Management Committee Members Research Articles

Towards Humanised and Respectful Childbirth in Togo: Promoting Women’s Dignity and Rights in Obstetric Settings

Introduction Childbirth, a critical and vulnerable phase in women’s lives, is often marred by dehumanizing practices in regions such as Togo, where inadequate healthcare infrastructure and a lack of training in respectful care exacerbate the challenges. While the WHO advocates for care centered on women’s rights and dignity, local realities reveal significant gaps, particularly regarding the choice of birthing positions and respect for cultural preferences [1]. Promoting humanized childbirth emerges as a key solution to improving patient experiences, strengthening their trust in the healthcare system, and reducing maternal mortality. This article highlights initiatives supporting this approach in Togo, exploring the progress made, persistent challenges, and recommendations for mainstreaming practices that place women at the center of obstetric care. Methodology The study is based on a literature review and semi-structured interviews with local stakeholders: women, health care providers, traditional chiefs, community health workers and members of management committees. Data were drawn from institutional reports, care monitoring documents and testimonies collected in May 2024. Results The results show that several respectful and humanised birth practices, such as the use of squatting, sitting or standing positions, promote a better birth experience. A significant improvement has been observed in the number of births attended by skilled personnel, which has doubled in three years in certain peripheral care units (USP) in Togo. These changes correlate with an increase in women’s satisfaction and better adherence to postpartum family planning and newborn care. Discussion The study highlights the importance of respecting women’s cultural preferences, such as their preference for traditional birthing positions (squatting, sitting), which are often considered more natural and comfortable. This respect for cultural beliefs not only promotes trust in the health system, but also improves obstetric outcomes. Conclusion Promoting humane, respectful childbirth in Togo requires systematic reform of obstetric practices, commitment from local communities and adaptation to cultural norms. By placing women’s rights and dignity at the centre of care, it is possible to improve the quality of maternal health care and services, and increase client adherence and satisfaction with health facilities.

Professionalism of Project Management Team and Implementation of National Government Constituency Development Funded Projects in Kenya

Purpose: The study examined influence of Professionalism of Project Management Team on the Implementation of National Government-Constituency Development Funded Projects in Kenya. Design/Methodology/Approach: Descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study targeted 1680 project management committee members out of which a sample size of 323 was drawn using Yamane’s formula. Primary data was obtained by use of structured questionnaires and later analyzed by use of descriptive statistics which entailed mean as well as standard deviation and for inferential statistics the study used Pearson’s correlation and simple linear regression. Findings: The findings established that professionalism of project management team positively and significantly influenced implementation. Implications/Originality/Value: This study lays emphasis on the importance of professionalism of project management team members while implementing projects. The conclusion may be of significance for the nation's development, particularly in terms providing the necessary workforce for the efficient governance and achievement of NG-CDF project objectives. The study findings may provide valuable literature for future research on professionalism of project management team and implementation.

Engaging Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) Members in Conservation Training Programs: A Case Study from Kerala, India

The participation of BMC members in training programs on biodiversity conservation holds immense importance in fostering effective stewardship of natural resources. These training initiatives equip BMC members with essential knowledge, skills, and tools necessary for understanding and addressing biodiversity challenges within their communities. By enhancing their capacity, BMC members can play a pivotal role in implementing conservation strategies, promoting sustainable practices, and safeguarding local ecosystems. Moreover, their active involvement in training programs fosters collaboration, knowledge sharing, and collective action, thereby strengthening the overall effectiveness of biodiversity conservation efforts at the grassroots level. Ultimately, BMC member participation in training programs not only enhances their capabilities but also contributes significantly to the conservation and sustainable management of biodiversity resources for present and future generations. The BMC member's participation in training programmes on biodiversity conservation was investigated in this study. Based on the biodiversity richness and ecological sensitivity four blocks each were selected purposively from low lands of Kannur and Alappuzha districts, mid lands of Kollam and Malappuram districts and the high ranges of Wayanad and Idukki districts of Kerala. A sample of 180 BMC members were selected from the 6 districts for the study. The results of the study indicate that approximately 18.89 per cent of BMC members have not received any training on biodiversity conservation. In contrast, 40 per cent of the members have participated in two training sessions, while 32.22 per cent have attended at least one training program on the subject. Only 8.89 per cent of the members have participated in three or more training programs related to biodiversity conservation. These findings suggest that there is a need to enhance the participation of BMC members in training programs related to biodiversity conservation. Increasing the number of training sessions and ensuring the availability of relevant resources can help enhance the capacity of BMC members to implement conservation strategies, promote sustainable practices, and safeguard local ecosystems.

