Social Sciences

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the school inputs in private primary schools in determining pupils’ examination performance. This was in relation to general lack of literature on school inputs in relation to performance in private primary schools in Kenya. The findings of this study showed that the quality of education and performance of pupils in examinations are determined by teacher experience, teacher qualification, the school environment, the head teacher and educational resources. The study provides a base for an evaluation of cost-effectiveness of different policies associated with school inputs aimed at improving the quality of education at primary school level. Parents and the public in general can also gain from the study; by gaining confidence in the private schools and the quality of education they provide.

The devolved system of governance should not instill a change dilemma in the Kenyan people. It is evident that devolution is likely to be met with resistance from leaders and other members. It is also evident that devolution may intensify inequalities among communities in Kenya since some regions have more natural resources endowed than others Devolution may also be a transfer of the evils committed at the central system of government like corruption and misappropriation of funds to devolved systems. Ultimately, leadership should embrace reducing change resistance methodologies of building trust in the people involved in devolution, discuss upcoming changes, avoid threats in initiating change and involves all stakeholders in implementation devolution for successful implementation of the new structure of governance. The national and county levels should embrace optimum utilization of natural and human resource, focused strategy planning, aggressive resource mobilization and financial planning management. In addition each level of government should exercise integrity and respect constitutional, functional status and government institutions at various levels. Finally, different levels of the devolved structure have an obligation to build on their strengths and opportunities while seeking to eliminate weakness found and boldly face their threats.

One of the important tasks of social helpers is empowerment of vulnerable groups. One of these vulnerable groups is female household heads. One of the practices that can help empowering of them is to encourage female household heads to financial independence. Entrepreneurship is something that can lead to financial independence of female household heads. Moreover, entrepreneurship can lead to better mental and social health of this vulnerable group. The first step in empowering female household heads through entrepreneurship is to identify their obstacles and entrepreneurship problems. Because by identification of these barriers it can be done more appropriate measures in order to empower them. So, the aim of the present study is to identify entrepreneurship barriers of female household heads covered by Welfare Organization in Tehran. The method of the current study is survey. The statistical population of this research is all female household heads covered by Welfare Organization in Tehran that 350 of them were selected randomly. In order to collect data in this research, researcher-built questionnaire was used. In this research, the face validity and content aspect of the questionnaire were confirmed and reliability coefficient was obtained 0.81 using Cronbach’s alpha indicating desirable reliability of research questionnaire. The questionnaires were completed through self-creativity and then data were analyzed using SPSS software. Among problems that women encountered with them, the first ten ones are respectively the loss of fund to begin a job, existence of strictly official rules, gender discrimination and ignoring the ability of women by the society and responsible organizations, ignoring women in management affairs, over-concern about paying back the loans, emphasis on having personal fund instead of borrowing it from others, loss of pawn in order to get a loan, lack of proper support by government and governmental organizations, few facilities to begin a job by sponsor organizations, and unsuitable behavior of some organizations due to promotion of male-dominating in the society that statistically meaningful difference in prioritizing of these barriers was seen (p<0.05). Considering the findings of the current research, the programs in order to support female household heads economically and special facilities for them can provide their entrepreneurship basis. Also, gender discriminations against women especially female household heads can be decreased through acculturating using media and national media. The findings of the current research can be useful for social helpers, sponsor organizations and policymakers in direction of empowering the female household heads.

Tropical timber trade has a vital part in the socio-economic improvement of Malaysia. It has been the main exporters of high quality tropical timber products to the world market. International trade in timber products is organized and structured by numerous trade dealings. There is increasing distress around the effect of non-tariff trade dealings on the global timber products sector. The goal of the study is to estimate the impacts of non-tariff trade hurdles to timber trade. The methodology employed in this study includes econometric analysis using spatial equilibrium model. The spatial equilibrium analysis uses a comprehensive econometric model, and the Timber Trade Model (TTM), based on the Price Endogenous Linear Programming System (PELPS) framework. The analysis started by a scenario from the year 2008, and the projections to 2020. The projections show that non-tariff barriers are created to be fewer common than tariffs but have comparable or better combined effects on trade, production, producer revenues, consumer expenditures and value added as tariffs. This study shows the importance of analysing non-tariff barriers to timber trade strategy and the necessity for enduring widespread trade liberalization.

