MODERATION EFFECT OF MORAL OBLIGATION ON STUDENT’S INTENTION TOWARDS ACADEMIC DISHONEST BEHAVIOUR: THE CASE OF PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES IN GHANA

The study examined the moderation effect of moral obligation on students’ intention towards academic dishonest behaviour. A survey-inferential design was used to randomly sample the views of 1,200 undergraduate university students. A structured questionnaire was used to collect. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and Conditional Process Analysis (CPA) were used for the analyses. Moral obligation statistically significantly moderated the intention to engage in academic dishonesty. It was concluded that an intention to engage in academic dishonesty decrease as moral obligation increases in the individual students. It was recommended that university authorities should introduce moral education as a core course among undergraduate students. This would instill in them a higher moral obligation in order to curb the academic dishonesty menace.

ON THE ASSOCIATION OF IRANIAN EFL TEACHER’S IDENTITY STYLE, RELIGIOUS IDENTITY, AND IDENTITY COMMITMENT

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship among EFL teacher’s identity style, religious identity, and identity commitment. The data was collected from 88 EFL teachers teaching at different English language learning institutes in Ilam province- Iran. Two questionnaires were used, including Dollinger’s (2001) Brief Religiosity Scale (BRS-6) and Berzonsky’s (1992) Identity Style Inventory, the revised version (ISI3). Results suggested that EFL teacher’s identity style and their commitment were positively correlated (r = 0.350). There was also a significant positive correlation between EFL teacher’s religious identity and their commitment (r = 0.312). A significant positive correlation was also found between EFL teacher’s identity style and religious identity (r = 0.367). The results of one-way ANOVA indicated that there was a statistically significant difference in identity style scores, identity commitment scores, and religiosity scores for four groups. The results of independent t-test analysis indicated that there was no significant difference in identity style, identity commitment, and the religiosity scores of the two groups of participants. Finally, the implications and limitations of the study were also discussed.

PEACOCK MODEL PEDAGOGY: INTERVENTION AND INNOVATIVE CATALYST IN THE NEW NORMAL PERSPECTIVE OF TEACHING AND LEARNING

The study aims to analyze and identify how peacock model pedagogy improves the intervention and innovation catalyst in the new normal perspective of teaching and learning among the respondents. The study employs both a descriptive quantitative and qualitative research approach and design because it is used in analysing the intervention and innovative catalyst in the new normal perspective of teaching and learning. Purposive sampling is utilized in gathering the sample size of the study. It is a selection of intentional formats based on the concept that elucidates the specific theme or phenomenon of the study. This study comprised thirty six (36) respondents. Results show that students are actively participating and developing quality of leadership and initiative and are actively participating through exchange of ideas and interactions in the peacock model pedagogy on innovation of teaching and learning, participation, with a weighted mean of 4.06 or Agree which shows that students are actively participating and developing quality of leadership and initiative and are participating actively through exchange of ideas and interactions, questioning and experimentation, with a weighted mean of 3.66 or Agree which shows that students are able to frame learning related questions and inquisitive lessons for discussion and are able to frame learning related questions but have difficulties in exploring to answer the question raised among them, empathy and cooperation, with a weighted mean of 3.75 or Agree which shows that students are empathetic towards both the known and unknown persons in the pedagogy of learning in the new normal and are actively empathetic towards the known but only sympathetic towards the unknown process of learning, aesthetic and creative expression of knowledge, with a weighted mean of 3.75 or Agree which shows that students are aesthetic and creative in their new normal learning perspective pedagogy and are aesthetic and creative in their online classes as part of their innovative learning perspective. Findings show that there is a significant difference in the peacock model pedagogy that improves the intervention and innovation catalyst in the new normal perspective of teaching and learning as observed by the respondents.

A STUDY ON ACCEPTABILITY OF E-LEARNING IN INDIAN EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Though e-learning is broadly accepted across the education spectrum as an effective teaching-learning medium, its acceptance is found very wanting. This paper looks at the basic process of innovation that can induce teaching faculty in India to take up e-learning and to understand how innovative teaching-learning processes like e-learning can be applied to education. It goes on further to identify and understand some of the broadly accepted reasons for the low acceptability and usage with the help of an online survey. The survey was used to study what motivates the student and teacher to take e-learning as an effective pedagogy and to answer some of the pertinent problems relating to its low acceptability. The analysis of the survey results is given. A new “stakeholder involvement and feedback based” theoretical model is proposed explaining how to implement e-learning effectively in educational institutions in India. Some possible suggestions like effective problem-solving tools like Total Quality Management (TQM) to help overcome the drawbacks in the system are also proposed.