The Management of Government Grant-Aided Primary Schools in Goma Sub-County, Mukono District, Uganda: Implications on School Performance and Stability

The study explored the management of the government grant-aided primary schools in Goma sub-county, Mukono District. It specifically focused on the administration of schools, management of voluntary contributions, and the relationship between the school administration and the stakeholders. The exploratory research design was adopted to select ten headteachers, ten members of the foundation bodies, ten School Management Committee (SMC) members, and two officials from the District Education office. Data was collected through face to face interviews, document review and observations. The findings reveal that: (i) the SMCs lack the necessary competences and commitment to play effectively their administrative roles; (ii) the teacher support supervision by both the district education inspectors and headteachers is insufficient; (iii) the voluntary contributions towards midday meals and other administrative costs are inadequate; (iv) parents in rural schools are not as supportive as expected; and (v) there is evidence of interference by foundation bodies in the administration of schools. Therefore, the study recommends that: (i) government should revise the Education Act of 2008 to include the minimum qualification of an Advance Level certificate for SMC members to ensure competence to perform effectively their administrative and supervisory roles; (ii) government should increase the capitation grant to cater for the mid-day meals and other administrative costs; (iii) the SMCs, the Parent Teacher Associations (PTAs) and the church should sensitize the communities on the importance of voluntary contributions; and (iv) the District Education authorities should organize training workshops for the headteachers and the members of the SMC on the roles of various stakeholders as stipulated in the Education Act of 2008 to minimize conflict.

Collaborative Strategies for Enhancing Child Protection Practices in Pre-Primary Schools: A Case Study of Kira Municipality, Uganda

Child protection practices are measures and interventions intended to safeguard children against violence in school. These practices create safe environments that enable children to thrive. Some of these include the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Child protection agencies’ collaboration is a partnership that supports children’s well-being. This study investigated the contribution of child protection agencies’ collaboration on protection practices in Pre-primary schools in Kira Municipality, which has continued to be challenging. This study was informed by the social capital theory emphasizing the significance of social relationships, trust, and mutuality. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, and data was collected using quantitative and qualitative tools. These included document analysis checklists, interview guides, observation checklists, and questionnaires. The respondents included headteachers, Centre Management Committee members, parents, Local Council members, and Probation officers. The results indicated that schools rarely collaborated with child protection agencies to ensure that protection practices were implemented in pre-primary schools. In contrast, the probation officers reported that the schools didn’t involve them during the planning, though it was when they would know the areas for collaboration. Four significant recommendations for improving child protection practices are given. Child protection workers need to jointly develop plans that promote child safety and protection, train and build the capacity of educators on issues of child protection, increase resources and financial support to promote child safety and protection, and finally, advocate for laws and policies that promote children’s rights.

Collaborative Strategies for Enhancing Child Protection Practices in Pre-Primary Schools: A Case Study of Kira Municipality, Uganda

Child protection practices are measures and interventions intended to safeguard children against violence in school. These practices create safe environments that enable children to thrive. Some of these include the prevention of child abuse and neglect. Child protection agencies’ collaboration is a partnership that supports children’s well-being. This study investigated the contribution of child protection agencies’ collaboration on protection practices in Pre-primary schools in Kira Municipality, which has continued to be challenging. This study was informed by the social capital theory emphasizing the significance of social relationships, trust, and mutuality. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, and data was collected using quantitative and qualitative tools. These included document analysis checklists, interview guides, observation checklists, and questionnaires. The respondents included headteachers, Centre Management Committee members, parents, Local Council members, and Probation officers. The results indicated that schools rarely collaborated with child protection agencies to ensure that protection practices were implemented in pre-primary schools. In contrast, the probation officers reported that the schools didn’t involve them during the planning, though it was when they would know the areas for collaboration. Four significant recommendations for improving child protection practices are given. Child protection workers need to jointly develop plans that promote child safety and protection, train and build the capacity of educators on issues of child protection, increase resources and financial support to promote child safety and protection, and finally, advocate for laws and policies that promote children’s rights.

