scholarly journals PROVISION OF QUALITY EDUCATION IN PRIVATE SCHOOLS: REFLECTIVE PRACTICES IN LOW-COST PRIVATE SECONDARY SCHOOLS IN BULAWAYO METROPOLITAN PROVINCE, ZIMBABWE

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Senamiso Midzi ◽  
Lwazi Sibanda ◽  
Joyce Mathwasa
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
School Health ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
Retention Rates ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
High Staff Turnover ◽  
Science Laboratories ◽  
School Heads

Quality in education has become a cause for concern to every stakeholder in education. The study sought to assess the provision of quality education in low-cost private secondary schools in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province. The study adopted the interpretivist paradigm in qualitative approach, using a case study design. Semi-structured interviews and document analysis were used for collecting thematically analysed data from purposively sampled four school heads and six teachers from low-cost private secondary schools. The study established that in pursuit for quality education, selected schools employed qualified teachers who engage in continuous professional development programmes to sharpen their teaching skills. The findings revealed that the schools understudy are making efforts to offer practical science and computer lessons using the limited resources to ensure the provision of quality education. It emerged that selected schools use e-learning and multimedia resources which arouse learners’ interests and increase the retention rates. It came out that the schools understudy have environmental clubs which work together with school health departments in attending to sanitary issues. Whilst selected schools practiced heterogeneous grouping, the findings revealed that learners with physical disabilities are not enrolled in those schools due to lack of appropriate physical facilities and there are no teachers with relevant expertise to teach learners with special needs. The study revealed that the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education provided guidelines in the form of policy documents and circulars to monitor the provision of quality education in the selected schools. Despite the efforts made by low-cost secondary schools in providing quality education, the study found that high staff turnover is negatively affecting the quality of education due to lack of continuity in learning. The findings indicated that inadequate learning resources and infrastructure such as libraries, computer and science laboratories, internet services, and lack of teachers with special needs expertise adversely affected the provision of quality education. The study concludes that lack of financial resources is a hindrance in the provision of quality education in low-cost secondary schools. The study recommends that a comparative study on provision of quality education should be conducted in private trust secondary schools. <p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0779/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

scholarly journals Modelling Positive Behaviour: A Vital Strategy in Instilling Positive Discipline Among Secondary School Learners

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 157-172
Author(s):  
Lwazi Sibanda ◽  
Joyce Mathwasa
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
School Environment ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Staff Members ◽  
Positive Discipline ◽  
School Counsellors ◽  
Development Committee ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
School Heads

This qualitative study, guided by interpretive paradigm, explored how secondary schools use modelling positive behaviour strategy to instil positive discipline among learners in Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Zimbabwe. The study was enthused by the abolition of corporal punishment, exclusion due to delinquent behaviour and adoption of positive, inclusive discipline strategies to maintain order in schools. A case study design purposively sampled four schools in which four school heads, twenty members of the disciplinary committee, four school counsellors, two education officers, four School Development Committee chairpersons and forty prefects participated. Data collected through focus group interviews, semi-structured interviews and document analysis were thematically analysed. The results indicated that secondary schools adopted the modelling positive behaviour strategy to instil positive discipline among learners. New staff members’ orientation focused on conduct, modelling of positive behaviour whenever teachers, learners and parents interact as they perform various activities in the school environment. The study also established that prefects as role models were afforded opportunity to lead assembly sessions. The study concluded that in spite of a few cases of misconduct, it is evident that modelling positive behaviour strategy produced affirmative outcomes in schools understudy. The study recommends further research that explores other strategies that could be adopted by schools to maintain positive discipline particularly in rural schools.

scholarly journals Exploring Implementation of National Special Needs Education Policy Guidelines in Private Secondary Schools

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-111
Author(s):  
Gift Mbewe
Keyword(s):  
Education Policy ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Effective Implementation ◽  
Special Needs Education ◽  
Special Education Needs ◽  
Education Needs ◽  
Phenomenological Design

