Social Sciences

Objective: to understand the conditions of the elder’s depression and to explore the connections between personal background, self-concept, and depression. Design: The population included 366 samples of the older people above 65 in Ren-Ai district, Keelung City, Taiwan. A self-designed structured questionnaire was used as our research tool. Our data were collected through both questionnaire and one-on-one interview, and then processed and analyzed by package software - IBM SPSS Statistics 20 (Windows version). Results: The average depression scores from our research targets were 2.69 (±2.76). Some major factors that might have to do with the elder’s depression included gender, age, education degree, marriage status, self-consciousness of economic condition, chronic disease index, self-consciousness of health condition, self-concept, and social support.The degree of depression developed by the population of higher education degree (such as college) is less than lower education degree (below junior high school and the illiterate); the female are less than the male; the married and the widowed are less than the divorced; self-consciousness of the economic sufficiency is less than economic insufficiency; and the self-consciousness of healthy condition is less than unhealthy condition.The age and chronic disease index both are positively correlated to the degree of depression, but self-concept and social support are negatively correlated. Lower education degree (below junior high school and the illiterate), self-consciousness of economic condition, self-consciousness of health, age, chronic disease index, self-concept, and social support all have important forecasting capability for the elder’s depression. Self-concept, among them, has the highest explaining capability for the elder’s depression. Conclusions: Our study suggested self-concept and social support should be emphasized for treating the elder’s depression. This should be considered for any future researches.

Quality assurance and relevance of ECD Programmes in many countries obligates the revision of the syllabuses, the establishment of an ongoing in-service programme for teachers, the construction and equipment of resource centers in ECD, provision of free textbooks and the establishment of benchmarks for the improvement of pupils’ mastery levels at the basic cycle. The purpose of this study was to identify Challenges Facing the Ministry of Education Officials In Carrying Out Supervision Of Early Childhood Curriculum In Schools. The study was guided by Allan Glathorm’s (1997) differential supervision model. The study adopted descriptive survey research design. Stratified sampling technique was used to obtain public ECD centers and private ECDE centers, while simple random sampling was used to get 32 public ECD centers and 15 private ECD centers, from 155 centers in the District. All head teachers from selected ECD centers were involved in the study and one ECD teacher from each selected centre. Five field officers were selected for the study using purposive sampling. Data collection instruments involved the use of the following: questionnaires, interview schedule and document analysis. Descriptive statistics (percentages and bar graphs) and inferential statistics (regression analysis) were used to analyze data. The findings of the study noted that supervision of the ECDE curriculum is affected by lack of funding, poor infrastructure, lack of support from the management, dispersion of the ECD centers, interference from local leaders and sponsors. Supervision propelled the teachers’ intellectual abilities, helped them to unearth the children’s potential, and led to positive appraisal of pupils. The study recommended the harmonization of ECDE curriculum, employment of ECDE teachers by the government and quality remuneration of those ECDE teachers.

Although the Republic of Turkey is recognized as a country figured in opposition to the heritage of and in contrast with the Ottoman Empire, it is obvious that this viewpoint does not fully comply with realities. In this regard, it is possible to claim that the attempt of a bureaucratic group to control the whole social and political area, which also revealed itself for centuries in the Ottoman Period and became more evident in its last periods, has passed to the Republic. Center-periphery relationship established by both the bureaucracy and the public with the spirit of Kuva-yi Milliye (meaning either National Forces or Nationalist Forces in Ottoman Turkish) has evolved into a bureaucratic management structure upon the foundation of the Republic. This structure, which was attempted to be justified for institutionalizing and guaranteeing the new state in the early years of the Republic, did not change in the following years; moreover, it turned into an uphill struggle of bureaucratic structure not to lose the positions that it obtained. Although the powerful governments supported by the public upon the initiation of the multi-party system, the bureaucratic structure, having positioned itself as the owner of the state, struggled to take hold of the power every time by antidemocratic means and usually achieved to do it. In this regard, the coups of May 27, September 12 and February 28 may be considered as the attempts of the bureaucratic structure to take hold of the state again. Today it seems that the bureaucratic structure that regards itself as the owner of the state has lost some of its positions; however, it may be suggested that the struggle between the masses willing to have more democracy and this deep structure will go on for a long time. In this study, the struggle of bureaucratic structure to acquire areas and protect the acquired ones in spite of public and democracy and neutralization of politics in this struggle as from the foundation of the Republic until 2002 are discussed.