EFFECT OF LOCKDOWN ON EDUCATION OF RURAL UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS DURINGCOVID-19 PANDEMIC IN UMARBAN (DHAR), M.P., INDIA

A survey was conducted to assess the impact of lockdown due to COVID-19 on online education of undergraduate learners of government colleges Umarban, district Dhar (454449) Madhya Pradesh, India. An online as well as offline survey was conducted from 10 October 2020 to 15 March 2021 to collect the information. To analyze the possibility and attention of students for online education, various online quizzes were conducted in which a structural questionnaire link using ‘Google form’ was sent to students through WhatsApp. A total of 265 students were taken for the survey. The simple percentage distribution was used to assess the learning status of the study participants. During the lockdown period, around 15.47% of learners were involved in e-learning. Most of the learners were used android mobile for attending e-learning. The present study revealed that around 60% of students were seen to involve in farming during lockdown instead of online classes. In addition to this, 45% of students never joined an online class during the entire session. Further analysis demonstrated that 13% of students do not have their own mobile phone, nearly 18% could not join due to poor internet connectivity, 21% of students faced unfavorable study environment at home and 3% of students have other reasons. This study also showed a comparative analysis of the presence of students before and after the COVID 19 pandemic. As the ratio of presence of students in physical and virtual classrooms was 2.32. The overall results from this study revealed that especially in rural areas COVID – 19 pandemic had affected more adversely on classroom attendance, where people already do not want to give importance to education. Higher education institutions may benefit from these findings while formulating strategies to support students during this pandemic. Moreover, to promote education in COVID 19 era strong strategies are urgently needed.

PEDAGOGICAL COMPETENCE OF TEACHERS AND STUDENTS ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOLS IN ASHAIMAN, GHANA

The study investigated the pedagogical competence of teachers and its influence on student’s academic achievement. The descriptive survey research design was adopted and the census (all) sampling technique was used to sample 250 Junior High School (JHS) teachers in Ashaiman Municipality. The collected data from the close-ended questionnaire was analysed with mean and standard deviation on the scale of 1-4 and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypothesis. The study revealed that as a pedagogical competence, the teachers provided appropriate feedback, adapted to changing conditions, explained content to students and communicated learning goals effectively. It was also found that there was a weak positive relationship between the classroom management competence of teachers and student’s academic achievement. The study, therefore, concluded that the pedagogical competence of teachers could help promote deep knowledge, understanding and expectation among students if teacher’s pedagogical competencies are effective. Also, when teachers increase their knowledge and competence to manage the classroom, they could provide high expectations for student’s social support, guidance and independent thought in learning. Recommendations were made to the municipal education directorate, Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education, Ghana based on the findings.

FACTORS LEADING TO LIMITED RESEARCHES CONDUCTED BY PHILIPPINE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHERS

The study investigated the pedagogical competence of teacher’s and its influence on student’s academic achievement. The descriptive survey research design was adopted and the census (all) sampling technique was used to sample 250 Junior High School (JHS) teachers in Ashaiman Municipality. The collected data from the close-ended questionnaire was analysed with mean and standard deviation on the scale of 1-4 and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation was used to test the hypothesis. The study revealed that as a pedagogical competence, the teachers provided appropriate feedback, adapted to changing conditions, explained content to students and communicated learning goals effectively. It was also found that there was a positive weak relationship between the classroom management competence of teachers and student’s academic achievement. The study, therefore, concluded that pedagogical competence of teachers could help promote deep knowledge, understanding and expectation among students if teacher’s pedagogical competencies are effective. Also, when teachers increase their knowledge and competence to manage the classroom, they could provide high expectations for student’s social support, guidance and independent thought in learning. Recommendations were made to the municipal education directorate, Ghana Education Service and Ministry of Education, Ghana based on the findings.

