Higher Secondary School Research Articles

Perception of Infant Feeding among Urban Educated Women

Introduction: Despite of high prevalence of breast feeding practices among mothers, infant feeding pattern is not ideal in our country. Short duration of exclusive breast feeding and inappropriate feeding for newborn and infant are common in both urban and rural areas of Bangladesh. Objectives: To explore the perceptions on breastmilk, pre lacteal feeding, complementary feeding and infant feeding among medical and non-medical female students of urban area and to compare their perceptions. Materials and Methods: This cross sectional study was done at Bangladesh Medical College (BMC), Dhanmondi, Dhaka and Hazrat Shah Ali Women University College (HSAWUC), Mirpur, Dhaka from December 2015 to May 2016 and study populations were 100 of which 50 from female medical students of BMC and 50 from female non-medical students of HSAWUC. Data were collected by random sampling as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data was compiled manually and analyzed by statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 22. Results: Majority of study population were unmarried (88%), most of them were in 21-25 years age group (77%) and a high number among them had crossed higher secondary school level (84%). Comparison of perceptions between medical and non-medical students students of both institutions regarding knowledge of first feed of a newborn, pre lacteal feeds and its importance; time of initiation of breast feeding and harmful effect of bottle feeding showed differences which were statistically significant (P<0.05). The female medical students had relatively better perceptions regarding infant feeding. Conclusions: Although perceptions on infant feeding were more correct among medical students, incorrect perceptions on infant feeding still present in both medical and nonmedical students which is alarming. Sir Salimullah Med Coll J 2023; 31: 86-93

Effectiveness of educational intervention on prevention of junk food consumption and its ill effects among obese children in selected schools

The present study assessed the effectiveness of educational interventions on the prevention of junk food consumption and its ill effects among obese children in selected schools Pre-experimental one group pre-test post-test research design adopted for this study. The study was conducted at R.C. Higher Secondary School, Sendivakkam, K.V.S Secondary School in Kadapakkam, and G.V.R Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Kadapakkam, in Kancheepuram district. The target population was school going children obese children (aged between 9 and 12 years) based on their BMI. The sample size was 100 obese children, used for Non probability purposive sampling technique. Pre-test knowledge was assessed, providing educational intervention on the prevention of junk food consumption and its ill effects, and post-test knowledge was assessed. There was statistical significance between the pre-test and post-test mean knowledge score, with the‘t’ value of 33.47 was compared with the table value at the level (P<0.001). It implies that the educational intervention provided by the investigator was effective and showed improvement in the level of knowledge of obese children.

Scale Development Study for Willingness to Obtain Legal Power

The main purpose of the research is to develop a valid and reliable scale for the perception of the desire to obtain legal authority in education administration. The sampling of the research consists of 390 education administrators and teachers with different statuses. Using the easily accessible sampling technique, the types of official primary, secondary and different high schools in the central province of Van were determined. The scale draft was applied to the education administrators and teachers determined by using the purposeful cluster sampling method. The data were analyzed with descriptive statistical analysis methods. Validity analyzes and reliability analyzes of the obtained data were made. As a result of the analysis, the scale consisted of 4 factors and 32 items, and item factor loads consisted of values between “.61” and “.87”. It was determined that the resulting factors explained the perception of obtaining legal power by 77.46%. The fit index values of the scale reveals that the scale provides construct validity. While the scale's internal consistency coefficient was found to be ".95", the test-retest reliability coefficient was determined as ".92". The findings show that the developed scale can be used as a measurement tool with its validity and reliability.

Challenges and Job Satisfaction of Higher Secondary School Teachers in Kerala

Higher secondary teachers play a significant role in shaping the careers of students. The higher secondary course serves as the bridge between general education and higher education. The development and success of an educational institution, as well as the students, depend on the performance and satisfaction of the teachers. This study aims to examine the job satisfaction of higher secondary school teachers in Kerala. This research is qualitative in nature and a structured interview schedule is used for collecting the data, The study is important because only satisfied teachers can produce healthy and high-quality students for the nation's development. When a teacher is dissatisfied, it can directly or indirectly affect their job performance. The study's findings indicate that the majority of teachers are dissatisfied with various aspects of job satisfaction, including promotion, physical facilities, workload, transfer norms, and the lack of clerical staff, among other factors.

Analysis of mental health status and related factors in patients with acute cerebral infarction.

