Education Research Articles

Exploring the Socio-Economic Challenges and Daily Life of Persons with Disabilities Insights from Mehendiganj Upazila: A Case Study Approach<b></b>

This study explores the experiences, challenges, and aspirations of persons with disabilities in Mehendiganj, Barisal, Bangladesh. This study uses a qualitative approach, including in-depth, case-based interviews to gather detailed insights from a group of participants who were persons with disabilities. Key findings of this research show that people with disabilities in a particular region encounter significant barriers, including limited access to financial resources, inadequate access to education and vocational training, and a breakdown of society. A lack of infrastructure and support services exacerbates these challenges. Despite the challenges, the research reflects the core strengths and knowledge of the participants in different fields. Many of them strongly desire to overcome adversity and pursue aspirations of life through better education, employment opportunities, and social acceptance. The research also replicates the importance of the role of family support and social networks in reducing some of the difficulties faced by persons with disabilities. This research highlights the insistent need for comprehensive policies designed to address the unique needs of persons with disabilities. Recommendations include developing vocational and educational programs addressing the need, improving access to public services based on the requirements, and social awareness programs to combat discrimination and create social acceptance. This study will provide valuable insight for policymakers, social activists, and development professionals to create an inclusive and supportive environment for persons with disabilities in Bangladesh.

Estrategias pedagógicas innovadoras para el desarrollo socioemocional en la educación inicial

Social-emotional development in early education is fundamental for the integral well-being of children and their adaptation to the school environment. This article analyzes innovative pedagogical strategies that promote emotional and social skills from the early educational stages. Recent studies that address the impact of approaches such as play-based learning, emotional intelligence, collaborative work and the use of educational technologies on children's social-emotional development were reviewed. The results show that play-based learning favors emotional self-regulation, conflict resolution and empathy, while activities related to emotional intelligence enhance children's ability to express and understand their emotions. Likewise, collaborative work fosters cooperation and social interaction, contributing to the construction of positive relationships. For their part, educational technologies offer interactive tools to complement socioemotional learning in a personalized way. It is concluded that these strategies should be integrated into early education programs, prioritizing teacher training and the design of activities that respond to the emotional needs of children. Promoting socioemotional development from infancy contributes to integral learning and to the formation of responsible and empathetic citizens.

Metabolic Syndrome in Patients with Depressive Disorder: A Cross-sectional Study

Background: Depression not only fosters the development of metabolic syndrome through behavioral, physiological, genetic, and treatment-related factors, but it also doubles the risk of experiencing metabolic syndrome. The objectives were to assess the sociodemographic and clinical profile of patients with depressive disorder, to assess the various metabolic parameters of metabolic syndrome in patients with depressive disorder, and to study the association between the severity of depression and metabolic syndrome. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among patients diagnosed with depression (n = 160) attending the Psychiatry outpatient department of a tertiary healthcare facility in Puducherry. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D) and modified National Cholesterol Education Program—Adult Treatment Panel-III (NCEP ATP-III) criteria were used to assess the severity of depression and diagnose metabolic syndrome, respectively. Results: The mean age at onset of depression was 31.4 years (+11.3); the duration of depression was 41.2 months (+32.5); and the severity of depression as assessed using the HAM-D was 17.9 (+6.3). The results showed that 27.5% of patients had metabolic syndrome. Factors associated with higher rates of metabolic syndrome included increasing age, female gender (79.5%), being single (25.0%), belonging to upper socioeconomic class (65.9%), non-Hindu religion (20.5%), and urban residence (72.7%) ( P < .05). Patients with metabolic syndrome had later onset (36.4 years) and longer duration (51.6 months) of depression, more severe symptoms (18.2), and were more likely to have recurrent depressive disorder or dysthymia (88.6%) ( P < .05). Furthermore, the current use of psychotropic medications (59.1%) and obesity (93.2%) were significantly associated with metabolic syndrome ( P < .05). Conclusion: This study reveals a high prevalence of metabolic syndrome among patients with depressive disorders linked to factors such as age, gender, marital status, socioeconomic status, religion, and urban residence. Integrated care approaches, including comprehensive screening and targeted interventions, are crucial for improving both mental and metabolic health outcomes.

