560 Articles
Sefoko Ramoshaba
The advent and the rapid advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) has given rise to the complex matter of cybercrimes at educational institutions. The case of cybercrime emanates from the traditional crimes which are committed online like cyberstalking, cyberbullying, unauthorised sexting, sextortion, copyright infringements, piracy, access to of unauthorized data, online child pornography, swindling other students, ad infinitum. This study examines multifaceted role of ICT in igniting these cybercrimes. The study will look at the ICT technologies as the enabling instruments for cybercrimes. The anonymity of committing these cybercrimes amplifies the severity of these cybercrimes which may lead to significant repercussions to the cybervictims’ psychological state and their academic performance. This study will also examine the ICT vectors used by perpetrators to commit these cybercrimes that include social medial platforms, messaging softwares and their applications, universities own internal ICT gadgets, softwares and educational platforms. The study will also look at the challenges faced by educational institutions in detecting, preventing, and managing these cybercrimes. The management of these cybercrimes must be done in a proactive manner than re-active manner. The study will argue that human centred and technological efforts are needed to curb the scourge of heinous cybercrimes.
Maria Alona A. Galendez, Shiela Mae A. Solamin
This study examined the associations between secure attachment, peer interaction quality, and socio-emotional skill development among kindergartners. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed, utilizing cross-sectional data collected from 241 kindergarten students in a selected school district of Misamis Oriental during School Year 2025–2026. Teacher-administered questionnaires measured secure attachment (emotional security and effective communication) and socio-emotional skills (self-awareness, self-management, and relationship skills), while structured classroom observations assessed peer interaction quality in terms of frequency and supportiveness. Canonical correlation analysis was used to determine multivariate relationships among the variables. Results revealed that kindergartners demonstrated very high levels of secure attachment and peer interaction quality, alongside generally high socio-emotional skills. Secure attachment showed a significant positive association with socio-emotional skills, particularly in enhancing relationship skills, indicating its important role in early childhood socio-emotional development. In contrast, peer interaction quality did not show a statistically significant independent relationship with socio-emotional outcomes, suggesting that peer experiences alone may not directly predict socio-emotional growth without the presence of supportive teacher–child relationships. Overall, the findings highlight that secure attachment with teachers serves as a key foundation for socio-emotional competence, while peer interactions function as a complementary but insufficient predictor when not supported by emotionally responsive caregiving. The study recommends strengthening teacher emotional availability and integrating structured social-emotional learning interventions to enhance children’s developmental outcomes. Future research is encouraged to employ longitudinal designs and explore mediating factors to further understand attachment-related developmental pathways.
S. Subhashini, T. Mukunthan
The term “technology” refers to the application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes. It involves the use of tools, machines, systems, and methods developed through scientific understanding. Technology has played a crucial role in transforming human life, making tasks easier, faster, and more efficient. In particular, modern technology has significantly influenced various sectors such as education, healthcare, communication, and industry.
Mohamad Hafis Matnol, Muhamad Fadzllah Zaini
Holidays are an important element in individual life as they facilitate physical and mental recuperation, reduce stress, and enhance social relationships. Despite their significance, scholarly attention on holiday-related studies remains relatively limited. This study aims to examine the research trends on holiday-related publications indexed in Scopus from 2000 to 2024 through a bibliometric analysis. Articles containing the keyword “Holiday” and filtered for open access were retrieved from the Scopus database, resulting in a total of 1,701 documents. The analysis focused on publication trends, document types, source titles, institutional contributions, and keyword frequency in article titles. Findings show a steady increase in publications over time, with significant growth from 2017 to 2023 and a peak in 2022 accounting for 10.05% of total output. A notable surge between 2020 and 2022 corresponds with the COVID-19 pandemic, which influenced research interest in holidays, travel, and well-being. In terms of document types, journal articles dominate (93%), followed by review articles, editorials, and letters. PLoS ONE emerged as the leading source journal (5.68%), followed by International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health and BMC Public Health. The London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine was identified as the leading contributing institution, indicating strong academic involvement in this field. This study highlights the evolving landscape of holiday-related research and its increasing academic relevance over time. The findings provide valuable insights for researchers by mapping publication trends and identifying key areas of focus within the field. Overall, the study contributes to a better understanding of research development on holidays and suggests potential directions for future studies, particularly in exploring broader temporal coverage and socio-economic impacts of holidays.
Dr. Ruth Onywany
Inclusive education for learners with intellectual disabilities remains one of the most demanding areas of education reform because it requires more than policy commitment. It requires early identification, reasonable accommodation, individualized support, appropriate placement, sustained financing, and clear transition pathways. This paper compares Kenya’s inclusive education framework with New York State’s accountability-based special education system to draw context-sensitive implications for Kenya. The study used a comparative documentary policy analysis supported by a structured review of official policy documents, administrative reports, and scholarly sources published mainly between 2018 and 2024. It examined how legal frameworks, placement systems, financing arrangements, assessment mechanisms, and monitoring practices influence access, progression, and transition outcomes for learners with intellectual disabilities. The findings show that Kenya has made important formal commitments to inclusive education, but implementation remains weakened by fragmented assessment systems, limited support capacity, inadequate placement data, and severe transition bottlenecks. Official Kenyan statistics recorded 71,851 primary-level learners under the historical administrative category “Mentally Handicap” in public special-needs institutions in 2019, but no corresponding enrolment under the same category at secondary level (Ministry of Education, 2019). New York State, by contrast, provides more routine placement and outcome indicators through the least restrictive environment accountability framework, including a 2020 baseline in which 58.28% of students with individualized education programs were educated in regular classes for at least 80% of the school day (New York State Education Department, 2022a). The paper argues that Kenya can strengthen inclusive education for learners with intellectual disabilities by developing a national placement-and-outcomes dashboard, improving assessment and support systems, clarifying financing mechanisms, and treating transition from primary to secondary education as a monitored system priority.
Muhammad Anas Al Muhsin, Nur Izzati Aqilah Kamarrudin
This study aims to examine the developmental needs of a Digital Arabic Communication Module (DiBAK) for secondary school students through a qualitative needs analysis approach. Data were collected from ten respondents, comprising five students and five Arabic language teachers, using semi-structured interviews, and subsequently analyzed through thematic analysis. The study focuses on three key aspects: current teaching practices, challenges in implementation, and the specific requirements for an effective Arabic communication module. The findings reveal that existing teaching practices remain largely dependent on textbooks and theoretical approaches, despite ongoing efforts by teachers to promote oral interaction. Several critical challenges were identified, including students’ limited vocabulary, low oral comprehension, lack of self-confidence, and anxiety over making grammatical errors. Additionally, systemic factors such as syllabus completion pressure, examination-oriented learning, and insufficient communicative stimulus materials further hinder effective language acquisition. In response, the study highlights the urgent need for a specialized digital module that integrates multimedia elements, AI-enhanced and interactive features, cognitive level-based instructional design, gamification strategies, and continuous formative assessment. This research addresses a significant gap in the literature concerning the limited integration of adaptive digital learning in Arabic communication pedagogy. The findings underscore the importance of developing the DiBAK Module as an innovative and holistic solution to enhance students’ communicative competence and foster more effective language learning experiences.
