Animal Rights: A Philosophical Evaluation

Animal right is one of the most controversial issues in the contemporary world. A number of scholars have been discussing on whether the animals have rights like human beings or not. Through this debate, their opinions can be put into three groups; those who deny animal moral status, those who give some moral considerations to animals but deny them a fuller moral status, and those who extend rights to animals. This paper then gives a general overview on ‘Do Animals have Rights?’ It gives the meaning of the term “right” and explains whether the term right applies to animals too. It also portrays a drama whereby animals complain against sufferings imposed on them by human beings and a response given by a human being. It is also followed by philosophical debate on animal rights: pro and cons arguments. The Christian perspective is not left out. Finally, the paper ends with critical evaluations and conclusion. In evaluation of the debate on animal rights, the study found that, animals deserve to be treated well based on the argument that they have rights as animals. The main recommendation is that human beings should change their perception concerning animals by respecting animal.

Classroom Attentiveness of Children from Home with Inter Parental Violence in Chamwino District, Tanzania

This study investigated on classroom attentiveness of children from home with inter parental violence in Chamwino, Dodoma, Tanzania. The study employed the cross-sectional survey design whereby 312 out of 652 children from five secondary schools were randomly selected to participate by filling the questionnaire. Chi square test was employed to determine the relationship between violence against mothers and children’s attentiveness at the 0.05 level of significance. The results indicated a significant relationship between parental conflicts and lack of pupils’ adequate concentration in learning. The findings further showed that female children whose mothers are accustomed to violence are more inattentive than male children during the teaching and learning processes. The study recommends that effective intervention strategies such as developing training through psycho education within families, schools and the community be in place.

Effectiveness of Strategies Used by Local Government Leaders in Combating Children’s Rights Violation in Arusha City, Tanzania

This study sought to establish the effectiveness of strategies used by local government leaders in combating violation of children’s rights in Arusha City using the descriptive design. The population involved 168 local government leaders from 24 Wards whereby the sample of 96 was picked through simple random sampling, but the response rate was 71 (73.9%). Validity was assured through expert judgment and the reliability was established through determination of the Cronbach’s Alfa which was above 0.6 for each variable. The study established that strategies used by local government leaders in combating violation of Children’s rights include desks at police stations for children right cases, education to the community, protection committees that coordinate and monitor violation of children’s rights, local government authorities providing legal aid, perpetrators being prosecuted so that legal action can be taken against them and free family events and activities for children’s rights education. The strategies were perceived to be effective except for children’s desk at police stations. Identified challenges included some cases not being reported, poor cooperation from victims, corruption, lack of political will and ineffective policies. It is recommended that appropriate organs should strengthen the use of strategies listed in this study in order to curb violation of children’s rights issues. There is a need for transformations in handling reported cases at the police desks. Finally, the government authorities should find ways to curb the identified challenges that faced initiatives used by local government leaders in combating violation of children’s rights in Arusha city.

Analysis of Condolence Response to the Death of Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli on Facebook

This study investigated on condolence comments posted on Facebook pages in response to the death of the fifth president of the United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli. A total of 200 comments were extracted from famous Facebook accounts. The findings revealed seven strategies of giving condolences from the most frequently used to the less frequently used: asking for God’s mercy and forgiveness, commenting on the deceased, expressing shock and grief, expressing sympathy, realizing death as a natural part of life, expressing skepticisms and reciting some verses from Holy books like the Bible and Quran. The choice of these strategies was related to respondents’ belief in either Christian or Islamic religion, the status of the deceased before death and nature and contribution offered by the deceased to other people’s life before his death. It is recommended that we should significantly contribute to other people’s life in one way or another so that we can be remembered here on earth at the end of our life like the way Magufuli was and is still remembered because of his good deeds and the significant contributions he offered to other people’s life before his death.

Impact of Out-of-School Time Technology Integration Modelling on Mathematics Performance: A Case of Primary Schools in Meru District, Tanzania

This study sought to establish the impact of modelling technology integration for of Out-of-School Time (OST) learning on the performance in Mathematics in primary schools. The study adopted a mixed approach where both quantitative and qualitative data were analysed. The study employed an experimental design involving the experimental and the control groups. Each of the two groups comprised three (3) schools, making a total of six out of 152 primary schools in Meru District. The findings reveal a statistically significant difference in mean scores between the control and the experimental group. The study concluded that modelling of technology integration for OST learning is attributed to significant improvements in performance of Mathematics in primary schools. Apart from building pupils’ interest, confidence and creativity in mathematics, technology integration modelling enticed teachers, parents and pupils to collaboratively dedicate more time and commitment in favour of the mathematics subject. The study recommends that school administrators and teachers need to cooperate with parents to encourage and support primary school children to embrace positive use of educational technology particularly in OST learning.