The implementation of the National Special Needs Education Policy Guidelines in Malawi began in 2009. There is limited literature on how the guidelines are implemented in secondary schools, particularly in private secondary schools of Malawi. Therefore, the study aimed at exploring the implementation of the guidelines in private secondary schools. The study used a phenomenological design and qualitative methodology. Data were generated through a triangulation of methods including semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. The data generated were analysed thematically. The findings revealed that there was a lack of thorough knowledge of the guidelines, resources for implementing the guidelines in private secondary schools were not available, and support for learners with special education needs was not sufficient. The results of this study indicate that communication with key school stakeholders is key for the effective implementation of the National Special Needs Education Policy Guidelines.

Positive Discipline Practices in Schools: A Case of Mzilikazi District Secondary Schools in Zimbabwe

2017 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-125
Author(s):  
Lwazi Sibanda ◽  
Mabhena Mpofu
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Role Models ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Discipline Practices ◽  
Positive Discipline ◽  
School Counsellors ◽  
Group Interviews ◽  
Teachers And Parents ◽  
Training Programmes ◽  
School Heads

AbstractThe study assessed factors constraining use of positive discipline practices in Mzilikazi District Secondary Schools. Qualitative approach and case study design were employed. Purposively selected participants from four secondary schools comprised four school heads; twenty members of the disciplinary committee, four school counsellors, forty prefects and four School Development Committee chairpersons. Data analysed thematically were collected using face to face semi-structured interviews and focus group interviews. Results revealed that lack of role models, ineffective communication, not rewarding positive behaviour, ineffective monitoring and inadequate financial resources constrained use of positive discipline practices in selected schools. The study concluded that factors that constrained use of positive discipline practices in schools mainly emanated from teachers, learners, parents and the members of the community. It is recommended that schools should initiate training programmes for teachers and parents to positively influence their discipline practices in enhancing use of positive discipline practices.

PARENTS AS PARTNERS IN AN INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (7) ◽  
pp. 152-158
Author(s):  
N. M. BURYKINA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Developmental Disabilities ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Educational Environment ◽  
Children With Special Needs ◽  
Raising Children ◽  
Philosophical Foundations ◽  
The Family ◽  
Children With Developmental Disabilities

This article discusses the role of the family in the social development of children with special needs in an inclusive educational environment, in connection with which the study addresses a new aspect of the interaction between the teacher and the child’s family, the interaction of the teacher (teacher) and parents of children with developmental disabilities is highlighted in a variety of areas, students in secondary schools or attending kindergartens. The purpose of the study is to assess the role of the family in the adaptation of children with developmental disabilities, studying in secondary schools or attending kindergartens. To achieve this goal, the author defines a range of research tasks: to study the historical and philosophical foundations of the role of the family in raising children with special needs; highlight the role of the family in implementing early intervention programs in secondary schools; substantiate the main stages that any school must go through, striving to create a more fruitful relationship between the school, family and community. The author stated the following results as a scientific novelty: general recommendations have been developed so that parents feel confident, competent and can work more productively together with teachers (educators) when children visit kindergarten groups (classes). As a result of the study, the author came to the conclusion that the process of teaching children with special needs in a comprehensive school is most effective in the interaction of the teacher and the family of the child.

Addressing employability challenges of business graduates in Bangladesh: Evidence from an emerging economy perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-94
Author(s):  
Mahi Uddin
Keyword(s):  
Higher Education ◽  
Emerging Economy ◽  
Education Sector ◽  
Quality Education ◽  
System Quality ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Quality Teachers ◽  
Business Graduates ◽  
Graduate Employability ◽  
Skill Gaps

