Self-Efficacy Sources, Reading Self-Efficacy, Metacognitive Reading Strategies and Reading Comprehension Performance: A Correlational Study in Saudi EFL Context

The intended aim of this research was to identify the connection of Self-Efficacy Sources (SES) and Metacognitive Reading Strategies (MCRS) with Reading Comprehension (RC) by deploying reading Self-Efficacy Beliefs (SEB) as a mediating construct. A correlational design was utilized. Proportionate stratified random sampling was deployed to select a sample of 383 Saudi EFL university learners. Questionnaires and a reading comprehension test were employed to gather the data. Structural equation modelling was used to test the relationships. Results indicated that SES were substantially associated with SEB except physiological state. Moreover, all the three MCRS showed significant and positive association with SEB. Also, SEB were substantially associated with RC. Regarding mediation, it was discovered that SEB mediated the relationship among SES and RC except one source, i.e., physiological state. Moreover, SEB mediated the association between all the three MCRS and RC. This study provides several implications for learners, teachers, and policymakers. Keywords: Metacognitive Reading Strategies, Self-efficacy Sources, Reading Self-efficacy Beliefs, Reading Comprehension, Saudi EFL Learners

Use of Computer Simulations for the Understanding and Retention of Mathematical Concepts

Simulations provide unique features and instructional benefits for the improved understanding of concepts. This study aimed to find the effect of computer simulations on the understanding and retention of mathematical concepts. This was an experimental research. A sample of 100 students participated in this experimental research. The sample was further distributed into an equal number of students in two groups. Some topics were selected from the grade–IX mathematics textbook. The selected mathematical topics were taught to the control group by lecture method whereas computer simulations were used for teaching mathematical concepts to the experimental group. Data analysis showed that in the posttest, the experimental group performed better than the control group at a 0.05 level of significance. The scores of the retention test of the experimental group were also found better than the control group. It is recommended to include computer simulations in the teaching-learning process for better comprehension of abstract concepts of mathematics. Keywords: Achievement, Mathematical Concepts, Retention, Simulations

The Effect of Cognitive Acceleration Programme on Critical Thinking of Science Students at Secondary Level

This study was conducted to determine the effect of Cognitive Acceleration Programme on the critical thinking skills of 9th graders. The posttest only non-equivalent control group design was used. Two sections of class 9th were selected conveniently for experimentation. There were 80 participants (girls) in the experiment. There were 30 intervention lessons in the experimental classrooms. The posttest was designed based on Cornell Critical thinking test. Test was validated by experts from the Faculty of Education, Allama Iqbal Open University Islamabad. The data were analyzed by the SPSS. The independent sample t-statistics were applied for control and experimental groups separately. The t-value for the comparison of performance of experimental and control group in sub-skills of critical thinking i.e., inference, deduction, assumption, interpretation, and argumentation showed significant difference. The results showed that critical thinking skills can be developed significantly through cognitive acceleration programme. So, the thinking science activities were recommended to science educators to incorporate into the classroom to accelerate critical thinking of students. Keywords: Cognitive Acceleration, Critical Thinking, Inference, Deduction, Assumption, Interpretation, Argumentation

National Consciousness and Management of Secondary Education for Sustainable Development in Kwara State, Nigeria

National consciousness within educational institutions could enhance effective management of education for sustainable development. This study examines the existing relationship between cultural integration, sports activities, gender equality and management of secondary education for sustainable development in Nigeria. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select 175 principals from a population of 310 principals and 364 teachers from a population of 6,894 teachers in public senior secondary schools in Kwara State, Nigeria with the use of Research Advisor (2006) table to determine sample size of a known population making a total of 539 participants. Data were collected using the National Consciousness and Management of Education for Sustainable Development Questionnaire (NCMESDQ), and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson Correlation. The results revealed that there were positive and significant relationships between cultural integration, sports activities, gender equality and management of secondary education for sustainable development in Nigeria. The findings imply that education managers should improve cultural integration by finding more common grounds in the cultural practices of the people in respect to dressing, festivals and the likes, furthermore, education managers should pay more emphasis on sport activities as a means of bringing students of various schools together as well as improve on gender equality in order to maintain effective management of secondary education for sustainable development in Nigeria. Keywords: National consciousness, cultural integration, gender equality, sports activities, sustainable development

An Interplay of Oral and Written Communication and Performance of Undergraduates

Students' proper use of oral and written communication plays a vital role in elevating their performance at the higher education level. Therefore, this study was conducted to explore the interplay of these communication types with the performance of undergraduates. A five point Likert-type scale was administered on a sample of 540 Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan enrolled in the BS program of three faculties (Social Sciences, Sciences, and Languages). Students' performance was assessed by their CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) in previous semesters, further correlated with their communication skills. All respondents were selected from three semesters of the BS program from twelve departments whose total population was two thousand two hundred and twenty-nine. For the analysis of data, mean and standard deviation were used as descriptive statistics, while Pearson's Product Moment and one-way ANOVA were used as inferential statistics. After analysis, a statistically significant positive correlation between CGPA and written communication was revealed However, no statistically significant interplay was found between CGPA and oral communication. It was found that there is no statistically significant difference in mean scores of students of different faculties on oral and written communication. Keywords: Interplay, Oral, Written Communication, Performance, Undergraduates

Assessment of Public-Private Partnership in Technical Colleges in Nigeria: A Case of Lagos State

