Challenges

Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education: Bridging the Gap for Students with Disabilities (Published)

Students with disabilities experience (SWDS) difficulties in learning due to limitations placed on them by their defect. To meet their learning needs distinguishing educational provisions from regular education were introduced into educational system which consist of special teachers and modification of curriculum, instructional procedures, methodology, instructional materials and learning environment contingent on category and magnitude of disabilities. Similarly, given that learning has to be effective; inclusive education in regular educational institutions was introduced. Nevertheless, while those who cannot benefit from inclusive education due to the severity of their handicap; provisions were made to accommodate them in special classes and special schools. These provisions are indeed beneficial to SWDs. However, introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in tertiary institutions personalizes and has been found to enhance learning for SWDs. Moreover, its use is not without challenges which need to be addressed to enable them benefit maximally from this novel and unique technology. This paper, therefore, through evaluative and prescriptive methodology using google search on the theme, concepts and keywords examines the type of AI technologies used by SWDs in higher education, benefits and challenges. Finally, the paper offers some suggestions on overcoming these challenges to enable SWDs benefit maximally from the usage.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies, Challenges, Higher Education, students with disabilities (SWDs).

Fostering Structured Play: Challenges and Solutions for School Administrators in Government Pre-Primary Schools of Longido and Monduli Districts, Tanzania (Published)

This study examined the challenges school administrators face in enhancing the implementation of Structured Play Activities in government pre-primary schools in Longido and Monduli Districts in Arusha Region in Tanzania and solutions to address the challenges. The study was guided by the systems theory proposed by Ludwig von Bertalanffy in 1936. Convergent research design was used to collect quantitative and qualitative data, which enabled the triangulation of collected information, thus giving a detailed understanding of the challenges and their solutions. The sample consisted of 268 participants who were obtained through stratified, purposive and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected through questionnaires and interviews. The instruments were validated by experts in the fields of research, administration, and early childhood education. Reliability was ensured using Cronbach alpha and triangulation techniques. Quantitative data were analyzed descriptively, while the qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings indicated the challenges faced by school administrators in enhancing the implementation of SPA in government pre-primary schools, such as inadequate financial resources and scarcity of highly skilled educators. The study concluded that the implementation of SPA in government pre-primary schools is greatly impeded by financial limitations, which negatively affected the efforts to provide teaching and learning facilities appropriately. Additionally, the scarcity of highly skilled educators with expertise in pre-primary education presents a significant obstacle for administrators in the successful execution of organised play activities in government-run pre-primary schools in the districts of Longido and Monduli. To address these challenges, there is a need for the government to allocate a special budget for early childhood education, to employ qualified pre-primary teachers and to provide professional development to teachers.

Keywords: Challenges, Implementation, school administrators, solutions, structured play activities

Challenges and Coping Mechanisms of Career Mothers Teaching In Selected Senior High Schools in the New Juaben Municipality of Ghana (Published)

Over the years, women’s position has changed remarkably from just a home keeper and baby maker and they are seen in various sectors actively engaged in work outside the home. Despite these great strides, women seem to face many challenges, including discrimination and gender stereotypes. This study explored the challenges and coping mechanisms of career mothers teaching in selected senior high school in the New Juaben Municipality. The study adopted the qualitative research approach and used a case study design to explore the experiences of these career mothers. The study population consisted of career mothers teaching in senior high schools in the New Juaben Municipality. Purposive sampling technique was adopted to select twenty participants for the study. A semi-structured interview schedule was used to collect data from the participants. The data was analysed using thematic approach. The study revealed that career mothers teaching in senior high schools faces challenges associated with managing the roles they perform at their workplace and the performance of family responsibilities. They indicated that they cope with conflicting role demands by structuring and planning their day-to-day activities through prioritization in term of their responsibilities. It was also revealed that career mothers needed support from their married partners, family members, and friends in their bid to cope with their conflicting roles. It is recommended that Ministry of Education through Ghana Education Service should develop policies that are gender sensitive to enable career mothers achieve their plights of balancing their work and family life effectively. Such policies may include job breaks, work sharing, flexible working plans and childcare support

Keywords: Challenges, Ghana, Senior High School, career mothers, coping mechanisms

Retrospective Assessment of the Successes and Challenges of Double Track system in Senior High Schools in Sekyere Central District of Ghana (Published)

