Senior High School Research Articles

Assessing the impact of cervical cancer education in two high schools in Ghana

BackgroundCervical cancer is one of the commonest female cancers in Ghana. However, it is preventable. Prevention through Human Papilloma Virus immunization and early detection by screening have their foundation in awareness and a good knowledge about the disease. Acquiring the right knowledge about cervical cancer should be earlier rather than later while mindsets are still being formed to translate into the right attitudes and behaviours later in life.MethodologyAn unpaired pre- and post-test quasi experimental study was conducted at two Ghanaian senior high schools. An educational intervention was carried out comprising a drama, PowerPoint lecture, question and answer session and cervical cancer information leaflet distribution. A self-administered questionnaire was given as a pre-test and repeated as a post-test after 3 months. The total score for each domain of knowledge tested was categorized into adequate knowledge (≥ 50%) and inadequate knowledge (< 50%).ResultsThe number of participants in the pre- and post-test were 1,107 and 1,276 girls respectively, with average age of 16 years. General knowledge on cervical cancer improved to 94.4% from 73% following the intervention, but only 46.2% said cervical cancer was curable following the education. Knowledge on symptoms improved from 78 to 87.1% and risk factor knowledge improved from 81.8 to 89.3%. After the intervention, 37% from an initial 42% still thought that having sex at a young age (adolescence) was not a risk factor. Screening and prevention knowledge improved from 82.9 to 91% but only 37.2% knew the recommended age to begin screening with pap smears, even after the education. Overall knowledge on cervical cancer after the education significantly improved from 79.1 to 92.3%.ConclusionKnowledge of cervical cancer among young girls in two High Schools, improved with the educational intervention. Areas of education to be emphasized are: cervical cancer is curable if diagnosed early, increased risk with early onset of sexual activity, and recommended age to start screening. Educating young girls on cervical cancer increases their awareness and gives them adequate knowledge which should influence their attitudes and behaviour towards cervical cancer in the future. It should be considered for adoption into high school curricula.

Brilla boy!: Educated masculinity, hope and future-making in a Ghanaian senior high school

ABSTRACT This paper examines the significance of Ghana’s National Science and Maths Quiz (the NSMQ) drawing on ethnographic fieldwork in a secondary school in Ghana (known as Brilliant Academy) conducted between 2021–2022. Using the concepts of hope and aspiration this paper seeks to explore how the NSMQ serves as a vehicle for hope. It begins with a historical lens, examining how the pedagogical practices laid down by missionaries now in place at Brilliant Academy serve to cultivate the type of educated person promoted by the quiz show, that of the ‘brilla boy’. This figure is widely respected within the school and as such students eagerly aspire to take part in the quiz. I also suggest that the celebration of maths and science in the quiz makes the NSMQ bridge together ‘old’ and ‘new’ hopes attached to education, and science and maths in particular, evident in Kwame Nkrumah’s vision for postcolonial Ghana.

The politicization of education policies: The case of Ghana’s Free Senior High School Policy

While many scholars recognize and criticize the politicization of education policies, scholarly attention to the strategies politicians utilize to politicize educational policy discourses remains limited. Focusing on the officials of Ghana’s two major political parties, the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC), as policy actors, this paper investigates how officials of these two parties operationalized discussions regarding Ghana’s Free Senior High School Policy (FSHSP) to garner support for their parties while stoking resentment for their political opponents. The study employs a critical discourse analysis (CDA) framework and a dataset of 175 documents, including news stories, press releases, party manifestos, and government publications. The analysis reveals that both parties resorted to strategies of positive self-presentation and negative other presentation. The NPP contrasted its regime with the NDC’s tenure and framed the NDC as a threat to FSHSP and the education of the poor and vulnerable. The NDC problematized and highlighted implementation bottlenecks while framing the NPP and FSHSP as threats to quality education. I argue that through these strategies, NPP officials aimed to maintain incumbency while NDC officials advocated a regime change. The paper concludes by emphasizing the potential risks associated with politicizing education policies.

Parent Involvement in Post-School Transition Services for Senior High School Students With Intellectual Disabilities.