Eval__uating the Impact of School-Based Management Committees on Infrastructure Development in Junior Secondary Schools in Yobe State, Nigeria

This study eval__uates the impact of school-based management committees on infrastructure development in junior secondary schools in Yobe State, Nigeria. Two research questions and two hypotheses were formulated and tested at a 0.05 level of significance. A structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant data from the respondents. The population of the study was 1503 comprising Teachers and members of School-Based Management Committees (SBMC). The sample size of the study was 350 and a random sampling technique was employed using lucky dip to select 12 participating schools for this study. The research questions were answered using mean and standard deviation and a t-test was used to analyze the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The finding of this study established that there is no significant difference between the teachers and members of SBMC on the challenges and strategies of SBMCs in the provision of infrastructure at Yobe State Junior Secondary School. The study established that There was no significant difference between the mean rating of teachers and members of SBMC on the roles of SBMCs in the provision of infrastructure Yobe State Junior Secondary School. This study recommended that SBMCs at the school level should endeavor to work hard in mobilizing members of their communities. Sanctions and punishment for the non-involvement of SBMC in the school’s activities like monitoring and eval__uation, supervision of school activities, and School administrators should continue to work hard and maximize their efforts in trying to make their SBMCs more organized, enlightened and highly mobilized.

Stress among Private School Teachers

The modern lifestyle is accompanied by a great amount of stress, and private school teachers are also not far from it. The workplace is also more stressful than it used to be. Stress among private school teachers is influenced by a multifaceted phenomenon. For the completion of this research, the predetermined objectives were set first. The objectives of this study were to analyze and address the factors contributing to stress among private school teachers in order to implement effective support mechanisms and promote overall well-being within the educational environment. Altogether, 19 respondents, among them 1 principal, 2 management committee members, and 16 teachers (8 from the basic level and 8 from the secondary level) of a private school in Solukhumbu, were selected purposefully. The data and responses were collected from management committee members, principal, and teachers through an open ended questionnaire, and the responses were interpreted and described qualitatively according to the defined objectives. Maslow's hierarchy of needs theory is interconnected in this study to understand stress among private school teachers and use appropriate remedies in a specific order, starting with basic physiological needs and progressing to higher-level needs. 16 respondents working as a school teacher in a private school were burdened with excessive tasks, responsibilities, and demands within their professional role. They were facing high teaching loads with numerous classes, subjects, and students to manage. They had very limited time for lesson preparation and other innovations. Strategies such as workload management, providing adequate resources, promoting work-life balance, and offering support for professional development can help alleviate the stress associated with work overload and enhance the quality of teaching and learning. Further, private school teachers in Solukhumbu were not getting the facilities of professional development opportunities like seminars, workshops, research, on-the-job training, and other soft skills workshops from the school administration. To address this issue, it would be essential for private school teachers, school administrators, and relevant stakeholders to collaborate and advocate for the importance of professional development. Additionally, government policies or initiatives that support and incentivize private schools to invest in teacher training and other professional development courses. The responses of all the respondents showed that job security and stability are big worries for them. The survey showed that private school teachers in Solukhumbu had a lot of uncertainty about job security and stability, which is creating stress for the teachers. The school management committee and school administrators should prioritize clear policies regarding employment terms, the school's future plans, bonuses, insurance, retirement plans, disability coverage, and other wellness programs. All 16 respondents from different backgrounds responded that teaching is stressful and sensitive enough to address cultural differences, language barriers, and varying learning styles, which requires extra effort from the teacher. The school management committee and administration should prioritize the pressure of the sociocultural sensitivity of diverse students to the teachers. Limited participation in decision-making can generate stress by undermining teachers' sense of professional value, autonomy, and job satisfaction. Addressing these stressors involves implementing effective feedback mechanisms by the concerned authorities that provide constructive insights, recognize achievements, and support teachers. Maslow's theory is a psychological theory that suggests teachers are motivated by a hierarchy of needs, starting with basic needs and progressing through safety, belongingness, esteem, and self-actualization. While Maslow's theory is primarily focused on motivation, it can be indirectly related to stress management. Implementing these recommendations requires the commitment of school administrators, policymakers, and educators to create a supportive and conducive environment for teaching and learning in private schools.