From Classroom to Screen: Examining Academic Achievement in Indonesian Students’ Transition to Online Learning in Pre- and Post-Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic posed an unprecedented challenge to the education system, requiring rapid adaptation to online learning. This study investigates how sustainable educational innovations facilitated this transition and supported student learning outcomes. The academic performance of 321 Indonesian university students from various fields was analyzed in online and offline learning environments. Findings revealed a notable improvement in GPA scores of 2.75 or lower in online settings compared to offline learning, while no significant differences were observed for higher GPA ranges. Students reported that online learning was more understandable, offered readily available multimodal resources, and provided additional learning time. Additionally, they felt that online learning enhanced academic success and promoted self-directed learning. This study highlights the critical role of online tools in sustaining academic continuity and addressing global educational challenges by offering adaptable educational frameworks. These insights can guide policymakers and educators in leveraging digital innovations to ensure uninterrupted learning experiences and ensuring academic continuity.

Developing an Integration of Sports and Health Teaching Programs to Improve the Physical and Mental Health of Primary School Students

Background and Aims: At present, China's school physical education focuses on the teaching of sports knowledge and skills, ignoring the individual student's interest in sports activities and health education needs, in recent years, the national education department has required that schools should integrate health education into physical education teaching, but the effect is not obvious, resulting in part of the students' aversion to physical education learning and aversion to emotion, the relevant surveys show that teenagers' rates of myopia, obesity and other indicators are rising year by year The study shows that the myopia rate, obesity rate and other indicators of adolescents are increasing year by year, which seriously affects the physical and mental health of adolescents. From the interdisciplinary perspective of kinesiology and health education, this study aims to develop and implement a teaching program that integrates physical education and health education to improve the physical and mental health of fifth-grade elementary school students. The specific objectives were to improve students' physical skills and health knowledge and to promote their overall physical and mental health development through integrally designed program content. Methodology: This paper adopts the methods of literature, questionnaire survey, expert interview, and comparative experimental method, and analyzes the G*power software to determine the sample size, conducts questionnaires, physical fitness, psychological, and other pre-tests on the samples, and screens out 60 students aged between 10 and 11 years old in two fifth-grade classes of Jinzhou Elementary School to be the subjects of the experimental experiment: class 1 is the experimental group of 30 people, including 14 boys, girls 16 students; class 2 is the control group of 30 students, of which 13 are boys and 17 are girls. A before-and-after comparison experimental design was used to assess the effect of the new teaching program through tests such as the integrated physical education and health teaching program, students' physical fitness testing instruments, psychometric scales, mean, standard deviation, t-test statistics, and so on. Results: The experimental results showed that the teaching program integrating physical education and health education had a significant positive effect on improving the physical fitness and mental health of primary school students. This is manifested in the significant improvement of students' BMI, lung capacity, motor skills, and mental health indicators. Conclusion: The physical education and health integration teaching program proposed in this study not only effectively improves the physical and mental health of primary school students, but also provides new ideas and methods for the reform and development of elementary school education. The empirical results of this study provide a basis for future related research and have certain application value and academic contribution.

Exploring the Role of ChatGPT in Transforming the Education Ecosystem

Since its emergence, ChatGPT has emerged as a transformative technology with significant implications for the education ecosystem. This paper discusses the author's attitude towards ChatGPT through three aspects: assessing the potential it brings to the educational ecosystem (including its impact on learners, educators, and the educational system), how educational focus will adapt to the times, and by examining the reasons for the integration of ChatGPT into educational applications through the context of early childhood education, which is the starting point of school education. The challenge of how education adapts to and leads the development of the times is always a difficult issue. The focus of this paper is still centered around the "essence of education". Regardless of the emergence of new methods, the ultimate goal of education is to cultivate individuals with sound physical and mental development

Making Arab socialism palatable: Egyptian housewives and the politics of food in Nasser’s Egypt

ABSTRACT This article looks at the intersection of gender, politics and domesticity in the context of Arab Socialist planning in Egypt by analysing the advice given to women around food shopping and preparation in the 1960s. Discourses around food provision and consumption as a crucial component of socialist domesticity and of state intervention positioned women at the centre of the Nasserist project – as its symbols, beneficiaries, agents and occasionally, as its antagonists. Women – housewives in particular – were responsible, in a multitude of ways for making Arab socialism comfortable and, in the case of food shopping and preparation, palatable in the context of increasing economic austerity. I argue that cooking advice, found chiefly in the women’s press but also in cookbooks, popular culture, the educational system and government discourses around food purchasing under socialism politicised the figure of the housewife in new ways, as both as a beneficiary of the food supply program and as a political subject charged with the success of Arab socialist planning.