Dr. Charles Ejesei Eruanga, Professor Luke Osamudiamen Obasuyi
The rapid advancement of digital technologies has significantly transformed the operations of academic and research libraries, necessitating more efficient, secure, and data-driven approaches to decision-making. This conceptual paper examines the integration of blockchain technology and big data analytics as emerging innovations for enhancing library decision-making processes. While big data analytics enables libraries to process and interpret large and complex datasets for evidence-based planning, blockchain technology provides a secure, transparent, and immutable framework for ensuring data integrity and trustworthiness. The study is anchored on the Data-Driven Decision-Making (DDDM) theory, complemented by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, to explain both the utilization and adoption of these technologies in library environments. The paper conceptualizes how the convergence of blockchain and big data analytics can strengthen transparency, accountability, and efficiency in library operations, particularly in areas such as resource management, user services, and strategic planning. Despite their potential, challenges such as inadequate infrastructure, limited technical expertise, high implementation costs, and policy constraints hinder widespread adoption, especially in developing countries. The paper concludes that the integration of blockchain technology and big data analytics offers a transformative framework for modernizing library decision-making and recommends capacity building, policy development, and infrastructure investment to support successful implementation in academic and research libraries.
Alia Nadira Rosle, Muhammad Isyraq Bin Salmi, Nur Izzah Binti Jamil, Siti Aisyah Salehah Binti Saleh
Financial distress prediction has traditionally been based on linear, ratio-driven models that assume stable economic conditions and clear financial signals. However, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced significant uncertainty and uneven recovery patterns, particularly in emerging markets, which challenge these assumptions. In response, this study proposes a conceptual framework for post-COVID financial distress prediction using a Fuzzy Inference System (FIS). Drawing on financial distress theory, decision science, and fuzzy logic, this paper reinterprets key financial ratios—such as profitability, liquidity, leverage, and efficiency—not as precise values, but as flexible and linguistically meaningful indicators. These indicators are then integrated into a rule-based fuzzy inference system to generate a more nuanced assessment of financial distress risk. From a theoretical perspective, the proposed framework shows how fuzzy inference can better capture non-linearity, uncertainty, and the complex interactions between financial variables—areas where traditional linear models often fall short. This study contributes to the financial distress literature by introducing an uncertainty-aware framework that connects corporate finance with intelligent decision-making systems. It also lays a strong foundation for future empirical testing and offers practical insights for regulators, investors, and managers navigating post-crisis environments.
Huzefa Jivanjee
This paper examines the distinction between phenotypic plasticity and evolution through the case study of the Grants' research on finches. While changes in beak size of the finches are often cited as examples of evolution in action, they more accurately are adaptive flexibility within species rather than permanent transformation. Phenotypic plasticity reflects the divinely endowed capacity of organisms to adjust for survival, not the emergence of new forms. The lack of transitional fossils and the reversibility of adaptive traits suggest that large-scale evolutionary claims often rest on assumptions rather than empirical evidence.
Abdul Rauf Suhaimi, Nor Fatin Abdul Jabar, Norazidah Mohamad Isa, Nurul Najwa Abu Bakar
Artificial intelligence is increasingly used in public communication campaigns related to environmental awareness, raising important questions about how automated systems construct emotional engagement and ecological responsibility through language. While climate communication frequently relies on affective and moral appeals to encourage collective environmental action, limited research has examined how generative AI reproduces these discursive strategies in climate-related texts. This study investigates the construction of emotional language in AI-generated climate communication using Fairclough’s three-dimensional model of Critical Discourse Analysis. The dataset comprises forty climate-related texts generated by a large language model through prompts centred on environmental responsibility, climate urgency, and sustainability advocacy. The analysis examines the textual features of emotional discourse, the discursive practices embedded within AI-generated narratives, and the broader ideological implications of automated environmental communication. The findings demonstrate that the generated texts consistently employ inclusive pronouns, evaluative adjectives, moral appeals, and future-oriented narratives to construct climate change as a shared human concern requiring immediate collective action. Empathy is strategically produced through emotionally charged vocabulary that positions environmental protection within a framework of moral obligation and global solidarity. However, the analysis also reveals that these AI-generated narratives frequently reproduce simplified and depoliticised representations of climate responsibility by foregrounding individual behavioural change while minimising structural, political, and institutional dimensions of the climate crisis. The study argues that generative AI systems do not merely replicate neutral information but actively reproduce dominant ideological patterns embedded within contemporary environmental discourse. By extending Critical Discourse Analysis into the context of AI-mediated communication, this research contributes to emerging scholarship on automated discourse, emotional persuasion, and the ideological implications of generative artificial intelligence in public communication.
Nor Nazimi Mohd Mustaffab, Norfazira Azmana
This article describes a new idea in military leadership based on enabling data from Malaysian Military, which is Malaysian Armed Forces, Malaysian air force and Royal Malaysian Navy as respondents for these studies. In the military, the formation of a leader’s character requires modification of one’s identity, which is certainly difficult to apply. Various leadership development programs have been designed and implemented by the country's military organization’s administrators to produce quality, efficient and effective leaders. The leaders who are produced also need to have spiritual as well as physical strength to carry out the tasks. Nevertheless, the overall model of leadership development that is referenced tends to be physically worldly and marginalized strong spiritual construction. Therefore, to produce future leaders who are spiritually and physically strong, the development of leadership characters should consider the spiritual elements that are the backbone of life. The objective of this study is to formulate guidelines for the development of leadership characters amongst members of the Malaysian Armed Forces. The research methodology used the qualitative method of interviews, focus group discussions, observations and document analysis that provided answers to the questions and objectives for this study. Thematic methods were used to obtain the results for this study which is organizing interview questions into four themes. The themes are professional leadership, programs contents, the role of coach and management support. These themes are derived from an in-depth reading of the highlights from previous studies. Twenty-five in-depth interview questions were constructed based on this theme. Then twenty-five respondents consisting of officers, coaches and platoons in Malaysian army were interviewed. New result from these studies is a guideline for Malaysian Military to develop professional leadership among military that can be used for government policy in improving a holistic training system for the Malaysian military.
Agus Widarsono, Annisa Ayuningtyas, Mikanti Annisa Sugrining Rahayu
The advancement of digital technology has fundamentally transformed auditing practice by increasing the volume and complexity of data that auditors must process, necessitating more adaptive and risk-sensitive approaches. Risk-based audit (RBA) and data analytics have emerged as two pivotal responses to this challenge; however, their individual roles and the implications of their integration for audit risk assessment remain insufficiently synthesized in the existing literature. This study aims to analyze the roles of RBA and data analytics, as well as their integration in supporting audit risk assessment. A Systematic Literature Review (SLR) guided by the PRISMA 2020 framework was employed, drawing on 30 peer-reviewed articles published between 2021 and 2026, sourced from Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that RBA improves audit process quality by enabling systematic risk prioritization and strengthening the audit function as a strategic organizational mechanism, while data analytics extends audit coverage through full population testing, enhances fraud and anomaly detection, and facilitates continuous auditing, despite persistent adoption challenges including regulatory barriers, skills gaps, and cognitive risks. The integration of both approaches optimizes risk assessment through five complementary mechanisms: expanding risk identification, improving misstatement risk assessment accuracy, enabling objective high-risk area determination, enhancing audit judgment quality, and optimizing risk-based resource allocation. These findings underscore that the successful integration of RBA and data analytics depends not solely on technological adoption, but equally on governance maturity, human resource capacity, and the development of adaptive audit standards suited to the demands of the digital era.
