Interview Schedule Research Articles

Occupational and Environmental Health Hazards among Agriculture Laborers: An Evidence-Based Study from Punjab, Pakistan

Laborers from the agriculture sector have often been victims rather than beneficiaries of the green revolution, technological development, and globalization trends that characterized the 20th century. In recent decades, the laborers working in the agriculture sector have been half of the world’s labor force, with an estimated number of 1.3 billion worldwide, and a majority of them found in developing countries. Adequate balance between agricultural growth and protection from occupational & environmental health hazards is very crucial for the future of the world’s food production and for the sustainability of the sector. The study was conducted in three divisions of Punjab, and primary data was collected through multistage simple random sampling techniques. The interview schedule was used as a tool for data collection. The results revealed that the occupational and environmental circumstances of the laborers were not conducive towards their health and well-being. The agricultural laborers have to face many health hazards, whereas the majority of the laborers were exploited only due to their illiteracy and ignorance about Government policies and laws related to them. A huge proportion of the participants reported chronic health, malnutrition, and socio-economic problems significantly associated with their working environment, amenities and available facilities.

Occupational and Environmental Health Hazards among Agriculture Laborers: An Evidence-Based Study from Punjab, Pakistan

Laborers from the agriculture sector have often been victims rather than beneficiaries of the green revolution, technological development, and globalization trends that characterized the 20th century. In recent decades, the laborers working in the agriculture sector have been half of the world’s labor force, with an estimated number of 1.3 billion worldwide, and a majority of them found in developing countries. Adequate balance between agricultural growth and protection from occupational & environmental health hazards is very crucial for the future of the world’s food production and for the sustainability of the sector. The study was conducted in three divisions of Punjab, and primary data was collected through multistage simple random sampling techniques. The interview schedule was used as a tool for data collection. The results revealed that the occupational and environmental circumstances of the laborers were not conducive towards their health and well-being. The agricultural laborers have to face many health hazards, whereas the majority of the laborers were exploited only due to their illiteracy and ignorance about Government policies and laws related to them. A huge proportion of the participants reported chronic health, malnutrition, and socio-economic problems significantly associated with their working environment, amenities and available facilities.

Economic efficiency of small-scale wheat production in Jigawa state, Nigeria

Africa’s most populous country has failed to grow more food for its fast-rising population. With 420,000 metric tons of wheat produced in Nigeria in 2020, the country is still far from bridging its 4.6 million metric tons annual wheat gap. Increasing wheat production is a challenge for the nation to fulfill the food requirements of its growing population. So far literature has shown a rise in research on wheat in different parts of Nigeria, with a paucity of information on the economic efficiency of wheat production in the study area, and the country in general. To bridge these knowledge and empirical gaps, this research investigates the economic efficiency of wheat production in Jigawa State of Nigeria using information gathered from a survey elicited by a well-structured questionnaire coupled with an interview schedule from 341 active wheat farmers selected through a multi-stage sampling technique. Both descriptive and inferential statistics were used to analyze the data collected. Empirically, despite the wheat enterprise being profitable in the study area, farmers didn’t achieve the targeted goals of output maximization, cost minimization, and profit maximization as evident respectively by the technical, cost, and economic efficiency indexes. However, these goals were challenged by induced human risks viz. gender discrimination that affects women’s access to productive resources, poor labor productivity due to diminishing marginal returns associated with old age, capital consumption triggered by increased income, poor prioritization of wheat enterprise as a business, and vulnerable household size. Furthermore, the identified constraints mediating the links that affected the economic efficiency of wheat farmers were price/marketing, technological, managerial, and infrastructural risks. Therefore, for long-run sustainable wheat production, the responsibility lies on policymakers to concentrate more on marketing and technological risks challenging wheat production in the study area as empirically established by this research.

The association between delinquent peer affiliation and disruptive behavior interacts with functional brain correlates of reward sensitivity: a biosocial interaction study in adolescent delinquents.