THE EFFECT OF LOCAL REVENUE COLLECTION ON IMPLEMENTATION OF UNIVERSAL PRIMARY EDUCATION IN KIBOGA DISTRICT. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.

Background: The study intended to investigate the effect of local revenue collection on the implementation of universal primary education in Kiboga district. Methodology: The study targeted a population of 71 respondents comprising of 6 district Technical Planning Committee Members, 5 Sub-county Executive Committee members, 6 Sub-county Technical Planning Committee Members, 6 head teachers, and 48 School Management Committee Members. Simple random sampling was used to select School Management Committee Members who were the main respondents. The analysis was conducted in SPSS. Results: In the study it was found that the majority of the respondents represented by 62% were male respondents whereas 38% of the respondents were found to be females with ages ranging from 20 years and above the study was carried out on a 5 Likert scale where 4.47 strongly agreed that schools do budgeting and 4.65 also agreed that schools constitute finance committees, 4.31 strongly agreed that school finance committees are fully functional 2.45 disagreed that budgeting in schools is participatory, 4.01agreed that schools implement budgets,4.39 strongly agreed that that school budgets are monitored in schools, and finally 4.21 agreed that schools evaluate budget performance. This totals an average mean of 4.10 strongly agreeing to the study. Conclusion: The study revealed that sub-counties in their local revenue budgets don’t cater to schools at all. Recommendation: District and sub-county councils should consider allocating local revenue to schools to supplement the capitation grant which is always inadequate to meet the school needs. This will help to solve the problem of lack of pupils’ lunch that has led to defying the UPE policy and presidential directive which criminalizes collection of any fee from parents.

Self-Governance in Condominium Housing in Tanzania

Despite the ever-growing preference of self-governance in a set of diverse, multi-unit buildings being built in cities around the world, scholarly discussion of how this form of housing is governed and potential inefficiencies with the self-governing since at least the 2010s in the context of countries of the global South is both limited and presented in anecdote. Reflecting on Ostrom’s (1990) common pool resources principles, the study aimed to highlight patterns of interaction; and to see whether commonly held views about self-governance are borne out in practice. A case study approach that involved surveys of condominium homeowners, and interviews with house management committee chairs or members, along with document review was applied. Findings showed underlying forces that preclude functional and sustainable self-governing communities are unsatisfactory participation and weak enforcement of house rules, which are in turn driven by conflicting interests among homeowners, the lack of adequate information, discrepancies in the legal mechanism, and ineffective dispute resolution mechanisms. These issues can give rise to serious damage to building fabrics and social cohesion, hence the emphasis on implementing plausible dispute resolution mechanisms, preparing guidelines and standards on how condominiums can be effectively governed and ensuring individual cooperate and free-riding issues are avoided. Understanding the behavior of individuals within a space for interaction is also crucial for self-governing institutions to function successfully

Assessing the School Management Decision Practices: Insights from the Policy Provisions

This study investigates the management decision-making practices of community school management in Nepal, focusing on the policy perspective. An analytical approach has been used to analyze the information. The authors conducted a comprehensive review of the school education policies that pertain to school management decision-making practices. The authors analyzed the policy requirements on community school management decisions and practices. According to the policy provisions, the school head teachers, school management committee (SMC) members, and teachers' representatives are actively engaged in management decision practices. This study reveals that the head teacher and school management committee hold the authority over important aspects of school management decision-making, such as teacher recruitment, school development planning, and teaching learning activities. The role of local government has crucial in the overall development of community schools in Nepal. Implementing effective school management practices can greatly enhance the development of the school and ensure the delivery of high-quality education. In this context, the authors emphasized the importance of harmonizing management practices to ensure effective decision-making and encourage active participation, ultimately leading to improved school administration.