Dang Minh Tien, Nguyen Thi Hue
This study investigates the contrasting word formation strategies in Vietnamese and Japanese through the lens of morphological typology. Vietnamese, an analytic language, relies heavily on compounding, reduplication, and syntactic particles to convey grammatical meaning, while Japanese, an agglutinative language, employs rich inflectional morphology and affixation to encode grammatical relationships within words. Using a corpus of 100 lexical items from each language across semantic domains such as kinship, verbs, and technology, the research applies morpheme segmentation and typological mapping to identify structural patterns and functional roles of morphemes. The findings reveal that Vietnamese favors semantic transparency and syntactic flexibility, whereas Japanese demonstrates morphological density and hierarchical encoding. These typological differences have significant implications for second-language acquisition, translation strategies, and linguistic pedagogy, particularly in addressing learner challenges and optimizing cross-linguistic instruction. The study contributes to a deeper understanding of how morphological structures reflect broader linguistic and cultural systems.
Dr. Abdelmohsen Mohammed Ahmed
Introduction: Administrative communication is considered one of the fundamental elements for institutional success and goal achievement. This type of communication contributes to enhancing interaction among various managerial levels, supports decision-making processes, and guides individual behavior in the work environment. On the other hand, job performance is one of the most prominent indicators of institutional efficiency, as it reflects the employee’s commitment and competence in fulfilling their tasks. The aim of this research is to present a multivariate statistical model to analyze the dimensions of administrative communication and classify job performance by applying both factor analysis and cluster analysis to process field data. Unaizah Private College in Qassim was chosen as the field of application for the study in 2025.
Muhammad Hanif Abdul Gafar, Nor Amira Mohd Ali
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) has precipitated a fundamental paradigm shift in marketing management, transitioning the discipline from intuitive decision-making toward an autonomous, data-driven orientation. Despite the proliferation of AI tools, the scholarly landscape remains fragmented by inconsistent terminology, uneven sectoral evidence, and a significant lag between technological affordance and strategic policy. The purpose of this paper is to delineate the theoretical foundations of AI integration which ranging from Knowledge Management to agile marketing frameworks while identifying critical voids in current practice and policy. To achieve this, the study employs a narrative review methodology, identifying and synthesizing high-impact literature indexed in the Scopus database published between 2021 and 2025. Following a transparent screening process, the review categorizes the extant research into four pivotal themes: the transformation of CRM and marketing intelligence, strategic adoption factors, operational efficiencies through hyper-personalization, and the burgeoning requirement for ethical governance. The analysis reveals that while AI significantly enhances predictive accuracy and consumer engagement, its successful integration is predicated on a hybrid intelligence model that balances algorithmic autonomy with human creative oversight. This article contributes to marketing theory by reconfiguring Dynamic Capability and Knowledge Management frameworks to account for "algorithmic capabilities," while providing practitioners with an evidence-informed roadmap for responsible AI deployment. By identifying a critical "policy-practice gap," the review highlights that the future of marketing management lies in the ethical orchestration of human-machine synergies. Consequently, this work serves as both a theoretical anchor and a forward-looking guide for navigating the complexities of the AI-enabled marketing ecosystem in a volatile digital economy.
Sara Grace Barnido-Cardano
This study aimed to examine the effect of the flipped classroom model on Grade 6 students’ performance in mathematics in Patterns and Algebra. It also explored the experiences of teachers and students during its implementation as a basis for developing a flipped classroom instructional model. Specifically, the study investigated the effects of the flipped classroom model on students’ procedural fluency, problem-solving skills, and conceptual understanding. It also compared the mathematics performance of students taught using the flipped classroom approach with that of students taught using traditional instructional methods. In addition, it explored teachers’ experiences in enhancing their Mathematical Content Knowledge (MCK) and analyzed students’ learning experiences that contributed to improved mathematical performance. A sequential mixed-methods design was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative approaches. The quantitative phase involved 216 Grade 6 learners from intact classes. Their mathematics performance was assessed using a 60-item multiple-choice test administered as pre-test and post-test to measure procedural fluency, problem-solving skills, and conceptual understanding in Patterns and Algebra. The qualitative phase employed a grounded theory approach to generate insights to inform the development of a flipped classroom model. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with twelve (12) students, purposively selected based on their performance levels (highest, middle, and lowest scorers) to represent varied learning experiences. Additionally, ten (10) mathematics teachers who implemented either the traditional or flipped classroom approach were interviewed to explore their instructional experiences and the influence of the strategy on their Mathematical Content Knowledge (MCK). Data were analyzed thematically to identify emerging patterns in instructional strategies, classroom engagement, reflective practices, and learning experiences. Findings revealed that students exposed to the flipped classroom model demonstrated significant improvements in procedural fluency, problem-solving skills, and conceptual understanding compared to their pre-test results and to students taught through traditional instruction. Teachers reported enhanced confidence in lesson planning, deeper engagement with mathematical concepts, and improved facilitation of interactive learning activities. Students expressed increased motivation, engagement, and conceptual understanding due to pre-class preparation and collaborative in-class problem-solving. Despite challenges such as limited access to technology and time management issues, these were addressed through adaptive instructional strategies.
Charry Jo P. Lian, Joefel Faith D. Pimentel
Motherhood and the nurse educator role involve dual responsibilities that connect family care and teaching demands. This study explored the lived experiences of mothers who strive to balance motherhood and their role as nurse educators. Seven registered nurses who are both clinical instructors and classroom educators and who are also mothers were selected through purposive sampling from a higher education institution in Pagadian City. In-depth interviews were conducted to elicit rich descriptions of their experiences, which were analyzed using Van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenology guided by the five existential life worlds, namely, corporeality, spatiality, temporality, relationality, and materiality. Key interconnected themes emerged including navigating physical exhaustion and emotional guilt in the dual role of a nurse educator and mother; spaces of work and home as sites of exhaustion, emotional contrast and renewal; striving to balance limited time through planning, prioritization, and role negotiation; supportive relationships as a pillar for balancing professional and maternal roles; and material objects as facilitators and reflectors of balancing motherhood and clinical instruction. Despite these challenges, participants showed resilience and adaptability, finding purpose in their dual roles that support both personal fulfillment and professional growth. Academic administrators and policymakers can support nurse educator-mothers through wellness programs, flexible schedules, mentoring, family-inclusive support, and better teaching resources, while nurse educator-mothers can promote balance through self-care, time management, setting boundaries, and effective use of teaching tools.
Cleozel Brandes, Jennifer Eboña PhD, Michelle Angeli Brito
This exploratory pilot study evaluates recreational and existence perceptions of Sinarapan (Mistichthys luzonensis) [italicized] in Lakelet Manapao, San Ramon, Buhi, Camarines Sur, Philippines. Lakelet Manapao acts as both the breeding area and refuge for the Sinarapan, a fish species that has suffered from overharvesting and habitat loss, surrounded by a moderately populated residential zone, creating a valuable setting to record how neighboring communities regard this endemic and endangered fish species. Researchers used a structured survey to interview 12 adult residents who live in or around the Lakelet Manapao area. The survey measured their knowledge of Sinarapan, how they view its importance, their recreational activities and spending, and their stated willingness to pay for both recreation and conservation efforts. The team analyzed responses using descriptive statistics and basic visual summaries to identify response patterns. Initial findings indicate that most participants have knowledge about Sinarapan and consider Lakelet Manapao extremely valuable for both recreational purposes and biodiversity conservation. Residents typically participate in affordable leisure activities. Survey participants expressed moderate but positive willingness to pay per visit and showed interest in making small yearly donations for conservation purposes, while also demonstrating strong non-use values related in ensuring Sinarapan’s existence.[space]Given the small, non-probability sample and lack of formal contingent valuation framework, these results should be considered preliminary and illustrative rather than definitive monetary estimates. However, the pilot study demonstrates the possibility for conducting more comprehensive valuation research using established contingent valuation or choice experiment methods with larger, more representative population samples throughout the Lakelet Manapao area.
