Districts Face Research Articles

Navigating Financial Barriers: Examining Agricultural Credit Accessibility for Smallholder Paddy Farmers in Mvomero District, Tanzania

Access to agricultural credit is critical for the economic sustainability of smallholder farmers, particularly in developing regions like Tanzania. However, many smallholder paddy farmers in Mvomero District face significant barriers when trying to secure financing essential for improving productivity and livelihoods. This study investigates the enablers and obstacles influencing agricultural credit accessibility for these farmers. Using a mixed-methods approach, data were collected from 274 farmers and key informants, revealing that prior loan experience plays a significant role in facilitating credit access, with 80.7% of respondents indicating previous loan engagement. Additionally, secure land ownership was found to correlate with better credit terms, as those with formal titles reported a mean score of 3.12, highlighting the importance of land tenure in their borrowing experience. Despite the high level of engagement with credit markets, considerable challenges remain, with mean scores of 2.98 and 3.14 suggesting that interest rates and collateral requirements are perceived as substantial barriers to accessing credit. Furthermore, trust and reputation emerged as pivotal factors in loan procurement, with 73% of farmers expressing willingness to seek additional credit, which reflects a generally positive outlook on borrowing. These findings underscore the urgent need for tailored financial education programmes and supportive policies aimed at enhancing lending practices and improving access to capital for smallholder farmers in the region.

Respecting priorities versus respecting preferences in school choice: When is there a trade-off?

A classic trade-off that school districts face when deciding which matching algorithm to use is that it is not possible to always respect both priorities and preferences. The student-proposing deferred acceptance algorithm (DA) respects priorities but can lead to inefficient allocations. We identify a new condition on school choice markets under which DA is efficient. Our condition generalizes earlier conditions by placing restrictions on how preferences and priorities relate to one another only on the parts that are relevant for the assignment. Whenever there is a unique allocation that respects priorities, our condition captures all the environments for which DA is efficient. We show through stylized examples and simulations that our condition significantly expands the range of known environments for which DA is efficient. We also discuss how our condition sheds light on existing empirical findings.

PENYELENGGARAAN TATA NASKAH DINAS DI LINGKUNGAN PEMERINTAH KECAMATAN

The Sintang District Government along with the Village Government and Village Government in Sintang District face several problems, especially in the field of official manuscripts. Indications of this can be seen from the way official manuscripts are typed, the use of headers, the installation of signboards, both the District Government and the Village Government and Village Government, have not fully referred to the Sintang Regent Regulation Number 22 of 2006 concerning Guidelines for Official Manuscripts within the Sintang Regency Government.

Health and Extractive Resources: A Research Note based on Evidence from Indonesian Districts

Most empirical studies on extractive resources examine their effects at the macro level and focus on economic and institutional outcomes. We perform a subnational analysis of the relationship between mineral resource dependence and health measures at the district level in Indonesia, using annual panel data from 2010 to 2020. Fixed-effect models suggest that households in mineral-dependent districts face a higher morbidity risk than households in non-dependant districts. There is no evidence of improved health services for mineral-dependent districts in the form of either higher child immunisation rates or professional birth assistance. We document economic mechanisms by examining employment and expenditure patterns, contextualising our findings within the debate on whether natural resources are a blessing or curse.

Influencing Factors of Street Vitality in Historic Districts Based on Multisource Data: Evidence from China

Amid urban expansion, historic districts face challenges such as declining vitality and deteriorating spatial quality. Using the streets of Xi’an’s historical and cultural district as examples, this research utilizes multisource data, including points of interest (POIs), street view images, and Baidu heatmaps, alongside analytical techniques such as machine learning. This study explores the determinants of street vitality from the dual perspectives of its external manifestation and spatial carriers. A quantitative framework for measuring street vitality in historic districts is established, thoroughly examining the driving factors behind street vitality. Additionally, the relationship between built environment indicators and street vitality is elucidated through statistical analysis methods. The findings reveal significant, time-varying influences of these spatial carriers on human vitality, with distinct spatial distribution patterns of human activity across different times, and the significance of the influence of external representations of human vitality and various types of spatial carriers varies over time. Based on these insights, this paper proposes strategies for enhancing the vitality of historic streets, aiming to rejuvenate and sustain the diverse and dynamic energy of these districts. It provides a foundation for revitalizing the vigor of cultural heritage zones and offers strategies applicable to similar urban contexts.

