scholarly journals Knowledge and Innovations for farmers from Teaching Agriculture in Ugandan Primary Schools: A Study of Kumi Communities in the Teso Sub-Region

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 56
Author(s):  
William Faustine Epeju

Kumi communities consist of Bukedea, Kumi and Ngora districts whose agriculture is increasingly complex with declining productivity because of population increase, climate change, low yielding technologies used &amp; poor market access impacting negatively on yields and environment. More knowledge &amp; innovations are needed by farmers. Teaching agriculture in primary schools raised hopes, hence the study. The design was exploratory. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, documents and observations were used to collect data from 40 primary schools randomly selected. Of 2,069 respondents, 1,951 were head teachers, teachers and primary seven students &amp; 118 were farmers including extension workers purposively selected.  Qualitative data were analysed using open coding &amp; axial coding based on objectives and research questions. Agricultural productivity and its growth rate were found low caused by many factors. Education quality and innovations attained by farmers were not assuring for successful farming and rural living. Primary school agriculture was poorly conducted encountering implementation problems such as limited land, no funds, unfavourable weather and lack of improved inputs. Forty five percent (45%) of the students preferred farming as an occupation. The key innovations attained were literacy and numeracy important in the use of improved inputs; knowledge and skills for several farm operations including environmental management and good family living.   On ranking school completion rates and farm output of 16 sub-counties, Spearman Rank Order coefficient computed was positive (r = 0.421 with r<sup>2</sup> = 0.1772, 18% at 0.05 α). Increased farm output was explained by 18% through completed primary education by farmers. Smallholder farms in Kumi for years may only be run commercially through intelligent and differentiated policies, addressing market access, jobs in non-farm economy and social transfers to improve welfare of the poor. Primary school agriculture through innovations attained by farmers enhances production thus the need for more investment in it.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 32-53
Author(s):  
Harriet Isaboke ◽  
Maureen Mweru ◽  
Gladwell Wambiri

Globalization and demand for twenty first century skills has led countries to adapt Competency Based Curriculum (CBC). Kenya embarked on curriculum reforms from content based to CBC in 2018. Studies have reported minimal use of CBC teaching-learning approaches in pre-primary schools in Nairobi City County. Teachers are the key implementers of the Curriculum, yet their preparedness to implement the Curriculum in public pre-primary schools remains unknown. Therefore, this study purposed to establish the preparedness of pre-primary school teachers in implementing the CBC in public pre-primary schools in the County. The Concern-Based Adoption Model by Hall, Hord and Rutherford (2006) was used in this study.  The study targeted a population of 900 comprising of 450 pre-primary school teachers, 225 ECD Center Managers and 225 head teachers in all the 225 public pre-primary schools in Nairobi City County. Twenty percent of the target population was sampled to participate in the study; therefore the study had a sample size of 180, which comprised of 45 head teachers, 45 center managers and 90 pre-primary school teachers. A Questionnaire, interview schedules, observation checklist and a document analysis guide were used to collect data. Pilot study was conducted in two public pre-primary schools in the County, validity of the research instruments was determined through expert judgment whereas reliability of the questionnaires was determined through split-half method and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.799 was obtained. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically whereas quantitative data was summarized using percentages and frequencies and Chi-square test was used to test the hypotheses. This was facilitated by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences Version 21. Findings showed that majority (65.9%) of the teachers had not received any training on CBC, whereas 34.1% of the teachers were trained. The study established a significant relationship between the teachers’ extent of training in CBC and their ability to implement the curriculum with a significance value of p=0.000<0.05. The study concluded that the teachers were not adequately prepared to implement the Curriculum. Thus, recommended that the Ministry of Education in collaboration with the Nairobi City County Government should adequately create a regular in-service training program to equip teachers with necessary knowledge and skills that will help them implement the curriculum effectively.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 40
Author(s):  
Paul Ekeno Ejore ◽  
Daniel Komo Gakunga ◽  
Musembi Nungu

