Can the quality of a school be greater than the quality of its teachers? A case of early grade reading skills in Ugandan refugee context

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 43-59
Author(s):  
Mónica Fontana ◽  
Martin Ariapa ◽  
Gillian Atuheire
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Reading Levels ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Early Grade ◽  
Education Report ◽  
Letter Sound

INTRODUCTION. As highlighted in the 2018 Uganda Education Response Plan, reading levels in refugee host communities are way below the national average. Since the 2018 National Assessment of Progress in Education report highlighted some challenging areas to the in-service teachers, a possible explanation for the persistent poor performance of learners in reading may reside with the finding that many educators themselves lack an understanding of the linguistic construct. Therefore, an informed training for teachers in primary schools was implemented to help them foster learners’ reading skills. The purpose of this paper is consequently to analyse whether learners whose teachers participated in the evidence-based intervention have better reading skills than those whose teachers did not participate in the intervention. METHOD. To achieve this, a quasi-experimental pre-program/post-program design, involving 2 schools, 24 teachers (12 per school), and 297 learners (157 from treatment and 140 from control) from Palabek (Uganda) refugee settlement was adopted. FINDINGS. The findings show that the reading skills of learners whose teachers participated in the intervention significantly improved as compared to their counterparts. Particularly, learners’ reading skills significantly improved in the areas of letter sound knowledge, segmenting knowledge, and nonword decoding, and slightly in oral passage reading and comprehension, and English vocabulary. DISCUSSION. This study therefore supported the hypothesis linked to the Peter Effect - one cannot be expected to give what they do not possess and raised a need for the Ministry of Education and Sports to mandate sufficient and informed training of teachers.

Effect of Resource Factors and Quality of Instruction on Performance in Mathematics of Nigeria Secondary School Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69
Author(s):  
Umar Abdullahi ◽  
Musa Sirajo
Keyword(s):  
Secondary School ◽  
Secondary School Students ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
Secondary School Student ◽  
Teaching Staff ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
School Students ◽  
Quality Of Instruction ◽  
The Public

It seems that educational system in Nigeria has undergone only quantitative improvement in terms of number of schools and students’ enrolment. However, there has been little effort in respect to the capacity to manage them through provisions of adequate financial, human, material and physical resources. Physical and material resources in secondary schools were discovered to be inadequate and poorly equipped. Some of the secondary school buildings were dilapidated, also the allocated financial resource, teaching and non-teaching staff are grossly inadequate compared with the students’ enrolment. The public, the Ministry of Education and other stakeholders in education are expressing serious concern about the consistency of the poor performance of secondary school students especially in mathematics. Increase in population and the government’s free education programs make people want to take advantage of the education provided. Provision of both professionally qualified and non-qualified teachers by government and non-state providers of education also appear not to ameliorate the problem of declining performances in mathematics. The effect of all these on the public secondary school student academic performance in mathematics concern the researchers of this study. It is against this background that the study sought to empirically investigates effect of resource factors and quality of instruction on performance in mathematics of Nigeria secondary school students.

scholarly journals Improving the reading skills of Jordanian students with auditory discrimination problems

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Afaf Abdullah Mukdadi ◽  
Abdul-Monim Batiha ◽  
Jose Luis Ortega Martin
Keyword(s):  
Training Program ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Auditory Discrimination ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Developmental Problems ◽  
School Year ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Resource Rooms ◽  
Experimental Group

<p><strong>Background:</strong> Some of the developmental problems facing students with difficulties in learning are those related to auditory perception which, in turn, can negatively affect the individual’s learning process.</p><p><strong>Aim:</strong> Evaluating a training program prepared to develop the auditory discrimination skills of students who suffer from auditory discrimination problems.</p><p><strong>Design:</strong> A quasi-experimental research design was used in this study. The study sample was divided into two equal groups: experimental and control.</p><p><strong>Participants and setting:</strong> The population of the study consists of students with learning difficulties from the second, third and fourth grades, whose ages range between 7-9 years old. Also involved were those enrolled in the resource rooms affiliated to the Jordanian Ministry of Education in Irbid province, amounting to (120) boy and girl students for the school year 2013- 2014.</p><p><strong>Results:</strong> The study showed that there was a significant difference in favor of the experimental group which indicated that the training program was effective. It helped the students with auditory discrimination problems to improve their reading skills. The results also showed a significant difference in favor of the students of older age in the experimental group. At the same time there were no significant differences in reading performance changes concerning gender.</p>

scholarly journals The GReat-Child TrialTM: A Quasi-Experimental Dietary Intervention among Overweight and Obese Children

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 2972
Author(s):  
Hui Chin Koo ◽  
Bee Koon Poh ◽  
Ruzita Abd. Talib
Keyword(s):  
Childhood Obesity ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Cognitive Theory ◽  
Whole Grains ◽  
Mean Difference ◽  
Whole Grain ◽  
Obese Children ◽  
Co Morbidity ◽  
Quasi Experimental