Addressing critical barriers for sustainability of asthma stock inhaler policy implementation and resultant programming

BackgroundAsthma is a prevalent health concern among Illinois (IL) children, and management is significantly influenced by social determinants. There were 17 states who have adopted stock inhaler laws, but implementation varies widely. ObjectiveTo assess critical barriers to implementation and address sustainability of stock inhaler programming in school-based asthma care in IL. MethodsSemistructured interviews were conducted with high asthma burden school districts in IL to assess barriers in implementing stock inhaler policies and resultant programming. Thematic analysis was performed using Atlas.ti (Scientific Software Development GmbH, Berlin, Germany) to identify and code “threats” to future sustainability. Data were synthesized and presented to stakeholders for barrier mitigation. A schematic flowchart outlining steps to support sustainability was created. ResultsA total of 18 interviews were conducted with key community partners across 8 IL school districts, representing rural, urban, and suburban areas. Analysis revealed 25 barriers, with several identified as “threats” to future sustainability, including liability concerns, follow-up care assurance, funding/resources, pharmacy dispensing practices, district-level readiness to change, and nurse staffing. Stakeholders formed a statewide coalition to address these barriers, increase awareness, plan evaluations, and advise on state funding allocation. A national stock inhaler toolkit tailored to school administrative needs was developed to support sustainability efforts. ConclusionStrategic stakeholder and community engagement are vital for establishing and sustaining stock inhaler programs that adhere to policy mandates. Many districts face challenges initiating and maintaining such programs without critical barrier mitigation and support. Collaborative solutions are necessary to ensure effective school-based asthma management and mitigate persistent pediatric asthma health disparities.

Factors Hindering Youth Participation in Agribusiness at Mbarali District in Mbeya Region

Aims: This study was set to examine factors hindering youth participation in agribusiness in Mbarali district in Mbeya region. Specifically, the study intended to determine the influence of youth perspectives towards participation in agri-business, identify socio-economic factors hindering youth participation in agri-business, and analyse the measures established to support youth participation in agri-business Methodology: The study adopted a mixed method approach involving both primary and secondary sources of data. The information was obtained through interviews, questionnaires, and documentary reviews. A sample of 384 youths aged 15-35 was adopted drawn from the total population using Krejci and Morgan table for a Finite Population. Results: Results in this study show that age, marital status, and training and development have a favourable and significant effect on youth engagement in agriculture and most of the youths perceive agriculture to be less profitable revealing that the perceptions of both male and female youths towards agricultural activity and agribusiness as a branch are still a hindrance towards youth engagement in agribusiness activities. Moreover, the youths in Mbarali district face several socio-economic hindrances in getting involved in agri-preneurship and business such as lack of adequate working capital, low knowledge in agribusiness, land access problems, restrictive bank landing conditions, subsidized Govt inputs not reaching the youth, unfavourable commodity markets and lack of youths’ platforms to channel their views. These factors have been echoed by most of the participants in this study along with some key informants who were visited to offer their insights on the subject under study. Conclusion: The youth in Africa mostly have a negative perception concerning agriculture. This influences their intention and participation in Agriculture. There is a lack of access to land; finance; technology; education and skills in agribusiness. However mixed findings on access to finance and its influence on the engagement of the youth in agriculture. More studies should look at the influence of access to finance and other resources on youth engagement in agriculture. Youth involvement in agriculture is crucial, but experts may not regard it as a serious threat to long-term agricultural practices.