Leadership Styles and Employees’ Commitment among Government Hospitals in Dodoma City, Tanzania

This study aimed to explore leadership style and employee commitment among government hospitals in Dodoma City using the cross-sectional research design. The sample of 120 out of 889 employees was determined through simple random sampling procedure but only 102 returned the questionnaires. The following leadership styles were found to be existing: status quo, people oriented, democratic, task oriented and autocratic. Affective commitment, continuance commitment and normative commitment existed in the organizations under investigation. There is a significant positive correlation between commitment of employees and two styles of leadership: democratic leadership accounting for 24.1% and autocratic leadership, accounting for 5.6%. There is no significant relationship between employees’ commitment and the following leadership styles: task oriented, people oriented, status oriented and laissez faire. The study recommends that employees need to be appraised for their commitment to the organizations. This can be done through various types of motivation in order to maintain their commitment spirit. The leaders of the organizations should be encouraged to increase the use of democratic and autocratic leadership styles which have accounted for employees’ commitment.

Effectiveness of Wholistic Education among SDA Secondary Schools in Arusha and Kilimanjaro Regions, Tanzania

This study was conducted among SDA secondary schools in Arusha and Kilimanjaro regions to establish the effectiveness of wholistic Education. Out of five schools, three were randomly selected for participation. The three schools had a total of 120 Form Four students from whom 92 were selected to fill the questionnaire through simple random sampling. The analysis involved descriptive statistics, t-test and Pearson Correlation. The study concluded that wholistic education is effective in the schools under investigation. This is due to the fact that students, regardless of their religious affiliation, agreed with most of items that measured the variables in the questionnaire. Furthermore, there is significant positive relationship between the physical, the spiritual and mental aspects of the wholistic education. Therefore, there is need for leadership in schools under investigation to improve the quality of food provided to students since they were not satisfied with the quality of food provided. Since the physical, mental and spiritual aspects correlate with one another, there is need to ensure a balanced curricular and extra-curricular programs that accommodate the three aspects so that learners may receive quality and balanced education which prepares them physically, mentally and spiritually for better service in this world and in the world to come.

Dealing with Psychological Effects of Alcohol Use by Adolescents: A Case of Kihesa Ward in Iringa, Tanzania

This study sought to investigate ways used to deal with psychological effects of the use of alcohol by adolescents at Kihesa ward in Iringa municipality. Semi structured interview was used to collect data from 36 respondents. The study found out that counseling and psycho education were commonly used to deal with the effect of alcohol use by adolescents. Counseling and psycho education have an impact in assisting adolescents who engage in the use of alcohol in the study area. Medication and spiritual intervention are complementary ways used to deal with psychological effects of the use of alcohol by adolescents. Community took part in curbing the problem under investigation. Since no single treatment to addictions which stands out more effective than all others, so the use of a numbers of approaches is recommendable for effective efforts to help adolescents who are involved in alcoholism. Therefore, psychological, medical, spiritual and other approaches need to be combined.

Stress and its Impacts among Pastors in the Moravian Church of Tanzania

This study sought to establish stress and its potential impacts among pastors in the Moravian Church of Tanzania. The study adopted the mixed methods research approach whereby interview schedule and closed-ended questionnaire gathered data from respondents. The study comprised of 41 out of 120 population of pastors selected through simple random sampling, including one Bishop, four provincial and district leaders and thirty-six church pastors. Disagreement between church members and pastors was found to be one of stressors to pastors. It is therefore high time to intervene with strong means and alternatives so that pastors work in supportive environments. In order to enhance working morale among pastors it is essential to keep them motivated. Furthermore, the Moravian Church of Tanzania needs to review policies on working conditions so that pastors will work comfortably. The church should also establish regular seminars and trainings to educate pastors on essential skills, such as leadership and financial management in order to reduce unnecessary conflicts with church members and leadership as the conflicts are the causatives of stress.

Analysis and Discussion Concerning Death

The analysis and discussion concerning death as intended by the Researcher depicts that death is an irreversible condition or state encountered by beings (all living creatures), due to a total dysfunction of the body organs. Such an irreversible condition is an enemy of human beings, which supersedes humanity, causing unexpected changes in life. It came as a punishment of abusing the supernatural power and finally it became a fact of not living forever. By the use of different literatures, Interviews and Documents, the research explored diverse concerns of death and drew its conclusion. Some of those concerns are “how is death detected? What are the causatives of death? Does death have its remedy? Where are dead people? Why do we bury the dead? And what is next after death?” The findings reveal that Doctors prove death by assessing and measuring the vital signs such as Blood Pressure, Pulse Rate, Respiratory Rate and Body Temperature. Moreover, the causatives of death include chronic pulmonary obstructive disease, ischemia, stroke, dehydration, infections and pain as well as old age. Those who encounter death are laid in the graves because God commanded it to be so and they produce unpleasant smell and stink. The remedy of it depends on the supernatural power that is believed to have ability of restoring the lost lives at consummation. That’s why Christians believe that on the second coming of Jesus Christ, all the dead shall rise. Hence, human beings have to be kin enough in lifetime, so that they may prolong a bit their lifespan through observance of health principles and guidelines.