Kenya’s Turkana County, being an arid area, is faced with numerous challenges that hinder education programs especially among school going pupils. Therefore, the study sought to establish the effectiveness of the government interventions measures on pastoralists’ pupils’ participation in regular and mobile primary schools in Turkana County. Based on the study, this paper explores the effectiveness of the school feeding programme in promoting access to education among pupils from pastoralist communities in the County. The study utilized both descriptive survey as well as mixed methods. It utilised a sample of 75 head teachers, 225 teachers, 375 pupils, 85 parents, 3 education officers (1 from each sub-county), 1 County Director of Education and 1 County Commissioner. For data collection, the study employed questionnaires, interview schedules and focus group discussions. Quantitative data was coded and keyed into the computer using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). In order to test the effectiveness of the government intervention, regression test an (inferential statistics) was applied. The analysed data was presented using tables. The qualitative data from interview schedules and focused group discussion was organized into major themes as per the research objectives. The results were presented thematically using extensive description and direct quotations. Hypotheses were analysed using regression analysis. The findings of the study showed that the feeding programme influenced many pastoralists’ pupils’ participation in both regular and mobile primary schools. The study recommends that the government should make efforts to ensure that food is supplied to schools in in time. There is also need to enrich the nutritional quality of the food supplied to schools. This paper highlights the major contribution of school feeding interventions in increasing access to quality education among marginalised communities. It will inform future policies aimed at such interventions by governments and education stakeholders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 356-368
Author(s):  
Nadaraj Govender ◽  
Godfrey Mutendera

Indigenous Knowledge is largely neglected in the primary school curriculum, yet it espouses the history, art, nature, and traditions of the community from which students come. This study explores the views of six custodians and six teachers on the integration of Indigenous Knowledge in the primary school curriculum in Zimbabwe. Indigenous standpoint theory and participatory research methodology framed the study. Data were generated through focus group discussions with Indigenous Knowledge custodians through individual interviews with teachers. The custodians’ views confirmed that Indigenous Knowledge was significant to their identities, but they were concerned with the loss of their culture due to modernization. Most teachers acknowledged the wisdom of Indigenous Knowledge custodians, welcomed their contributions, but some teachers were sceptical about custodians teaching formally in the classrooms. Several dilemmas arose from the views of participants, which have implication for the integration of Indigenous Knowledge in primary schools.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Emelda Juma Olando ◽  
Margaret Mwangi

<p>Early childhood years are crucial in children’s literacy development since the development of language and literacy begins at birth and is a lifelong process. For early childhood education to be a success, teacher experience is imperative for teaching literacy. The teachers’ experience informs the necessary literacy skills for the child which include writing, reading, speaking, listening and drawing. Policies governing basic education in Kenya do emphasize the importance of skilled, experienced teachers in the classroom, including early childhood settings. However, such requirements have not been adhered to and therefore numerous early childhood teachers lack experience in children literacy issues. This study sought to determine how teacher’s experience influences the teaching of literacy skills in primary school in Mbaraki Zone, Mombasa County, Kenya. Descriptive survey design was adopted in the study. The target population for the study comprised of 20 head teachers, 800 Grade one pupils and 40 Grade one teachers of all the twenty primary schools in Mbaraki Zone, Mombasa County, Kenya. Purposive sampling approach was used to obtain the sample for the primary school head teachers and Grade one teachers because they are relatively small. Three learners were sampled randomly from each class that had a participating teacher. The study findings revealed that majority of teachers had more than five years of experience teaching literacy skills. The inferential analysis revealed that the teaching experience had a statistically significant influence on reading (p 0.014), speaking (p 0.021), listening skills (p 0.038) as well as basic skills (p 0.019). The study calls on the ministry of education and the schools to ensure that teachers assigned to grade one should have extensive experience teaching literacy skills to promote teaching of literacy skills in the classes.</p><p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0975/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>


Sociology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellis Morgan ◽  
Yvette Taylor

This article sets out the ways in which primary schools have come to bear significant risks in making decisions over whether, how and when to reflect transgender issues. We examine press reporting that arose in relation to a recent incident in the UK in which a primary school in East Sussex was widely criticised for instigating a ‘transgender education’ initiative. We argue that despite tacit indications that UK Government supports ‘transgender education’ as a learning area for children as young as five years old, there is an ongoing risk to primary schools who implement such initiatives. The nature of this risk is located within the usage of equalities terminology in governmental discussions and official guidance that effectively acts to gloss over the enduringly controversial nature of transgender issues. The vague and non-specific nature of equalities terminology allows for both heteronormative and transgressive interpretation, thereby locating the risk of public criticism with primary schools, and head teachers in particular.


2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. p158
Author(s):  
Pavlina Hadjitheodoulou Loizidou ◽  
Marianna Fokaidou

The study used the Clarke and Hollingsworth (2002) model on teacher professional growth to investigate the changes and the transition of professional identity when a deputy head teacher was appointed as an acting head teacher in a small rural primary school in Cyprus. The head teacher had no previous experience in headship, and did not receive any training or followed an induction course to the job. The goal of the study was to identify ways to support novice acting head teachers for effective leadership in the complexities of small primary schools. Data was collected through diary notes and semi-structured interviews using thematic analysis of qualitative data. The analysis revealed the importance of the interaction between the external stimuli and information through informal professional learning in the role set and the personal knowledge and previous experience. Feelings of isolation as the main outcome of this experience enabled changes in leadership practice through enactment and reflection. The teacher’s suggestions for a professional learning program could be the contribution of her personal experience on the educational context.