Roseline Jesudas
This study critically examines the pragmatic functions of meta-interactional markers in children’s narratives through a Gricean pragma-critical framework. Focusing on Charles Perrault’s "Little Red Riding Hood" and Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm’s "Little Red Cap," it investigates how these markers facilitate or impede effective communication, narrative engagement, and socio-cultural representation. As a pioneering cross-textual analysis, this research employs both qualitative and quantitative methods to elucidate stylistic divergences: Grimm’s version predominantly employs directive markers aligned with instructional purposes, whereas Perrault’s narrative emphasizes expressive and rhetorical markers that underscore moral and aesthetic nuances. The findings demonstrate how authors strategically utilize pragmatic markers to serve pedagogical and socio-cultural functions, thereby extending Grice’s cooperative principles into the domain of literary pragmatics. This comparative approach advances understanding of how meta-interactional markers shape narrative coherence, moral interpretation, and intercultural literacy, offering valuable implications for both literary analysis and language education.
Amat Amir Basari, Azuha Syuhada Norman Zairi
This project focuses on the design and development of a two-wheel self-balancing robot prototype controlled by a PID algorithm. The hardware setup includes an ESP32 microcontroller that processes orientation data from an MPU6050 sensor to manage the movement of NEMA17 stepper motors. A key feature of this system is its connectivity; sensor data is sent to the Blynk IoT platform, which allows for remote PID tuning and system adjustments without needing to modify the code manually. At the same time, the data is exported to MATLAB for a more technical and detailed analysis of the control response. By using a closed-loop control system, the robot can maintain its balance and follow a specific trajectory more effectively, even when faced with external disturbances or changes in the PID parameters. After testing the robot's performance under various settings, the results show a successful implementation of stable control. For future development, adding a camera system could expand the robot's capabilities to include surveillance and monitoring tasks.
Dr. Deepu H N (Assistant Professor), Preethi G S (MSW)
Background: The mental health of Generation Z (born 1997–2012) students in semi-urban and rural educational environments in India has not been extensively studied. Family and social support systems are considered crucial protective factors in areas where formal mental health services are scarce. Objectives: This study investigated the levels of family and social support and mental well-being among Generation Z students in Holenarasipura Taluka, Hassan District, Karnataka, and explored the relationship between these factors. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive-correlational study with 196 undergraduate and postgraduate students chosen through convenience sampling during the 2025–2026 academic year. The Warwick–Edinburgh Mental Well-Being Scale (WEMWBS) was used to evaluate mental well-being, and the Family and Social Support Scale (FSSS) measured perceived support. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, independent samples t-tests, and simple linear regression using IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, version 26.0. Results: Most participants indicated moderate to high levels of perceived support (88.3%) and mental well-being (96.4%). There was a significant positive correlation between family and social support and mental well-being (r = .335, p < .01). Regression analysis revealed that family and social support were significant predictors of mental well-being (β = .335, p < .001), accounting for 11.2% of the variance. No significant gender differences were found. However, postgraduate students reported higher perceived support than undergraduates, whereas students with disabilities showed lower mental well-being. Conclusion: The results underscore the protective role of family and social support in enhancing the mental well-being of Generation Z students and highlight the importance of inclusive counseling and peer-support services in higher-education institutions.
Dr. Shamsul Kabir
This study aims to fill a gap in the field of historiography by an in-depth study of Emperor Akbar (1556–1605)'s educational reforms, which his political and religious policies have often overshadowed. The issue that impelled this study is that prior to the Akbarian period, Indian education was also scattered, snobbish, and religion-based; madrasahs focused more on memorisation of theology rather than practical sciences, thus preventing any innovation in an increasingly diverse empire. Accordingly, this article has set out to overview of the reign of Akbar, then present the education before Akbar, then walk through Sulh-i-Kul philosophy and rational enquiry, systematic organization of institutions, education curricula in the madrasahs, language policy, translation movement, vocational training, scholars and teachers, and libraries, and then evaluate the overall impacts of these policies. The use of historical-analytical methodology, based on primary sources like the A'in-i-Akbari, Akbarnama, and contemporary court chronicles as well as secondary works, has yielded the following findings: Akbar revolutionized education through state-sponsored madrasahs with a balanced curriculum favouring logic, sciences, and humanities; the use of Persian as an administrative lingua franca supported by translations of Sanskrit epics; vocational workshops (karkhanas); the patronage of scholars like Abul Fazl; and the establishment of vast libraries, all of which advocated inclusivity under Sulh-i-Kul. In consequence, among elites and administrators, literacy levels rose dramatically, a powerful cultural fusion gave rise to a unique Indo-Persian scholarly tradition, and rationalism continued to flourish in successive reigns, though the attention of the rulers did not extend much to the countryside. The findings of this study point towards the fact that Akbar's model of education, which was based on tolerance, vocational unity, and empirical inquiry, is still very much relevant to present-day issues of societal polarization in different polities like modern times.
Agus Widarsono, Annisa Nur Hanifah, Chika Almalia Agisti, Luthfiyyah Khaira Zahra
The rapid advancement of digital transformation has significantly increased cybersecurity risks faced by organizations, making cybersecurity governance and auditing essential components of organizational resilience. This study aims to analyze the development of cybersecurity audit frameworks and access control mechanisms in information systems through a Systematic Literature Review (SLR). The study follows the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and reviews 30 Scopus-indexed journal articles and conference proceedings published between 2020 and 2025. The review focuses on comparing cybersecurity audit frameworks, identifying recent trends, examining implementation challenges, and analyzing the evolution of access control mechanisms. The findings indicate that widely used frameworks such as ISO/IEC 27001, NIST Cybersecurity Framework (NIST-CSF), COBIT, CIS Controls, SOX, and COSO possess different orientations, strengths, and limitations regarding governance, compliance, flexibility, and technical protection. The study also reveals a shift from traditional compliance-based auditing toward risk-based, continuous, and technology-driven auditing supported by Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), blockchain, and continuous monitoring systems. In terms of access control, the findings demonstrate an evolution from traditional models such as DAC, MAC, and RBAC toward more adaptive approaches including ABAC, blockchain-based access control, and Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). However, the implementation of modern frameworks and technologies still faces challenges related to scalability, interoperability, implementation complexity, operational costs, and the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals. This study concludes that no single framework or access control mechanism is universally effective for all organizations, and therefore organizations should adopt adaptive and hybrid approaches based on their risk profiles, governance maturity, and operational requirements. The study contributes theoretically by integrating discussions on cybersecurity audit frameworks and access control mechanisms while providing practical insights for auditors, cybersecurity practitioners, regulators, and organizations in designing more resilient cybersecurity governance strategies.
Mazen Mohammed Farea, Tahani Ahmed Obaid
Digital business transformation is currently considered a key component of sustainable development in higher education, yet the strategies and measurable impact used remain sparse in the academic literature. This paper conducts a comprehensive review of 53 peer-reviewed papers, employing the PRISMA method to ensure consistency in the identification, selection, and summarization steps. The timeframe was limited to peer-reviewed journal articles between 2020 and 20225. A systematic search was performed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar with a manual search for other papers that were relevant. The initial database search yielded 1,842 records. After applying criteria to exclude some records and include others, a final analysis was conducted on 53 articles. Nineteen DBT-related sustainable development indicators are identified and categorized into three main themes: technological transformation and infrastructure (21.1%); governance, policy, and culture (26.3%); and competencies, collaboration, and ecosystems (52.6%). These reflections highlight the diversity and imbalance of previous studies and point to a lack of knowledge on how to link governance and infrastructure aspects in sustainable transformation models. This review work provides evidence-based information ensuring the impact of digital transformation in business on sustainability in higher education, providing valuable data for researchers and practitioners seeking to link digital strategies to the sustainable development goals.