This study examined the state of Public-Private Partnerships in technical colleges in Nigeria, using Lagos state as a case study. Four research questions guided the study. It was a cross-sectional descriptive study adopted a mixed method research design. The population of the study comprised of all the 350 academic staff in the five government technical colleges in Lagos state. Purposive sampling technique was used to sample 50 teachers. Questionnaire and semi-structured interview were used to collect data. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics to answer research questions one, two and three while descriptive narratives were used to analyse interview responses. Cronbach alpha technique was used to determine the reliability of the questionnaire and a coefficient of 0.69 was obtained.The finding indicated that public-private partnerships existed partially as a strategy for funding technical colleges in Lagos for skills acquisition. Based on the findings, it was recommended among others that colleges may set up a partnership committee to liaise with industries; government should do away with making of obnoxious policies that discourage private organisations; and National Board on Technical Education may make business grant cum start-up loan available for the graduates of technical colleges. Keywords: public-private partnership, skills acquisition, technical college, TVET, funding

Analysing the Relationship between Reading Fluency and Reading Comprehension of Learners at Early Childhood Education

Reading fluency and reading comprehension are the determining factors at early grades. Children who are unable to read fluently and spend time to decode words get failed to understand the meaning of the written text. Taking into account this crucial problem, this study intends to determine the relationship between reading fluency and reading comprehension of learners at early grades. A qualitative survey was conducted to collect data from the learners studying in the six public schools by using convenient sampling technique. Informal Reading Inventory (IRI) was adopted to collect the data from learners studying at class two in public schools of district Multan. After applying the inferential statistics, simple linear regression was applied to infer the results of this study. Findings show a significant relationship between reading fluency and reading comprehension of learners. As to determine the current level of their reading fluency and reading comprehension, it is identified that learners are at frustrational level in reading and comprehending the written text. Keywords: Reading fluency, Comprehension, Early Childhood Education, Linear regression, Informal Reading Inventory

Effects of Individual Differences on Generic Competences: An Evidence from University Students

This study was carried out with the background that Every individual has certain qualities and competencies the differences specially students at higher level existed and functional due to various reasons in human beings which directly or indirectly affect their lives, with the objectives (i) to explore the generic competencies possessed by the university students, (ii) to assess the individual differences of University Students, (iii) to measure the relationship between generic competencies and individual differences of students. This was a survey study in nature and the population of the study comprised of 5206 students (2902 male and 2124 female) of nine universities. Universal sampling technique (up-to 10%) was used and the data was collected from the whole population to ensure the effectiveness of the study through two self-developed questionnaires employing Axcel-ANOVA under the SPSS-2018 version with t-test and F-Crit test were used to analyze the data. The Regression was simultaneously applied for both positive r-1 and Negative (R-Square) for difference, as well as, E-views 09 version was supportively used to double check the significance. It was concluded that university students responded 87% positively for the generic response (s) evidenced the individual differences in generic competencies as positively affected the parameters of (a) age of students (b) Understanding the university group tasks, (c) developing competences based on teachers guidance, knowledge including curriculum/syllabi and (d) document based knowledge including ICT and e-learning as well as (e) competence developed for future.

Analysis of Students’ Satisfaction on Quality Education at Government Colleges in Lahore Division

Quality education is the most important and considered as a pivot for progress to uplift the lives of a nation. The success of the educational institutions relies not only on quality education but also on the satisfaction of students. This study aims to explore the relationship between quality education and student satisfaction and difference regarding demographic variables at college level in Lahore Division. All the students from 80 government degree colleges of Lahore division were the population of this study. The study was descriptive in nature and has followed correlational research design. By using simple random sampling technique forty government degree colleges (50% of the population) were selected as sample by adopting lottery method. Self-constructed questionnaires for students “Quality Education Assessment Scale” and “Student Satisfaction Assessment Scale” were the instruments of this study. Appropriate statistical analysis techniques were used on the collected data. Product Moment Correlation Co-efficient were used for determining quality education and student satisfaction. Independent sample t-test was applied to find the difference between demographic variables. Results of the study indicated that quality education exits in colleges according to students. There was moderate significant correlation between two variables (r=.625, p<.05) of the quality education and the students’ satisfaction. As compared to male students, the female students’ had perceived more satisfaction towards students’ satisfaction. Both intermediate and bachelor students’ had perceived almost same level regarding students’ satisfaction. Keywords: Quality Education, Student Satisfaction

Development of TOSRA (Test of Science Related Attitudes) Instrument for Science Related Attitude Studies in Sindh Province

This study aims to explore the implementation of attitude measurement tool known as Test of Science-Related Attitudes (TOSRA) in Sindh. 1097 higher-secondary level students from Hyderabad division of Sindh participated in the study. The alpha reliability values of different scale of TOSRA were analysed and enhanced to acceptable and good level using statistical techniques. The alpha coefficients for adapted TOSRA scales were observed as; Social Implications of Science (0.707), Adoption of Scientific Attitudes (0.801), Classroom Enjoyment (0.779), Leisure Interest in Science (0.767) and Career Interest in Science (0.701). The overall alpha coefficient for adopted (five-scale) TOSRA questionnaire administered in this study was 0.912. Similarly, the values of discriminant validity of the scales were deduced using correlation techniques for these scales where mean correlation between the scales ranged from 0.49 to 0.57. The adopted version of TOSRA was developed based on the statistical analyses including Cronbach alpha, Pearson’s correlation, and factor analysis, and showed sufficient validity and reliability to be implemented in subsequent research to measure students’ attitude towards science in province of Sindh, Pakistan. Keywords: Attitude towards Science, TOSRA, Instrument development, Science Education, Higher secondary students