of 11 ITFAEP facilitators were analyzed using checklist in the form of yes/no. The responses for interviews and the focus group discussions were tape-recorded and transcribed. The gathered data were analyzed quantitatively (tabulation, percentage and mean) and qualitatively by narration. The result of the study indicated that ITFAEP was not being implemented effectively. It was only in report that the program was effective, but the reality did not show the implementation of the program.  Both adult learners and their facilitators had no internal interest and motivation to learn and teach well. Though the participants mentioned some fertile grounds such as the increasing of regular students in the villages of adult learners, the current high attention is given to the program by ministry of education and the supply of textbooks for adult learners, the number and degree of the challenges they mentioned were much more than the opportunities. It is found out that adults’ workload, absence of continuous follow-up and support and lack of adequate training were among the major factors hindering the implementation of the program. Therefore, based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that the board and technical committee at woreda and kebele level should provide further training for facilitators on the way how to teach adults effectively. Well organized awareness creation should be done to enhance the interest and motivation of adults and facilitators.  Finally, to minimize and gradually solve the problems encountered in the effective implementation of the program, continuous and extensive orientations and training, in the form of workshops and seminars should be offered to cluster supervisors, school principals, and facilitators. Moreover, all stakeholders of the program should try their best for the realization of the program.

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 54
Author(s):  
Marjan Bazhan ◽  
Naser Kalantari ◽  
Nastaran Keshavarz-Mohammadi ◽  
Hedayat Hosseini ◽  
Hassan Eini-Zinab ◽  
...  

<p><strong>INTRODUCTION:</strong> During the past few decades, production and marketing of functional foods has increased in many countries including Iran. Considering the fact that consumers’ preferences play an important role in the success of marketing a product to increase consumption, this study was conducted in Iran to fill the knowledge gap in this regard.</p><p><strong>METHODS: </strong>The theory of social marketing served as the framework of this study. Qualitative data were collected via eight semi-structured focus group discussions, between May and September 2014. Participants were 65 women (44 housewives and 21 employed women), aged 23–68 years, selected by purposeful sampling technique, considering maximum diversity. All focus group discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of the qualitative content of the data was conducted using MAXQDA<sup>® </sup>software.</p><p><strong>RESULTS:</strong> The findings showed that there were quite diverse preferences among studied women in regards to different aspects of a product and its social marketing strategies. The preferences towards functional dairy were categorized in 4 main groups: (i) characteristics of products including sensory and non-sensory characteristics; (ii) price; (iii) place of the product supply; and (iv) promotion strategies of products categorized in three subgroups of informing and educating, advertising, and recommending.</p><p><strong>CONCLUSION: </strong>This diversity should be considered both in production of dairy foods and their promotion plans. This understanding can contribute to success of interventions to increase consumption of these products among consumers.</p>


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 51-60
Author(s):  
E.V. Arzhanykh ◽  
O.А. Gurkina

One of the most significant aspects of social integration of children with special needs is the availability of additional education, which is often the only way to socialize these children. Based on our studies (focus group discussions and a questionnaire survey of 1078 parents of children with special needs) we analyzed the limitations of additional education availability for these children according to various criteria (organizational, financial, informational, etc.). Evaluation of the number of children covered by the additional education program leads to the conclusion that the older children are, the harder they get the educational service. The most deprived group are children with intellectual disabilities.


2009 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise McCall ◽  
Natalie Wray ◽  
Bill Lord

Introduction To identify factors that affect the education of pre-employment paramedic students during the clinical practicum. Methods A purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit undergraduate students from the Bachelor of Emergency Health (Paramedic) (BEHP) who had recently completed their first or final clinical placement. Qualitative data was collected via a total of 3 focus group discussions; two focus group discussions were conducted with students on completion of their final placement, and one focus group discussion was conducted with students who had recently completed their first placement. Participants were asked to share their career and placement expectations, placement experiences, career path intentions, and the impact of placements on their career decisions. Results This paper reports on student perception of education in the clinical environment and their impression of the strengths and weaknesses of this model. We identified four major themes: (1) communication, (2) appropriate placements, (3) capacity building and, (4) adequate preparation for students. Conclusion The University, ambulance service and students need to form a relationship to foster the quality of clinical education. Each party needs to adequately communicate and prepare for quality learning to occur in placements. Good mechanisms for the identification of problems early, particularly in relation to student support and case load are necessary. Ongoing evaluation of the quality of clinical placement education is required and should include all parties who are also committed to continuous improvement.