In our world today, education has gained the recognition as one of the ways of enhancing standards of living and achieving developmental goals. The double tract system was an intervention strategy which was introduced by the government of Ghana to help solved the challenges involved in the Free Senior High School policy programme. This study sought to identify the successes and challenges of the double track system in senior high schools in Sekyere central district. The study used a descriptive cross-sectional survey and quantitative method to collect data from randomly sampled 150 teachers, 300 students and 150 parents in senior high schools in Sekyere central district. Structured questionnaire was used for the data collection. The results of the study showed that the double track system has led to improvement in teacher-student ratio, increased contact hours, efficient use of school resources and the employment of new teachers. On the contrary, the study identified inadequate stakeholders’ consultation prior to its implementation, inadequate provision of logistics and funds by the governments, incompletion of syllabus owing to increased number of holidays, difficulties in maintaining school facilities as a result of all year usage as the major challenges confronting the implementation of double track system. Moreover, majority of teachers perceived that the intervention has not positively affected quality of education at the senior high school because of several setbacks whiles majority of parents and students were of the view that the intervention has positively affected quality of education at the senior high school level. I therefore recommend that government should ensure adequate supply of resources for effective management of this programme in the various senior high schools.

Citation: Benedict Osei-Owusu  and Akenten-Appiah Menka (2021) Retrospective Assessment of the Successes and Challenges of Double Track system in Senior High Schools in Sekyere Central District of Ghana, British Journal of Education, Vol. 9, Issue 9, pp.18-30

Keywords: Challenges, Perception, Quality of Education, Senior High School, Successes, double track system

Challenges Encountered by Student Teachers in Practicing Teaching (Published)

This study investigated the challenges encountered by student teachers during their teaching practice. The sample of the study comprised 4 supervisors and 12 student teachers enrolled in the final semester in the Faculty of Education at Tripoli University. The student teachers studied different content and method courses during their studying journey in the college and did some micro teaching as a prerequisite for the teaching practice. A questionnaire and a semi-structured interview were employed for data collection.  Data analysis revealed that although there was a noticeable application of what they had studied in the college, some remarkable challenges were found. For instance, lack of cooperation between the student teachers and school principal and cooperative teachers, lack of confidence, lack of classroom management skills, little guidance, and support from the part of the supervisors. Finally, the study provided several suggestions that could help eradicate or at least minimize the effect of these challenges on the quality of teaching practice. 

Keywords: : Teaching practice, Challenges, student teacher

Use of Information and Communication Technology Systems for Delivery of Environmental Literacy Education in Nigeria: Opportunities, Challenges and Prospects (Published)

The purpose of this paper is to examine the opportunities, challenges and prospects of using Information and Communication Technology Systems (ICTS) for delivery of Environmental Literacy Education (ELE) in Nigeria. The paper begins by providing a brief but concise definition of Environmental Literacy (EL) and the attributes of an environmentally literate person. It goes on to establish the need for ELE in Nigeria, using empirical evidence that clearly reveals a high level of Environmental Illiteracy among all segments of the Nigerian citizenry and its adverse consequences of wide spread backwardness and poverty in the country. The paper also defines the concept of ICTS and their role in education with particular reference to Nigeria. After further clarification of the focus and content of Environmental Literacy (EL) as the foundation of ELE, and in view of the pervasiveness of the Environmental Illiteracy syndrome in Nigeria, the paper establishes that ELE needs to adopt Formal, Non-Formal, and Informal forms/modes of delivery in order to involve all concerned segments of the Nigerian population and illustrates, in an annotated manner, what ICTS are needed to deliver ELE in Nigeria. The opportunities, challenges and prospects of using the ICTS to deliver the ELE programmes are succinctly highlighted, conclusions drawn, and appropriate recommendation made, specifying that the Federal Government of Nigeria should harness features of the opportunities and prospects to minimize the challenges and promote use of ICTS for delivery of the highly needed ELE in Nigeria.

Keywords: Challenges, Environmental literacy education, Information and communication technology systems, environmental literacy, opportunities

Challenges on Development and Education of Nomadic Children in Sokoto State: Implications for Education and Sustainability (Published)

Globally, education as birth right and sustainable development in human capacities and societal progress are being pursued with vigour. The nomadic Fulani are the second largest population of inhabitants in Sokoto state. However, they are among marginalised, underserved, underdeveloped and less educated group not only in the state but the country at large. The paper identifies nomadic life styles, inadequacies in policies and provisions for nomadic education and wide spread corruptions as major sources of constraints to development and education of Fulani children thus affecting the sustainable development prospects. The paper suggests the need for more concerted efforts form individuals and government, need for accurate census figure, mass mobilisation, wide spread campaign and use of culture-friendly integrated health, socio-economic welfare and education packages for all nomads. The paper concludes that it seems obvious that the nomads prefer sending children to cattle rearing than schooling because to the nomads a child who can rear and milk cow is more desirable than a certificate-holder that has no job or cannot breed cattle, thus it is imperative to make nomadic education more relevant to ideals and values of nomads for sustainable development to be a reality and achievable.