Diet composition is a key determinant of childhood obesity. While whole grains and micronutrients are known to decrease the risk of obesity, there are no interventions originating from Southeast Asia that emphasize whole grain as a strategy to improve overall quality of diet in combating childhood obesity. The GReat-Child Trial aimed to improve whole grain intake and quality of diet among overweight and obese children. It is a quasi-experimental intervention based on Social Cognitive Theory. It has a 12-week intervention and 6-month follow-up, consisting of three components that address environmental, personal, and behavioral factors. The intervention consists of: (1) six 30 min lessons on nutrition, using the Malaysian Food Pyramid to emphasize healthy eating, (2) daily deliveries of wholegrain foods to schools so that children can experience and accept wholegrain foods, and (3) diet counseling to parents to increase availability of wholegrain foods at home. Two primary schools with similar demographics in Kuala Lumpur were assigned as control (CG) and intervention (IG) groups. Inclusion criteria were: (1) children aged 9 to 11 years who were overweight/obese; (2) who did not consume whole grain foods; and (3) who had no serious co-morbidity problems. The entire trial was completed by 63 children (31 IG; 32 CG). Study outcomes were measured at baseline and at two time points post intervention (at the 3rd [T1] and 9th [T2] months). IG demonstrated significantly higher intakes of whole grain (mean difference = 9.94, 95%CI: 7.13, 12.75, p < 0.001), fiber (mean difference = 3.07, 95% CI: 1.40, 4.73, p = 0.001), calcium (mean difference = 130.27, 95%CI: 74.15, 186.39, p < 0.001), thiamin (mean difference = 58.71, 95%CI: 26.15, 91.28, p = 0.001), riboflavin (mean difference = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.37, 1.32, p = 0.001), niacin (mean difference = 0.35, 95%CI: 1.91, 5.16, p < 0.001), and vitamin C (mean difference = 58.71, 95%CI: 26.15, 91.28, p = 0.001) compared to CG in T1, after adjusting for covariates. However, T1 results were not sustained in T2 when intervention had been discontinued. The findings indicate that intervention emphasizing whole grains improved overall short-term but not long-term dietary intake among schoolchildren. We hope the present trial will lead to adoption of policies to increase whole grain consumption among Malaysian schoolchildren.

scholarly journals Literacy in Limbo? Performance of Two Reading Promotion Schemes in Public Basic Schools in Ghana

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kwasi Opoku-Amankwa ◽  
Aba Brew-Hammond ◽  
Anatu Kande Mahama
Keyword(s):  
International Development ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Reading Assessment ◽  
Quality Of Education ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative ◽  
Assessment Programme ◽  
Qualitative And Quantitative Study ◽  
Basic Level

This paper examines two literacy development programmes in basic school classrooms in Ghana: a books scheme for primary schools, mounted by the Ministry of Education in 1998 with support from the Department for International Development, UK, (DfID), and a reading assessment programme (Opoku-Amankwa and Brew-Hammond, 2011) aimed at promoting reading and improving quality of education especially at the basic level. The study reveals that very little is known about the two schemes, pupils’ access to the books is generally poor, and teachers interpret and implement the reading assessment programme in a range of ways according to their understanding. The paper recommends a detailed qualitative and quantitative study of the schemes to assist in future book development and literacy programmes.

scholarly journals Early Grade Reading Assessment for Primary School Students in Serang Banten

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ade Husnul Mawadah ◽  
John Pahamzah
Keyword(s):  
Primary School ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Reading Speed ◽  
Reading Assessment ◽  
Teaching Reading ◽  
Primary School Students ◽  
School Students ◽  
Student Reading ◽  
Early Grade

This article describes new strategies in teaching reading skills to primary school students based on the finding of Early Grade Reading Assessment instruments implemented in primary schools in Serang Banten, Indonesia. The authors describe the obtained results of the students’ skills in reading components. For example, we illustrate the proposed technique of teaching reading to primary school students. Our method shows that improvement in the students’ reading ability is moderate; the children are less able to recognize words; meaningless words are still hard to spell; and the students can understand the story well. The new strategy's effectiveness in evaluation is confirmed by calculating how the students recognize letters with a low reading speed of about 2.24 minutes for 100 letters. They could read 30 meaningful words in 3 minutes, but when reading something meaningless the students only read difficult 15 words in 15 minutes. General student reading was good at 86 percent, with only a few students who could not read the text. The students could understand 78 percent of the content of the reading by listening to the story and retelling the story orally. The children who were guided by parents or brothers or sisters had better reading skills. Another finding pertained to the availability of reading books besides textbooks for their reading sources. The new research results develop the students’ reading skills and can be used for developing the strategies in teaching student reading skills.

scholarly journals Effect of Education on Knowledge, Attitude, and Performance of Elderly Caretakers in Nursing Homes of Mashhad City

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fatemeh Abbasi ◽  
Fatemeh Vizeshfar ◽  
Iran Jahanbin ◽  
Pyman Gafari
Keyword(s):  
Nursing Homes ◽  
Work Performance ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Mashhad City ◽  
Spss Software ◽  
And Performance