Acute cerebral infarction (ACI) is characterized by a high incidence of morbidity, disability, recurrence, death and heavy economic burden, and has become a disease of concern in global researchers. As ACI has serious effects on patients' physical status, life and economy, often causing anxiety, depression and other psychological problems, these problems can lead to the aggravation of physical symptoms; thus, it is very important to understand the factors affecting the mental health of these patients. To understand the elements that affect the mental health of patients who have suffered an ACI. A questionnaire survey was conducted among patients with ACI admitted to three tertiary hospitals (Quanzhou First Hospital, Fuqing City Hospital Affiliated to Fujian Medical University, and the 900 Hospital of the Joint Service Support Force of the People's Liberation Army of China) in Fujian Province from January 2022 to December 2022 using the convenience sampling method. ACI inpatients who met the inclusion criteria were selected. Informed consent was obtained from the patients before the investigation, and a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted using a unified scale. The questionnaire included a general situation questionnaire, Zung's self-rating depression scale and Zung's self-rating anxiety scale. All questionnaires were checked by two researchers and then the data were input and sorted using Excel software. The general situation of patients with ACI was analyzed by descriptive statistics, the influence of variables on mental health by the independent sample t test and variance analysis, and the influencing factors on psychological distress were analyzed by multiple stepwise regression. The average age of the 220 patients with ACI was 68.64 ± 10.74 years, including 142 males and 78 females. Most of the patients were between 60 and 74 years old, the majority had high school or technical secondary school education, most lived with their spouse, and most lived in cities. The majority of patients had a personal income of 3001 to 5000 RMB yuan per month. The new rural cooperative medical insurance system had the largest number of participants. Most stroke patients were cared for by their spouses and of these patients, 52.3% had previously smoked. Univariate analysis showed that gender, age, residence, course of disease, number of previous chronic diseases and smoking history were the main factors affecting the anxiety scores of patients with ACI. Age, living conditions, monthly income, course of disease and knowledge of disease were the primary variables influencing the depression score in patients with ACI. The findings of multivariate analysis revealed that the course of disease and gender were the most important factors influencing patients' anxiety scores, and the course of disease was also the most important factor influencing patients' depression scores. Long disease course and female patients with ACI were more likely to have psychological problems such as a high incidence of emotional disorders. These groups require more attention and counseling.

UTILIZATION OF ICT IN TEACHING MATHEMATICS IN PUBLIC SECONDARY SCHOOLS AT SAN MATEO, ISABELA

This study aimed to assess the current levels of use of Information Communication and technology (ICT) equipment in San Mateo, Isabela to gain a deeper understanding on the effect of ICT in learning mathematics. Descriptive research design was utilized in the conduct of the study to finds out the respondent’s perception of the availability of technological gadgets and its effect in teaching mathematics in public secondary high school in San Mateo, Isabela. Mean and ranking were used to gain understanding on the impact of using modern gadgets to assist teachers in teaching secondary mathematics. The study revealed that most teachers are somewhat familiar with using technological tools or equipment’s due to the fact that majority of the respondents have a mid- range socio economic status. The data from the study also shows that the selected public schools in San Mateo, Isabela have adequate and often used ICT equipment in teaching mathematics and this greatly affects the effectivity of the used of ICT in teaching Mathematics. Hence, the study showed problems in the implementation of ICT in teaching Mathematics, particularly the deficiencies in the number of computers in labs. To improve this study, there should be continuous support in improving Mathematics program in terms of expanded activities. Teachers should provide an environment of discovery to engage the students in Math exploration and promotion of advocacy that supports the utilization of ICT in teaching mathematics like benchmarking and brainstorming, wide dissemination, and implementation on the used of ICT in teaching mathematics.

Dental caries and associated factors in 7-, 12- and 15-year-old schoolchildren in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland: Changes in caries experience from 1992 to 2021.