Parents play a key role in the transition process of their children. After high school students with intellectual disabilities leave the school system, they need the cooperation of schools and families to ensure successful employment and independent living. A case study was conducted in a Taiwanese high school special education class, collecting data from 12 participants through interviews, documents and diaries. The results showed that active parental involvement in transition activities, strong parent-teacher partnerships, understanding of students' strengths and support from social resources were key to successful transitions. This study explored the effectiveness and difficulties of parents' participation in the post-school transition of students with intellectual disabilities from the perspectives of teachers, parents and students. Finally, it proposed the need to be the child's significant other, early participation in transition planning and joint involvement of parents and their children.

The Impact of Introducing Scientific Calculators to Junior High School Graduates on Their Academic Performance in Mathematics

Scientific calculators are commonly and widely used tools in senior high schools, offering students the ability to perform mathematical calculations faster and more efficiently. This study aimed to investigate the Impact of Scientific Calculators usage on Junior High School graduates Performance in Mathematics. The study was purely quantitative hence data was collected through survey questionnaires and a mathematics achievement test. The study's accessible population size and sample size consisted of 280 and 162 respectively. The sample of 162 students was selected using a systematic random sampling method. Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics, a simple linear regression model, and a paired sample t-test. The study found a significant difference in students' test scores before and after the use of scientific calculators, t (162) = 17.199, p &lt; .001, leading to a rejection of the null hypothesis. Additionally, a significant correlation was found between calculator usage and students' achievement test scores, F (162) = 24.614; p &lt; .001. Based on these findings, the study recommended that the Ghana Education Service consider allowing and granting permission to schools to incorporate the use of scientific calculators into the teaching and learning of mathematics at the junior high level. This would enhance students' mathematics learning and academic performance. Furthermore, teachers at the senior high school level should introduce enrolled junior high school graduates in Form One to the proper and efficient use of scientific calculators. Students should be taught how to use calculators to solve simple mathematical questions, which would facilitate effective teaching and learning of mathematics

PUBLIC SPEAKING ANXIETY DURING ORAL PRESENTATION: FACTORS AFFECTING AND HOW STUDENTS OVERCOME IT

The main focus in this research is to investigate the factors affecting public speaking anxiety among students during oral presentation and to explore students’ strategies to overcome public speaking anxiety. The participants in this this case study research are 2nd grade of senior high school students at Daruttaqwien Islamic Boarding School. This research utilizes observation and interview to explore more deeply about factors causing public speaking anxiety and students’ strategies to overcome it during oral presentation. The results of this research found that the students experienced various factors affecting public speaking anxiety such as lack of confidence, language factor, grammar factor, pronunciation factor, and peer factor. Meanwhile, the students’ strategies in overcoming public speaking anxiety were think positively, preparation, practice, and deal with audience. Hopefully, the results of this study can be helpful as a reference for students and teachers in order to aware about public speaking anxiety, so the approach for overcoming public speaking anxiety can be found simultaneously.

Madrasah Principal Management in the Development of Human Resources of Senior High Schools in Jambi

Madrasah Principal Management in the Development of Human Resources of Senior High Schools in Jambi

Perbedaan Efikasi Diri Siswa Dari Lingkungan Keluarga Wirausaha dan Keluarga Non Wirausaha Pada Siswa Kelas XI di SMA Negeri 3 Gorontalo

This research aimed to determine the differences in self-efficacy between students with entrepreneurial family environments and non-entrepreneurial family backgrounds. This research adopted a quantitative approach with a comparative research method. Data collection techniques included observation, questionnaires, and documentation among Class XI students at SMA Negeri (State Senior High School) 3 Gorontalo, with a sample size of 40 respondents. Data analysis techniques involved descriptive statistical analysis and inferential statistical analysis. The research findings indicate differences in self-efficacy between students with entrepreneurial family backgrounds and non-entrepreneurial family backgrounds in Class XI of SMA Negeri 3 Goroutalo. In detail, the difference is noticeable in catrepreneurial families, which tend to have higher levele of self-efficacy than students from non-entrepreneurial families. In other words, the difference in self- efficacy between students with entrepreneurial and non-entrepreneurial families is not coincidental but considered statistically significant. This condition suggests that the entrepreneurial family background significantly influences students' self- efficacy development compared to the non-entrepreneurial family background.