Accountability Mechanisms In Result Based Financing And Their Implementation In Lira District, Northern Uganda

Introduction: Results based financing has been proposed as an innovative reform to enhance systems performance in Uganda. Lira District is one of the districts implementing the national results-based financing (RBF) scheme under the Uganda Reproductive Maternal and Child Health services Improvement Project (URMCHIP). The diversity of relationships among various actors in RBF implementation underscores the need for mechanisms to ensure accountability among them. This was a case study which aimed at exploring the RBF accountability mechanisms, their implementation, and related factors in Lira District. Methodology: The study was a descriptive case study employing qualitative methods. The data collection methods included a) focus group discussions with the health workers from RBF facilities, b) key informant interviews with key actors in the RBF program at the MOH as well as in the district including district managers, health facility in charges, verifiers, members of the health facility management committees, c) document review of RBF documents, annual progress and audit reports. were analyzed thematically guided by a framework that explored the relationships and related accountability arrangements in RBF. Results: Several accountability relationships do exist among actors in RBF program and each relationship has associated accountability mechanisms for example, accountability mechanisms between MOH and the district include MOUs and business plans, while between the district and facilities mechanisms include reporting, data verifications, financial audits while display of results on notice boards, complaint boxes are mechanisms between the facility and the community. Regular support supervision and facility innovations such as meetings complimented RBF-specific designs. Challenges hindering smooth implementation of accountability mechanisms included infrequent financial support to enable regular support supervision/verification visits by Expanded District Health Management Team (EDHMT) and corruption tendencies. Conclusion: Implementation of accountability mechanisms in RBF in Lira is suboptimal due to the various RBF design and implementation challenges. There is need to support the EDHMT and facility managers’ in terms of capacity building and facilitation to do their work. Additionally, efforts need to be undertaken to address delayed disbursement of funds and corruption impeding the implementation of accountability mechanisms in the district.

Vascular Surgery in Japan: 2018 Annual Report by the Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery

Objectives: This is an annual report indicating the number and early clinical results of annual vascular treatment performed by vascular surgeons in Japan in 2018, as analyzed by database management committee (DBC) members of the Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery (JSVS). Materials and Methods: To survey the current status of vascular treatments performed by vascular surgeons in Japan, the DBC members of the JSVS analyzed the vascular treatment data provided by the National Clinical Database (NCD), including the number of treatments and early results such as operative and hospital mortality. Results: In total, 143,745 vascular treatments were registered by 1,090 institutions in 2018. This database comprises seven fields, including treatment of aneurysms, chronic arterial occlusive disease, acute arterial occlusive disease, vascular injury, complication of previous vascular reconstruction, venous diseases, and other vascular treatments. The number of vascular treatments in each field was 24,495, 18,700, 4,813, 2,363, 694, 45,088, and 47,592, respectively. In the field of aneurysm treatment, 20,160 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), including common iliac aneurysm, were registered, and 61.6% were treated by endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Among AAA cases, 1,794 (8.9%) cases were registered as ruptured AAA. The operative mortality rates of ruptured and unruptured AAA were 15.7% and 0.6%, respectively. Approximately 43.3% of ruptured AAA were treated by EVAR, and the EVAR ratio was gradually increasing, but the operative mortality rates of open repair and EVAR for ruptured AAA were 14.0% and 14.6%, respectively. Regarding chronic arterial occlusive disease, open repair was performed in 8,336 cases, including 1,348 distal bypasses to the crural or pedal artery, whereas endovascular treatment (EVT) was performed in 9,710 cases. The EVT ratio was gradually increased at 51.9%. Varicose vein treatment was decreased in 43,133 cases (7.7% less than that in 2017), and 77.3% of the cases were treated by endovenous thermal ablation (ETA), including endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and radiofrequency ablation (RFA). Regarding other vascular operations, 44,003 cases of vascular access operations and 1,631 lower limb amputation surgeries were included. Conclusions: The number of vascular treatments increased since 2017, and the proportion of endovascular procedures increased in almost all fields of vascular diseases, especially EVAR for AAA, EVT for chronic arterial occlusive disease, and ETA for varicose veins. (This is a translation of Jpn J Vasc Surg 2022; 31: 217-237.).