Epidemiological surveys in schoolchildren are used to assess the current status of oral health. To investigate the changes in caries experience among schoolchildren in the canton of Basel-Landschaft, Switzerland, over a period of three decades. Secondary objectives were to evaluate the impact of various personal and demographic factors such as age group, place of residence or dental hygiene awareness on caries prevalence as well as the history of orthodontic treatment in the year 2021. A random sampling of school classes from first, sixth and ninth grades, that is schoolchildren aged 7, 12 and 15 years, was performed. Children's dmft and DMFT scores were determined according to the WHO methodology while information on oral hygiene habits and dental prophylaxis awareness was collected by means of a questionnaire directed to the legal guardians of the children. Individual logistic regressions were performed to identify possible influencing factors for caries. A total of 1357 schoolchildren could be included in the study. In the year 2021, the youngest age group had an average of 0.68 primary teeth that needed treatment, whereas the 12- and 15-year-olds each had approximately 0.3 permanent teeth requiring treatment. While these numbers remained constant over the examination period of three decades, most of the other caries indices improved. Younger children (p = .001) and children with a migrant background (p < .001) were found to be risk groups. Orthodontic treatment was more frequent in females, schoolchildren of Swiss nationality and children attending higher secondary schools at ninth grade. This study demonstrated that even in a country with a low prevalence of caries experience, untreated carious lesions remain a problem as their prevalence remained unchanged over the examination period of three decades.

Türkiye’de İngilizceyi Yabancı Dil Olarak Öğrenenlerin Yabancı Dil Benlik Sistemlerinin Kesitsel Desenle İncelenmesi

This paper reports the findings of a research, with a twofold aim of investigating L2 motivational self system of Turkish EFL learners and exploring how the constructs of this model interact with each other. To this end, we conducted a mixed methods research with 1168 participants from three populations of Turkish EFL learners, secondary school, high school and university students. The findings show that the tripartite mode of L2 motivational self system explains the Turkish EFL learners’ language learning motivation and that the constructs of this model contribute towards the language learning motivation following different paths for the three groups of learners from secondary school, high school and university. To investigate the possible changes these constructs undergo over time, language learning motivation trajectories of individual learners were also explored. The findings show that there is a dynamic interplay among these constructs. The findings also indicate patterns and emergence of attractor states in these interactions. Finally, it is found that the attractor states themselves also undergo changes over the learners’ trajectories, shaping whilst being shaped by the components of L2 motivational self system.

Study of Secondary and Higher Secondary School Syllabi in India to Develop Engineering Thinking

Abstract: In this article, the authors explore and understand what constitutes engineering thinking and whether secondary and higher secondary school curricula in India empower students to make an informed decision regarding engineering as a career choice. To analyse the elements of engineering thinking, the principles of K12 level engineering by t he Na t io nal Aca demy of E nginee ri ng a nd Engineering Habits of Mind (EHoM) by the Royal Academy of Engineering are referred to. The syllabi of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and four Indian states (Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka) are studied, which reveal that CBSE includes only one element of EHoM (creative problem-solving) in higher secondary grade curriculum. The syllabi of four Indian states revealed that the principles identified by the National Academy of Engineering (NAE) are missing in both grades. As an exception, the syllabus of Maharashtra has a creative problem-solving element in class-12 of higher secondary grades. The authors believe that introducing engineering thinking in schools will empower students to choose engineering as a career. Keywords: Engineering habits of mind, Engineering thinking, Indian school curriculum, STEM, secondary and higher secondary school

The Prevalence of Stress, Anxiety and Depression Among School Going Adolescents Following Covid Pandemic

Background: COVID-19 pandemic and the lockdown which were its consequences have resulted in both short-term and long-term implications in mental health of adolescents. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of stress, anxiety, and depression among students in the post-COVID period and its risk factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 students studying grades 9–12 in government high schools and higher secondary schools in a city in South India in October and November 2021. A self-administered questionnaire containing socio-demographic data and DASS-21 scale was used. The outcome variable, namely prevalence of stress, anxiety and depression was expressed in proportion with a 95% confidence interval. The relation between an outcome variable and socio-demographic variables was determined by a chi-square test and p value &lt;.05 was considered significant. Results: Mean (standard deviation) age was 15.76 (1.104) years and 50.7% were boys. The prevalence (95% confidence interval) of stress, anxiety and depression were 30.3% (25.18–35.88), 47.3% (41.57–53.15) and 56.7% (50.85–62.35), respectively. Maternal illiteracy was significantly associated with stress and depression ( p &lt; .5). Conclusion: Consequent to the COVID-19 pandemic, almost one-third of school-going adolescents aged 14–18 years’ experience stress and almost half of them experience anxiety and depression which is comparable to that observed before the onset of this pandemic.