Gladys S. Escarlos, Lovelle M. Arguido
This systematic review investigates the current status of anti-bullying policies in public elementary schools in the Philippines and its association with fostering inclusive education and lifelong learning. Despite strong legislation (the Anti-Bullying Act, Republic Act No. 10627 there remains a marked distinction between policy intention and on-the-ground implementation (DepEd Order No. 40, s.2012). Poorly planned, resourced, enacted or enforced in many schools. Yet schools that use comprehensive, whole-school approaches achieve higher attendance levels, greater academic attainment, and improved climate. It provides a synthesis of school case studies where anti-bullying policies have been implemented successfully, and recommends longitudinal studies be included to substantiate assertions that positive effects from these interventions carry into later life. In the end, this paper amplifies the message that resources need to be committed in order to make anti-bullying policies part of an education framework for all students and a pathway for lifelong learning.
Puteri Nur Iwanina Norazman,, Suzzana Othman
This study presents a usability evaluation of a digital Malay language guidebook, Voices of Malaysia: Speak Like a Local, which was developed to support foreign learners in acquiring basic communication skills for everyday interactions. Existing Malay language learning materials often emphasize formal grammar while lacking practical application, pronunciation guides, and inclusive features, which may limit their accessibility and relevance for beginner learners. To address these limitations, the guidebook was designed using simple, context-based expressions and incorporates QR codes that provide access to audio pronunciation and visual demonstration of mouth movements. A quantitative approach was used using pre- and post-survey questionnaires given to 36 participants, comprising foreign learners and Malaysian respondents. Descriptive statistical analysis showed a high level of user satisfaction across key usability dimensions, including ease of understanding (M = 4.58), clarity of instructions (M = 4.64), and usability of QR code features (M = 4.56). The guidebook has also received a strong positive response in terms of improving learners’ confidence and supporting real-life communication. The findings show that the integration of multimodal features improves user experience and engagement, making the guidebook a practical and user-friendly resource for beginner-level learning of the Malay language. This study contributes to the development of accessible and context-based digital language learning materials, especially for foreign learners in multicultural environments.
Charlie C. Romero, Juvy P. Patan
This study examined the academic performance of Senior High School learners and the challenges encountered by teachers and school heads in implementing learning delivery modalities under the Learning Continuity Plan (LCP) in the Schools Division of Surigao del Sur, Philippines. Specifically, the analysis focused on the Mean Percentage Score (MPS) of Grade 12 learners in the National Achievement Test, the level of challenges perceived by teachers and school heads across academic strands, and the relationship between these challenges and learner achievement. A quantitative research design was employed using a researcher-made online survey questionnaire administered through Google Forms. The instrument underwent expert validation and pilot testing, yielding an excellent Cronbach’s Alpha coefficient. The study was conducted in the Schools Division of Surigao del Sur in the Caraga Region (Region XIII), which comprises 24 school districts and 81 senior high schools located in both urban and rural communities. The respondents consisted of 129 purposively selected participants, including 91 Senior High School teachers and 38 school heads from public secondary schools. Findings revealed that the overall MPS was 41.96%, indicating low mastery of essential competencies, with stronger performance in humanities-oriented subjects and weaker outcomes in Mathematics, Science, and Language and Communication. The most significant challenge was the lack of devices and technological tools for flexible learning. Correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between MPS and the perceived challenges. The study concludes that learner achievement is influenced by multiple interacting factors beyond operational difficulties alone. It is recommended that schools strengthen access to digital resources, enhance teacher capacity, and develop context-responsive Learning Continuity Plans to improve instructional quality and academic outcomes.
Mohammed Y.M. Mai, Wang YuanYuan
This study examined academic self-efficacy as a mediator of the effect of personalized learning on academic achievement among graduate students in China. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 450 graduate students in China through an electronic questionnaire, and 446 valid responses were retained after Mahalanobis distance screening. The research instrument consisted of 30 items measuring personalized learning, academic self-efficacy, and perceived academic achievement. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model showed satisfactory reliability and validity, with outer loadings above .70, Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from .930 to .934, composite reliability values ranging from .941 to .944, and AVE values ranging from .615 to .628. The structural model explained 66.0% of the variance in academic achievement and 57.4% of the variance in academic self-efficacy. The results showed that personalized learning had a significant positive direct effect on academic achievement (β = .329, t = 6.413, p < .001) and academic self-efficacy (β = .758, t = 31.583, p < .001). Academic self-efficacy also significantly predicted academic achievement (β = .534, t = 10.856, p < .001). Mediation analysis confirmed that academic self-efficacy significantly mediated the relationship between personalized learning and academic achievement (β = .405, t = 10.115, p < .001). The findings suggest that personalized learning improves graduate students’ academic achievement not only by providing flexible and adaptive learning support, but also by strengthening students’ confidence in their academic abilities.
Amir Lukman Abd Rahman, Hairul Azhar Mohamad, Muhammad Haziq Abd Rashid, Noor Hanim Rahmat, Pavithran Ravinthra Nath, Venny Karolina
Academic writing in higher education has become increasingly complex in the digital age. This type of writing puts linguistic, cognitive, affective, technological, and ethical demands on students. This lead to writing difficulties, anxiety, and challenges for students as they strive to develop academic identity in the midst of rapid technological advancements and evolving assessment practices. Despite a growing body of research, existing studies often examine writing obstacles, pedagogical interventions, AI-assisted practices, or assessment literacy in isolation, creating a fragmented understanding of academic writing development. To address this gap, this systematic literature review aims to identify and synthesize the state of the art in academic writing research through four integrated themes: (1) academic writing obstacles; (2) pedagogical interventions; (3) AI and digital tools; and (4) assessment literacy, integrity, and academic practices. Guided by the PRISMA protocol, a systematic search was conducted across two major databases: Web of Science and Scopus. A total of 600 records were initially identified, of which 24 primary studies met the inclusion criteria following screening, eligibility checking, and quality appraisal. The findings reveal that academic writing challenges are multidimensional, encompassing cognitive overload, linguistic limitations, emotional factors, and identity-related tensions. Evidence further demonstrates that scaffolded pedagogical approaches, including grammar-focused instruction, collaborative writing, blended learning, and critical thinking-oriented tasks, significantly support writing development. AI and digital tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and AI-driven project-based learning enhance autonomy, confidence, and engagement but also necessitate critical AI literacy and ethical guidance. Finally, strong assessment literacy and transparent feedback practices are shown to mitigate writing anxiety and reduce academic misconduct. Overall, this review underscores the need for integrated instructional, technological, and assessment strategies to support ethical, confident, and effective academic writing in contemporary higher education.