Affiliating with delinquent peers may stimulate the development of antisocial behavior, especially for adolescents who are sensitive to social rewards. The current study examines whether the association between delinquent peer affiliation (DPA) and disruptive behavior interacts with functional brain correlates of reward sensitivity in early onset male adolescents delinquents. Childhood arrestees (n = 126, mean age = 17.7 [s.d. 1.6]) completed a DPA questionnaire, and participated in an fMRI study in which reward sensitivity was operationalized through responsiveness of the ventral striatum (VS), amygdala, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) during the monetary incentive delay paradigm (reward anticipation and outcome). Symptoms of disruptive behavior disorders (DBD) were assessed through structured psychiatric interviews (Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children) with adolescents. DPA had a main effect on DBD symptoms. Adolescents with high VS reward responses showed a stronger significant positive association between DPA and DBD symptoms compared to low VS responders. No evidence for an interaction effect was found for the amygdala and mPFC. Post-hoc analyses revealed the positive association between DPA and DBD was only present in males, with a diminishing effect as age increased. We found evidence for a biosocial interaction between DPA and reward sensitivity of the VS in relation to DBD symptom severity. This study provides the first evidence of an interaction effect between a brain mechanism and an environmental factor in relation to DBD symptoms, implying that susceptibility to influences of delinquent peers may intertwine with individual biological differences.

User and service provider assessment of technology readiness of library commons in selected universities in Ghana

PurposeThis study assessed the technology readiness of library commons in selected universities in Ghana from the perspectives of both clients and service providers.Design/methodology/approachA sample survey research design was used to carry out the study, and the study consisted of quantitative and qualitative approaches. The data were collected from 157 of the 430 commons’ users and six library directors/commons librarians, using a questionnaire and an interview schedule respectively. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential analysis with SPSS Ver. 22, and structural equation modelling with AMOS Ver. 23.FindingsThe study found significant relationships between the availability of learning resources and users' experience, use and satisfaction with the commons. Additionally, there were significant relationships between the readiness of the commons, users' perceptions and their satisfaction levels. The library/commons managers identified key preparedness issues, including inadequate planning and poor space allocation. Furthermore, the study revealed negative feelings among library/commons managers, such as insecurity, resistance and low confidence.Practical implicationsThe academic libraries in Ghana should evaluate their commons following the findings of this study, and use other readiness implementation tools to identify and address the gaps in their implementation of the commons.Originality/valueThis study was based on the opinions of the users and operators of the commons and focused primarily on technology-related factors. However, it is essential to evaluate other readiness factors, such as change and services, and institutional factors, using frameworks such as Hess and Ostrom’s (2005) Institutional Development Framework, to provide complementary results that can guide better implementation of the commons and improve the quality of services.

Post-COVID urban-rural difference in prevalence, patterns and predictors of self-medication: A cross-sectional study from Kerala

IntroductionThe COVID-19 pandemic led to restrictions on healthcare services, causing people to resort to self-medication without professional guidance. This study aimed to assess the self-medication practices in rural and urban areas of Ernakulam district, India exploring the prevalence patterns and predictors. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study was done from January to July 2023 among adults aged>=18 years using multistage cluster sampling, 400 urban and 240 rural participants were surveyed. Data were collected using a pre-tested structured interview schedule on demographics and three months of self-medication details. Binary logistic regression analysis was done to find out the factors associated with self-medication. ResultsSelf-medication prevalence was 56.9 % [95 % confidence interval (CI) 50.7–58.6 %], higher in rural (61.3 %, 95 % CI 54.8–67.4 %) than urban areas (50.8 %, 95 % CI 45.7–55.8 %). Fever was the primary symptom for rural self-medication (44.8 %), and headache (36 %) in urban areas (36 %). Challenges in accessing doctors led participants to self-medicate; pharmacies were the main source, and commonly used medications were antipyretics and analgesics. Adults aged≤48 years (aOR 2.31, 95 % CI 1.22–4.35, p = 0.010), those who were married (aOR 3.11, CI 1.54–6.26, p = 0.001), and belonging to below poverty line (aOR = 8.03, 95 % CI 3.14–20.54, p < 0.001) were more likely to report self-medication compared to their counter parts in rural areas. In urban areas, only younger age (aOR 3.13, 95 % CI 1.78–5.50, p < 0.001) was significant. ConclusionMore than half of the participants in urban and rural areas reported self-medication in our study. Efforts are warranted to reduce self-medication practices in the community.