Analyzing the Impact of Student’s Reading Habits on Academic Performance

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the reading habits of students and their impact on their academic achievements. The study was conducted within the confines of District Dera Ghazi Khan, specifically focusing on high and higher secondary schools. Employing a qualitative approach, data was collected and analyzed. The results were derived from interviews conducted with six students, serving as a basis for the findings. The research revealed that the majority of the participants recognized the significance of reading, engaging in both scientific literature and fictional works such as stories and novels. Notably, only one student admitted to reading solely with the intention of passing examinations. These outcomes firmly establish the substantial influence of reading habits on academic performance, illustrating a clear correlation between the two. In light of these findings, it is recommended that teachers encourage students to utilize the library for reading purposes and assign additional reading material to foster a stronger reading habit among students

Effect of Structured Teaching and Demonstration on Knowledge regarding Basic Life Support among Higher Secondary Students

The present study was aimed to assess the effect of structured teaching and demonstration on knowledge regarding Basic Life Support among higher secondary students in selected school of Kottayam. The objectives of the study were to assess the knowledge of higher Secondary students regarding Basic Life Support, determine the effect of structured teaching and demonstration programme on knowledge of higher secondary students regarding Basic Life Support and find the association between pretest knowledge of higher secondary students regarding Basic Life Support with selected socio-personnel variables. The study was conducted among 30 higher secondary students of M T Seminary Higher Secondary School, Kottayam. One group pre test and post test research design was used and subjects were selected by purposive sampling. The Socio-personal variables were used to assess the sample characteristics and structured knowledge questionnaire to assess the level of knowledge regarding Basic life Support. After the pre-test on the same day a structure teaching and demonstration was delivered and the post test was conducted on the seventh day using the same tools. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The study revealed that the average pretest and post-test knowledge score was 11.4 and 20.9 respectively. The teaching programme was found to be effective in improving the knowledge (t = 13.69p&lt; 0.05) regarding Basic Life Support. There was no significant association between pre-test knowledge of higher secondary students regarding Basic Life Support and socio personal variables. Hence the study concluded that the knowledge regarding Basic Life Support among higher Secondary students could be improved by structured teaching and demonstration.

Identification of Problems Faced By School Teachers due to Extra Duties

Teachers play a crucial role in society by providing knowledge and guidance to future generations. In Pakistan, teachers often face extra responsibilities such as election, polio vaccination, and administrative tasks, which negatively impact their students' academic performance. This research investigates the impact of extra duties on teaching practices in Tehsil Chak Jhumra, Faisalabad. A descriptive survey method was used, with 130 teachers from government secondary and higher secondary schools selected through cluster sampling. Teachers' challenges were identified using a questionnaire, with validity confirmed by expert opinions and reliability tested through pilot trials using SPSS. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22. The study's obtained data was analysed utilising statistical tools such as frequency, average, mean, and standard deviation. The study suggested that teachers should only participate in additional responsibilities that are fairly compensated and align with their interests to ensure that their educational effectiveness remains unaffected.

INTERNET ADDICTION AND ITS EFFECTS ON LIFE STYLE OF THE ADOLESCENTS

Introduction:- Adolescence is a period of the lifecycle when individuals are managing multiple and complex developmental tasks. Negative impact of internet addiction which effects adolescent’s behavior, academics, working performance, family life, social relationships, physical health, and psychological well being. Statement of the Problem: “A study to assess the effectiveness of Structured Teaching Programme (STP) regarding internet addiction and its effects on life style of the adolescents at selected schools of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Methodology:-Quantitative approach was adopted and pre experimental one group pre- test and post-test study design was used. Multistage Stratified Simple Random Sampling technique was used to select the 1080 adolescents from selected urban private English medium Co. Ed higher secondary schools of Bhopal. Self Structured Questionnaires was used to collect the data and Structured Teaching Program (STP) was administered. Data analysis was done by Frequency and percentage distribution for socio demographic variables. Chi Square test was used to find out the association between pre-test knowledge and socio demographic variables. The Paired T Test was used to find the difference between pre test and post test knowledge. Statistical analysis of data done by using SPSS 20.0 Software. Results:- Results of the study revealed that majority of the variables like age, class, monthly family income and family type are significantly associated with pre test level of knowledge regarding internet addiction &amp; its effects on life style of the adolescents. Pre-test knowledge regarding internet addiction prior to the administration of STP 543(50.3%) almost half of the participants had poor knowledge, 528(48.9%) had average knowledge and only 09(0.8%) had good knowledge. Post test knowledge regarding internet addiction after administration of STP 60 (5.6 %) had average knowledge and majority 1020 (94.4%) had good knowledge. The mean pre test knowledge score was 8.4481 (S.D = 2.39769) and mean post-test knowledge score was 18.6889 (S.D = 1.962245). Findings of comparison between pre- test and post-test knowledge regarding internet addiction &amp; its effects on life style of the adolescents indicated highly significant (&lt;0.0001*) difference. Conclusion:- The study findings highlighted that pre test and post test knowledge of participants having highly significant (&lt;0.0001*) difference .Based on the findings this study concluded that majority of the adolescents knowledge improved after STP regarding internet addiction &amp; its effects on life style of the adolescents.