Vascular Surgery in Japan: 2017 Annual Report by the Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery

Objectives: This is an annual report indicating the number and early clinical results of annual vascular treatment performed by vascular surgeons in Japan in 2017, as analyzed by Database Management Committee (DBC) members of the Japanese Society for Vascular Surgery (JSVS). Materials and Methods: To survey the current status of vascular treatments performed by vascular surgeons in Japan, the DBC members of the JSVS analyzed the vascular treatment data provided by the National Clinical Database, including the number of treatments and early results such as operative and hospital mortality. Results: In total, 137,909 vascular treatments were registered by 1,076 institutions in 2017. This database comprised seven fields including treatment of aneurysms, chronic arterial occlusive disease, acute arterial occlusive disease, vascular injury, complication of previous vascular reconstruction, venous diseases, and other vascular treatments. The number of vascular treatments in each field was 21,680, 18,123, 4,765 2,418, 669, 48,625, and 41,629, respectively. In the aneurysm treatment, 19,982 cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), including common iliac aneurysm, were registered, and 64.1% were treated by endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR). Among AAA cases, 1,824 (9.1%) cases were registered as ruptured AAA. The operative mortality rates of ruptured and unruptured AAA were 15.0%, and 0.7%, respectively. 37.9% of ruptured AAA were treated by EVAR, and the EVAR ratio was gradually increasing, but the operative mortality rates of open repair and EVAR for ruptured AAA were 14.5%, and 12.3%, respectively. There was no statistical significance. Regarding chronic arterial occlusive disease, open repair was performed in 7,277 cases, including 1,348 distal bypasses to the crural or pedal artery, whereas endovascular treatment (EVT) was performed in 9,248 cases. The EVT ratio was gradually increased at 56.0%. The number of varicose vein treatments decreased to 46,754 (11.2% less than in 2016), and 73.7% of the cases were treated by endovenous laser or radiofrequency ablations. Regarding other vascular operations, 38,769 cases of vascular access operations and 1,548 lower limb amputation surgeries were included. Conclusions: The number of vascular treatments increased since 2011, and the proportion of endovascular procedures increased in almost all fields of vascular diseases, especially EVAR for AAA and EVT for chronic arterial occlusive disease. (This is a translation of Jpn J Vasc Surg 2021; 30: 359-379.).

The Role of Learning Resource Centres in Enhancing Self-Learning of Senior Secondary Students