Investigating cultural conflicts in everyday self-care among Chinese first-time pregnant migrants in Australia

BackgroundGiven the fast-growing migration and globalisation trends in the last decades, women increasingly experienced pregnancy as migrants and often faced complex and unique challenges related to both migration and pregnancy in a foreign land, affecting their psychological wellbeing during pregnancy. Cultural conflicts between pregnant migrants’ home and host cultures could play a critical role affecting their pregnancy experiences and psychological wellbeing. AimsThis study aimed to explore cultural conflicts that challenge Chinese first-time expectant mothers living in Australia regarding their pregnancy self-care and their psychological wellbeing. MethodA qualitative methodology was adopted utilising interpretative phenomenological analysis. Participants were 18 Chinese-born first-time pregnant migrants in Australia. A semi-structured interview schedule focused on their pregnancy self-care and psychological wellbeing and any effects of Chinese-Western/Australian cultural conflicts. FindingsTwo psychosocial approaches were identified to explain how all the participants were psychologically challenged by self-care cultural conflicts to some extent: 1) challenging decision-making processes about self-care cultural conflicts and 2) interpersonal tension if the decisions conflicted with someone's advice/beliefs/opinions. ConclusionEmotional, cognitive, and social factors were relevant in shaping the participants’ engagement with and their experiences of various pregnancy self-care activities.

Quality of Life and its sociodemographic determinants: a population-based study from rural Punjab, India

BackgroundQuality of Life (QoL) is an individual’s subjective perception of well-being within their cultural context. While most QoL studies focus on individuals with certain health conditions, factors such as sex, marital status, education, and family structure can influence QoL beyond age and health conditions. Considering the limited studies on QoL in the general Indian population, especially from rural areas, the present study aims to explore the QoL and sociodemographic factors affecting QoL among community-dwelling adults in rural Punjab.MethodsThis community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 931 individuals of both sexes (59.6% female) aged 20–75 years residing in rural areas of Mansa, Punjab, India. Sociodemographic data were collected using an interview schedule, and QoL was measured using the WHOQOL-BREF.ResultsThe overall mean QoL score was found to be 67.44 ± 14.7. The most affected QoL was in the physical domain (mean = 60.203 ± 13.49), followed by psychological (mean = 65.67 ± 18.3), social-relationship (mean = 69.88 ± 26.43), and environmental domains (mean = 74.05 ± 20.58). Adjusted logistic regression analysis revealed female sex, advanced age (age group ≥ 60 years), illiteracy, and unmarried status to be positively associated and family size of 6–10 members to be negatively associated with poor QoL.ConclusionThe study suggests that females, elderlies, illiterates, and unmarried individuals may be at a higher risk of poor QoL. Further, education and a bigger family size appear to increase subjective well-being among participants.

Built environment stakeholders and climate change adaptation: the case of Sri Lanka

Purpose This study aims to identify key built environment stakeholders in Sri Lanka and to understand their roles and responsibilities in tackling climate change. It also seeks to identify key challenges experienced by stakeholders. Design/methodology/approach Secondary data was systematically reviewed to identify key-built environment stakeholders in Sri Lanka. Thereafter, primary data was collected from a purposively selected sample of 40 built environment experts using a semi-structured interview schedule. The collected data was analyzed using the thematic analysis method. Findings The study identified built environment stakeholders in five sectors, namely, the state sector, the private sector, non-governmental organizations, academia and the general public. It was revealed that the state sector is responsible for policy formation and implementation, while the private sector acts as a financial facilitator. Academia generates and disseminates knowledge on climate change and community-based organizations provide inputs. Key skills and knowledge gaps of stakeholders include a lack of comprehension of the climate change theory and its concepts, lack of awareness on policies and legislation, lack of communication skills, language skills, digital proficiency and lack of integrated working skills. Unified action and equitable representation of all stakeholders is necessary to tackle climate change. Originality/value The original contribution of the paper is its emphasis on the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the built environment in relation to climate change adaptations alongside its identification of key knowledge gaps among stakeholders.

