Pupils In Public Primary Schools Research Articles

The influence of cultural factors, on teenage pregnancies among public primary school pupils in Mpeefu Sub County

This study investigated the influence of cultural factors, on teenage pregnancies among public primary school pupils in Mpeefu Sub County. The study was hinged on two theories; Bronfrenbergs Ecological Development theory and Albert Banduras Social Learning Theory. The study employed descriptive survey research design. Target population form three and four pupils’ 5,496, teachers 300 and 9 head teachers the sample size was of 359 (n=359) form three and four pupils and 90 (n=90) teachers, from 20 public primary schools and 9 Head teachers that were selected to participate in the study. Stratified sampling and random sampling were used to pick the respondents. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers and the pupils while an interview guide was used to collect data from head teachers in the Sub County. The study established that most parent /parents taking their children to the school are into business. The study also deduced that electronic media influences teenagers to have sex at an early age and those pupils are pressurized to have sex by their friends. This study recommends that efforts on educating people regarding teenage pregnancy should be focused on areas experiencing high levels of poverty. The government with the help of NGOs should also ensure that parents are well educated on the how and when to talk about sex with their children. The study established that parental communication on peer group pressure could reduce chances of teenage pregnancy.

Factors Associated with Anthropometric Status of Primary School Children in Dodoma, Tanzaniaania

Background: Malnutrition in school-age children significantly affects their health, cognitive development, and educational attainment. This study aimed to assess the nutritional status of school-age children and the influence of socioeconomic, demographic, and environmental factors on their nutritional well-being. This study focused on primary focus was on primary school children in Dodoma. sought to identify children who could be at risk of malnutrition. The study intended to establish baseline data regarding the nutritional status of school children that could contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the nutritional landscape among primary school children in the region. This information could subsequently inform nutritionists and policymakers to plan interventions to improve these children's nutritional status. Methods: A cross-sectional study involving 248 pupils was conducted in eight primary schools in Dodoma. Four schools were selected from Chamwino and Dodoma urban districts, respectively, whereby two government schools and two private schools were selected from each district. The other four schools were situated in the urban district of Dodoma, comprising two government and two private schools. The study assessed the prevalence of stunting, wasting/thinness, underweight, and overweight/obesity among primary school children. Stunting was characterized by impaired growth and development with low height for age, while underweight was defined as low weight relative to age. Wasting/thinness refers to insufficient flesh, with body weight falling below skeletal and physical standards. Overweight/obese indicates excessive fat tissue accumulation that could impact health. Data were analyzed using the WHO AnthroPlus v1.0.4 software and SPSS v26 software for Windows. Results: Prevalence rates among the surveyed pupils were as follows: stunting (10.5%), underweight (3.6%), thinness (2.8%), and overweight/obesity (10.1%). Stunting was more prevalent in boys (13.2%) than in girls (8.2%), and it exhibited an upward trend with increasing age. The prevalence of underweight was higher in public schools (8.2%) compared to private schools (3.2%). Thinness was more common in public schools (85.7%) compared to private schools (14.3%) and was more prevalent in rural areas (57.1%) and among younger children (57.1%). Overweight/obesity was more prevalent among girls (91.0%) compared to boys (88.6%). Schools in urban areas showed a higher prevalence of overweight/obesity (90.3%) than those in rural areas (89.5%). Private schools (95.2%) had a higher prevalence of overweight/obese pupils compared to public schools (84.7%). Pupils residing in urban areas were more likely to become overweight/obese compared to their counterparts living in rural settings. Conclusion: Significant rates of stunting, thinness, underweight, and overweight/obesity were observed among primary schoolchildren in Dodoma, Tanzania. These findings underlined the necessity to enhance nutrition interventions to improve the nutritional status of both public and private primary school pupils in Tanzania.