ADOLESCENT-PARENT COMMUNICATION ON SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS OF TOKHA MUNICIPALITY, NEPAL : A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Background: As compared to other age groups, adolescents are more vulnerable to sexual and reproductive health issues. Parents can become protective and influencing factors for their children to prevent risky sexual behavior. Purpose: This study aimed to assess adolescent-parent communication on sexual and reproductive health and its associated factors. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study among 212 adolescents aged 15–19 in higher secondary schools of Tokha Municipality. A self-administered structured modified questionnaire to assess the communication used the Weighted Topics Measure of Family Sexual Communication tool with a simple random sampling technique. Descriptive statistical analysis and chi-square tests were used to analyze data and assess the association between variables. Data quality was assured through careful questionnaire design, pretesting, and training. Results: The study found that 75.9% of adolescents had communicated on sexual and reproductive health (SRH) topics with their parents, 24.1% never communicated, 47.2% seldom communicated on SRH topics, followed by sometimes (23.6%) and often (5.2%), respectively. Adolescent-parent communication on SRH was significantly associated with the level of knowledge regarding sexual and reproductive health (ꭓ2 = 5.809, p-value = 0.01, df = 1). Similarly, there was a significant association with the perceived parenting style (ꭓ2 =3.932, p-value =0.04, df =1), living arrangements (ꭓ2 =6.376, p-value=0.01, df =1), and adolescent-parent communication. Conclusion: It concluded that adolescent-parent communication on SRH issues is not satisfactory. Creating an adolescent-friendly environment at home and conducting awareness programs with the help of the local government of the respective schools would help to increase adolescent-parent communication.

A Cultural Transformation: Pakistani Girls Outperforming Boys in Education

In this paper, we highlight and present a nuanced picture of girls’ outperformance and boys’ underperformance in education in the urban centres of Pakistan. This is a very interesting and remarkable gender reverse trend in education performance in the dominated socio-cultural context of Pakistan. The paper takes into account the annual results of two examination boards: a) Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Peshawar and b) Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) Faisalabad, Pakistan. Employing content analysis techniques, we have examined young boys’ and girls’ educational performance in secondary school certificate (SSC) and higher secondary schools certificate (HSSC) examinations from 2002 to 2016. The paper takes into account the first three positions as an indicator of outperformance. The paper simply highlights the trend of structure transformation and does not inquire about reasons for boys’ underperformance and girls’ outperformance. The study findings suggest that girls are outperforming boys in the urban centres of Pakistan.

A retrospective cohort study of case fatality rate of HIV/AIDS cases and influencing factors in Jingzhou, Hubei Province, 1996-2021