Impact of Communication on Livelihood of Tribal Goat Farmers of Kandhamal District in Odisha, India

The present study was conducted to find out the intensity of communication of tribal goat farmers with different stakeholders to improve their livelihood. Kandhamal district of Odisha was purposively selected for the study as this district is highly concentrated with local goats. From randomly selected four blocks of the district, four villages were also selected randomly from each block. Thereafter, seven goat farmers from each village were selected randomly which constitute the sample size of 112 goat farmers for the study. The data for the study was collected personally by the researcher with the help of pre-tested interview schedule. The study employed ex-post facto research design to capture field data. Communication impact a component of overall livelihood impact was measured with the help of 10 validated statements in a five-point Likert type scale with scores on a continuum with 1(strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) for each of the statement. The study revealed that the farmers exposure to mass media, and interactions with professionals of veterinary department has increased due to goat farming. However, their overall communication impact is medium in nature indicating that the important stakeholders including government agencies involved in promotion of goat farming in the tribal areas should put emphasis on improving the communication ability of the famers which will be useful to them to access relevant information for strengthening their livelihood.

Influence of Teacher’s Professional Development on the Learner’s Competency Achievements in Public Primary Schools in Suna West Sub-County, Migori County

Education is considered as the key to success in many countries. As a result, in Kenya most parents take pride in their children when they perform well in educational matters. This study aimed at investigating the influence of teachers’ professional development on learner’s competency achievement in public primary schools. This study was grounded on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory. It adopted a descriptive survey design. Questionnaires and interview schedules were used in data collection. The population of the study comprised of 54 headteachers, 432 teachers, 4 curriculum Support Officers (CSOs) and 1 Sub County Director of Education (SCDE). Krejcie and Morgan table was used to sample 24 headteachers and 190 teachers while purposive sampling was used to 4 Curriculum Support Officers and 1 SCDE. The study sample comprised of 24 head teachers from a target population of 54 public primary headteachers in the sub county, 190 teachers from a target population of 432 teachers in the sub county, the Sub County Director of Education and 2 CSOs. The face and content validity of the questionnaire was done with the assistance of supervisors are experts. Reliability was done by using test re- test methods which yielded alpha of 0.67. Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21 was used to analyse quantitative data where descriptive such as frequencies and percentages were used to describe the data. While Pearson correlation was used to test hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. Qualitative data from interview schedules and documents were analysed using thematic analysis and results were triangulated with quantitative data. The study found out that teachers professional development (r= 0.555, p=0.015) had a positive correlation with learners competency achievement. This implied that this variable had a significant influence on learner’s competency achievement. It was therefore recommended that teachers’ professional development programmes should be enhanced in schools.

Sponsors Role in Managing Students’ Discipline in Public Secondary Schools in Kisumu West Sub-County, Kenya

In Kenya religious sponsors are empowered by the Education Act to participate in the management of public secondary schools. The purpose of the study was to examine sponsors role in managing students’ discipline in public secondary schools. Cross-sectional survey research design was adopted. The population consisted of 42 deputy principals (DPs), 42 Parents Association Chairpersons (PACs), 42 Principals, 2 Quality Assurance and Standard Officers (QASOs) and 5 Priests. Purposive sampling which involved 42 DPs, 42 PACs, 42 Principals, 2 QASOs and 5 Priests. Data collection instruments included: Questionnaires, interview schedules and document analysis guide. Data was analyzed by descriptive statistics as frequency counts, means and percentages, presented in tabular forms. Findings revealed that discipline challenges facing students was related to high level of poverty recorded at 58.1% by the DPs while PACs was recorded at 60%. It was recommended that high level of poverty which makes the parents not to provide the basic items and even failure to pay fees in time should be addressed. In conclusion, religious sponsors should actively be involved in the management of students’ discipline.

