Contribution of Indigenous Knowledge in Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals: A Literature Review

Indigenous knowledge is the traditional knowledge that is unique to a society. Traditional knowledge is also called: ‘local knowledge’, ‘folk knowledge’, ‘people’s knowledge’, ‘traditional wisdom’. This knowledge is passed from generation to generation, usually by word of mouth and cultural customs. It has been the basis for agriculture, health care, food preparation, education, conservation and the other many activities that sustain societies in all over the world. Sustainable development means establishing a balance between socioeconomic development and environmental protection, with traditional knowledge local communities. In 2015, the United Nations agreed on 17 Sustainable Development Goals, a set of targets for improving lives while protecting natural resources by the year 2030 and they included indigenous peoples, and acknowledged that there can be no sustainable development without protecting the traditional knowledge. Indigenous knowledge plays an important role in achieving global sustainable development goals through various traditional practices. Therefore, in this study, contribution of various researchers is explored regarding role of indigenous knowledge in achieving sustainable development goals. On the basis of previous studies we found various areas in which indigenous knowledge is used. These areas include; agriculture, health, education, climate change, cultural identity, environmental justice, fisheries, forests and wildlife, natural resources. The use of indigenous knowledge in these sectors helps in achieving of sustainable development goals.

Medecine and Literature: A Reading of Disease in Ayi Kwei Armah’s the Healers

Illness is no new subject in the history of african literature. It has fecunded the narratives of many generations. As a true metaphor of the state of the culture and society presented in the narrative, illness has become the symptom of a society that is sick of the corruption of its own cultural norms and values. In such a context, illness is metaphorized as an outlet for the patients to express their rejection of the prevailing social norms. Healing will consist in becoming aware of such a state of affairs and finding by oneself the ressources of one’s healing process with the help of the eponymous healers. Frantz fanon’s psychological findings of the link between society’s malfunctionning and its consequences on the individual’s mental state will be used to conduct that study. These theories will reveal the underlying social determinants of health condition.

Biology Education in Perspective: An Inquiry into Ghanaian Senior High School Students’ Attitude Towards Biology Practical Lessons

This study aimed at finding out the attitude of students towards Biology practical lessons in selected Senior High Schools in Ghana. The study adopted the descriptive sample design, involving both quantitative and qualitative research approaches. The population of the study comprised 408 students and 24 teachers. The students and teachers were chosen at random from a table of random numbers respectively. Data was collected using informal observation, questionnaire and documents. The questionnaire was made up of both open and close-ended questions. The Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 23.0 was the software that was used in processing the quantitative data. The findings of the study revealed that 5% of students from well-endowed schools, as against 40.5% of those from less-endowed schools, indicated that they have poor attitudes towards Biology practical lessons and this was confirmed by their teachers. It was also shown that practical lessons in Biology, in both well-endowed and less-endowed Senior High Schools, were greatly impeded by lack of proper laboratory, lack of laboratory assistants/technicians and inadequacy of practical equipment and materials for practical work. Based on the findings of the study, the government, Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and other stakeholders should help in providing the needed resources such as well-equipped laboratories and materials among others to facilitate the teaching and learning of Biology practical in the schools.

Cause and Socio-Economic Impact of Water Shortage on the Households of Laptsakha Community, Punakha

Water is indispensable for life since it is a basic need and is also important for economic activities. Although Bhutan has one of the highest per capita water resource availability in the world with 94,500 m3/capita/annum, the imbalance of geographical and temporal distributions is leading to experience of shortages in local areas.This study determined the shortage of water supply and its socio-economic impacts in Laptsakha community under Punakha,Bhutan.The semi structured questionnaires were distributed to the household of 74 following census method sampling.The result showed that the climate change had significant effect on water scarcity (R²=.208, p<.05). There was a moderate positive correlation between total income and total spent on buying food items (r=304, p<.05); however, there was no significant between total annual incomes and annual expenditure on materials to cope up water shortage (r=.209, p >.05). Ability to maintain hygiene was significantly affected by numbers of days the water was available in the tap per week H(2)=7.030, p<.05). The findings from the study also shows that due to decrease of water supply, it has adverse impacts on total annual income of the households and on their health.This study concluded that water shortage has adversely impact on socio economic of the people of Laptsakha Chiwog, which requires implementation of new strategies and actions towards allocating new source of water for households.