Students’ Perception of the Use of Cartoon Movie as a Media in Learning Vocabulary at Senior High School

The purpose of this study is to analyse students’ perceptions of the use of cartoon films as a medium in vocabulary learning. The subjects in this study were 36 students in the tenth grade of SMA Negeri 10 Gowa for the 2023/2024 school year using purposive sampling techniques. This study used a qualitative descriptive method. The data collection techniques in this study were interviews and field records. The data analysis techniques used in this study were reducing data, displaying data, and drawing conclusions. Based on the study results, it was shown that the respondents used three aspects of perception, namely the cognitive aspect, the affective aspect and the conative aspect. Of the three aspects, there were two dominant aspects, namely the cognitive and the affective aspects. The results of students’ perceptions show that the use of cartoon movies as a medium in vocabulary learning is very good because students get a lot of new vocabulary, students became aware of word pronunciation and correct word writing, become more happy to learn English, more enthusiastic to learn and remember a lot of new vocabulary.

Perception, Attitude, and Treatment Behaviour of The Community Towards Mental Disorders in Banyumas Raya

Introduction: The stigma associated with mental disorders continues to have negative value in Indonesian society, which can influence treatment decisions. This project is aimed at evaluating the public’s perceptions, attitudes, and behavior toward treatment of mental disorders in Banyumas Raya. Methods: This was a quantitative cross-sectional study with 410 respondents who had completed questionnaires on mental health perceptions (Mental Health Knowledge Schedule, MAKS), attitude assessment (the Community Attitudes toward Mental Illness, CAMI), and behavior of choosing traditional treatment or medical treatment in October–November 2022. A descriptive analysis was used, and the relationship was assessed using the chi-square test. Result: Descriptive analysis reveals that 273 (66.6%) respondents live in Banyumas, 167 (40.7%) are senior high school graduates, and 175 (42.7%) have an income of Rp. 1,000,000-Rp. 3,000,000. Bivariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between knowledge and behavior (p&lt;0.05; CI. OR: 0.251). Conclusion: Respondents with a high level of knowledge are more likely to engage in medical behavior.

Examining In-service Senior High School English Teachers’ Perspectives on Corpus Use and the Effects of Corpus Training

Given the benefits of incorporating corpora into language learning, particularly in developing students’ abilities to observe and analyze language data, this study investigated Taiwanese in-service senior high school English teachers’ corpus literacy, their application of corpus tools in teaching, and the effects of an online corpus workshop. Conducted in two stages, the first involved collecting 151 teachers’ perceptions of corpus literacy and its applications from 141 schools across Taiwan. The second stage invited teachers across Taiwan to participate in an online corpus workshop, where corpus-based teaching and two tools (SKELL and Sketch Engine) were introduced, along with hands-on activities. Following the workshop, the participants completed a post-survey. The analysis of the pre-survey responses revealed a positive attitude toward but limited understanding of corpus use among teachers before attending the workshop. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank test, used to analyze the pre- and post-survey responses, showed significant improvements in the teachers’ corpus literacy and application skills after the workshop. The findings of this study offer valuable insights into corpus use among in-service teachers in various contexts. Future research should explore the further integration of corpus tools into classrooms and include in-depth interviews for more comprehensive insights.

Mathematical Skills and General Mathematics Performance of Grade 11 Students in a Public National High School in Southern Negros Occidental, Philippines

Mathematical skills are essential tools that form the foundation for understanding complex concepts in mathematics relevant to our daily lives. General Mathematics is considered a core subject in the senior high school curriculum. This study investigated the mathematical skills and General Mathematics performance of Grade 11 students at a public National High School in southern Negros Occidental, Philippines. Researchers analyzed the relationship between these skills and academic performance, considering potential differences between sexes and academic strands. Using statistical methods like the Kruskal-Wallis test and Spearman's correlation, the study found students demonstrated approaching proficient mathematical skills but only developing-level General Mathematics performance. Significant differences in verbal skills were observed between academic strands, while nonverbal skills varied by both sex and strand. Crucially, a strong correlation emerged between mathematical skills and overall performance in General Mathematics.