The School Learning Resource Centre is staple of the co-curricular activities and a way to encourage self-learning of students which makes the best contribution to stimulate the interest of students in general knowledge development and knowledge seeking. Learning resource centres play a major role in making students use their free time and improve their reading habits. Through this, students’ curricular and co-curricular activities are improved. However, in recent times, it has been pointed out that the number of students visiting learning resource centres and using the learning resources there is decreasing. This situation has had a negative impact on their academic achievement. It is in this background that the research has been carried out regarding the role of learning resource centres in enhancing the self-learning of students in Akkaraipattu education division. Among the activities undertaken through the learning resource centre to promote self-learning of students. The objectives of this research are to identify the contributions made directly. The objectives of this research are to identify the contributions made by the subject teachers and the contributions made by the school management and to analyze the relationship between these contributions and the self-learning of the students and to identify the challenges in effectively carrying out the activities of the learning resource centre to enhance the self-learning of the students. This research has also been carried out in the design of a descriptive survey research under the mixed research approach and 5 schools in the Akkaraipattu education division have been selected and their learning resource centre in-charges, subject teachers, school management committee members were taken as the population of the research and 60 people were selected samples using purposive sampling method. Quantitative and qualitative data collected through questionnaire, interview and observation tools have been analyzed using percentage survey and correlation coefficient. The following have been identified through this. The contribution of the learning resource Centre and the contribution of the school management in enhancing the self-learning of the students are at a high level. However, the contribution of subject teachers is at a low level. Meanwhile, there is a low positive correlation between learning research centre subject teachers’ contributions and students’ achievement. On the contrary, there is a high positive correlation between the contributions of school management and student achievement. Therefore, the contribution of the teachers who have the most influence in enhancing the self-learning of the students is less and it has had a less impact on the achievement of the students. Similarly, although the direct contribution of the learning resource Centre, which is highly influential in enhancing self-learning of students have been high, it has had a low impact on student achievement. Therefore, learning resource centre in-charges, subject teachers, school management and other school community should work together to carry out proper planning and effectively carry out the activities of the learning resource centre in a manner is suitable for implementing a blended learning approach can enhance self – learning of students.

Effect of Contract Segregation Practice on Performance of CDF Funded School Infrastructure Projects in Uasin Gishu County

The allocation of the National Government Constituency Development Fund (NGCDF) to schools has produced positive results. However, projects funded by the CDF in Uasin Gishu County face several performance challenges, including persistent delays in implementation, instances of financial mismanagement, and infrastructure that often does not meet expected standards. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of contract segregation practices on the performance of NGCDF projects in Uasin Gishu County, guided by contingency theory. Using a descriptive research design, the study targeted CDF committee members from all six constituencies in Uasin Gishu County, with each constituency having nine committee members, resulting in a total of 54 members. Additionally, the study focused on 136 project management committee members involved in ongoing school infrastructure projects funded by the CDF in the region. Primary data was gathered through structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis, while quantitative data were examined through descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated a moderate positive and statistically significant correlation between contract segregation and the performance of CDF-funded school infrastructure projects in Uasin Gishu County (r=0.625; p<0.05).

Exploring Factors Impacting Teachers' Performance and Commitment in Primary Schools: A Case Study of Ryeru Sub-County, Rubirizi District

This research delves into the factors influencing teachers' performance and commitment in primary schools within Ryeru Sub-County, Rubirizi District. Conducted through interviews and self-administered questionnaires, the study gathered data from 120 respondents, comprising school management committee members, PTA members, head teachers, and teachers. It analyzes the demographic distribution, educational backgrounds, and viewpoints regarding the causes of poor teacher performance, including motivations, facilities, qualifications, absenteeism, and the school environment. Additionally, it investigates the impact of leadership styles on teacher commitment, exploring aspects like motivation, work recurrence, job opportunities, satisfaction, retention, rapport with leaders, and recognition. Notably, the research unveils a significant relationship between leadership styles and teacher commitment, providing insights into potential solutions to address teacher absenteeism. Keywords: Teachers' Performance, Teacher Commitment, Leadership Styles, Primary Schools, Ryeru Sub- Absenteeism, Motivation

Constraints on the functioning of Community-based Health Planning and Services facilities: A qualitative study in the Jirapa Municipality, Ghana.

The declaration of the Alma-Alta on primary health care (PHC) in 1978 enjoined nations to make health care accessible, affordable, and situated within their cultural contexts. The Ghana Community-based Health Planning and Services (CHPS), as a strategy to achieve the goal of PHC, has shown significant successes in communities where it has been implemented. However, a number of challenges continue to affect the effective functioning of CHPS. This study explored the community level and health system constraints on the effective functioning of CHPS in the delivering of PHC services in the Jirapa Municipality. A qualitative approach was implemented. A criterion-based purposive sampling technique was employed to recruit 51 managers and health service providers of CHPS for key informant interviews. The respondents included 25 community health management committee members, 25 health officers in charge of CHPS facilities, and one municipal CHPS coordinator. The interviews were held from September 18 to November 23, 2020. All interviews were face-to-face, audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. Thematic analysis based on the constant comparative method was employed to analyse the data. The results showed that low community involvement in CHPS activities, disputes over the location and naming of CHPS zones, inadequate understanding of the CHPS concept and religious beliefs were the key community level factors which negatively affected the functioning of CHPS. Also, lack of logistics, financial constraints, poor attitude of health workers and inadequate staff motivation were the health sector constraints on the effective functioning of CHPS. In conclusion, concerted efforts are needed to tackle the community level and health system constraints to improve the overall functioning and effectiveness of the CHPS strategy. We recommend the strengthening of community sensitization, timely disbursement of funding, and provision of infrastructure and supplies to improve upon the effective functioning of CHPS as a strategy for delivery PHC in Ghana.