Author(s):  
Edwin Obwoge Makworo ◽  
Abuya Teresa Kwamboka ◽  
Nyakoe George Morara

<p>Delivery of education content to learners in many learning environments has greatly been enhanced by the deployment and implementation of Information Communication Technologies (ICTs) in the world today. Many developing countries are putting in place strategies to ensure their education systems use ICT to improve and diversify learning to meet the global changes in technology. In Kenya, ICT Integration in Primary Education is one of the key flagship programmes that has received keen attention by the government in the past few years through the primary schools Digital Literacy Programme (DLP). This research endeavoured to establish the e-readiness of primary schools implementing use of digital devices in Kisii County. Survey research design was applied in the study. The population of the study constituted of 710 primary school head teachers, 1,420 standard one and two teachers and 71,000 standard one and two pupils. Sample size was determined using the fisher formula and the sample consisted of 249 primary school head teachers, 302 standard one and two teachers and 381 standard one and two pupils. Purposive sampling was used to select schools, head teachers and teachers. Simple random sampling was used to select the specific schools to include in the study and proportionate sampling was used to determine the number of respondents from each school. The research instruments applied in the research included self-administered questionnaires for teachers and head teachers and interview schedules for pupils. To ascertain the reliability of the research instruments, a pilot test was carried out and a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.76 was realized. Data was analysed qualitatively and quantitatively using descriptive statistics in SPSS.The research established that the main impediment to implementation of the DLP was the psychological and financial readiness within the schools. There should be a well planned training schedule for teachers and a budget be put in place for the primary schools for the DLP.</p>


2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-90
Author(s):  
Rashida Naz ◽  
Sajida Naureen ◽  
Zeenat Sana Baloch

The primary schools year is an important phase of children education. The objective of this research was to identify the managerial problems faced by Primary Schools Head teachers. For primary data the sample was comprised 10 school heads 100 teachers from the primary schools, questionnaires were distributed among teachers and head teachers. The samples were randomly selected. Results showed that teachers were trying to achieve the students learning outcomes. A large number of head teachers agreed that they knew the process of school management and they were able to control the management of schools. They were trained by the education department regarding primary school management. But on the other hand less number of professional trainings were available for primary school teachers and head teachers. There were some evidences that most of the non-government organizations introduced some training programs for primary school teachers. Most of the head teachers of primary schools faces the shortage of physical and human resources in their schools. A number of head teachers had no qualification related to school management. It was concluded that almost all the in charge and teachers had no clear concept regarding curriculum 2006. Majority of the head teachers had no ability to manage the learning and teaching process. They were found incompetent for report writing and implement their decisions in jurisdiction of school. It was recommended that new posts should be created for head teachers in primary schools and their job description should be cleared. All the incharges or head teachers should be trained in school management and resource management.


Author(s):  
Michail Peter Barasa ◽  
Dennis Zami Atibuni ◽  
Edward Andama

This chapter presents a qualitative investigation of the challenges of common disabilities and their management among learners with disabilities in inclusive primary schools in Busitema Subcounty, Busia District, Uganda. Data collection involved key informant interviews and focus group discussions with a purposive sample of 85 informants including head teachers, teachers, and learners. Thematic content analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings revealed that the main challenges facing the learners were school-based, psychosocial, socioeconomic, socio-cultural, and policy related. Strategies to overcome the challenges were suggested. The authors recommend strict adherence to SNE policy guidelines during the implementation of these strategies.


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-28
Author(s):  
Lucille Anganoo ◽  
Sadhana Manik

Teacher migration is a phenomenon that gained international momentum more than eighteen years ago. South Africa was one of the developing countries within the Commonwealth which were greatly affected by the loss of homegrown skills in respect to teacher emigration to the United Kingdom. In the past ten years, however, South Africa has attracted teachers from neighbouring countries. Whilst there have been some studies on migrant teachers in South Africa, research on migrant teachers in primary schools is a neglected area. This paper reports on some of the findings of a qualitative teacher immigration study undertaken in Johannesburg which focussed on primary school teachers. The paper explores the economic, political, and social reasons for migrant teachers teaching in Johannesburg. The push and pull theory of the seminal scholar, Lee (1966) and Bett’s (2010) insights into survival migration and chain migration provide the theoretical dimensions for this paper. Primary school teachers from both public and private schools participated in this research and data was generated through interviews and focus group discussions. Migrant teachers select Johannesburg, South Africa as a survival strategy for a range of economic, political and social reasons. Primary schools in Johannesburg have been overcoming their teacher shortages with this influx of migrant teachers, benefitting from this brain gain.


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