Digital altruism: the motivators for, effects of and support received when moderating mental health online

PurposeThe ever increasing prevalence of mental health disorders is subsequently resulting in an ever increasing burden on mental health services globally. Due to need outweighing capacity, many turn to, or are signposted to, online resources. Online mental health chatrooms are chat-based services that users can frequent to discuss their mental health, often with individuals experiencing similar issues. Most of these are moderated by volunteers. The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations for moderating, the positive and negative effects of the role and to identifying current and required pathways of support.Design/methodology/approachThis study used an online questionnaire design, disseminated via the online mental health community, 18percent. An open ended interview schedule was disseminated to eight volunteer moderators. Qualitative data was analysed using NVivo software and reflexive thematic analysis.FindingsModerators were motivated to engage in this role due to past experiences and to help others. The positive effects of moderating were engaging in digital altruism and improving one’s personal mental health. The negative effects were personal triggers and role specific issues such as harassment and being unable to help people in crisis situations. For further support, moderators would benefit from refresher training sessions and further professional training in which they can proactively help when a user is experiencing suicidal ideation/behaviours.Originality/valueThe research highlighted the motivations for, positive and negative effects of and the current and further pathways of support required by volunteer moderators and proffers recommendations within the discussion.

Students’ Councils Involvement in the Formulation of Rules and Regulations on Discipline in Secondary Schools Migori County, Kenya

Students’ councils leadership is a participatory form of governance, which exist worldwide and can improve discipline of learners. In Kenya, it was established in 2009 after the burning of caporal punishment, between the years 2015-2018, 21.2 % of secondary schools in Migori County went on strike, 11.7% in Homa Bay, 10.2 in Kisii and 5.7% in Narok despite government directive that these student councils to be involved in the management of schools among other policies to reduce the conflicts. This is therefore prompting a study in Migori County. The objective which guided the study was to analyze the influence of student councils’ involvement in the formulation of rules and regulations on discipline in secondary schools Migori County. The study used conceptual framework. The study used descriptive survey and ex-post facto research designs. Targeted population was 1140 respondents. Principals, Deputy Principals (DPs), heads of guidance and counseling (HGC) and Presidents of Student Councils (PSCs) and 8 Sub- County Education officers (SCDE). The researcher used purposive sampling to find 8 SCDEs and use 30 percent to get a sample of 85 Principals, DPs, HGC and PSCs from a population of 283 respectively. Data collection instruments will be questionnaires for principals, DPs and students. Interview schedules for HGC and SCDEs. Two experts from the department of Educational Administration at Maseno University will scrutinize the instruments to ensure their validity. Reliability of the instruments will be determined by employing Pearson’s product moment for the test-retest and reliability coefficient of 0.75 up to 0.99 was realized, hence the instruments were termed reliable. The study findings indicated that there was weak, positive correlation between the two variables [r =.428, n=63, p&gt; 0.01], with high levels of Students’ councils formulation of rules and regulations connected with high levels of students discipline in secondary schools, and it was statistically significant as p-value (0.211) ˃ 0.01 level (2 tailed). The study concluded that students’ council should be more involved in the formulation of rules and regulations on their’ discipline. It was recommended that students’ councils should be sufficiently prepared in their involvement in formulation of school rules to enhance discipline. The data was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study was significant to students; principals and education stakeholders. The researcher adhered to research ethical considerations.

Involvement of Student Councils in the Supervision of their Welfare on Discipline in Secondary Schools in Migori County, Kenya

Students’ councils leadership is a participatory form of governance, which exist worldwide and can improve discipline of learners. In Kenya, it was established in 2009 after the burning of caporal punishment, between the years 2015-2018, 31.2 % of secondary schools in Migori County went on strike, 11.7% in Homa Bay, 10.2 in Kisii and 5.7% in Narok despite government directive that these student councils to be involved in the management of schools among other policies to reduce the conflicts. This is therefore prompting a study in Migori County. The objective which guided the study was to establish the influence of involvement of student councils in the supervision of their welfare activities on discipline; The study used conceptual framework. The study used descriptive survey and ex-post facto research designs. Targeted population was 1140 respondents. Principals, Deputy Principals (DPs), heads of guidance and counseling (HGC) and Presidents of Student Councils (PSCs) and 8 Sub-county Education officers (SCDE). The researcher used purposive sampling to find 8 SCDEs and use 30 percent to get a sample of 85 Principals, DPs, HGC and PSCs from a population of 283 respectively. Data collection instruments will be questionnaires for principals, DPs and students. Interview schedules for HGC and SCDEs. Two experts from the department of Educational Administration at Maseno University will scrutinize the instruments to ensure their validity. Reliability of the instruments will be determined by employing Pearson’s product moment for the test-retest and reliability coefficient of 0.75 up to 0.99 was realized, hence the instruments were termed reliable. The findings revealed that involvement in supervision of students’ welfare on students discipline had weak positive correlation (0.071) and it was statistically significant as p-value (0.211) ˃ 0.01 level (2 tailed). The study concluded that students should be more involved in the supervision of their welfare on students’ discipline. It was recommended that students’ councils should be sufficiently prepared in their supervisory roles in school management to enhance discipline. The data was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The study was significant to students; principals and education stakeholders. The researcher adhered to research ethical considerations.