Twiza Dorothy Lubingu
Computer-based examinations (CBEs) have increasingly become an important mode of assessment delivery within higher education institutions and professional examination bodies worldwide. In Zambia, the British Council, in collaboration with selected universities and colleges, has implemented computer-based examinations for professional and academic programmes such as ACCA, CIMA, and CIPS. Despite the benefits associated with CBEs, several operational and student-related challenges continue to affect successful implementation. This study investigated the influence of student ICT skills and institutional readiness on the effectiveness of computer-based examinations in Zambia. Guided by the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the study adopted a quantitative descriptive survey design. Data were collected using structured questionnaires distributed to students who had undertaken British Council facilitated examinations at selected institutions in Zambia. Out of 150 distributed questionnaires, 144 valid responses were analysed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics, regression analysis, and ANOVA were used to examine the relationships between variables. The findings revealed that students generally possessed moderate ICT skills, although typing speed, examination anxiety, and unfamiliarity with examination software remained common challenges. Institutional factors such as unstable internet connectivity, delayed examination commencement, intermittent electricity supply, and inadequate technical support significantly affected examination delivery. Regression analysis established a statistically significant relationship between ICT competence and successful completion of computer-based examinations. The study recommends strengthening ICT infrastructure, increasing student exposure to mock examinations, improving digital literacy training, and enhancing institutional operational preparedness.
Saidatul Rabihah Yusri, Zul-Atfi Ismail
Building Information Modelling (BIM) is described as model-based technology for creates, exchanges, and analyzes the whole cycle of construction project. Even though there are numerous advantages to use BIM, the local construction sector is still hesitant to use the technology to deliver its services. This study aims to investigate the response from selected G7 contractors in Penang on the adopting BIM in projects. This study is focusing on discovering barriers and determining the effectiveness and success keys in adopting BIM among contractors. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis in IBM SPSS software. It was found that the primary barrier in adopting BIM is purchasing software and hardware yet need to be upgraded regularly as indicated by mean value of 4.54. The determined effectiveness of BIM adoption is increasing the accuracy of visualizations of project which the value of 4.41, as indicated the most apply. The research was determined the success key which majority of respondents were agreed that BIM adoption program (4.44) can be developed as supporting the implementation in construction industry. This paper presents the current drivers of BIM adoption contractor in Penang construction project.
Ugoeze Sylvanus-Killian
Empowering women in security and peacebuilding is recognised as a global necessity. However, several limitations remain due to firmly entrenched cultural, institutional, and organisational challenges. Women, whether acting as experts, field workers, or policymakers, commonly confront barriers ingrained in patriarchal traditions. This article aims to identify the challenges women face in these fields and to highlight their role within a larger policy and legislative framework. It acknowledges that sustainable progress requires legislative support, institutional backing, and intentional reform. To tackle these problems, the article proposes tailored institutional and judicial reforms to enable women to contribute meaningfully to national peace and development alongside their male counterparts. By establishing structures that transform women’s traditional roles from limitations to opportunities, institutions and stakeholders could greatly benefit from their potential as equal partners in security and integrative development.
Dr. Eric Blanco, Siham Abdalla Yahya.
This paper examines African communalism as a possible framework for transforming intercultural conflict in Kenya, with particular attention to Nairobi County. Intercultural conflict in Kenya is widely understood as more than a matter of cultural difference alone. It is closely tied to historical injustice, political manipulation, social exclusion, unequal access to resources, and long-standing mistrust between communities. At the same time, African communalism, especially through Ubuntu, has been widely discussed as a moral tradition grounded in shared humanity, reciprocity, dignity, and collective responsibility. What remains less clear in existing scholarship is how this philosophical tradition can be applied in practice to contemporary urban conflict settings such as Nairobi. This paper addresses that gap by asking how African communalism can serve as a practical and context-sensitive framework for transforming intercultural conflict in Nairobi County. Using a qualitative, desk-based methodology based on conceptual analysis and secondary literature, the paper argues that African communalism offers an important relational and ethical foundation for conflict transformation through dialogue, reconciliation, collective responsibility, and socially grounded legitimacy. The paper finds that communal values can help rebuild trust and support coexistence, but that they are most effective when working alongside formal institutions rather than replacing them. It concludes that sustainable peace in Nairobi requires both institutional responses and community-based moral frameworks that take dignity, justice, and shared life seriously.
Chinyeaka Justine Igbokwe-Ibeto, Hilary Chinedum Akuwudike, Kingsley Oghenekevwe Ogbeta
Africa is one of the most backward continents in the world. It houses some of the poorest states that are populated by people who are ranked among the world’s poorest of the poor. Certainly, these are not very good comments on a continent that is blessed with rich human and material resources that are acknowledged all over the world. Within the framework of the overdeveloped state theory, this article examined the African state and development management with the aim of identifying the normative and empirical challenges that confront Africa’s development. This study adopted a qualitative approach and is descriptive in nature, with the researcher setting out to illustrate the normative and empirical challenges that confront Africa’s development. Authoritative scholarly sources were reviewed during a desktop study. The purpose was to identify relevant publications and utilise them in the research. It is the position of this article that states in Africa will continue to play major roles in development. The level of human happiness might be increased and the equilibrium of the earth maintained if governments and private individuals do what they are best placed by nature to do. Development has been slow in Africa because its leadership since independence has been unpatriotic, corrupt, lazy, and myopic. No nation becomes great without a critical mass of dedicated, committed, visionary, and missionary leaders. Unfortunately, these crops of leaders have been in the deficit in Africa since the attainment of political independence. On a continent where communal bond is strong, voluntary and people’s organisations should be the bedrock of policies and programmes that promote development.
Wangai Kiama, MMed
Alcohol consumption is a major contributor to global injury-related mortality, particularly in accidental deaths such as road traffic injuries, falls, drowning, and burns. However, forensic evidence from low- and middle-income settings remains limited regarding the magnitude of alcohol involvement and its demographic distribution in fatal accidental injuries.
Wangai Kiama, MMed
Background: Alcohol intoxication is a well-established modifiable risk factor for violent mortality, including homicide. Its acute effects on cognition, impulse control, and risk perception may increase both vulnerability to victimization and involvement in fatal violent encounters. However, forensic evidence from low-resource urban settings in sub-Saharan Africa remains limited. Objective: To determine the pattern and distribution of alcohol intoxication among homicide victims in Nairobi, Kenya.
Wangai Kiama, MMed
Alcohol consumption is a well-established modifiable risk factor for suicide, acting through impairment of judgment, emotional regulation, and inhibitory control. Age is a key determinant of suicide risk, with middle-aged adults bearing a disproportionate burden globally. However, forensic data describing age-specific alcohol involvement in suicide remains limited in sub-Saharan Africa.
Charmaine Lyn C. Magapan, Dr. Rowena M. Libo-on
This study is a survey-correlational research aimed to determine the relationship between quality of tourism experience and competitiveness of agri-tourism destinations in the Province of Iloilo. This study was conducted among the 397 local visitors who presently visited the DOT accredited agri-tourism destinations in the Province of Iloilo. These destinations has a DOT accreditation from the year 2022-2025. The validated and reliability-tested survey questionnaires developed by the researcher were used to collect the data. Data analysis was done using frequency count, percentage analysis, mean, standard deviation, Pearson’s r, point-biserial correlation, eta correlation, and one-way ANOVA all set at 5% level of significance. Results revealed that local visitors assessed the quality of tourism experience as very good and in terms of pre-trip planning phase and en-route phase. Excellent tourism experience was revealed in terms of destination on-site phase and after trip phase. Local visitors rated the competitiveness as extremely competitive regarding the environment and strategies, and highly competitive when it comes to resources and attractions. In addition, quality of tourism experience and competitiveness across all categories revealed a negative and significant relationship when grouped according to age and marital status. For the quality of tourism experience, when grouped according to place of residence and educational attainment in terms of the pre-trip planning phase, significant relationship existed. Positive and significant relationship existed between the quality of tourism experience and competitiveness of agri-tourism destinations across all categories wherein visitors exceptional experiences positively influences perceptions of destination competitiveness.