This study aimed to explore and address the employability challenges of business graduates in the higher education sector in Bangladesh. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analysed applying thematic analysis (N = 35, 77% male, mean age = 34 years). Findings revealed that skill gaps, lack of quality education system, quality teachers, industry-university collaboration, backdated course curriculum, and corruption are important challenges for graduate employability in Bangladesh. The study suggests improving communication skills, updating course curriculum, curbing institutional corruption, limiting student-teacher politics, hiring and promoting quality teachers, and industry-university collaboration as strategies to improve graduate employability. The findings may help employers, managers, graduates, academics, and policymakers in the higher education sector to identify and address graduate employability challenges in an emerging economy such as Bangladesh.

scholarly journals Video-Based Intervention for Improving Maternal Retention and Adherence to HIV Treatment: Patient Perspectives and Experiences

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1737
Author(s):  
Steven Masiano ◽  
Edwin Machine ◽  
Mtisunge Mphande ◽  
Christine Markham ◽  
Tapiwa Tembo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Impact ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Hiv Treatment ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Hiv Care ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Long Term Conditions ◽  
Art Initiation ◽  
Retention In Hiv Care

VITAL Start is a video-based intervention aimed to improve maternal retention in HIV care and adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Malawi. We explored the experiences of pregnant women living with HIV (PWLHIV) not yet on ART who received VITAL Start before ART initiation to assess the intervention’s acceptability, feasibility, fidelity of delivery, and perceived impact. Between February and September 2019, we conducted semi-structured interviews with a convenience sample of 34 PWLHIV within one month of receiving VITAL Start. The participants reported that VITAL Start was acceptable and feasible and had good fidelity of delivery. They also reported that the video had a positive impact on their lives, encouraging them to disclose their HIV status to their sexual partners who, in turn, supported them to adhere to ART. The participants suggested using a similar intervention to provide health-related education/counseling to people with long term conditions. Our findings suggest that video-based interventions may be an acceptable, feasible approach to optimizing ART retention and adherence amongst PWLHIV, and they can be delivered with high fidelity. Further exploration of the utility of low cost, scalable, video-based interventions to address health counseling gaps in sub-Saharan Africa is warranted.

scholarly journals Instructions for masking the taste of medication for children

2016 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Régis Vaillancourt ◽  
Yen Truong ◽  
Shazya Karmali ◽  
Amanda Kraft ◽  
Selina Manji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
High School ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
School Health ◽  
Clinical Impact ◽  
Pediatric Hospital ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Low Health Literacy ◽  
Health Literacy Level ◽  
Literacy Level

Background: Medications that taste unpleasant can be a struggle to administer to children, most often resulting in low adherence rates. Pictograms can be useful tools to improve adherence by conveying information to patients in a way that they will understand. Methods: One-on-one structured interviews were conducted with parents/guardians and with children between the ages of 9 and 17 years at a pediatric hospital. The questionnaire evaluated the comprehension of 12 pictogram sets that described how to mask the taste of medications for children. Pictograms understood by >85% of participants were considered validated. Short-term recall was assessed by asking participants to recall the meaning of each pictogram set. Results: There were 51 participants in the study—26 (51%) were children aged 9 to 17 years and 25 (49%) were parents or guardians. Most children (54%) had health literacy levels of grade 10 or higher. Most parents and guardians (92%) had at least a high school health literacy level. Six of the 12 pictogram sets (50%) were validated. Eleven of 12 pictogram sets (92%) had a median translucency score greater than 5. All 12 pictogram sets (100%) were correctly identified at short-term recall and were therefore validated. Conclusion: The addition of validated illustrations to pharmaceutical labels can be useful to instruct on how to mask the taste of medication in certain populations. Further studies are needed to assess the clinical impact of providing illustrated information to populations with low health literacy.