A Comparative Study of Fertilizer Prices Purchased by Farmers from Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) and Other Agencies in Andhra Pradesh

Rythu Bharosa Kendras - a one stop solutions for all agriculture &amp; allied issues, was launched by state government of Andhra Pradesh in 2020. It addresses various issues and provide services to the farmers at the village level. Fertilizers are one among the services offered at Rythu Bharosa Kendras. The current study was carried out during the year 2022 and 2023 to find any significant variation in the average price of the fertilizers purchased by the farmers from Rythu Bharosa Kendras versus other agencies in Tirupati and Chittoor districts of Andhra Pradesh. A representative sample of 120 farmers in two districts of Andhra Pradesh i.e., Tirupati and Chittoor were selected for the study. Through a pre-structed interview schedule, prices of fertilizers purchased by the farmers from Rythu Bharosa Kendras vs other agencies were collected. In the study area, other agencies from where farmers purchased fertilizers included private fertilizer wholesalers, retailers, fellow farmers, non-institutional financers, etc. To study the average price comparison, the set of fertilizers that were commonly purchased at Rythu Bharosa Kendras and other agencies were selected. They were Urea, Diammonium phosphate (DAP), Muriate of Potash (MOP), N20:P20:K0:S13 (N:P:K:S fertilizer grade), N10:P26:K26 (N:P:K fertilizer grade). From the data collected and through descriptive statistical analysis it was clear that for all the common fertilizers the average amount of fertilizer per bag at Rythu Bharosa Kendras was comparatively lower than that of fertilizers purchased at other agencies. The average price variation of fertilizer per bag at Rythu Bharosa Kendras to other agencies for Urea, DAP, MOP, N20:P20:K0:S13 grade, N10:P26:K26 grade were Rs. 27.5, Rs. 40, Rs. 33, Rs. 44 &amp; Rs. 92 with a variation in percentage by 10.3%, 2.96%, 2.84%, 3.26% &amp; 6.31% respectively. By ensuring the prompt availability of required set of fertilizers in line with the cropping pattern of the farmers and by streamlining the supply chain aspects of fertilizes, especially from fertilizers hub to Rythu Bharosa Kendras, will be beneficial &amp; results in cost optimization to the farmers.

'[M]y own pace and space, without the pressures': Online learning experiences of audiology students.

Online learning has been used to improve students' learning experiences and to allow students to engage with their own learning in various spaces. However, there is a dearth of literature on students' experiences with online learning in the field of audiology. This study aimed to describe the conditions of online learning, explore the challenges and benefits of online learning and determine strategies that students employ while engaging with online learning. An exploratory qualitative research design was employed. Audiology students from the second to the fourth year participated in the study. Qualitative data were collected online via MS Teams using a semi-structured interview schedule with the participants. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the participants' interviews. Most of our participants were females in their fourth year of study. The students accessed the online learning platforms procured by the university from their homes, with reported benefits such as the flexibility and independence of learning, and time and cost-effectiveness. However, challenges such as limited internet connectivity, issues with time management and inconsistent power supply restricted positive experiences with online learning. The online learning benefits that were reported by the students and the compensatory strategies they employed facilitated self-regulated learning. The study's findings highlighted the need for continuous checking-in with students regarding their experiences with the learning approaches intended to improve engagement with their courses. These results could be used as a guide for curriculum planning that is student-focused.Contribution:Students' experiences explored in our study provided a guide for online learning approaches that were suitable for audiology students. Student-centred and self-regulated learning practices were highlighted and future studies may further explore these frameworks and theories.