Coping Strategies of Women Teachers in Self-Financing Schools of Chengalpet District

Women teachers in self-financing schools in Chengalpet District face numerous challenges on a daily basis, from demanding workloads to issues stemming from gender discrimination. Despite these obstacles, these educators have developed effective coping strategies to navigate through their professional lives with resilience and determination. One key strategy employed by women teachers is the establishment of a strong support network within the school community, where they can seek advice, share experiences, and offer encouragement to one another. This network not only provides emotional support but also serves as a valuable resource for problem-solving and collaboration. The research conducted in Chennai City with 150 respondents aimed to investigate work-related problems in self-financing schools and their impact on women teachers' job satisfaction. Utilizing a well-structured questionnaire, random sampling was employed to gather data. The study explored factors related to work problems and job satisfaction, employing statistical techniques such as factor analysis, Karl Pearson Correlation, The findings from this study can provide valuable insights for educational institutions and policymakers to develop strategies to improve working conditions and job satisfaction for women teachers in self-financing schools.

What Do Rural Special Education Teachers Say? Examining the Reported Needs and Recommendations for Retention

Chronic special education teacher (SET) shortages are a national concern and particularly problematic in rural school districts. That is, rural districts face challenges when it comes to hiring and retaining qualified SETs. To understand the contributing factors related to retention and attrition, it is essential to gain insight from rural SETs first-hand. The purpose of this study was to listen to and learn from current and former rural SETs and gain insight on their needs and how they believe retention can be improved in geographically isolated areas. Including the voices of current rural SETs and those who chose to leave their position shed light on the benefits of being employed in rural areas while bringing attention to current issues that need to be addressed to improve SET retention. Using a qualitative descriptive research design, we analyzed open-ended survey responses from 185 U.S. participants. In all, a total of six themes and 11 subthemes emerged. Findings highlight the needs of rural SETs, and corresponding recommendations for administrators and school leaders in rural communities are offered.

Formal Housing Livability Criteria in the Peri-Urban Area of Taman District, Sidoarjo Regency

Livability is an environmental system that contributes to physical, social, and mental well-being and is related to the satisfaction of living in a specific location. Taman District in Sidoarjo Regency, as one of the peri-urban areas near Surabaya, has residential areas that are experiencing positive growth, including 22 formal housing developments built by developers. The residents of these formal housing developments in the Taman District face several issues that affect their quality of life, including river pollution from industrial waste, road surface damages, poor water quality, and power outages. While there have been many institutions and studies discussing livability, specific research on livability in formal housing within peri-urban areas is still limited. Given this situation, there is a research gap in the field of livability assessment within the context of formal housing in peri-urban areas. Therefore, this research aims to formulate criteria that influence the livability of formal housing in the Taman District, Sidoarjo Regency. The research method used is the Delphi analysis technique conducted through three rounds of interviews with experts in housing and development field. By using this method, experts are able to provide considerations related to criteria that affect livability based on their knowledges and experiences. The whole analysis process resulted in the identification of 28 criteria, which are divided into five indicators: physical environments, economics, socials, facilities, and utilities. This research is important to help the government and developers in addressing livability issues in the research area.

Implementation of a simulation free palliative Radiation Therapy pathway: An inter-professional collaborative project

The Western New South Wales Local Health District (WNSWLHD) has a significant footprint within the state of New South Wales (NSW). Due to the significant size of the WNSWLHD, patients residing in the local health district face many barriers to receiving Radiation Therapy. The inter-professional collaboration behind the successful implementation and evaluation of a simulation free pathway for palliative Radiation Therapy in WNSWLHD will be explored within this narrative. The process known in WNSWLHD as Medical Imaging Simulated Radiation Therapy (MISRT) removes the need for a computed tomography (CT) simulation and allows for palliative Radiation Therapy to be planned on previously acquired diagnostic CT imaging. The implementation of MISRT has required significant inter-professional collaboration. This also extends to inter-centre partnership, intra-district cooperation with Medical Imaging and inter-discipline teamwork amongst Radiation Oncologists, Radiation Oncology Medical Physicists, Radiation Oncology Nursing and Radiation Therapists. The impact and involvement of the inter-disciplinary teamwork will be explored. The methods of implementing MISRT will be outlined covering changes to standard workflow, educational requirements and inclusion criteria. The evaluation of the implementation will also be covered with two evaluation surveys being conducted. Inter-professional communication, education, teamwork and collaboration is highlighted to demonstrate improving access to quality care in a rural and regional healthcare setting whilst reducing known barriers to accessing Radiation Oncology.