S. A. Tokarev about Religion: The Celestial and the Terrestrial in the Soviet Context

S. A. Tokarev wrote on a variety of topics, yet his primary academic interest was the study of religion. He was a scholar of his time, holding Marxist views and approaching the analysis of religion from a materialistic perspective, but he never departed from strict and consistent logic, avoiding unquestioning acceptance of the official point of view. All this was clearly manifested in his contributions to the debate on religion that unfolded on the pages of the journal Soviet Ethnography in 1979 — 1981. In the article that initiated the discussion, S.A. Tokarev offered ethnographers his own vision of the study of religion, which extended beyond the ideologized officialism, and outlined the subject matter of the ethnographic study of religion. He posed questions that were not quite typical of his time and slightly above the ideological restrictions of the period. He expanded the issues significant for the ethnographer, while not denying but rather emphasizing the importance of the study of folk forms of religiosity — the main direction in the study of religion by ethnographers at that time (along with the study of primitive beliefs). S. A. Tokarev, one of the founders of the Soviet ethnographic school and a key figure in the development of the system of higher ethnographic education in the USSR, was a scholar of his era. But the works of scholars like him facilitated the continuity with the old school and did not fatally isolate the Soviet humanities from the global academic community. In fact, the issues raised by S. A. Tokarev are also in line with the contemporary challenges facing the ethnological/anthropological study of religion: religious identity and its relationship to other forms of cultural identity, religious conversion and related shifts in identity, different manifestations and new forms of religiosity, global religious movements, the complexities of religious statistics, the religious and the secular.

Factors Affecting the Severity of Domestic Violence against Pregnant Women: A Cross-Sectional Study in Northeastern Iran

Background and Objectives: Violence against pregnant women is a clear violation of women's rights associated with many consequences and complications both for the mother and fetus. In this study, we aimed to determine factors affecting the severity of domestic violence against pregnant women. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was carried out between July 2020 and September 2021. The participants were 234 women with low-risk pregnancies (28-40 weeks) who were transferred to the maternity ward of Bentolhoda Hospital in Bojnurd City. Mothers were selected by the convenience sampling method. A two-part questionnaire was used in this study, which included demographic and midwifery information questionnaires and a domestic violence questionnaire created by Tabrizi in 2013. Subsequently, the data were analyzed using logistic regression. Results: The prevalence rate of violence against pregnant women (experiencing at least one type of domestic violence from the husband) was 64.6%. Among those who had experienced violence, 36.1% of the participants experienced low to very mild violence during pregnancy and 63.9% experienced moderate violence. However, severe violence was not experienced by any of the research units. Also, there was a significant relationship between babies' gender and the severity of violence (P=0.03). Pregnant women with male fetus (OR = 3.14, CI95%:1.093–9.069) were 3.14 times more exposed to violence with moderate severity. Conclusion: In this study, most women suffered domestic violence with moderate severity. Among pregnant women with male fetuses, the severity of violence was even higher. Thus, it is necessary to pay a proper attention to the design and implementation of educational and support programs for these women to prevent domestic violence and reduce its adverse impacts.

Utilizing Multimedia and Interactive Platforms in a Secondary Vocation School Politics Course: A Quasi-Experimental Study

Background and Aim: Using multimedia and interactive platforms in education has the potential to enhance students' overall learning performance and study motivation. This study explores the integration of Bilibili, a popular video-sharing platform, into the political science curriculum for secondary vocational school students in China. By comparing the performance and motivation levels of students using Bilibili with those following traditional teaching methods, the study aims to determine the effectiveness of multimedia tools in improving educational outcomes among vocational students. Specifically, this study seeks to evaluate whether Bilibili can enhance secondary vocational school students' understanding of basic political science concepts and principles, improve their application and analytical skills in the subject through a quasi-experimental design, and assess their motivation to learn political science using the Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ). The results indicate that students in the experimental group who used Bilibili showed significant improvements in test scores and exhibited higher levels of motivation compared to the control group. Materials and Methods: A quantitative research design was used to compare the effects of using Bilibili with conventional instruction. 114 secondary vocational school students were selected via stratified random sampling, with 56 in the control group and 58 in the experimental group. Pre-test and post-test assessments measured learning outcomes and motivation levels across key political science concepts and principles. Results: The use of Bilibili significantly improved understanding of political science concepts compared to traditional methods. Post-test scores were notably higher in the experimental group, indicating the effectiveness of integrating Bilibili into the teaching process. Both mean and t-test analyses supported the superiority of Bilibili-enhanced learning in increasing student motivation and academic performance. Conclusion: Implementing Bilibili as a teaching tool positively impacts academic performance in political science students at secondary vocational schools. This approach significantly enhances learning outcomes and student motivation, offering valuable insights for educational program design in vocational education.