Housing is many things to many people. The National Rural Housing and Habitat Policy sees housing and shelter as ‘basic human needs next to only food or clothing’ putting makaan in its familiar place beside roti and kapda. In India as per estimated by working group for rural housing for XII five year plan there is 43.67 million household shortage for the year 2012-2017 working group also further estimated that 39.30 million of shortage of houses for the BPL families in India. The central government having a scheme for the rural household called Indira Awas Yojana for addressing the issues of housing in rural areas. The Maharashtra Government took a decision in the year 2011 that the priority for allocation of IAY should be given to those Gram Panchayat where less houses require to construction. This decision of the state government is creating social exclusion of the people from below poverty line. There is another decision of the state government is that if any village wanted to implement rural development scheme in the village is require that 60 per cent of the household should have a own toilets, this decision created 621 gram panchayat of Osmanabad District non availability of fund for rural development scheme from Government. In this paper we are analyzing how the government decision affect development in the Osmanabad district by focusing on faulty policy designing and budgetary allocation which creating social exclusion of people from implementing government scheme for rural development.

The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of strategic responses on Performance in higher education institutions in Mombasa County. The main objective of the study was to determine the effect of strategic responses on Performance in the higher education institutions in Mombasa County. However, the study specifically sought to; assess the effect of Strategic organizational entrepreneurship, evaluate the effect of strategic alliances, determine the effect of organizational learning and assess the effect of strategic planning on Performance in higher education institutions in Mombasa County. The theories used in the study include the institutional theory, resource dependency theory and the regain fit theory. The research design adopted by this study was quantitative. The target population was the 49 institutions of higher education based in Mombasa County as at 10th May 2017. A multi stage sampling technique was employed whereby stratified random sampling and simple random sampling techniques were be used to select the respondents from the study population of 50 and a sample size of 43 institutions of higher education. 3 respondents were selected from each strata hence the target respondents were 135. The questionnaire was used as the data collection instrument and administered to 3 managers hence 132 questionnaires were administered. Out of the 132 questionnaires, administered 75 questionnaires were completed. Prior to processing the responses, the filled questionnaires were edited and checked for completeness and consistency. A pilot study was used for checking of the reliability and validity of the questionnaires. The questionnaires were coded and entered into the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS), which was used for the data analysis. Specifically, data analysis and interpretation was done through descriptive statistics, measures of dispersion and inferential statistics. The findings of the study show that Strategic organizational entrepreneurship, strategic alliances, organizational learning and strategic planning have a significant effect on Performance in HEI’s in Mombasa County. Analysis of the relationship between the strategic responses and Performance in the HEI’s was positively correlated and statistically significant. The study concludes that in order to enhance Performance in HEI’s, these strategic responses need to be adapted. The study recommends that HEI’s should consider realigning their structure to accommodate the variables. Additionally, the study recommends planning that in HEI’

Problem Based Learning approach has been one of the recommended instructional strategies for teachers in Mathematics. Mathematics Project work is provided to give an opportunity for students to experience the Problem Based Learning model in the classroom for Grade 10 and 11 students. Therefore, this study explores the impact of Problem Based Learning on students in developing their Approaches to Learning skills using qualitative methods. Data were collected based on students’ perceptions from a focus group conducted in school. Information was gathered on students’ motivation level in learning Mathematics and on the development of their Approaches To Learning skills namely collaborative, communication, information literacy, and organization, transfer, reflection and thinking skills. The results indicated a positive impact on students' learning process in the Middle Years Programme Mathematics curriculum. Overall, the Problem Based Learning approach had favourable implications on enhancing students’ Approaches to Learning skills development.