Environmental Risk Assessment of the Harbin Section of the Songhua River Basin Based on Multi-Source Data Fusion

Surface water is a vital resource for human survival. However, economic and social development has resulted in significant pollutants from human activities, causing environmental pollution in watersheds. This pollution has had a profound impact on the surface water environment. However, limited studies have been conducted on the environmental risk evaluation of the watershed. In this study, we accounted for agricultural, industrial, and domestic source discharges in the districts and counties of the Harbin section of the Songhua River Basin for 2021. Data were collected from Statistical Yearbooks and governmental departments, and the characteristics of pollutant discharges in Harbin’s districts and counties were analyzed. Subsequently, we employed the Back Propagation neural network optimization method, combining remote sensing data, accounting data, pollution discharge data from each district and county, and economic and social data from the Statistical Yearbook and literature. This fusion of multiple data sources facilitated the construction of a watershed environmental risk evaluation system. The analysis considered four levels: economic and social, resource load, environmental infrastructure, and pollution discharge. Via this comprehensive evaluation, we identified the reasons for environmental risks in the water environment of the Harbin section of the Songhua River Basin. The evaluation results indicate that Nangang District, Xiangfang District, and Pingfang District face a higher risk to the water environment. Consequently, recommendations for mitigating water environment risks in these areas and across Harbin City are presented. The research methods and findings in this paper contribute valuable insights for developing control strategies to manage water quality in critically polluted areas of the Harbin section of the Songhua River Basin, providing a scientific foundation for regional river water quality management studies.

Exploring the challenges of curriculum advisors in schools in the Vhembe-West district, Limpopo province, South Africa

Monitoring and supporting teachers in the classroom, as well as the implementation of curriculum changes, pose problems in South Africa. This is due to an array of challenges such as a lack of resources, communication barriers within the Department of Basic Education (DBE) as well as a lack of proper infrastructure. In the research reported on here we investigated the challenges that curriculum advisors in the Vhembe-West district face and provides insight into some of their daily challenges. This could assist the international platform, especially as developing countries and other Third World Countries can benefit from the outcomes of this research. A qualitative research approach was used where 12 interviews were conducted with curriculum advisors in the Vhembe-West district. The interview questions were e-mailed to them beforehand so that they could familiarise themselves with the questions to be answered. Within a period of 2 weeks thereafter, interviews were conducted and recorded for analysis on Zoom or Microsoft Teams. The data were grouped and are presented in 5 different themes with the aim of highlighting the challenges as well as providing recommendations to deal with the challenges that curriculum advisors experience. The data reveal that curriculum advisors experience that they receive minimal support from their superiors and that the resources at their disposal also prove to be minimal. This study highlights the lack of resources, insufficient infrastructure, and lack of effective communication from management needed for proper curriculum implementation at schools.

Respiratory function of workers at some wood factories in Bac Tu Liem district, 2022

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the respiratory function status and associated factors among workers in wood factories in Bac Tu Liem district. Methods: A total of 80 workers from six woodworking establishments participated in this cross-sectional study. Respiratory symptom questionnaires based on ECCS-87 and ATS-DLD-78a were used to collect data on symptoms experienced within the past 12 months. Respiratory function measurements were also conducted during breaks and at the end of shifts. Results: Workers with 3-5 years of experience accounted for 63.8% of the total sample. The majority (92.5%) were exposed to harmful workplace factors for more than 8 hours per day. Only 13.8% reported using full personal protective equipment. Concentrations of respiratory particles and Total Suspended Particulate (TSP) in wood facilities exceeded allowable standards. Cough was the most commonly reported respiratory symptom, with a prevalence of 28.8%. Approximately 66.3% of subjects had normal respiratory function, while restrictive ventilation disorder accounted for the highest proportion of respiratory disorders at 21.3%. Statistical analysis revealed significant associations between respiratory dysfunction and work experience (OR=2.56, p<0.01), duration of exposure to hazardous factors (OR=1.8, p<0.05), use of personal protective equipment (OR=7.12, p<0.05), and the occurrence of respiratory symptoms (OR=1.73, p<0.01). Conclusions: workers in furniture manufacturing facilities in Bac Tu Liem district face exposure to high concentrations of total particles, respiratory particles, and toxic gases that surpass permissible standards. The study also found a significant relationship between respiratory dysfunction and employee characteristics. Keywords: Respiratory function, wood workers, wood factories.