Author(s):  
James M. Oketch ◽  
Edward M. Mugalavai ◽  
Nicodemus O. Nyandiko

Currently, 85 per cent of the world’s human  population lives in the drier half of the Earth, which exacerbates the water risks including lack of access to safe water, poor basic sanitation and water-related disasters and diseases. Vihiga County is located in the western region of Kenya (former western province). The county covers a total area of 531.0 Km2. This paper examines the impact of water related risks on the livelihood of residents in Vihiga County. The study used evaluation research design. A sample size of 384 households was used to obtain data from the households. Sampling technique comprised of multistage sampling for the households, Quota sampling for the Focus Group Discussions and purposive sampling for the Key Informants. Primary data was gathered by use of questionnaires, Key Informant Interview guides, observation checklists and Focus Group Discussions. Secondary data was collected by use of publications, journals, and internet access. Quantitative data was analysed using Microsoft excel, and Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS) version 20.0. Results reveal that majority of the household respondents had experienced different forms of water related risks including, water pollution at 42%, inadequate water infrastructure 32%, poor water governance 10%, water scarcity 7% and environmental flows at 4% respectively. The study established that the existing Water Funded Projects (WFPs) initiatives include protected water springs at 31%, water kiosks 21%, boreholes at 18%, open wells 14 %, rain water harvesting at 12% while 4% of household respondents had piped water. The results (X25, 0.05=69.76; p-value=0.000) indicating that Water Funded Projects (WFPs) initiatives have positively influenced reduction in water related risks.


2018 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjan Bazhan ◽  
Naser Kalantari ◽  
Nastaran Keshavarz-Mohammadi ◽  
Hedayat Hosseini ◽  
Hassan Eini-Zinab ◽  
...  

Purpose During the past few decades, production and marketing of functional foods has increased in many countries including Iran. Considering the fact that consumers’ preferences play an important role in the success of marketing a product to increase consumption, this study aims to fill the knowledge gap in this regard in Iran. Design/methodology/approach The theory of social marketing served as the framework of this study. Qualitative data were collected via eight semi-structured focus group discussions, between May and September 2014. Participants were 65 women (44 housewives and 21 employed women), aged 23-68 years, selected by purposeful sampling technique, considering maximum diversity. All focus group discussions were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Analysis of the qualitative content of the data was conducted using MAXQDA® software. Findings The findings showed that there were quite diverse preferences among studied women in regards to different aspects of a product and its social marketing strategies. The preferences toward functional dairy products were categorized in four main groups: characteristics of products including sensory and non-sensory characteristics; price; place of the product supply; and promotion strategies of products categorized in three subgroups of informing and educating, advertising and recommending. Originality/value This study is the first study in this regard in Iran. Given the novelty of functional dairy products in the market, the diversity of preferences should be considered both in production of dairy foods and their promotion plans. This understanding can contribute to success of interventions to increase consumption of these products among consumers.


Author(s):  
Muhammad Zahid ◽  
Rahman Hussain ◽  
Hazrat Bilal

Throughout the world, the department of police has been established for enforcing the law, protecting the life and property of the people, and ensuring peace. Police play a vital role in maintaining law and order in the society as well as controlling crimes and their services are considered as good, but police corruption has also occurred throughout history and therefore it is by no means a new phenomenon. The issue of corruption in police in terms of lodging first information report (FIR), during investigation and detention, calls for immediate attention from the researchers because it negatively affects justice delivery in society. The current study was conducted in Tehsil Takht Bhai, of district Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Pakistan, which examined the perception of the general public, drivers, elected representatives, lawyers, past prisoners, and the police tout about police corruption. The study was qualitative specifically based on thematic research design. A stratified purposive sampling technique has been utilized, while the Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) were used as a tool for collecting primary data.   Further, focus group discussions were elaborated narrated and linked with the literature (thematic analysis) to extract findings. Research findings show that corruption is prevalent in police at different levels, and it is suggested that media campaigns, public awareness, and legislation about corruption need to be implemented to control corruption in the police.


2018 ◽  
Vol 25 (01) ◽  
pp. 156-164
Author(s):  
Naheed Mahsood ◽  
Brekhna Jamil ◽  
Usman Mehboob ◽  
Zeeshan Kibria ◽  
Kashif Ur Rehman Khalil