EDUKASI PENCEGAHAN DAN DETEKSI DINI KANKER SERVIKS PADA ANGGOTA PMN (PERMODALAN MEKAR MADANI)

Cervical cancer is a malignant tumor that forms in the cervix. The primary cause of cervical cancer is an infection with oncogenic types of Human Papillomavirus (HPV), particularly types 16 and 18, which lead to abnormal growth in the cervical epithelial tissue. Other risk factors that increase the incidence of cervical cancer include sexual activity with multiple partners, sexually transmitted infections, immune disorders, having many children, low socioeconomic status, and lack of knowledge about reproductive health. The aim of this activity is to enhance participants' knowledge about reproductive organ health as well as the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer. Increasing knowledge can be achieved by providing education on the prevention and early detection of cervical cancer, as well as educating about reproductive health. The results of the educational program showed an increase in knowledge, as reflected in the improved post-test scores.

Development Evaluation and Acceptability of Module in Science Technology and Society

The purpose of this study is to develop, evaluate, and determine the acceptability of an instructional module in Science, Technology, and Society (STS) for students at West Visayas State University. The study aims to assess how effectively the module enhances student learning outcomes, focusing on its instructional quality, content relevance, and technical accuracy. In response to the increasing demand for high-quality educational materials, particularly in the field of STS, this research addresses the need for structured, self-paced learning tools that support both student engagement and academic performance. Modules provide a flexible learning environment that aligns with contemporary educational practices and meet the growing need for autonomous learning resources. The study utilized the ADDIE model, a systematic instructional design framework, to guide the development of the module. Participants included 51 students enrolled in the Bachelor of Secondary Education and Bachelor of Elementary Education programs. Data were collected through pre-tests, post-tests, and evaluations by expert validators. The module was assessed on various criteria including content accuracy, instructional quality, and technical aspects such as design and layout. Results indicated significant improvement in student performance, with post-test scores increasing from “poor” to “very good.” Expert validators rated the module as “Very Acceptable” across most categories, particularly in instructional quality, although some recommendations for improving content accuracy were noted. The study concludes that the developed STS module is an effective instructional tool for enhancing student learning outcomes. The findings suggest that continuous updates to the module’s content are necessary to maintain its relevance and accuracy. Further research could explore the long-term impact of such modules on student engagement and retention, with recommendations for integrating multimedia enhancements to foster a more dynamic learning experience. Keywords: Instructional Module, Science Technology and Society, ADDIE Model, Educational Material Development, Acceptability

Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs Consumption and Awareness About Risks During Pregnancy In AL-Bayda City, Libya

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are one of the most common prescribed medications for relieving pain, fever, and inflammation. Most NSAIDs are available without a prescription, and they often consumed by pregnant women for short periods of time to treat mild pain. However, these drugs can cause substantial teratogenic effects. NSAIDs such as aspirin, diclofenac sodium and ibuprofen might cause oligohydramnios (low amniotic fluid) or prenatal renal abnormalities if taken in the late second half of pregnancy. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that taking NSAIDs in the period from the fifth month of pregnancy to delivery is not safe. This research was conducted to explore pregnant women's knowledge about NSAIDs during gestation period as well as consumption patterns. This study was conducted during the period from 10/2/2022 to 10/3/2022 in private clinics in Al-Bayda, Al-Quba cities as well as Al -Thawra hospital targeting 250 pregnant women who asked gently to fill in a printed questionnaire. The questionnaire has a variety of questions regarding age, consumption of NSAIDs during pregnancy and awareness about the benefits and risks of these drugs. Our study indicated that 55.6% of the pregnant women were in the range of twenty-two to twenty-nine years old. Half of pregnant women (50%) did consume painkillers (NSAIDs). Aspirin was the most common drug (55%). Forty-five out of 125 were consuming these drugs without prescription (36%). The common reason for consuming NSAIDs was varicose veins (31%). 30.4% of pregnant women had a miscarriage. Poor fetal growth was the most common cause of miscarriage among 29% of participants. Sixty-five percent of the participants knew that using this kind of drugs in the last month of pregnancy affect their health negatively. Only 4% of them had miscarriage due to consumption of NSAIDs. Pain management noticed in 90% of pregnant women. Awareness about the positive and negative effects of NSAIDs was noticed in 55% of the participants. In conclusion, despite the fact which is consumption of NSAIDs throughout pregnancy has undesirable effects on pregnant women and fetus, these drugs are widely prescribed by doctors to pregnant women. NSAIDs should not be prescribed during pregnancy unless mother's outcomes exceed the possible fetal adverse effects. Our research found no significant relation between NSAIDs consumption in the period of pregnancy and miscarriage. Although our results were satisfied, concentrated education programs are needed to spread knowledge in our society and another research must be conducted on a large sample size to investigate the differences among this study with the current research.