“Are You Saying That We’re Racist?”: Comparing Normative, Political, and Technical Dimensions of Instructional and Disciplinary Policies

Background: In recent years, school districts have experienced a complex policy environment with myriad reforms aimed at addressing longstanding and historically entrenched disparities in opportunities and outcomes between racially minoritized students and White students. One such reform is standards-based accountability, with its emphasis on documenting and addressing racial disparities in testing outcomes. Recently, educators and lawmakers have sought to address persistent racial disproportionality in disciplinary actions. New behavioral policies may be seen as a response to national attention and outrage regarding the “school-to-prison pipeline,” which indicates that school discipline practices contribute to the over-representation of Black men in the criminal justice system. In recent years, local leaders have been tasked with implementing new disciplinary reforms alongside their ongoing efforts at instructional improvement. Purpose: As districts face an increasingly complex policy environment and constrained resources, researchers must understand how district leaders make sense of and manage the varied policies they are tasked with implementing. This study contributes to the knowledge base on K–12 policy implementation by examining how school district leaders manage multiple policies—particularly when some new practices engage beliefs around racial discrimination or structural racism. We contribute to the gap in the literature by asking: What differences emerged in the early implementation processes of an instructional policy and a discipline policy in the Elmwood school district, and what might explain those differences? Research Design: To answer this question, we employ a comparative, embedded case study design and examine extensive qualitative data from a single school district. Oakes’s (1992) framework of technical, normative, and political dimensions of policy change guided the analysis and was applied to rich interview data. Conclusions: Overall, our findings highlight significant differences in how Elmwood leadership implemented the two policies. Our study indicates that though both instructional and disciplinary reforms purport to address racial outcome gaps, district leaders may view discipline in a racialized way that they do not view instructional policy. The perceived racialized nature of discipline policy may significantly influence implementation practices. Ultimately, the data suggests that racialized normative beliefs and values, along with political and technical investments, greatly influence the implementation process and raise larger questions about the role of racism in education reform.

Fed Up: The Global Ascension of the Federal Reserve in the Era of Migration

Abstract In recent decades, the Federal Reserve has emerged as a global lender of last resort. In this article, we investigate whether the prospect of unwanted migration has driven lawmakers’ support for the Fed's increased international role. During an economic crisis, declines in investor confidence and capital flight to developed economies often cause economic hardship in the developing world, thus encouraging increased migration into advanced industrial economies. Concerned about voter opposition to increased immigration, immigration-averse policymakers of migrant-receiving states will seek ways to reduce the economic distress of migrant-sending states. To corroborate our argument, we analyze congressional voting on the “Audit the Fed” bills in the US House of Representatives from 2012 to 2015. Using the district-level foreign-born population as an indicator of migration pressure, our evidence suggests that anti-immigrant lawmakers are more likely to support the Federal Reserve's international initiatives when their districts face a disproportionately high level of migrant pressure.

Benefits and Challenges of the Rural Upgraded Secondary Schools in the Provision of Quality Education in Luano District of Central Province, Zambia