Objectives: To explore perception of Khyber Medical University teachersregarding challenges in provision of timely feedback to students. Setting: Khyber MedicalUniversity, Peshawar. Period: March 2016 to September 2016. Methods: A qualitative multiplecase study in which seven focus group discussions with seven constituent institutes of KhyberMedical University have been conducted, each institute is taken as one case, selected throughpurposive maximum variation sampling technique. Each FGD was audio-recorded, transcribedverbatim, analyzed and themes were identified. Results: Total forty faculty members participatedin seven focus group discussions. Three themes that emerged were ”institutionalization offeedback” indicating need of establishing a feedback culture so that it is taken as a norm bothby teachers and students; “Lapses in feedback priority” indicating teachers don’t give priorityto feedback due time constraints, work overload, lack of training and resource deficiencies:“establishing manageable model of feedback at organizational/institutional level” indicatinga need for developing a feasible feedback model compatible to university contextual needsinstead of implementing any ideal feedback model. Conclusion: The concept of providing andreceiving feedback is deficient and its significance with respect to teaching and learning islacking. Contextual academic workload and time constraints may impact the quality and timingof feedback provided. There is need of collaborations between university administration andfaculty so that feedback can be utilized effectively in the learning process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-210
Author(s):  
Addiarrahman Addiarrahman ◽  
Illy Yanti

This study seeks to understand the pragmatism of the development of sharia economic law, and its implications for Islamic financial products in Indonesia. The data comes from the results of interviews and focus group discussions with key informants from academics, practitioners, authorities, and the public. This research finds that pragmatism in the development of Islamic economic law is an approach that still dominates the DSN-MUI fatwas. The pragmatism style used is complex-eclectic pragmatism which is represented through makhārij al-fiqhiyyah, which is to choose a mild opinion by sticking to the strongest method or also called "taysīr al-manhajī". The use of this method is intended to ensure that the fatwa is truly able to answer the needs of the business world, as well as being in line with sharia principles. DSN-MUI also does not use maslahah as a legal consideration in a free or liberal way. Rather, it returns maslahah in consideration of the method, so that it is permissible to use the bay’ al-'inān contract only in a forced state (ḍarurah).


BMJ Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. e029144 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusra Elhidaia Elobaid ◽  
Andrea Leinberger Jabari ◽  
Aisha Al Hamiz ◽  
Abdul Rizzak Al Kaddour ◽  
Sherif Bakir ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo explore: (A) the underlying motivators and barriers to smoking cessation among young Arabic speaking smokers and (B) to examine the suitability and preferences for tobacco cessation interventions (specifically text messages) and study the possibility of enrollment methods for a randomised controlled study using text messages as an intervention for tobacco cessation.DesignQualitative research using focus group discussions and content analysis.Setting(s)Two universities, one of them is the first and foremost comprehensive national university in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The third setting is the largest hospital in the UAE and the flagship institution for the public health system in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.ParticipantsSix focus group discussions with a total of 57 participants. Forty-seven men and 10 women. Fifty-three of them were current smokers.ResultsThe analysis of six focus groups was carried out. Main themes arose from the data included: preferences for tobacco cessation interventions and acceptability and feasibility of text messaging as tobacco cessation intervention. Different motives and barriers for quitting smoking including shisha and dokha were explored.ConclusionInterventions using text messaging for smoking cessation have not been used in the Middle East and they could potentially be effective; however, tailoring and closely examining the content and acceptability of text messages to be used is important before the conduction of trials involving their use. Social media is perceived to be more effective and influential, with a higher level of penetration into communities of young smokers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 110-123
Author(s):  
Mohammad Issam Diab ◽  
Angham Ibrahim ◽  
Oraib Abdallah ◽  
Alla El-Awaisi ◽  
Monica Zolezzi ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground Pharmacists in many developed countries have been granted prescribing authorities under what is known as “non-medical prescribing” or “pharmacist prescribing”. However, such prescribing privileges are not available in many developing countries. Objective The objective of this study was to determine the perspectives of future pharmacists (recent pharmacy graduates and pharmacy students) on pharmacist prescribing and its potential implementation in Qatar. Methods A convergent parallel mixed-methods design was used: (1) a cross-sectional survey using a pre-tested questionnaire and; (2) focus group discussions to allow for an in-depth understanding of the issue, with a focus on pharmacists prescribing competencies as well as barriers for its implementation. Main outcome measures Future pharmacists’ perspectives and attitudes towards pharmacist prescribing in Qatar. Results The majority of the respondents (94.4%) indicated awareness of the prescribing competency related to selecting treatment options. Furthermore, the majority (92.4%) believed that pharmacists should undergo prescribing training and accreditation before been legally allowed to prescribe, a point that was reiterated in the focus group discussions. Participants generally expressed support for collaborative and supplementary prescribing models when developing prescribing frameworks for Qatar. Four categories emerged under the theme barriers to implementation of pharmacist prescribing: lack of prescribing competency, pharmacist mindset, lack of accessibility to patient records and counseling rooms, and diversity of education and training background. Conclusion The majority of recent pharmacy graduates and students were in favor of pharmacist prescribing been implemented in Qatar. However, a special training program was deemed necessary to qualify pharmacists to prescribe safely and effectively.


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