Organizational Climate Management in the Context of Initial Mathematics Teacher Education

Objective: This study aims to analyze the impact of organizational management on motivation, satisfaction and commitment in teacher training in the context of Chilean quality assurance policies that emphasize a positive school climate and good coexistence. Methods: Using a Likert scale with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.957, we surveyed 62 students in a mathematics teacher education program. A multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to examine how motivation, satisfaction, and engagement were related to organizational management and climate. Findings: The results show that motivation and satisfaction are significant predictors, explaining 61.5% of the variance in organizational management, while commitment also influences climate, but to a lesser extent. These results underscore the importance of motivation and satisfaction for effective organizational management and suggest that these factors may be more important than commitment in shaping a positive organizational climate. Novelty/Improvement:This study contributes to the literature by highlighting the need for management models that are tailored to specific educational contexts and calls for future research to examine additional variables that influence organizational climate in higher education to improve our understanding of the factors that influence educational environments. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2024-SIED1-018 Full Text: PDF

PERCEPTION OF WOMEN’S INFERTILITY AMONG THE YORUBAS IN IBADAN, OYO STATE, NIGERIA

Cultural beliefs are consequential in explaining the general perspective of any disease(s) and this has led to discrepancies in the description of the etiology of diseases between patients and professional health care providers, thereby affecting the care provided and patients’ compliance with treatment. Infertility is also seen in that light. This study thus examined the perception of women’s infertility and treatment of infertility among married men and women in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. Structured questionnaire copies were administered on 400 respondents while data were elicited from 12 married men and women that were yet to give birth (3 in each of the 4 selected LGAs) through Key Informant Interview (KII) guides. The study measured the perception of infertility, causes of infertility, solution to infertility and association between some demographic variables and the perception of infertility. The results revealed that infertility was majorly discerned as a spiritual problem (40%) and ancestral curses (24%). Solutions to the challenges were diverse as shown by indulgence in prayer (39%), consumption of herbal concoction (29%) and making sacrifices to appease the gods (15%.. Statistically, the Chi Square test showed significant relationship between religion and perception of women infertility. The study recommends aggressive public advocacy programs and pragmatic reproductive health education programmes targeted at addressing misconceptions/fallacies about infertility coupled with accessible and affordable health care for couples horse-trading with infertility.

Awareness and Knowledge of Sexually Transmitted Infections and its Associated Factors among Clinically Suspected Cases Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital in Eastern Uttar Pradesh

Introduction: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) include a range of clinical syndromes that may be acquired/transmitted from one individual to another through sexual activity. This study aimed to determine the awareness and knowledge of sexually transmitted infections and its associated factors among clinically suspected cases. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study design was used among 194 STIs patients between aged 15 to 60 years from a tertiary care hospital during August 2022 to March 2023. Data were collected through self-administered structured schedule. A multiple logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with awareness and knowledge of STIs. Results: The proportion of respondents with good awareness and knowledge about STIs was 62% and 50% respectively. Respondents with poor awareness and poor knowledge of STIs were found to be more likely to engage in informal treatment care (AOR = 7.39, 95% CI [2.14-25.52] P = 0.002),) and (AOR = 1.21, 95% CI [1.34-4.30], P = 0.021). Place of residence, educational status, occupation, type of treatment care was found to be significantly associated with awareness of STIs and type of treatment care, referral status, delay in seeking treatment were found to be significantly associated with knowledge of STIs. Conclusion: The current findings show that the knowledge level on STIs has slightly increased compared to previous studies, but it was still unsatisfactory. The existing education programs in the country should be enhanced, by conveying more information on STIs.