The aim of the study was to determine the benefits and challenges of the rural upgraded secondary schools in Luano district. The study was conducted in Luano district of Central Province of Zambia. The study theorized the study by using Spencer's Structural Functionalist Theory. The study used qualitative and quantitative research methods to collect, integrate and analyze data. The study utilized a descriptive research design. The study's target population were all head teachers, heads of departments, and subject teachers in the selected upgraded secondary schools. The research instruments used in the study were questionnaires and an interview guide. Qualitative data were analyzed using the thematic method. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SSP) was used to generate descriptive statistics in frequency table and bar graph. The study shows that the upgraded secondary schools in Luano district face significant challenges, which include the sharing of classrooms with the primary section, lack of enough furniture, lack of libraries in, schools poses a substantial challenge in the upgraded secondary schools, lack of laboratories in the upgraded secondary schools is a challenge to upgraded secondary schools lack enough specialized trained teachers in other subjects hinders effective functioning of the schools, lack of enough financial resources poses challenges among the upgraded secondary lack of enough teaching and learning resources as challenges faced by the upgraded secondary schools. The government should establish more classrooms to cater to the increasing enrolment. The government should construct laboratories in upgraded rural secondary schools; the government should build libraries in upgraded rural secondary schools, and the government should increase funding for upgraded rural secondary schools; the government should deploy more secondary school teachers in the upgraded rural secondary schools, the government should procure furniture for the upgraded rural secondary schools through the Ministry of Education.

Creative Digital Marketing and Advanced Internetworking Assistance Programs for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises in Buah Batu District Bandung

Digital media can support Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) businesses to increase brand awareness of their products, so they can gain competitive advantages and reach a broader market. Unfortunately, not all MSME businesses have the capabilities to utilize digital media to support their businesses. The MSMEs in Buah Batu district face problems that can not be resolved by conventional marketing methods, such as lack of brand awareness and drop in sales which results in the decrease of their revenues and profits. This Community Service aims to improve the MSME's knowledge and skills on creative digital marketing strategy and their understanding of the marketplace so they can create online stores for their businesses. Online stores make it feasible for those MSMEs to broaden their market reach. For the problems related to the IT area, the team will provide network training. The method applied was the service-learning approach. The results of this community service are that the MSMEs in Buah Batu District are capable to create their online shops, promote their products through the marketplace and social media and finally increase their revenues. The output of these community service activities is the design of MSME product packaging and website.

Flood risk assessment in Ya'an, Sichuan, China based on the emergy theory

Abstract The emergy theory provides a new approach for flood risk assessment from an ecological perspective. By employing the emergy method, we used five indicators (rainfall runoff, medical workers and students per 10,000 people, social fixed assets investment, unit land GDP, and land-use types) from three dimensions (natural environment, population, and social economy) and the GIS technique to assess the potential impact and risk of a flood disaster on different regions in Ya'an City. Our findings revealed regional differences in the distribution of flood risks in Ya'an City: Lushan County and Yucheng District face the highest risks, followed by Tianquan County and Mingshan District, and Shimian County has the lowest risk. The index method was employed to analyze the regional differences. By training a back-propagation neural network with data on flood disasters in the study area, we produced a flood risk distribution map. We found that Mingshan District, Lushan County and Yucheng District have higher risks than other regions. The results largely agree with what we obtained using the emergy method. Our study shows that flood risk assessment based on the emergy theory can provide a scientific basis for flood control and disaster relief initiatives.

Effects of Four-Day School Weeks on Physical Education Exposure and Childhood Obesity.

Use of 4-day school weeks (FDSWs) as a cost-saving strategy has increased substantially as many US school districts face funding declines. However, the impacts of FDSWs on physical activity exposure and related outcomes are unknown. This study examined physical education (PE) exposure and childhood obesity prevalence in 4- versus 5-day Oregon schools; the authors hypothesized lower PE exposure and higher obesity in FDSW schools, given reduced school environment exposure. The authors utilized existing data from Oregon to compare 4- versus 5-day models: t tests compared mean school-level factors (PE exposure, time in school, enrollment, and demographics) and complex samples weighted t tests compared mean child-level obesity data for a state representative sample of first to third graders (N = 4625). Enrollment, time in school, and student-teacher ratio were significantly lower in FDSW schools. FDSW schools provided significantly more PE, both in minutes (120 vs 101min/wk in 4- vs 5-d schools, P < .01) and relative to total time in school (6.9% vs 5.0%, P < .0001). Obesity prevalence did not differ significantly between school models. Greater PE exposure in FDSW schools was observed, and it remains unknown whether differences in PE exposure contributed to obesity prevalence in this sample of students. Efforts to better understand how FDSWs impact physical activity, obesity risk, and related factors are needed.