Abstract BackgroundThe population of the elderly taken care of at the nursing homes are increasing by the growth of the elderly’s population. Insufficient knowledge of the caretakers can affect the quality of their care from the elderly and result in poor performance. We aimed to evaluate the effect of education on knowledge, attitude, and performance of caretakers working at nursing homes.MethodsIn this quasi-experimental study, a total of 54 caretakers participated in Four-session classes and their knowledge, attitude, and performance towards the elderly were evaluated before, immediately after, and 1 month after the education by a researcher-designed questionnaire using SPSS software version 21.ResultsThe mean scores of the participants’ in attitude had no significant change knowledge scores at the three intervals, respectively (P=0.001) with a significant difference after the intervention compared with before (P<0.05). The performance scores at the three intervals, respectively (P<0.001) with a significant difference after the intervention compared with before (P<0.05). ConclusionThe significant improvement of knowledge and work performance of the elderly caretakers working at nursing homes shows the necessity of educating these individuals for better care from the elderly.

scholarly journals TEACHERS’ PERCEPTION TOWARDS THE NEEDS OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELING SERVICES IN RURAL PRIMARY SCHOOLS

2019 ◽  
pp. 277-283
Author(s):  
Nisrin Zalchary Anoi ◽  
Abu Yazid Abu Bakar
Keyword(s):  
Primary Schools ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Counseling Services ◽  
Guidance And Counseling ◽  
Ministry Of Education ◽  
Part C ◽  
Circular Letter ◽  
And Behavior

Guidance and counseling services play an important role in helping students in academics and behavior as well as in planning their future. Realizing this, the Ministry of Education has issued a circular letter DG / 5209/35 / (40), which requires each school to appoint a teacher of guidance and counseling. This study was carried out to identify teachers' perception towards the needs of guidance and counseling in rural primary schools, especially in Bakong, Miri, Sarawak. This study is a descriptive study involving 35 teachers in rural primary schools in Bakong district. The instrument used was a questionnaire adapted from Haidhir Md Yusof Mohd study (2015) that includes four parts, A, B, C and D. Part A consists of eight items including demographic data, while likert scale was used in Part B, C and D. Part B includes the perception of guidance and counseling data, part C the needs and teachers of guidance and counseling in rural area, and section D identified the issues and roles that require the needs of guidance and counseling services. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis including frequency, percentage and mean. The findings could provide inputs not only to guidance and counseling area but also to the school, higher authorities and Ministry of education in upgrading the guidance and counseling services as well as ensuring the optimum use of the services in improving the quality of education.

scholarly journals The Effectiveness of Likes Method in Improving Reading Skills of Orang Asli Students

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 74 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norwaliza Abdul Wahab ◽  
Ridzuan Jaafar ◽  
Ramlee Mustapha ◽  
Arasinah Kamis ◽  
Norhayati Mohd Affandi
Keyword(s):  
Diagnostic Tests ◽  
Primary Schools ◽  
Reading Skills ◽  
Experimental Methods ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Orang Asli ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Experimental Group

This study aims to examine the effectiveness of the LIKES method in teaching KVKV (consonant, vowel, consonant, vowel) syllables in bahasa Melayu (Malay language) among Orang Asli students in primary schools. This research was conducted in two Orang Asli schools consisting of pupils aged 8 to 10 years as the subjects of the study. Quasi-experimental methods were used to determine the effectiveness of the LIKES method. Assessments were carried out for eight weeks including diagnostic tests as well as pre and post tests. The results showed significant differences in the reading skills of the control group (CG) and experimental group (EG). The study found that the reading skills according to gender was not a significant. Results from the observations showed the Orang Asli students are more focused and enjoyed to learn while using LIKES method in class. The findings clearly show that the LIKES method are suitable to be given to Orang Asli students, or students in remedial classes to improve the skills of reading especially KVKV syllables in bahasa Melayu.

Improvement in Gate Dielectric Quality of Ultra Thin a: SiN:H MNS Capacitor by Hydrogen Etching of the Substrate

2002 ◽  
Vol 716 ◽  
Author(s):  
Parag C. Waghmare ◽  
Samadhan B. Patil ◽  
Rajiv O. Dusane ◽  
V.Ramgopal Rao
Keyword(s):  
Silicon Nitride ◽  
Gate Dielectric ◽  
Substrate Surface ◽  
Scaling Limit ◽  
Tunneling Current ◽  
Chemical Vapor ◽  
Poor Performance ◽  
State Density ◽  
Direct Tunneling Current

AbstractTo extend the scaling limit of thermal SiO2, in the ultra thin regime when the direct tunneling current becomes significant, members of our group embarked on a program to explore the potential of silicon nitride as an alternative gate dielectric. Silicon nitride can be deposited using several CVD methods and its properties significantly depend on the method of deposition. Although these CVD methods can give good physical properties, the electrical properties of devices made with CVD silicon nitride show very poor performance related to very poor interface, poor stability, presence of large quantity of bulk traps and high gate leakage current. We have employed the rather newly developed Hot Wire Chemical Vapor Deposition (HWCVD) technique to develop the a:SiN:H material. From the results of large number of optimization experiments we propose the atomic hydrogen of the substrate surface prior to deposition to improve the quality of gate dielectric. Our preliminary results of these efforts show a five times improvement in the fixed charges and interface state density.

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