An interventional study of digital therapy on blood glucose and weight management in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

Our study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a 3-months digital therapy (DTx) intervention in the real world for the management of blood glucose in 3,902 Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) in Lingshui, Hainan. Adults with T2D who were capable of using DTx application (app) were enrolled. Fasting blood glucose (FBG), 2-h postprandial blood glucose (2hPBG), and body weight before and after the intervention were collected. Participants recorded blood glucose and body weight at least once weekly, and attended diabetes education program with the app during online follow-up once weekly. A total of, 3,902 patients with T2D were enrolled, including 46.3% of men, with an average age of 64.3 years. After 3-months of DTx, FBG decreased by 0.52 mmol/L (8.05-7.53, P < 0.001) from baseline, 2hPBG decreased by 1.18 mmol/L (11.95-10.77, P < 0.001), and body weight decreased by 1.50 kg (61.18-59.68, P < 0.001). The median number of glucose self-reports for each patient was three (0, 273) times. Defining participants who finished glucose or weight self-report for once within 7 days as the motivated group (n = 1,013), the motivated group showed significant weight loss after DTx intervention (motivated group vs inactive group, -3.01 kg vs -0.36 kg, P < 0.01). No significant difference was found in FBG and 2hPBG between the two groups. DTx reveals significant efficacy on glucose and weight control in patients with T2D, which can reduce FBG, PBG, and body weight. Better compliance and motivation with DTx and frequent weight monitoring help achieve better weight control.

Practice education in social work: a scoping review of existing research

ABSTRACT Practice learning is central to the pedagogy of social work education; it enables students to link theory and practice, and supports them to develop the knowledge, skills, and behaviors required to enter the profession. In England, practice educators—experienced qualified social workers who have undertaken relevant training—are responsible for providing learning opportunities and assessing students’ practice learning. This article outlines a scoping review of research on practice education in the United Kingdom (UK). Thirty-seven empirical studies based in the UK were identified, covering four aspects of practice education: working with students, relationships and emotional labor, the practice education system, and the wider context of practice education. This review highlights that practice educators manage a complex array of relationships and demands placed upon them, whilst working at the interface of competing conceptions of social work. Research indicates there is often limited recognition and support for practice educators, and this lack of attention is reflected in relatively scant research on the experiences of practice educators and the skills required for the role. Greater recognition and support are needed to sustain the practice educator workforce, and more research is required to better understand the needs and experiences of practice educators.

From heaven to earth: the rise of ulema as landowners during the Qajar Persia

ABSTRACT This article examines the transformation of landownership and the means of coercion during the Qajar Era in Persia, focusing on the rise of the Usuli ulema as key economic and political players. It analyses how access to means of coercion shifted over time—from nomadic coercion to state-based coercion with the rise of the Qajar state, and later to religious-status-based coercion as the state’s power weakened due to the commercialization of agriculture. This shift enabled certain branches of the Shiꜥite ulema, particularly the Usuli ulema, to amass wealth and engage in landownership and economic activities. The article focuses on how figures like the Masjed-Shahi brothers in Isfahan and the Mojtahedi family in Tabriz capitalized on the political instability of the Qajar era. By expanding religious educational systems and gathering large numbers of students, they built powerful networks that enabled them to assert significant influence over urban politics. This inquiry is primarily based on an analysis of secondary sources, shedding light on the transformation of the religious and political landscape in major Qajar cities and ultimately argues that these changes paved the way for religion to assume a central role in Iran’s socio-political sphere, particularly following the Constitutional Revolution.

Institutional transformation of the children’s after-sсhool sector in post-Soviet countries

ABSTRACT This study examines the institutional transformation of extracurricular education systems across the 15 former Soviet republics using Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA). Drawing on national statistics, policy documents, and expert interviews, the research identifies three distinct transformation scenarios: reproduction, modernisation, and degeneration. The analysis reveals varying degrees of change, from low-level transformation in countries maintaining significant state involvement to high-level transformation where the sector has undergone substantial restructuring. The study employs a composite index to quantify institutional change and explores key parameters such as coverage, accessibility, and legislative frameworks. While highlighting the persistence of Soviet legacy in some nations, the research also demonstrates the dynamic nature of these transformations, with some countries transitioning between scenarios. This comparative approach provides valuable insights into the evolving landscape of extracurricular education in post-Soviet space.