TEACHERS’ AVAILABILITY, SUPPLY AND DISTRIBUTION IN PUBLIC PRIMARY SCHOOLS IN BAYELSA STATE, NIGERIA

The study is predicated on the assumption that teaching manpower is critical to education service delivery which is a vehicle for effecting sustainable growth and development of any society. The study therefore analyzed teachers’ availability, supply, and distribution in public primary schools in Bayelsa State. The study was descriptive adopting ex- post facto research design. The population of the study comprised all 3,571 teachers distributed across the 547 public primary schools in Bayelsa State as of the 2022/2023 academic session. It was a census study; therefore, a sample was not made. A checklist titled: Teachers Availability Distribution and Supply Checklist (TADSC) was used to collect data for the study. The data collected were analyzed using percentages and histogram charts. Findings from the study revealed that the enrolment of pupils in public primary schools was generally low and varied by local government area. It was also found that teachers were not adequately supplied while the available ones were not equitably distributed across the eight local government areas. Lastly, the results of the findings showed that the existing public primary schools in the State require adequately qualified classroom teachers for effective pedagogical-related assignments. Arising from the findings, it was recommended that the State government should provide existing public primary schools with basic teaching and learning facilities including qualified and adequate teaching manpower; rural communities should be provided with basic amenities while rural allowance/incentives for teachers should be increased to promote high teacher retention in local and rural areas; teachers should be redistributed across schools and local government areas for equity, fairness, and effective utilization by relevant authorities like the State Universal Education Board {SUBEB} and the State Ministry of Education.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu/0798/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Comparative Analysis of Pupils’ Academic Achievements in Public and Private Schools in Ekiti State

The study observed the comparative analysis of pupils’ academic achievements in public and private schools in Ekiti State. The study used a descriptive research design of survey type. The sample consisted of one hundred and eighty-two (182) respondents that were selected from the private and public primary schools in urban and rural areas of Ekiti State. A simple random sampling technique was employed in the selection of the 182 respondents and gender equality was considered in selecting respondents for the study. Two instruments were developed and used for the study. Based on the data analyses, findings revealed that there was a significant difference in academic achievements of private and public primary school pupils in favour of private schools. It was further revealed that there were significant effects of the factors responsible for difference(s) in academic achievements between private and public primary school pupils. The outcome of the study showed that the public primary schools which were established, financed and managed by the government have not been performing up to expectation with respect to academic achievements of pupils. Sequel to the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should give adequate priority and proper attention to the education industry, particularly, the public primary schools to enhance proper pupils’ academic achievement.

Institutional attributes and parents’ contentment with the quality of teaching, care, and safety of pupils in public primary schools

Institutional attributes and parents’ contentment with the quality of teaching, care, and safety of pupils in public primary schools

Numeracy Corners and Lower Basic Public Primary School Pupils’ Twenty-First Century Skills Acquisition: Implications for Achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Lagos State, Nigeria

This study examined numeracy corners and lower basic public primary school pupils’ twenty-first century skills acquisition with their implications for achieving Sustainable Development Goals in Lagos State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was used for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 20 lower basic public primary schools and 60 teachers. Two research instruments, titled "Observation Schedule for Availability of Numeracy Corners and Materials" and "Questionnaire on Teachers’ Perception of Numeracy Corners and Acquisition of 21st Century Skills", designed by the researchers and validated by research experts were used to collect data for the study. The instruments yielded reliability coefficients of 0.91 and 0.85, respectively. The data was collected by the researchers and some trained research assistants. The data was analysed using descriptive statistics of frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that numeracy corners and materials were not adequately available in the lower basic public primary schools covered. Teachers had positive perceptions on the extent to which numeracy corners promote the acquisition of twenty-first century skills. It is recommended that the federal government of Nigeria, through the Lagos State commissioner for education, should adopt a proactive approach to ensuring that provision is made for numeracy corners at each lower basic public primary school. The corners should be well equipped with learning facilities that would enhance the acquisition of twenty-first century skills.

Correlation between Exposure to Domestic Violence and the Academic Performance of Pupils in Kenyan Public Primary Schools