Differences in Career Decision Making Self Efficacy (CDMSE) Between Men and Women in Generation Z

The current phenomenon shows that teenagers often need more confidence in making career decisions. This study aimed to identify differences in the level of Career Decision Making Self-Efficacy (CDMSE) between male and female students in Senior High School (SMA). The type of research used was quantitative and used a comparative method. The population of this study was 640 students in grades XI and XII in high school. The sample of this study was 200 students taken using a random sampling technique. The method used in collecting data was a questionnaire. The instrument used was the CDMSES-SF scale developed by N.E. Betz. The data analysis technique used in this study was non-parametric analysis with the Mann-Whitney test. The results obtained from the data analysis showed significant differences in the level of CDMSE between male and female students. Male students have higher CDMSE than female students. For male students, special attention is needed on the planning and goal selection aspects, while for female students, it is on the planning aspect. These results suggest that male and female students need different approaches to career guidance, especially in planning and goal selection.

Project-based learning: Does it improve students’ ICT literacy skills and English learning autonomy?

This study aims to investigate and disclose the integration of project-based learning in promoting high school students' ICT literacy and English learning autonomy in Ruteng, Indonesia. This study surveyed 595 students from six senior high schools in Ruteng City. The questionnaire and interview served as the primary instruments for data collection, followed by quantitative and qualitative examination of the results using Jeffreys' Amazing Statistics Program. The results of the study indicate that the level of ICT literacy among the students falls in the medium category (3.5), and English learning autonomy was included in the medium category (3.32). Sixteen statements of ICT literacy competence indicated the category of ICT literacy competence, while ten items indicated English learning autonomy. In addition, five factors challenged the respondents' achievement of ICT literacy, namely, lack of enthusiasm and initiative of students regarding digital media literacy (61.59%), lack of cost of purchasing Internet data packages (71.20%), insufficient time allocated for using specific English learning software (59.48%), unstable Internet network connectivity (58.27%), and lack of available ICT infrastructure in schools (58.33%). Various issues hinder the level at which students could acquire ICT skills, and stakeholders are encouraged to address or overcome these obstacles.

Tapping into family power: Enhancing English learning for Chinese children in Banda Aceh through parental involvement

Learning English at an early age is believed to lead to a significant improvement in children's language skills. Parental involvement is thought to have a positive influence on children's development in learning English as a second/foreign language. A preliminary study found that Chinese parents are actively involved in helping their children learn English. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the types of parental involvement of Chinese parents and their roles in helping their children learn English in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. The focus of this study is on six types of parental involvement (parenting, communicating, volunteering, supervising children's learning at home, decision making, and collaborating with the community) and five roles of parents (motivators, models, facilitators, sources of knowledge, and coordinators) in children's education as proposed by Epstein (2011). The participants of this study are ten Chinese parents, seven mothers and three fathers, who have enrolled their children for early English language learning in one of the private courses in Banda Aceh, Indonesia. This study used a qualitative approach and was conducted through interviews. The findings show that Chinese parents engage in four types of parental involvement: parenting, communication, monitoring children's learning at home, and decision making. They also fulfil five parental roles in their children's language learning: motivators, models, facilitators, knowledge sources and coordinators. As this study focuses on parental involvement in children's English learning at primary school level, it is suggested that further research should aim to examine parental involvement in children's English learning at different levels of education, such as middle school or senior high school.

Career Track and Course Preference of Freshmen Students of MSU Main Campus: Its Influence to Student Monitoring System

The noteworthy development in the Philippine Education system making Filipinos ready for the 21st century skills is the emergence of K-12 Program. It made students nowadays essentially set to select a specialization as early as in their senior high school. This study was undertaken to determine the factors that influenced the choice of career track as well as college course preference and examine its level of influence to student monitoring system. Three hundred thirty-seven (337) freshmen students who belonged to the pioneering K-12 graduates enrolled during the first semester of school year 2018-2019 participated in the study, which made use of cross-sectional survey research design using quantitative - descriptive approach in its data interpretation. Results implied that a typical freshman student is female, nineteen (19) years of age coming from a family earning below Php10, 000 per month. This student came from the Academic Track particularly in the Accountancy and Business Management (ABM) strand. This was inspired by their own personal choice and subsequently pursued a college course in line with it. This highly influenced the school monitoring in terms of student retention in the program and program completion on time while it moderately influenced on the Scholarship maintenance.