Marital Status Equity in Tenant Selection Criteria in the Akure Rental Market

The paper examines the selection criteria for prospective single and married tenants by Estate Surveyors and Valuers in the study area, to determine fairness in practice. The survey research adopted a structured questionnaire to elicit data from a sample of Estate Surveying and Valuation firms in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria as Estate Surveyors and Valuers serve as both agents and property managers in the study area. Data collected were analyzed using the relative importance index (RII) and Mann Whitney U test. Findings revealed that irrespective of the marital status, the nature of employment of the prospective tenants is an essential criterion used at tenant selection. Also, there exists between singles and married tenants a statistically significant difference in the selection criteria used by Estate Surveyors and Valuers concerning 'employment' and 'ability of prospective tenants to pay subsequent rent' ; while, there was no significant difference in the tenant selection criteria in the areas of religion, gender, ethnicity, age, nature of employment, ability to pay the required rent, advance rent payment, ability to pay caution deposit, ability to pay service charge, provision of suitable Guarantors/Referee, physical appearance, suitability to the property, family size, ability and willingness to stick to the terms of the lease, criminality history/track record, first-time renters and history of previous tenancy. The study recommended that Estate Surveyors and Valuers should desist from discriminatory selection criteria differences as housing is a fundamental requirement for all, marital status notwithstanding. Also, government should formulate and enforce anti-discrimination policies at tenant selection which will protect the right of individuals to rental housing, irrespective of their marital status. This will create a balance in the rental market and take away the mild differences in the selection criteria used for prospective tenants as if this is not worked upon, the mild difference will someday become wide.

Socio-Economic Factors Influencing Youth Participation in Local Government Planning and Budgeting in Iringa Municipality

This study focused at exploring the socio-economic factors influencing youth participation in planning and budgeting in Local Government Authorities (LGA) in Iringa Municipal Council. The study employed a mixed approach where data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. Findings from the study indicated that the youth did not participate in any activity in their LGA in the past three years whereby it was only 31(19.1%) of the youth respondents who participated in at least one of the local government activities in the past three years. Findings further indicated more male participation in planning and budgeting than female. On the other hand findings revealed that education has influence on youth participation in planning and budgeting whereby the more educated youth participated more than none educated youth. Based on the findings, it was concluded that there was an information gap between leaders and youth especially on local government planning and budgeting; hence the study recommended for creation of awareness on the right of the youth to participate in planning and budgeting. The study also recommended regular meetings with the youth in the wards/ streets to hear out their challenges and needs. Furthermore, the study urged the government to use youth friendly tools to create awareness to the youth on planning and budgeting processes and opportunities available in their locality and how they can tap into that pool of opportunity.

Socio-Economic Responses from the Disaster Management Committee on Natural Disaster Management in Iringa District Council, Tanzania