Domestic violence poses a significant risk to pupils' academic performance, particularly in informal settlements, jeopardizing their chances of attaining their academic potential and becoming useful members of the community. This study investigates the relationship between exposure to domestic violence and academic performance among pupils in public primary schools in informal settlements, Nairobi County, Kenya.. The research, guided by Family Stress Theory, employed a descriptive design and targeted a population of 61,034 pupils. The sample size of 390 participants was determined using Krejcie and Morgan's formula, selected through purposive sampling, focusing on sub-counties with informal settlements, schools enrolling students from these areas, and pupils in classes 4, 5, and 6. Research instruments included an adapted Violence Exposure Scale for Children-Revised to measure domestic violence exposure and a record sheet for academic achievement. A pilot study with 42 pupils was conducted to ensure instrument validity and reliability, yielding a reliable coefficient of α=0.785 for the Exposure to Domestic Violence Scale. Data collection involved selecting participants, distributing questionnaires while ensuring data confidentiality. Data was coded, entered, and cleaned for analysis using IBM SPSS version 21. Descriptive statistics, such as percentages and frequencies, analyzed demographic data. Inferential statistics, including Pearson's correlation, were employed to examine the relationships between independent and dependent variables. Findings revealed a statistically significant, albeit weak, negative association between domestic violence exposure and academic performance. Pupils with higher exposure exhibited lower academic performance, highlighting the disruptive impact of domestic violence. The study recommends proactive measures, such as parental sensitization programs, to mitigate domestic violence's impact on academic performance, fostering an environment that supports academic success and overall well-being for pupils.

Association between body mass index and dental caries among public primary school pupils in a southern-Nigerian metropolis

Background: The relationships between BMI and caries have been observed in many previous studies. Some studies have reported that normal and underweight children were at higher risk for dental caries compared to those who were overweight. Conversely, other studies have also reported that overweight/obese children were at higher risk. Yet, others concluded there was no association between BMI and dental caries. However, this information is sparse among children in South-South, Nigeria. Objectives: To determine the relationships between BMI status and dental caries among public primary school children in Port Harcourt. Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study among selected primary school pupils in Port Harcourt. Information elicited included socio-demographic characteristics and pattern of refined sugar consumption. BMI was calculated using the following formula: weight in kg/ height in meters squared. Based on BMI scores, the children were classified into four categories; underweight (BMI ≤5th percentile), normal weight (BMI >5th and ˂85th percentile), overweight (BMI ≥85th and ˂95th percentile), and obese (BMI ≥95th percentile). Oral examination was conducted to assess for dental caries, which was recorded using DMFT/dmft index. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 21 and the level of significance was p<0.05 Results: One hundred and eighty-nine pupils participated, comprising 100(52.9%) females and 89(47.1%) males, with a median age of 11 years. Prevalence of caries was 13.8%. The mean DMFT/dmft among the children was 1.6 (±0.9). Mother’s and Father’s levels of education were the statistically significant factors (p = 0.01). BMI was however not statistically significant (p = 0.06). Conclusion: BMI was not statistically significant in its association with dental caries, but more of normal and overweight children were prone to dental caries compared to the underweight children.

Teachers’ Perceptions on the Relationship between Social Competence and Reading Skills Acquisition in Primary School Pupils

This paper set out to examine teachers’ perceptions of the link between social competence skills and reading skills acquisition in the Kiswahili language for standard four pupils in public primary schools. This was a qualitative study, made on the population of the Kiswahili language subject teachers. The study was conducted in Babati Township Council, Manyara Region, Tanzania. It involved 17 selected public primary schools where one subject and school head teachers from each school were involved. Data were collected using a semi-structured interview guide. The results show that the most important social competence skills for the acquisition of reading skills are communication skills, as other skills depend on the pupil’s ability to communicate his/her ideas well. The study posits that social competence skills have a positive impact on pupils’ acquisition of reading skills. The study recommends an additional curriculum that imparts pupils with social competence skills for reading and academic achievements at large.

Blood pressure profile and nutritional status of pupils benefitting from the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme in southwest Nigeria

Introduction and aim. Childhood hypertension is an important precursor to adult hypertension. This study was used to investigate blood pressure level and nutritional status of pupils in public primary schools that were benefitting from the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme in southwest Nigeria. Material and methods. A cross-sectional study conducted among randomly selected 40 public primary schools where feeding programme was on-going in Oyo and Ogun States. Pretested semi-structured questionnaire was used to obtain information from the pupils. Anthropometric measurements and blood pressure readings were assessed using relevant tools. Results. Some of the pupils (129; 41.6%) aged 10-15 years (p<0.0001) were stunted compared to those aged 5-9years (60; 11.3%). Undernutrition among pupils aged 10-15 years was 47.7%, which was significantly higher than (p<0.0001) among pupils aged 5-9 years, 18.5%. Overall, prevalence of hypertension among the pupils was 6.0%. No significant difference between male and female groups with regards to MUAC (p=0.115), blood pressure (p=0.302) and BMI-for-age (p=0.100). A significant association found between blood pressure and BMI-for-age (p=0.004). Conclusion. Prevalence of blood pressure among the pupils assessed suggests more presence of high blood pressure in the population of primary school pupils. School feeding programme could be an avenue to improve nutritional indices among the pupils.