Fathul Nabila AK, Intan Maizura Abd Rashid, Khairuman M. H., Mohd Rasdi Zaini
This study investigates the effects of insecticide application on the population dynamics of Oryctes rhinoceros and its natural enemy Platymeris laevicollis in oil palm smallholder systems in Malaysia. A Completely Randomized Design (CRD) was employed, comprising three treatment regimes Cypermethrin, Carbofuran, and an untreated control with four replications across twelve plots. Pest and predator populations were monitored from January to October 2017 using pheromone and sticky traps. The results reveal significant differences in pest population abundance across treatments (F(2,9) = 27.424, p < 0.01). Unexpectedly, untreated plots recorded the lowest mean population of O. rhinoceros (0.21), while higher populations were observed in Carbofuran (2.63) and Cypermethrin (3.12) treatments. Temporal analysis indicates that treated plots exhibited greater fluctuation and instability in pest populations, whereas untreated plots maintained consistently low levels throughout the study period. In contrast, no significant differences were observed in the abundance of P. laevicollis across treatments (F = 0.081, p > 0.05), and correlation analysis showed no significant relationship between pest and predator populations. These findings suggest that insecticide application did not consistently enhance pest suppression under field conditions and may be associated with increased variability in pest population dynamics. The absence of a significant response from natural enemy populations indicates limited evidence of biological control interaction within the observed system. This study is limited to entomological observations and does not include yield or economic data; therefore, conclusions regarding economic efficiency or cost-effectiveness cannot be drawn. However, the results highlight the need for further investigation into ecological mechanisms underlying pest dynamics and support the importance of integrated pest management approaches that consider both chemical and biological factors in oil palm systems.
Dr. Adnan Mohammed Bataineh, Kashif Ali Sabiri, Muhammad Shaharyar Sabiri, Niki Vahidi, Sabra Muradjan Al Balushi, Shahjahan Bhatti
Although a considerable number of states in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and nationally stipulated AI strategies have a high prevalence of ADHD, there is no peer-reviewed data on AI-aided ADHD interventions in higher education in the GCC. This systematic review will answer three research questions namely: transferability of evidence to GCC settings; ethical, cultural, linguistic and privacy concerns to GCC deployment; priorities of a specific research agenda to the GCC (RQ3). This review, which is embedded in a 63-source corpus obtained based on systematic bilingual search (k = 0.84) was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 with JBI critical appraisal. The transferability assessment matrix of GCC was designed on the technological, linguistic, cultural, and structural planes. The analysis of the ethical results was systematic using a concern-to-investigation gap analysis, and thematic synthesis was based on the Thomas and Harden (2008) structure. The lack of peer-reviewed studies in any GCC state was zero, which validates evidence vacuum of a systematic character. Transferability testing demonstrated high technological portability; low linguistic transferability, as the 63 tools were all English-only and Arabic NLP capacity remains a domain of underdevelopment; moderate cultural transferability, which involves the ability to port interventions based on core executive functions, but where family processes and stigma need to be culturally adjusted; and low structural transferability since GCC disability models were immature. Applicable ethical dimensions, five of which are identified as GCC-specific implications, and a proposal of an eight-priority research agenda was identified. The GCC evidence vacuum captures convergent influences of the stigma of ADHD, suppression of disclosure, the Western epistemic hegemony, and the infrastructure gap in the disability area. Reducing this gap necessitates Arabic AI co-design, disclosure-free support models, epidemiological baseline studies, as well as culturally modified implementation frameworks.
Dr. Flordeliza M. Cuerda
The growing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in instructional materials necessitates systematic evaluation of its alignment with 21st-century competencies. This study examined the integration of Critical Thinking, Creativity, Collaboration, and Communication (4Cs) in AI-assisted workbooks developed for Basic Education at Cebu Institute of Technology–University. Anchored in the Partnership for 21st Century Learning framework, the study employed a descriptive qualitative content analysis of selected Elementary and Junior High School workbook activities to determine the extent and depth of skill integration. A structured 4Cs Evaluation Matrix was used to code observable indicators across activities. Findings revealed that Critical Thinking is largely limited to lower-order processes such as recall and procedural tasks, with only emerging evidence of higher-order skills in Junior High School materials. Creativity is evident in language-based and performance tasks, though innovation and technology-integrated activities remain limited. Collaboration is present in group-based tasks but lacks structured roles and sustained interaction. Communication is the most developed competency, particularly in written forms, but shows limited use of multimodal and digital platforms. Overall, results indicate partial and uneven integration of the 4Cs. The study highlights the need for a more systematic and cross-curricular approach to embedding higher-order thinking, innovation, structured collaboration, and multimodal communication in AI-assisted instructional materials.
Abimbola Oduola, Achor Olaitan, Adeoye Ojo, Babade Ojo, Babatunde Luke, Folajinmi Oluwasina, Moses Luke, Olumide Adeyeye, Temitope Olorunmonu
Background: Infectious disease outbreaks in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) emerge from intersecting biological, environmental, socioeconomic, and political hazards. AI-driven analytics and multimodal fusion offer promising early warning tools, yet their use in multi-hazard settings remains fragmented. This review assessed multimodal AI forecasting in LMICs, mapped implementation barriers, and identified equity pathways. Methods: Following PRISMA 2020 and MOOSE guidelines (PROSPERO: CRD420251276083), 13 databases were searched (January 2005–December 2025). Eligible studies were conducted in LMICs, used AI-driven analytics across at least two data modalities, and reported quantitative performance metrics or qualitative implementation evidence. Quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale, QUADAS-2, or JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist. Pooled AUC, sensitivity, and specificity were estimated using a DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model with logit-transformed outcomes. Subgroup analyses examined AI method, disease type, region, and modality; qualitative findings were synthesised thematically. Results: Sixty-two studies (n = 518,770 records; 2005–2025) met inclusion criteria, covering COVID-19 (18, 29.0%), malaria (14, 22.6%), cholera (11, 17.7%), dengue (9, 14.5%), Ebola (5, 8.1%), and multi-disease models (5, 8.1%), predominantly from sub-Saharan Africa (38.7%), South Asia (24.2%), and Southeast Asia (19.4%). The pooled AUC was 0.846 (95% CI: 0.820–0.868; I² = 84.5%; k = 20) and the pooled sensitivity was 0.842 (95% CI: 0.817–0.864; I² = 83.4%; k = 15). Deep learning significantly outperformed classical machine learning (pooled AUC: 0.883 vs. 0.782; p < 0.001); hybrid multimodal fusion achieved the highest AUC (0.912). Primary implementation barriers were inadequate data infrastructure (74.2%), limited computational resources (67.7%), regulatory and governance gaps (48.4%), and poor health information system interoperability (43.5%). Only 29.0% addressed equity. Five equity pathways were identified: participatory co-design, federated learning, open-source architectures, capacity strengthening, and south-south knowledge transfer. Conclusion: AI-driven multimodal outbreak forecasting in LMICs demonstrates strong discriminative performance, with effective models combining genomic, environmental, and mobility data with epidemiological surveillance. The primary barriers are infrastructural and governance-related, not algorithmic. Realizing public health benefits requires investment in digital infrastructure, cross-border data-sharing frameworks, and intentional inclusion of marginalized populations in model development, aligned with the WHO Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Agenda and the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction.
