Impact of boarding secondary schools on students’ achievement in mathematics in Bayelsa State, Nigeria

The study examined the impact of boarding Secondary Schools on students’ achievement in mathematics. The study was conducted in Ogbia Education Zone of Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Two research questions and their corresponding null hypotheses guided the study. A post-test only of quasi- experimental research design was adopted. Furthermore, a purposive sampling technique was used to select a sample size of 219 senior secondary school class 1 (SSS 1) mathematics students from a mixed model boarding secondary school. This school consisted of both boarding and day students. A Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT) was used to collect data from the students after a period of instruction that lasted for one full academic term. All data collected were analysed by the methods of mean, standard deviation and t-test statistics. The finding indicated that the establishment of the model boarding secondary schools by the Bayelsa State Government had a very significant impact on students’ achievement in mathematics. The study recommended that more model boarding secondary schools should be established by the Bayelsa State Government.

Women differentials in fertility: The case of rural and urban educational development in Benue State, Nigeria

This study relates women education to fertility in the Ihugh (rural) and Makurdi (urban) setting in Benue State. The general purpose of the study is to test whether women with substantial schooling do have lower fertility than those without schooling. The study reveals that there is fertility differential for rural and urban settings, and that schooling is an index of the differentials. The study presents its findings and puts forward some recommendations that can help the government to address the issue of women education, especially the girl-child education.

Interpersonal relations and job satisfaction among librarians in universities in Southern Nigeria

The study explored the relationship between interpersonal relations and job satisfaction of librarians in the university libraries in Southern Nigeria. The study employed the ex-post-facto survey design with a population of 841 respondents consisting of all the librarians in federal, state and private university libraries that are located in Southern part of Nigeria. The study employed total enumeration (purposive) sampling technique to select eight hundred and forty-one (841) respondents for the study. The questionnaire was the instrument used for data collection. Data were collected and analysed with descriptive statistics such as Mean and Standard Deviation (SD). The demographic data of the respondents were, however, analysed with frequency counts. One research question was answered and one research hypothesis tested in this study. Research questions 1 and hypothesis 1 were answered and tested using Pearson‟s Product Moment Correlation. The study found that, significant relationship existed between interpersonal relations and job satisfaction of librarians in the university libraries in Southern Nigeria. It was also found that interpersonal relations influenced job satisfaction among librarians. The study recommended that in order to boost job satisfaction of librarians in the university libraries, administrators of university libraries should create enabling environment that will motivate job satisfaction. Library administrators should ensure that they facilitate the sponsorship of librarians. In addition, management of university libraries in Southern Nigeria should endeavour to send staff on courses on interpersonal relations and workshops order to emhance their job satisfaction.

Relationship between perceived self-efficacy and teaching practice performance among pre-service basic science teachers in colleges of education, Delta State, Nigeria

The study examined the relationship between perceived self-efficacy of pre-service basic science teachers and teaching practice performance in colleges of education in Delta State, Nigeria. One hundred and twelve (112) pre-service basic science teachers were selected from two colleges of education in Delta State. Forty-six (46) from College of Education l (COEI) while sixty-six (66) from College of Education II (COEII). The study tested three hypotheses derived from the three research questions. The independent variable was perceived self-efficacy of the pre-service basic science teachers, the dependant variable was teaching practice while the moderating variables were two colleges of education of the pre-service science teachers. The instruments used were “Teaching Practice Assessment Score Instrument (TPASI)” and the “Pre-Service Science Teachers Perceived Self Efficacy (PSTPSE)” with thirty (30) questions. Person correlation was used to test the hypotheses. The results showed that the three null hypotheses were accepted. The hypothesis one is accepted because there was no significant relationship found to exist between the pre-service basic science teachers perceived self-efficacy and their teaching practice assessment scores. Also, no significant difference was found between COEI and COEII pre-service basic science teachers‟ perceived self-efficacy scores and their performance in teaching practice. Finally, for all the pre-service basic science teachers irrespective of their subject combination, there was no relationship between their perceived self-efficacy and the teaching practice assessment. Consequently, it was recommended that there should be a reform in pre-service teacher education programmes in all our teachers training institutions; it can help to develop and improve teacher education programmes and pre-service teaching practice; this reform should aim at strengthening both content and pedagogical knowledge of pre-service teachers.

Institutional support for professional competence of librarians to improve the codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in the libraries

Codification and preservation of traditional knowledge is of great importance, more so by professionals from the library and information science. Acquisition and management of traditional knowledge in academic libraries is one of the evolving areas of research and this is why this paper examined the impact of institutional support for professional competence of librarians to improve the codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in Lagos State, Nigeria. It provides a perspective from which institutional support can be viewed as an important element for codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in the libraries. In addition, the paper identified institutional support as funding, motivation, staff training/development, facilitative policy; including the inadequacies. The paper discussed the concept of professional competence and the competences required of professional librarian for codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in the library. This include: educational qualification, understanding the source of traditional knowledge, ability to locate traditional resources, possession of knowledge of traditional knowledge codification and preservation, Information and Communication Technology (ICT) skills. In conclusion, the paper reiterated that there is need to include other librarians apart from the library management staff in the formulation of institutional policy for improvements in codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in Lagos State. Moreover, the library management should make adequate provision for regular training and retraining of librarians to improve the codification and preservation of traditional knowledge in Lagos State.

Parents’ awareness and monitoring of teenage children’s use of social media in Delta State, Nigeria

The study examined parents’ awareness of their teenage children use of social media in Delta State, Nigeria. Descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study using a self-constructed questionnaire as instrument of data collection.The questionnaire was constructed after extensive consultation of related literature in order to ensure that relevant items were included in it. The population of the study comprised of all parents in Delta State, Nigeria but the study adopted a purposive sampling technique to select respondents for the study. Data were collected through the use of a self-constructed questionnaire entitled “Parents’ awareness of their teenage children use of the social media (PATCUSM)”. The data collected were analysed using frequencies and simple percentages.The study has revealed that all parents’ were aware that their teenage children used social media; a majority of them indicated that their teens used their mothers’ device to access social media; teenagers use of Facebook attracted the highest responses followed by WhatsApp; a majority of the parents indicated that their teenage children access social media during the day, though most of them were not aware of the length of time their teens spent per visit to social media site; a majority of the respondents were aware that their teens used social media for academic matters and they monitored their teenage children. The study recommended that parents should ensure that they guide the children on fruitful use of social media to enhance their academic achievement and advancement; efforts should be made by parents to regularly monitor and supervise their teens children on social media in order to mitigate their use for antisocial purposes; parents should provide their teenage children with smart phones, but should monitor their use to ensure the teens use them for productive purposes.

The relationship between education and self-sustainability in a stressed economy

Education is an important key in achieving sustainable national development. For a state or society to achieve sustainable development, the quality of its education should be an issue of great concern. This paper examined the relationship between education and self-sustainability in Nigeria. It also provided insights into various challenges confronting education in Nigeria such as gender inequity in education, dearth of teachers, inadequate infrastructures, overcrowded classrooms and inadequate remunerations. Data from Central Bank of Nigeria Statistical Bulletin where recurrent expenditures on education and social and community services as well as Gross Domestic Products for 1985 to 2017 were used. The study also suggested ways on how to solve the identified challenges confronting education in Nigeria. The study recommends the creation of conducive atmosphere for learning, increasing financial allocation for educational development, ensure gender quality in education, and setting up a committee that will manage and supervise education policies that will involve sustainability.