School-Home Partnership for Enhancing Standard Bangla Language Acquisition of the Students at Primary Level in Bangladesh

The study focused on enhancing Standard Bangla Language (SBLA) acquisition of the students at the primary level through school-home partnership (SHP). The study was qualitative in nature. The data were collected from ten respondents, and the respondents were selected purposively. An interview schedule was developed as the data collection tool for the study. The data were analyzed by a thematic approach. The study revealed that School-Home partnership has become an important phenomenon in students’ standard Bangla language achievements. The study found it as an important measure and established a relationship between School and Home with respect to students' SBLA. The study figured out several initiatives for enhancing SBLA through SHP. The study recommended that schools and home have to ensure a natural Standard Bangla Language (SBL) practicing environment, from where the students would acquire it. Teacher’s World: Journal of Education and Research, 49 (2),125-134

Face-To-Face Versus Online Learning: First-Year Students’ Experiences of Academic Writing

Encountering challenges in academic writing is inevitable for first-year students who are yet to become familiar with the writing patterns and structure. Students often struggle with the change; online learning and its advantages have not fully materialised due to the disruptions, familiarity, resistance, and problems associated with technology. The purpose of the study was to examine first-year students’ experience with the face-to-face learning model and blended learning model at TVET College in Western Cape South Africa.The study employed a mixed-method approach to collect data from the research participants. The online questionnaire was adopted as the instrument of data collection for the quantitative data and 185 participants completed the questionnaire. An interview schedule guide was the instrument of data collection for the qualitative data and twelve (12) students voluntarily participated in the semi-structured interviews. Findings from both the quantitative data and qualitative data revealed that mere technology is not as effective since integrating it into teaching approaches and providing students with interactive activities and collaboration can enhance their academic performance. Face-to-face contact remains a vital part of teaching and learning, and this conclusion emphasises that blended learning is a novel and valuable way to reach students, underscoring the combination of both face-to-face and online learning. This article makes an important contribution to higher education (HE) and learning models by examining the first-year students’ experience of learning models at a South African Technical and Vocational Education and Technology (TVET) college in the Western Cape. Keywords: Blended Learning Applications, Distance Education, English Second Language, Face-to-face, First-year Students, Writing, Online learning.

Effective extension and access to education drive optimal adoption of climate-smart agriculture interventions in affected tidal floodplains: A case study

Developing countries with predominantly agricultural economies are particularly vulnerable to short-term climate variability and long-term climate change adversities. This provides the context for adopting climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices to ensure consistent agricultural product supply and food security. Although concepts of CSA tools and strategies are well-established, their adoption trends in developing regions are still undesirable, with little to no empirical understanding of factors contributing to these trends. The current research aims to address this gap of knowledge by assessing the nature of climate change impacts, adaptation strategies, and socio-economic characteristics of the farmers influencing the adoption of CSA techniques in a rural cohort in Southwestern Bangladesh. Systematically designed interview schedules revealed that the most common and devastating consequences of climate change in the study area were increased infestation of pests and diseases. Other overlooked hazards including water-logging, cyclones and cold waves, are posing new threats to regional agriculture by changing conventional patterns. Contrary to the status quo, many CSA technologies, especially indigenous approaches, are widely and effectively adopted by farmers in the studied area to cope with climate change. These adoption tendencies and innovations in CSA were found to be significantly driven by factors such as extension and training programs, education of farmers, and dependence on on-farming income. The findings of the current study provide a preliminary analysis of the attitude, knowledge and trends of CSA technology adoption by farmers in a less-saline floodplain niche of a predominantly salinity-impacted coastal region. The study acts as a model for future relevant investigations and implementations for stakeholders with supply of inputs, technologies and expertise in finding sustainable solutions and appropriate extension for communities around the world confronted with similar challenges.