EFFECTS OF WORK ENVIRONMENT ON STAFF TRAINING TRANSFER IN GHANAIAN TECHNOLOGY UNIVERSITIES AND POLYTECHNICS

This study sought to determine the effect of post-training work environment on the transfer of middle-level staff competencies from 2 technical universities and 2 polytechnics in the northern sector of Ghana. The mixed study was sequential explanatory research. Respondents were drawn from the Netherlands Programme for Post-Secondary Education and Training Capacity (NPT/GHA) 45 leadership and management capacity building project for the middle-level technical universities and polytechnics staff. A 5-point Likert scale questionnaire and a semi-structured interview guide were used to gather data from respondents made up of 24 (58.5%) academic staff and 17 (41.5%) administrative staff totaling 41 respondents for the study. The closed-ended items were analysed using statistical product and service solutions version 19 and results reported using means and standard deviations. Open-ended items were thematically analysed to support results from the closed-ended item analysis. The results revealed that respondents found the relevance of staff training, learned new things and noticed an improvement in their competencies for their career prospects. However, the perception of the respondents pointed to the fact that there was little or no support from colleagues in transferring the competencies acquired from training. The study also revealed that respondents had low motivation to transfer training competencies. Since technical universities and polytechnics produce critical human resources for the industry, the post-training work environment was critical for staff training transfer with many implications for the management, leadership, growth and development of the institutions. The study recommended that training programmes should be aligned with the institutional vision, mission and goals. Again, resources committed to staff training should also budget for enhancements of the work environment to accommodate training transfer using modern technologies.

CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT AS PREDICTORS OF DEPRESSIVE TENDENCIES AMONG SECONDARY SCHOOL ADOLESCENTS IN IDEATO NORTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF IMO STATE, NIGERIA

This study investigated child abuse and neglect as predictors of depressive tendencies among adolescents in secondary schools in Ideato North Local Government Area (L.G.A.) of Imo State, Nigeria. The study adopted a correlational survey research design. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated to guide the study. The study population comprised all the public and private secondary school adolescents in Ideato North Local Government Area of Imo State. The population consists of thirteen thousand seven hundred and fifteen (13,715) adolescent students in secondary schools. A sample of 1364 students was used for the study representing 10% of the entire population using the clustered sampling technique. A questionnaire titled Physical and Sexual Abuse Scale (PSAS) and Depressive Tendencies Scale (D.T.S.) were validated. The reliability coefficients of the instruments were 0.94 and 0.89, respectively using Cronbach alpha statistics, which guarantee the use of the instruments for the study. The Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient was used to answer the research questions, while the two hypotheses were tested at a probability level of 0.05 using ANOVA. It was found out among others that physical and sexual abuses predict depressive tendencies among adolescent students. It was recommended that government should enact legislation against child abuse and neglect, there should be awareness programmes for children through a collaboration of parents and teachers/caregivers, principals should recognize the roles of educational psychologists and school counselors in the fight against sexual abuse and neglect, parents and guardians should also be properly enlightened through seminars and workshops by government and N.G.O.s to prevent and protect their children and wards against any forms of child abuse and neglect.

THE PERCEIVED LEVEL OF COMPETENCE BASED ON EXPERIENCE AND GENDER OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF OF PRIMARY EDUCATION IN GREECE AND THE NEED FOR TRAINING

The ideas of ‘competence’ and ‘competencies’ have become central in the last decades in education, as experts have focused their interest on the importance of setting learning objectives in order to help students familiarise themselves with the learning process. In the present study, it is examined whether there is a difference in the perceptions of the administrative staff (both principals and vice-principals) on their level of competence as far as their experience (experienced or novice - inexperienced) and a common personal characteristic, such as their gender (male or female), are concerned. A total of 412 administrative staff that is 261 principals 151 vice-principals responded to a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire. The statistical comparison was performed by applying the 2-factor analysis of variation (ANOVA). This analysis was preceded by check for equality of variance between the respective groups (Levene’s test). Based on the findings concerning experience and gender correlation, it is revealed that the greatest need for training seems to concern novice female primary school administrative staff, while on the contrary, the least need for training concerns the experienced male ones. Training programme designers should take this fact very seriously when creating educational courses.