The paper presents Nigeria’s 2011 General Election and 2015 Biometric Voting (Electronic voting) system. The paper adopts the critical, theoretical and documentary research methods in describing Nigeria’s 2011 general election and 2015 electronic voting system. The paper finds that the 2011 general election was credible, reliable and transparent. Also that the implantation of the automated electoral system using Biometric Data would enable the hosting of free and fair election in Nigeria. Three major implications are identified: first to scholars on the investigation of the link between national elections and electronic voting (e-voting). Further study to empirically investigate the relationship between national election and e-voting using our proposed conceptual and operational framework. To the citizen, they can have the opportunity in choosing their leaders by exercising their rights in a democratic process. The paper recommends: that the government establish voters list updating: provide a biometric data base of all Nigerians both at home and abroad; the provision of regular power supply to effectively allow for the use of the biometric system; maintenance of adequate security; and leaders to fulfil their obligations and have fear of God in execution of their duties.

This study investigate the attitude of parents towards female genital mutilation in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State The population for this study comprises all males and females in Etche Local Government Area of Rivers State. The sample size is 200 subjects selected through stratified random sampling technique. A self structured instrument titled Female Genital Mutilation Inventory (FGMI) was used. Three hypotheses were used in this study. An independent t-test was used to analysis the hypotheses. Findings were made as follows: (i) There is a noticeable difference in the attitude of Educated and non-educated parents towards female genital mutilation. Based on the findings recommendation and conclusion were made and implication for counselling was also carried out.

ESP research has gained interest as a field of research for two decades. The aim of this study was to design and test the efficacy of a vocabulary training program to improve English language learning of female students at Princess Norah University. The subjects of the study were 40 female pre-service teachers. The study was experimental in that it employed pre-test, training and post-test. Findings revealed that students in the experimental group performed better than those in the control group during the posttest. The proposed vocabulary training program is recommended to improve EFL students’ learning. The researcher concludes that while the program largely achieved its goals, the research has highlighted some areas for improvement. Based on the findings of the study several recommendations are forwarded.

This study aims to investigate the relationship between social capital and delinquency in adolescents.This research has been conducted using a survey. In this research, 400 adolescent boys in Tehran were selected as samples based on the Cochran formula. Data were collected using researcher built- questionnaires. The results showed that with enhancement of social capital, levels of delinquency in adolescent boys decrease. And also by increasing the dimensions of social capital including social participation, social confidence, social support, social solidarity and interrelationships with others the delinquency in adolescent boys decreases and these relationships was statistically significant (p<0.001). The results of multivariable regression also showed that dimensions of social participation, social confidence, social support, and social solidarity were as predictors of delinquency in adolescent boys (p<0.001) and by increasing them the levels of delinquency in adolescent boys decreased.

The aims of this presentation are two folds, in initial stage, the presenter would like to shed light on the philosophy of second language learning, and how different philosophers have tried to explain the aim or purpose of second language acquisition, the second part includes the emergence of output hypothesis, and the reasons why this hypothesis emerged, and finally how this hypothesis has been modified during these two decades.

This paper examines some issues in the use of the social demand approach (SDA) in educational planning and development with a view of facilitating cost effectiveness in the provision of universal basic education. The paper adopts a descriptive approach that involves the review of statutory documents, research reports and other related literature. These various secondary sources of information show that basic education programme in Nigeria is negatively skewed in terms of addressing issues of unemployment and poverty as well as the resource wastage that results from youth restiveness. The paper concludes that achieving self-sufficiency in the production of middle and high level manpower that is relevant to the economy will be difficult if practical training in relevant vocational skills is not started at the basic school level, from primary one, in the course of developing literacy and numeracy skills. It calls for a de-emphasis of book learning with greater focus on the development of practical skills in the provision of education as a social service directed at addressing the issues of illiteracy, unemployment and poverty as well as youth restiveness. It recommends the use of educational toys, regular field trips and more funds to make the UBE programme more functional in arresting youth unemployment, poverty and restiveness. Key words: cost effectiveness, skill training, and economic relevance.