Preference for Mathematics Textbook Illustrations among Primary School Pupils in Ibadan: Implications for Counselling Psychology

The purpose of this study was to investigate the preference among primary school pupils in Ibadan in terms of mathematics textbook illustrations and its implications for counselling psychology. An ex post facto descriptive research design was used in the study. One hundred and three (103) respondents were selected from public primary school pupils in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The respondents were measured with self-developed scales and the data obtained was analysed using the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Two (2) research questions were raised and answered in the study. The results show that there is a significant relationship between paper quality and preference for mathematics textbook illustrations (r = .712; P<0.05), and there was a significant relationship between colours used in the book and mathematics textbook illustration preferences (r = .841; P<0.05). In view of these findings, the study stresses that educational stakeholders and counsellors should intensify their effort to organise conferences on the implications of these factors (e.g., colour and paper quality, among others) relating to the pupils’ preferences for textbooks, which invariably affect reading comprehension of the pupils.

Prevalence of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder among public primary school pupils in Jos North, Plateau state Nigeria

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Symptoms appear before age of 12 years, present for more than six months and causes problems in at least two of either school, home or recreational settings.

Assessment of school based management committees' involvement in managing public primary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria

The study assessed school based-management committees' (SBMCs') involvement in Managing public primary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis Borno State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to assess: SBMCs' involvement in provision of educational resources; maintenance of educational resources and SBMCs' involvement in maintenance of discipline among pupils in public primary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria. Three research questions were answered. Survey research design was adopted for the study. Simple random sampling technique was used to select 19 head teachers out of the population of 39 head teachers of public primary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State. Questionnaire was used for data collection. The questionnaire was validated and pilot tested. The validity index yielded a coefficient of 0.78, while the reliability index yielded a coefficient of 0.72. Mean and standard deviation were used to analyze the data. The findings of the study revealed that there were passive SBMCS' involvement in the provision of educational resources, there were active SBMCS' involvement in the maintenance of educational resources, as well as active involvement in maintenance of discipline among pupils in public primary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis Borno State, Nigeria. Based on the findings of the study, it was recommended that government should create awareness to enlighten parents, alumni, community leaders, religious leaders on the importance attached to SBMCs involvement in provision and managing educational resources as well as maintenance of discipline among pupils in public primary schools in Maiduguri Metropolis, Borno State, Nigeria.

Accessibility of anal cleansing materials for public primary school pupils in Kajiado County, Kenya

INTRODUCTIONAnal cleansing is the hygienic practice of cleaning the anal area after defecation. Inaccessibility to anal cleansing materials leads to inappropriate methods resulting in faecal hand contamination. This study assessed the accessibility of anal cleansing materials for public primary school pupils in Kajiado County, Kenya.MATERIALS AND METHODSThe researchers used a descriptive cross-sectional study approach, applying a cluster sampling technique to sample eighteen (18) schools to the study. Three hundred and eighty-four (384) pupils were selected from the schools using simple random sampling. The Headteacher and a teacher in charge of school health were purposively sampled due to their knowledge of school resources about hygiene. A total of thirty-six teachers participated in the key informant interviews.Data were analysed using SPSS version 21, and Chi-square was used to test the hypothesis at p<0.05 significance level.RESULTSAccessibility to anal cleansing materials was low at 22.9%. Pupils' class (p-value = 0.036) and level of material awareness (p-value <0.001) influenced accessibility. For Institutional factors, material sensitisation was associated with accessibility (p-value = 0.001). The following sustainability measures were proposed; sensitisation on anal cleansing materials, provision through cost sharing, management of the materials by class teachers and prefects, and continued support by government ministries of health and education.CONCLUSIONAnal cleansing materials access was low; pupils' predisposing characteristics and institutional factors influenced access.RECOMMENDATIONWe recommend that school management and ministries of health and education improve access to anal cleansing materials in schools and develop sustainability measures.