Keywords: Challenges, Development, Education, Sokoto, State, nomadic children

The Challenges Encountered by the Selected Private Universities in Kenya in Implementing Strategies that Would Lead to a Financially Sustainable University (Published)

Great expectations of high quality education are held by many people due to a high demand of tertiary education in private Kenyan universities. Higher education in Kenya has experienced a lot of numerical growth of the number of universities chartered. As of November 2015, Kenya had a total of 70 chartered universities. Of these, 17 were private chartered ones which had grown in number from 3 to 17 in just two decades (CUE 2015, Chacha 2004,4). That notwithstanding, private universities face numerous challenges, which if not addressed, their sustainability will be threatened.  This paper therefore seeks to explore the challenges encountered by selected private universities in Kenya, in implementing strategies that would lead to a financially sustainable university. These challenges were classified into two categories: the internal and external challenges. The internal challenges, experienced from within the university included: inadequate finances, university leadership and structures while the external ones include: government funding, government regulations and donor support. Qualitative grounded theory design was used in which an  interview guide and a self-developed interview schedule were used in data collection. Twenty respondents were involved from four theological private universities. A fifth university was used for a pilot study. Data was organized manually and analyzed qualitatively through the use of codes and formation of categories. The strategies utilized were: students’ recruitment, internal and external funding, program development, review and diversification. The findings show that different universities are engaging in different strategies without much success in terms of income generated. This was attributed to the many internal and external challenges being faced by these universities. Therefore, this study proposed a financial sustainability system that is based on grounded theory which recommends the need to prioritize income generating strategies – developing, reviewing and diversifying revenue streams (input activities) that will generate adequate income to overcome the challenges in the system that are a major impediment to implementation of activities (output) that would lead to establishment of a financially sustainable university. This paper concludes by suggesting ways of developing, reviewing and diversifying revenue streams that will enhance the financial sustainability of the sampled universities. Moreover, it recommends that universities should develop more creative strategies that are not yet in place, review their status and also diversify their strategies to achieve financial sustainability.

Keywords: Challenges, Donor, Financial Sustainability, Higher Education, Private University, Strategies.

Drug Use Challenges Facing Student Leaders in Discipline Management in Secondary Schools in Kosirai Division, Kenya (Published)

Student leaders in school play a very important role in enhancing discipline among the students. However, they often face a lot of indiscipline challenges from the students, making it difficult for them to perform their management duties in school. Based on a study conducted in Kosirai Division, Nandi County, Kenya, this paper examines the drug use related challenges facing student leaders in discipline management. The study employed a descriptive survey design.  Questionnaires, interviews and document analysis were used to collect data, which was analysed both quantitatively and qualitatively and presented in form of frequency tables. SPSS also aided the data analysis process. A total of 183 students/student leaders, 50 teachers and 12 deputy principals were sampled in the study. The study findings indicated that there was use of drugs among high school students. The student leaders also said they encountered problems when dealing with students who use drugs. Consequently, these student leaders ended up performing poorly as they tended to use much of their time dealing with discipline problems amongst drug abusers. The prevalence of drug abuse among the youth is high and therefore there should be concerted efforts by the ministry of education officials, school management and parents in general to combat the use of drugs in schools and outside school.

Keywords: Challenges, Discipline Management, Drugs Use, Secondary Schools, Student Leaders

Correlates of Coping with the Challenges of Incarceration among Nigerian Prison Inmates (Published)

This paper investigated the correlates of coping with the challenges of incarceration among Nigerian prison inmates. The study was carried out in Port Harcourt Prison, Rivers State, Nigeria. The population of the study consisted of 2,997 inmates, of Port Harcourt Prison while the sample was 250 inmates who were composed through stratified random sampling technique from the population. Relevant data for testing the five null hypotheses formulated for the study were gathered through indirect administration of copies of “Correlates of Coping with Challenges of Incarceration Questionnaire (CCCIQ)” on the sample. The questionnaire was developed by the researchers’. Its reliability co-efficient which was ascertained through the test retest method within an interval of two weeks was 0.78. Statistical analysis was carried out with t-test of independent mean scores and the results show that sex, years of incarceration, educational level, nature of incarceration and marital status have significant influence on coping with the challenges of incarceration among prison inmates. These results were discussed and some recommendations also made. One of the recommendations is that programmes and policies that will increase the ability of prison inmates to cope with their challenges should be put in place by the government and concerned non-governmental organizations.

Keywords: Challenges, Coping, Incarceration, Inmates, Nigerian Prison