The purpose of the study was to assess the socio-economic responses from Iringa District Council Natural Disaster Management Committee. The research used both quantitative and qualitative research approaches whereby questionnaires were used to collect data from community members and interviews were conducted with the key informants from Iringa District Council Disaster Management Committee. Cross-sectional design was used to gather data to answer the research problem and summarize the results. Targeted population was 11675 community members and key informants from District, Ward and Village Disaster Management Committees (DMC, WDMC AND VDMC) in Iringa District Council whereby a sample size of 133 was drawn out of it. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used for the selection of respondents. Descriptive statistical analysis and contents analysis were used in data analysis. The findings of this study revealed that the DMC has been providing both social and economic responses to the disaster victims such as temporary shelters and housing, supply of water and food as well as a relief package to the disaster victims. However, the social responses were considered minimal as compared to the economic responses by the DMC. The study recommended for the WDMCs and VDMCs to be empowered to be able to mobilize social economic assistance within and outside the community. This will help the local community to restore their lives and properties before the assistance from the DDMC. The DDMC is advised to establish training schedules with proper skills and techniques on natural disaster management in wards, villages, involving the academic institutions in the respective areas, definitely will facilitate to handle the situation effectively. Furthermore, the WDMCs and the VDMCs should re-enforce the legal disaster management Act, and Village by laws of (2019).

School Administrative Factors Influencing Sexual Violence against Children (SVAC) In Primary Schools of Urban District, Zanzibar

This study aimed at finding out school administrative factors influencing sexual violence against children (SVAC) in primary schools of Urban District, Zanzibar. The study used a qualitative research approach. A case study research design was employed. A purposive sample of 20 respondents who were primary school children and 22 key informants was drawn for this study. A semi-structured interview guide was used to solicit information from the respondents. The data were analyzed and used thematic data analysis technique to make meaning out of the data. Study findings revealed that, poor accountability of school management, misuse of authority by school teachers to children and ineffectiveness of reporting system on sexual violence cases were school administrative factors influencing SVAC in primary schools. Based on the findings of the study it is recommended that owner of primary schools should employ workers who are self-disciplined, accountable and willing to take appropriate action to SVAC perpetrators regardless of their power, positions and authority. Moreover, a system of reporting SVAC cases should be in place and that laws, rules and regulations related to SVAC are reinforced to ensure that children use the school environment profitably and develop their full potential as responsible citizen.

Economic Factors Influencing Sexual Violence against Children (SVAC) in Primary Schools of Urban District, Zanzibar, Tanzania

This study was conducted to find out the economic factors influencing sexual violence against children (SVAC) in primary schools of Urban District, Zanzibar. The study used cross sectional research design based on single research approach that is qualitative approach. The study used both primary and secondary source of data collection. Primary data were collected using interviews with semi-structure checklist guide to elicit information from the sample population while secondary data were obtained through documentary reviews from books, journals, magazines, from published and un-published paper, internet sources, University of Iringa (UoI) and Zanzibar National Libraries and from other institutions and organizations dealt with sexual violence against children nationally and internationally. Purposive sampling technique was used in selecting 20 respondents and 22 key informants for this study. The collected data were analyzed using content analysis technique where by data were organized and summarized into different themes based on conceptual description of ideas. Finally, the results were presented in the form of word text narration. The study found that poverty and shortage of basic needs to the children were the economic factors influencing to the children in primary schools. Children who came from poor family failed to meet their necessity needs in right time; hence perpetrators of sexual violence used the same opportunity to perpetrate their sexual incidents to children. The study recommended that the government, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Faith Based Organizations (FBO) and community members should establish various training programs to the medias including radios and television related to good child care practicing, child rights and child protections, and monitored their child behaviour, giving them time to express their problems and needs and sharing their ideas with promotion of gender equality at all level.

Climate Change Awareness among the Teachers of Higher Secondary Schools

Climate change has been a global threat, however, promoting awareness of climate change will reduce its risk. The study analyzed awareness on three aspects of climate change—causes, impacts, and mitigation among 90 teachers from three high schools, selected using stratified random sampling. We identified a total of 15 statements or variables from each of the causes, impacts, and mitigation to study the teacher’s awareness of climate change. We found that teachers have a medium level of awareness, being more aware of impacts than causes and mitigation of climate change. Three factors– teaching field, education level, and seminar attendance have significantly influenced the teachers’ awareness level on climate change. The result suggests that upgrading education, incorporating environmental studies in educational curriculum, and promoting seminar and workshop on environmental issues increases awareness on climate change.