Comparative Study on the Prevalence of Malnutrition among Public Primary School Pupils in Rural and Urban Communities in Warri South

Malnutrition among primary school-age children has continued to pose a major public health issue, especially in developing countries. Nigeria is ranked amongst the top ten countries with the highest prevalence of undernutrition in children while about 2,300 children die daily in Nigeria as a result of malnutrition. Hence, the study was conducted to determine and compare the prevalence of malnutrition among public school pupils in rural and urban communities in Warri South LGA. This school-based comparative cross-sectional study made use of a bio-data form that collected socio-demographic details and anthropometric measurements of the pupils. The nutritional status of the pupils was obtained using WHO AnthroPlus software, while the resulting data were analysed and presented accordingly. The result showed that a total of 330 pupils (165 each from urban and rural public primary schools) were recruited, out of which more of the pupils in urban areas were younger, had parents who were better educated and employed while those from rural areas had higher family sizes. However, there was no difference in the sex and type of family of the pupils. The prevalence of malnutrition was reported as 36.7% with the prevalent form of malnutrition discovered as underweight (35.0%), followed by stunting (13.9%), overweight/obese (8.5%), and wasting (7.2%). Wasting, stunting, and overweight were higher among urban pupils, while the rate of underweight was higher among rural children. This high prevalence of undernutrition among urban pupils could be attributed to poor nutrition arising from a myriad of interrelated circumstances such as poor feeding, eating practices, and recurrent infection. Hence, the need for improved sensitisation of mothers concerning correct childhood feeding and provision of balanced nutrition.

Effect of Computer-Assisted Instruction on Pupils’ Performance in Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning

There seem to be a low attention towards the use of computer as a medium of instruction to optimize education especially in primary schools. This paper, through a quasi-experiment examined the effects of Computer-Assisted Instruction (CAI) on pupils’ performance in Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning. The population for the study comprised all the public primary school pupils in Lagos State. The target population consists of all the primary five pupils in Lagos State public primary schools. The study purposively sampled 2 Government owned schools based on the availability of computer facility in them and randomly sampled 154 primary school pupils. The research instrument that was used for the study was a researcher-made model. The data generated were analyzed using percentages while the hypotheses formulated in this study were tested using Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA) at 0.05 alpha level of significance. The findings show that CAI has a significant positive effect on pupils’ performance in Quantitative and Verbal Reasoning. Based on the tested hypotheses, it is hereby recommended that government should provide CAI devices to all public primary schools in Lagos State and proffer the means of using the CAI devices (electricity).

Parental influence and achievement motivation

"Parents are the close social agents of the children. The impact of parental influence and achievement motivation as determinants of upper primary school pupils’ achievement in Lagos metropolis. To achieve the objectives of this study, four research questions were formulated while the descriptive survey research design was adopted. The study was carried out in one primary school each of six Lagos State Education District. The population size comprised of all primary six pupils in public primary schools and the sample size was 300. The data were presented and analyzed using frequency, percentage, charts, tables and mean. The relationships between the study’s variables were tested using the Regression Analysis of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS). The study revealed that pupils who are motivated and encouraged performed excellently in their academic and also developed high self-esteem towards learning. It was therefore recommended that parents as social agents to the pupils should create time to understand their children’s abilities towards learning and should not to ridicule them when they do not perform to their expectations. Also, the teachers should adopt the best teaching techniques as the pupils develop different habits. Keywords: Parents, Children, Influence, Motivation, Determinants, Achievement"

Relationship between Achievement Motivation Personality Indicator and Academic Achievement among Gifted and Talented Learners in Public Primary Schools in Nairobi County