Objective: To analyze the case fatality rate of HIV/AIDS cases and influencing factors in Jingzhou. Methods: The data were retrieved from HIV/AIDS Comprehensive Response Information System and the cases diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in Jingzhou during 1996-2021 and aged 15 years or older were selected for the study. The death curve was drawn with Kaplan-Meier method, and Cox proportional-hazards model was used to identify influencing factors for death. Results: A total of 3 304 HIV/AIDS cases were followed up for 16 091.5 person-years, and 893 cases died, with a case fatality rate of 5.5/100 person-years. The cumulative case fatality rates of 1, 5 and 10 years were 15.4%, 25.0% and 34.6% respectively, the cumulative case fatality rates of 1, 5 and 10 years were 6.9%, 14.4% and 23.7% in the cases with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 68.0%, 90.1% and 98.7% in the cases without access to ART. The results of Cox proportional hazards regression model showed that the risk for death was higher in those without access to ART than in those with access to ART (aHR=9.85, 95%CI: 8.19-11.85). The risk factors for death in those with access to ART included being men (aHR=1.64, 95%CI: 1.29-2.08), age ≥60 years old at diagnosis (aHR=3.52, 95%CI: 2.38-5.20), being infected by injecting drug use/others (aHR=2.38, 95%CI:1.30-4.34), being detected by medical institution (aHR=1.53, 95%CI: 1.11-2.11), CD4+T lymphocytes(CD4) counts <50 cells/μl (aHR=2.58, 95%CI: 1.87-3.58). The protective factor for death was high education level (high school and technical secondary school: aHR=0.64,95%CI:0.46-0.90; college and above: aHR=0.42, 95%CI: 0.24-0.73). The risk factors for HIV/AIDS death in those without access to ART included older age at diagnosis (30-44 years old: aHR=2.32, 95%CI: 1.40-3.84; 45-59 years old:aHR=2.61, 95%CI: 1.59-4.27; ≥60 years old: aHR=3.31, 95%CI: 2.01-5.47), lower CD4 counts (<50 cells/μl: aHR=10.47, 95%CI: 6.47-16.56; 50-199 cells/μl: aHR=2.31, 95%CI: 1.08-4.94; 200-349 cells/μl: aHR=2.35, 95%CI: 1.46-3.79). Conclusions: The case fatality rate of HIV/AIDS was relatively high in Jingzhou from 1996 to 2021, the first CD4 counts, ART and age at diagnosis were the major factors affecting HIV/AIDS death, "Expanding testing" and "prompt treatment upon diagnosis" should be continued and enhanced to improve the efficacy of ART and HIV/AIDS case survival.

Analyzing the Impact of Student’s Reading Habits on Academic Performance

The primary objective of this research was to investigate the reading habits of students and their impact on their academic achievements. The study was conducted within the confines of District Dera Ghazi Khan, specifically focusing on high and higher secondary schools. Employing a qualitative approach, data was collected and analyzed. The results were derived from interviews conducted with six students, serving as a basis for the findings. The research revealed that the majority of the participants recognized the significance of reading, engaging in both scientific literature and fictional works such as stories and novels. Notably, only one student admitted to reading solely with the intention of passing examinations. These outcomes firmly establish the substantial influence of reading habits on academic performance, illustrating a clear correlation between the two. In light of these findings, it is recommended that teachers encourage students to utilize the library for reading purposes and assign additional reading material to foster a stronger reading habit among students.

EFL Intermediate Students’ Attitudes towards the Impacts of Teaching Morphological Knowledge on the Degree of Lexical Complexity and the Quality of Academic Essays

Writing is usually considered the most challenging skill for the majority of students in the Vietnamese context. Several previous studies revealed that the instruction of morphological knowledge has positive impacts on expanding students’ vocabulary and indirectly improves the quality of academic writing. This current study was implemented in order to investigate EFL intermediate students’ attitudes towards the impacts of teaching morphological knowledge on the degree of lexical complexity and the quality of academic essays in the context of an English language center in the Mekong Delta. This 14-week experimental research employed the use of pre-questionnaire and post-questionnaire, with the participation of two groups of EFL intermediate students who were studying at a similar level and progress. The results indicated that EFL intermediate students in the experimental group had positive attitudes towards the impacts of teaching morphological knowledge on the degree of lexical complexity and the quality of their academic essays throughout the research period, whereas no positive changes regarding attitudes could be found within the ones in the control group. From that, several recommendations and pedagogical implications were drawn with the attempt to contribute to the innovation of teaching vocabulary and teaching writing in the context of secondary schools and high schools in the Mekong Delta.

The impact of sibling size on children’s academic performance; a case study of female high school students in Tehran

ABSTRACT The present study addressed the relationship between sibling size and children’s academic performance. One common scientific and cultural belief is that children’s academic performance declines with the increase in sibling size. However, this belief has not been subjected to empirical research in Iran. The data were collected by electronic questionnaire from 493 secondary high school female students in Tehran. The results revealed sibling size had a weak and negative relationship with the students’ academic performance. However, this relationship lost its significance after controlling for some intervening variables. As a result, it can be argued that increasing the sibling size alone does not affect the academic performance. The multiple regression indicated that the intervening variables of self-efficacy, self-esteem, time spent with parents, and school type – public or non-profit – affect academic performance. This means that instead of the number of children, policymakers should focus on modifying these effective intervening variables.