Evaluation of science and mathematics books used for students with visual impairment in inclusive classrooms in Tanzania

2021 ◽  
pp. 026461962110364
Author(s):  
Francis William
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Special Needs ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
3D Models ◽  
Inclusive Classrooms ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Limited Knowledge ◽  
And Mathematics ◽  
Quantitative Approaches

This study evaluated the adapted science and mathematics books for students with visual impairment in inclusive classrooms in Tanzania secondary schools. It was conducted in 14 regions using qualitative and quantitative approaches. Data were generated from a sample of 19 heads of school, 103 students, and 77 teachers. The findings of the study show that the books are appropriate for students with visual impairment. However, they lacked enough tactile illustrations and pictures. Further findings revealed that lack of braille knowledge among some teachers limited them from using the books. As such, a few teachers who had braille knowledge had started to use the books while those with limited knowledge did not. Most teachers reported lack of appropriate pedagogy for handling special needs in inclusive classrooms. Therefore, although the books are appropriate, a lot needs to be desired in building teachers’ capacity to use the books. Various inclusive methodological knowledge to teachers needs to be ensured. Furthermore, the books must be improved to include more tactile graphics and pictures to make them more reader-friendly for students with visual impairment. Other educational books, including three-dimensional (3D) models, should be part of the adapted books.

FACTORS FOR MAKING DECISION ABOUT THE BIRTH OF A SECOND CHILD (CONSTRUCTING THE QUESTIONNAIRE)

2021 ◽  
pp. 87-96
Author(s):  
Lyudmila V. Trubitsyna ◽  
◽  
Elena Y. Johnson ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Special Needs ◽  
Qualitative Interviews ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Principal Component Method ◽  
Second Child ◽  
Scale Factors ◽  
The Family ◽  
Rehabilitation Work ◽  
English Speaking

The task of this paper is to identify a set of subjective factors that affect the decision-making in the family about the birth of the second and subsequent children. For the broadest possible description of the phenomenon under study, the method of slightly-structured interviews was used. To assess the severity of the established subjective factors based on the analysis of qualitative interviews, a questionnaire consisting of two parts was developed and tested. The first part is intended for parents of any children, the second — only for parents of children with special needs. The questionnaire was completed by 122 women with at least one child. 75 of the respondents had a child with special needs and completed both parts of the questionnaire. 92 respondents lived in Russia, the rest respondents lived in English-speaking countries. Based on the results of responses for each part of the questionnaire, an exploratory factor analysis was performed using the principal component method with Kaiser normalization. As a result, the first part of the questionnaire revealed 11 significant scale-factors, and the second part — 3 significant scale-factors. Since the survey was conducted with both Russian-speaking and English-speaking respondents, the questionnaire is available in two versions (in two languages). This questionnaire will be useful for building correctional and rehabilitation work with parents of children with disabilities. The authors are ready to provide the questionnaire to interested specialists (free of charge).

Quality Management Practices and Performance of Public Secondary School Heads in Pangasinan, Philippines

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 6-13
Author(s):  
Jeger P. Paragas
Keyword(s):  
Quality Management ◽  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary Schools ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Department Of Education ◽  
The Public ◽  
Quality Management Practices ◽  
Public Secondary School ◽  
And Performance ◽  
School Heads

This is a descriptive study which determined and analyzed the quality management practices of public secondary school heads. The study included the school heads and teachers in all Schools Division in Pangasinan. The identified quality management practicesare based on the parameters of APPES Manual. Kendall’s tau correlation coefficient was utilized to identify the significant relationship in the quality management practices of public secondary school heads to the performance of their respective schools. The researcher used questionnaire, interview and google form to gather the needed data. Same set of questionnaire was utilized for the teachers and school heads as respondents of this study. Findings of the study revealed that stakeholders were truly a great agent in improving the public secondary schools. Therefore, school heads must be eager to do this to have a strong partnership and participation of the stakeholders in the school. They contribute a lot for the direction leading to greater learning outcomes. Also, it was found out that weak correlation was hardly related to the quality management practices of the school heads with regard to the performance of their respective schools. Further, a proposed plan of action with regard to the indicators that were found out moderate would be presented to public secondary schools for them to better identify the risk and opportunities so to attain and maintain quality management practices of school heads and school perfomance in the Department of Education.

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