Gifted and talented learners exhibit personality characteristics that make them manifest different competencies to undertake tasks that their peers cannot. However, in Nairobi County, learning competencies of talented and gifted pupils in public primary schools are below average. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between achievement motivation characteristics and academic achievement among gifted and talented learners in public primary schools in Nairobi County. The study adopted a field survey research design. Target population comprised 3,247 teachers and 19,863 learners in classes VI-VIII totalling 23, 110 participants from which a sample of 391 respondents was determined using Yamane’s Formula. Stratified sampling was used to create 17 strata based on number of sub-counties in Nairobi County. From each sub-county, 13 teachers and 10 gifted and talented learners in classes were randomly selected. This procedure realized a sample of 221 teachers and 170 gifted and talented learners in classes VI-VIII. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers and learners. A pilot study was conducted among 40 respondents from a sample of public primary schools in Nairobi County to establish validity and reliability. Validity was ascertained based on the views of experts in educational psychology and special needs. Reliability was determined using split-half technique and reliability coefficient, r = 0.725, was obtained using Cronbach’s Alpha Method which indicated high reliability. Qualitative data were analysed thematically along the objectives and presented thematically in narrative forms. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively using frequencies and percentages and inferentially using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS 23) to test the hypotheses. Quantitative findings were presented using tables and charts. Results indicated that gifted learners in Nairobi County public schools benefitted from achievement motivation. Analysis of the results addressing H0: showed that achievement motivation has a statistically significant influence on academic achievement among gifted and talented learners in public primary schools in Nairobi County. The variable is positively correlated with number work activities (r = .581, p = .001), language activities (r = .556, p = .002), and essential life skills (r = .514, p = .004). It was recommended that Teachers and parents should create an appropriate learning environment for gifted pupils in public schools to create a positive self-concept, motivation, regulated learning, and problem-solving approach to improve their academic achievement.

Problem-Solving Personality Characteristics as Predictors of Academic Achievement among Gifted and Talented Learners in Public Primary Schools in Nairobi County

Gifted and talented learners exhibit personality characteristics that make them manifest different competencies to undertake tasks that their peers cannot. However, in Nairobi County, learning competencies of talented and gifted pupils in public primary schools are below average. Thus, the purpose of this study was to determine the personality characteristics as predictors of academic achievement among gifted and talented learners in public primary schools in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The study adopted a field survey research design. Target population comprised 3,247 teachers and 19,863 learners in classes VI-VIII totalling 23, 110 participants from which a sample of 391 respondents was determined using Yamane’s Formula. Stratified sampling was used to create 17 strata based on number of sub-counties in Nairobi County. From each sub-county, 13 teachers and 10 gifted and talented learners in classes were randomly selected. This procedure realized a sample of 221 teachers and 170 gifted and talented learners in classes VI-VIII. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers and learners. A pilot study was conducted among 40 respondents from a sample of public primary schools in Nairobi County to establish validity and reliability. Validity was ascertained based on the views of experts in educational psychology and special needs. Reliability was determined using split-half technique and reliability coefficient, r = 0.725, was obtained using Cronbach’s Alpha Method which indicated high reliability. Qualitative data were analysed thematically along the objectives and presented thematically in narrative forms. Quantitative data were analysed descriptively using frequencies and percentages and inferentially using Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation Analysis with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS 23) to test the hypotheses. Quantitative findings were presented using tables and charts. Results indicated that gifted learners in Nairobi County public schools exhibited positive self-concept characteristics, practiced self-regulated learning, engaged in problem-solving frequently, and benefitted from achievement motivation. Also, analysis of the results addressing the null hypothesis showed that problem-solving has a statistically significant influence on academic achievement among gifted and talented learners in public primary schools in Nairobi County. The variable is positively correlated with number work activities (r = .508, p = .005), language activities (r = .538, p = .003), and essential life skills (r = .500, p = .006). It was recommended that Teachers and parents should create an appropriate learning environment for gifted pupils in public schools to create a positive self-concept, motivation, regulated learning, and problem-solving approach to improve their academic achievement.

Effectiveness of Strategies Used in Developing Accuracy and Coherence in Writing among Public Primary School Pupils in Namtumbo District, Tanzania

This study qualitatively explored the effectiveness of the strategies used by teachers in developing writing accuracy and coherence among public primary school pupils in Nantumbo District, Tanzania. It used the case study design involving the population of 736 purposefully sampled individuals including 16 teachers and 720 pupils from eight (8) schools in Namtumbo District Council. The study used classroom observation, focus group discussion, classroom continuous assessment and documentary review in data collection. Content analysis was adopted to analyses data and the findings revealed that teachers used various strategies in teaching how to write alphabetical letters including scaffolding, brief explicit lessons, alphabetic order, songs and teaching aids. It was further found out that some of these strategies such as using a talk-chalkboard strategy to teach punctuation marks were not effective to scaffold pupils and make them master writing. The study recommends teachers to use interactive strategies to enhance students’ acquisition of the writing skills.