Student engagement and attendance are central mechanisms interacting with inclusive and equitable quality education: Evidence from Afghanistan and Pakistan

Despite considerable progress in the field of education science, there is currently no consensus on the components that define inclusive and equitable quality education, how they are articulated with one another, and what are the best interventions to foster inclusive and equitable quality education. Current research investigates separately components of what appears to be a complex dynamic system with feedback interactions. To characterize this system and identify structures that encompass inclusive and equitable quality education, we used a community-based system dynamics approach. This approach hypothesizes that community perceptions of the local school system is essential to define it. We therefore conducted 648 participatory Group Model Building workshops with school stakeholders (children, teachers, parents and members of school management committees) resulting in as many models in 99 schools of Afghanistan and Pakistan. To identify common components across models built by participants in two waves of schools’ model building workshops, we applied techniques from multivariate analysis of ecological communities. Even across wide differences in participants’ situations and roles in the educational process, their models expressed a common reinforcing feedback loop which connected child inclusive and equitable quality education to two other components: 1) child engagement in and motivation for education, and 2) child attendance. Increases in any of these three components were perceived to drive increases in the others. We also found that child focus on learning was commonly expressed as interacting with this generic structure. Any educational reform should simultaneously and primarily embrace learners’ diversity, combine policy principles of ensuring easy equitable access to foster attendance, and promote student interest and engagement in learning through child centered pedagogy and non-discriminatory teaching practices while giving school communities power for implementation.

Influence of Knowledge Acquisition Practices on the Performance of County Development Projects in Meru County Government

Public infrastructure projects have progressed at a moderate rate since independence. The information provided by the Kenyan government in 2014 regarding their vision for 2030, aiming to make Kenya an internationally competitive and prosperous nation, shows that the slow progress in implementing public infrastructure projects has resulted in inadequate road networks, underdeveloped public facilities, a lack of connectivity between rural areas and industrial hubs, insufficient measures to mitigate challenges in agricultural regions, and a decline in formerly thriving industries. County governments face a significant challenge in effectively utilizing knowledge management within project management to maximize their outcomes. This research aimed to ascertain whether knowledge acquisition practices influences performance of county development projects in Meru County Government. The research was conducted in a descriptive manner. It targeted a total of 139 respondents from nine Sub-counties in Meru County, including members of county assemblies (MCAs), sub-county departmental heads, project management committee members, and county chief officers. A sample of 103 individuals was selected from the population to participate in the survey. Structured questionnaires were used as the primary research tool to collect data from the population. The responses were coded and categorized accordingly. The data collected was inputted into SPSS 27.0 and MS Excel for further computational analysis. The study revealed a strong correlation coefficient, with an R value of 0.897, indicating a high level of correlation between the variables. The adjusted R-squared value, which was 0.801, suggested that variations in county development projects were significantly influenced by the independent variable. The study's findings suggest that knowledge acquisition had a positive impact on the performance of the county development projects in Meru County. To enhance this positive influence, the study recommends that the public service engage with technical experts in specific fields for knowledge creation, emphasize the value of employees, organize formal training sessions for new knowledge creation, plan seminars for knowledge sharing, and ensure that staff members are trained in diverse tasks to facilitate information exchange. Furthermore, it is recommended that training programs encompass a wide range of tasks and duties to promote knowledge sharing among staff.