Enhancing students’ pro-environmental behavior through project-based learning

The waste problem that continues to increase throughout the pandemic shows that humans are still carrying out activities that only benefit themselves without caring about nature. This destructive behavior can be changed through an educational process that increases pro-environmental behavior. The purpose of this study is to determine the effectiveness of the project-based learning model implementation of high school students on environmental change material to improve students’ pro-environmental behavior. The method used is quasi-experimental using the Discovery Learning model in the control class and the Project Based Learning model in the experimental class. This research was conducted at a senior high school in Jakarta. The research sample consisted of 60 students who were selected by random sampling with 30 students in each class. The pro-environment behavior instrument was adapted from Kasier and Wilson consisted of 40 statements. Data analysis used t-test and the results showed a significance value of 0.002. It can be concluded that using project-based learning model can improve the pro-environmental behavior of high school students. The N-Gain test was also carried out, and turns out the effectiveness of the learning model in both classes was low. This can be happened because teachers are still not used to the Project Based Learning model. In the future, it is still necessary to conduct research involving other factors that affect pro-environmental behavior in the application of learning in schools.

Enhancing high school human evolution education: Harnessing “sapiens: a brief history of humankind” as an effective learning resource

Understanding human evolution can be challenging for students and may lead to misconceptions, often stemming from the learning materials employed. Current learning resources commonly include textbooks, images, and the internet. The popular science book "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind" offers potential as an educational tool for teaching human evolution. This study aims to assess the suitability of "Sapiens" for high school Biology education and its potential as a resource for teaching human evolution in senior high school. Employing a qualitative descriptive method with a content analysis approach, data is gathered through documentation techniques. Primary data is derived from the documentation and content analysis of "Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind." Data analysis follows the model proposed by Miles and Huberman (1983), encompassing data reduction, presentation, and conclusion drawing. The findings indicate that the book effectively addresses 7 out of 9 (77.78%) sub-topics of human evolution commonly taught in high school Biology. Importantly, the book replaces outdated terms like Pithecantropus and Megantropus paleojavanicus, found in traditional textbooks. Moreover, the book fulfills the five criteria for selecting learning resources as outlined by Djohar (1987). Consequently, "Sapiens" can serve as a valuable learning resource for high school Biology, particularly regarding the study of human evolution.

Exploring the Types and Causes of Pauses in Students’ English Oral Presentations

This study examines the types and causes of pauses in students’ English presentations at a Senior High School in Gorontalo, Indonesia, with a focus on understanding how pauses affect fluency in public speaking. Drawing on Schroeder and Sonderegger (2014), the study explores the relationship between pause occurrence and speech rate in both spontaneous dialogues and read speech. The study provides insights into how pauses function in natural speech and the factors that influence their frequency and type. Specifically, it categorizes pauses into two primary types: silent pauses and filled pauses. This research analyzes the frequency and nature of pauses during classroom presentations. The study involved ten 12th-grade students, who were observed during their presentations, with data collected through audio recordings, questionnaires, and direct observations. The findings revealed a total of 84 pauses, with 45 silent pauses and 39 filled pauses. Silent pauses were more frequent, often resulting from students struggling to recall words or organizing their thoughts. The study identified several factors contributing to pauses, including nervousness, concerns about grammar, and lack of vocabulary. The results suggest that pauses are not only a natural aspect of speaking but also indicative of underlying psychological and linguistic challenges. This research has implications for language instruction, highlighting the importance of addressing anxiety, improving vocabulary, and reinforcing grammar to help students enhance their fluency and confidence in public speaking.

Development of Assessment Instruments with a Contextual Approach to Determine the Profile of Conservation Education and Learning Independence on Biodiversity

Conservation education is one of the noble values that must be preserved and students can maintain the sustainability of biodiversity around them. This study aimed to develop an assessment instrument to determine the profile of conservation education and learning independence on biodiversity. This type of research is R D with a 4-D model. The population of the study is all students of grade 10 of State Senior High School 1 Godean and the samples used are grade 10D and 10F. The data collection technique used a five-question essay instrument sheet to determine conservation education and a Guttman scale questionnaire instrument to determine learning independence. The analysis technique used descriptive quantitative and qualitative. The results of this study were that the instrument was said to be good with revisions according to the construct validator. The validity of the question items showed that the essay questions were said to be valid, reliable, had a discriminatory power between good enough, and the difficulty level ranged from easy to moderate according to the empirical validator. The value of students' conservation education fell into the good category with a complete value achievement of 73%. Students' learning independence is also classified as very high, because all indicators are dominated by very high indicators. These results indicate that the profile of conservation education and learning independence of students at State Senior High School 1 Godean is classified as good and very high