In the contemporary world, the essence of empowering the youth to embrace the concept of national and global cohesion through education is not optional but mandatory. It is equally noticeable that education has facilitated the exchange of information and knowledge that generates potentialities necessary for the global prosperity. The contrary is that education is also accountable for making the world too porous, fragmented, and alienated which is reflected superficial peace, perplexing pandemonium, and ambiguous inhabitance. In contradistinction, education has brought the world together in an attempt to create global prosperity, but has failed to fulfill aspirations of the youth and bring harmony and cohesion not only in Kenya but also worldwide. It is within this backdrop that there is irrefutable necessity to explore the possible means to empower the youth to appreciate the significance of national harmony, social cohesion and integration in Kenya. It is through teaching and learning that the youth can endorse the principle of national harmony and social cohesion. In this treatise, interviews served as tools of obtaining data from the respondents, while phenomenological theory served as theoretical framework. The outcome is that there is need for a new turn to enhance the youth to endorse the value of harmony and coexistence.

This study has made an attempt to investigate the significant determinants of private investment in Pakistan during the time span of 43 years, from 1973 to 2013, by using ARDL technique. It has been observed in this study that real gross domestic product, real exchange rate, public investment and credit to private sector are the significant determinants of private investment and the enhancements in these variables has increased private investment in Pakistan.

The purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of behavioural activation (BA) in reducing depression symptoms in a sample of 186 children and adolescents from selected children’s homes in Kajiado County. This study was quasi-experimental and used the operant conditioning theory. This theory was ideal because children and adolescents are subject to various positive consequences that subtly shape their behaviour. The participants were purposively sampled and were between ages 9-17 both males and females with a mean age of 13. Participants with scores of 11 or higher on the depression subscale were randomly assigned into either experimental or control arms. The experimental arm received 10 sessions of BA with the control arm receiving treatment as usual (TAU). The participants completed a demographic questionnaire as well as CDI to assess for depression symptoms. Multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS Version 20 was used to identify factors independently associated with levels of depression symptoms. The mean score for the levels of depression was 18.6 (±5.6SD). The CDI scores reduction among the participants was significantly associated with time of follow-up (Estimate= -5.86; 95% CI: -8.91 to -2.81; p<0.001) and the intervention (Estimate= -1.86; 95% CI: -3.22 to -0.50; p=0.012). Based on these findings, BA is recommended for children and adolescents presenting with symptoms of depression. Further, this study will help curriculum developers to integrate mental health into the school curriculum. This will help in arresting the symptoms of depression among children and adolescents appropriately and timely.

The Kenyan government developed the policy of the re-entry of the teenage mothers to school in 2001. The policy allows teenage mothers to re-enter schools after delivery. Despite the policy being in place, very few teenage mothers have been returning to school. This study sought to assess the implementation strategies of the re-entry policy of teenage mothers to school in Bungoma County. The main objective of the study was to assess the implementation strategies of the re-entry policy of teenage mother to schools in Bungoma County. The critical theory by Habernes was adopted as the theoretical framework. The convergent parallel mixed method research design was used. The research population comprised of teenage mothers, student girls, head teachers, principals, Guiding and Counselling teachers, Sub County Quality Assurance and Standards Officers. The main data collection instruments were Questionnaires and Interview schedules. Questionnaires were administered to the Teenage mothers, school girls, Guidance and counselling teachers, while the interview schedule were administered to Sub County Quality Assurance and Standards Officers and head teachers. Pilot study was carried out in Trans Nzoia County. Reliability index of 0.79 was obtained. Quantitative data was coded and presented using tables and analyzed through frequency distribution and percentages. Qualitative data was organized and broken into themes synthesized to search for patterns and meaning. This study was significant for it identified various strategies that are used in implementation of the re-entry policy. The study revealed that there are a number of strategies that are used in articulating the policy, support that are given to the teenage mothers and the enforcement of the policy. There is need to harmonise the implementation strategies so that the various stakeholders are reading form the same script.