Plata, Giannah Faith F., Sofer, Jencel P, Villarica, Mia V
The growing complexity of higher education needs the institutions to embrace sophisticated, data-driven strategies that enable them to constantly assess and advance the academic programs. The proposed paper is the creation of an Academic Program Effectiveness Evaluation System based on AI and aimed at collecting, integrating, and analyzing multidimensional data on the Bachelor of Science in Information Technology (BSIT) and Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSCS) programs. The system employs the machine learning algorithms, namely: Random Forest, Linear Regression, and K-Means Clustering, as well as the Natural Language Processing to perform predictive analytics and classify performance trends, and obtain insights based on qualitative stakeholder feedback. The platform produces recommendations through a cohesive system of program evaluation to improve curriculum design, enhance student support, and improve the overall outcomes of the program. The suggested system will facilitate the evidence-based decision making of the administrators, faculty, and stakeholders, which will aid in the continuous quality improvement of the academic institution.
Charles Nyaranga, Quinter Migunde, Wycliffe Odiuor
Career aspirations play a critical role in shaping students’ educational and professional trajectories. However, many university students graduate without clearly defined career aspirations due to inadequate career guidance and mentorship opportunities. This study sought to establish career aspirations of student mentees and determine the influence of gender in career aspirations among student mentees in public universities in Kenya. The study adopted a convergent mixed-methods research design. Ten public universities were purposively selected from the 33 accredited public universities in Kenya, representing 32% of the target population. A sample of 309 student mentees was selected using stratified and simple random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a Career Aspirations Questionnaire. Prior to hypothesis testing, tests of normality and homogeneity of variance revealed that the data violated the assumptions required for parametric analysis. Consequently, the Mann–Whitney U test was employed to examine gender differences in career aspirations. The findings revealed a statistically significant difference in career aspirations between male and female student mentees, with male students reporting higher career aspiration scores than their female counterparts (U = 9163.00, Z = -3.20, p = .001, η² = .03). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, while inferential statistics were used to test the study hypothesis. The study concludes that gender significantly influences the career aspirations of student mentees in public universities in Kenya. The findings underscore the need for universities to implement gender-responsive mentorship and career development programmes aimed at fostering equitable career aspirations among students.
Mohamed Razeed Mohamed Nowfeek
The COVID-19 pandemic precipitated an unprecedented shift in global education systems, forcing a rapid transition from traditional face-to-face learning to online modalities. This research examines the multifaceted challenges and impacts of this transformation on undergraduate students, focusing particularly on their experiences during institutional lockdowns. This study investigates students’ satisfaction, technological readiness, pedagogical effectiveness, and emotional well-being during the online learning transition. Findings reveal significant disparities in device accessibility, internet connectivity, and digital literacy, highlighting systemic issues such as the digital divide and platform usability challenges. Students expressed both positive and negative perceptions-while appreciating the safety, flexibility, and convenience of online learning, many reported dissatisfaction related to limited engagement, ineffective assessment methods, and reduced interaction with faculty and peers. Emotional and psychological stress, including feelings of isolation and decreased motivation, further complicated the learning experience. Educators similarly faced difficulties adapting to new technologies and pedagogical strategies under constrained timelines. The study underscores the importance of structured institutional support, government initiatives, and inclusive digital policies to address equity, access, and the evolving educational landscape. Recommendations include development of unified online platforms, improved faculty training, and hybrid learning models to enhance resilience and adaptability in education. These findings provide critical insights into improving the quality and inclusiveness of online education in a post-pandemic world.
Habiba Akter, Md. Jahir Uddin
This paper is an analytical literature review of the feminist thought of Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain (1880-1932), widely recognized as the pioneering feminist intellectual of colonial Bengal and a foundational figure in the discourse of feminist liberation in South Asian countries. The review also systematically analyses the academic interpretation of the major writings of Rokeya- including Sultana dream (1905), Matichur (1904), Padmarag (1924), and Avarodhbasini (1931). Based on over thirty primary and secondary sources covering feminist theory, women education advocacy, criticism of patriarchal social systems, theorisation of the agency of Muslim women, and utopian fantasy, this review identifies five thematic clusters of existing scholarship: the feminist ideology of Rokeya, her advocacy of women education, her critique of patriarchal social systems, her theorisation of the agency of Muslim women, and her utopian imagination. Through analysis, there is a great deal of scholarly consensus around the foundational importance of Rokeya as well as the identification of the critical gaps: the relative neglect of her economic thought, the underexplored of her subaltern intersectionality, the limited engagement with her prose essays in Bengali and other languages, and the absence of sustained transnational feminist comparative analysis. The paper concludes that the feminist corpus of Rokeya is in need of a new interdisciplinary approach and serves as a highly valuable, largely untapped resource in the current gender, postcolonial, and Islamic feminist theory.
Phillip Mubanga, Zeleniya Angela Banda
Donor funding remains a critical pillar of healthcare financing in developing economies, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where domestic fiscal capacity is constrained. In Zambia, the Ministry of Health depends heavily on donor resources to finance essential health programmes, including disease control, infrastructure development, and service delivery. However, persistent audit findings continue to reveal weaknesses in financial management systems, including misallocation of funds, weak internal controls, limited transparency, and exposure to fraud and corruption. This study assesses the effectiveness of financial risk management practices in donor funded health programmes within the Ministry of Health in Zambia. The study adopts a mixed methods exploratory case study design, integrating qualitative thematic analysis with a structured analytical framework. Data was collected through semi structured interviews and document analysis. The findings reveal that weak internal controls, inadequate monitoring systems, and poor transparency mechanisms significantly increase the likelihood of financial misappropriation, while governance and accountability structures mitigate such risks. However, institutional weaknesses and enforcement gaps continue to limit effectiveness. The study contributes to public financial management literature and provides policy relevant recommendations for strengthening fiduciary risk management and improving accountability in Zambia’s health sector.
Melinda Yunos, Nor Aminin Khalid., Roslizawati Ahmad., Zatil Aqmar Zainudin
This conceptual paper examines the determinants of promotional effectiveness for national language publications published by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP), Malaysia’s principal institution responsible for the preservation, development, and promotion of the Malay language. The study explores how promotional effectiveness is influenced by the integration of promotional mix strategies, customer engagement, digital transformation, and language policy within the context of state-supported cultural publishing. Drawing upon major theoretical perspectives, including the Elaboration Likelihood Model (ELM), Hierarchy of Effects Model, and Customer Engagement Theory, the paper proposes a conceptual framework linking promotional mix elements to promotional effectiveness through the mediating role of customer engagement. The study highlights the challenges faced by DBP in adapting traditional publishing and promotional practices to contemporary digital environments characterized by social media, e-commerce platforms, and algorithm-driven consumer behavior. In addition, the paper synthesizes recent empirical literature related to promotional effectiveness, digital marketing, customer engagement, and consumer behavioral outcomes between 2018 and 2025. A positivist research paradigm with a quantitative methodological approach is proposed, utilizing survey questionnaires among primary school students and civil servants in Malaysia. The findings are expected to contribute theoretically by integrating language policy, publishing transformation, and digital marketing perspectives into a multidimensional promotional effectiveness framework. Practically, the study is anticipated to provide strategic insights for optimizing DBP’s promotional strategies while preserving linguistic and cultural integrity in both domestic and international markets.
Dr. Olawale-Jimoh Abimbola Roseline
The persisting gender gaps in access to formal education by women in Nigeria emphasize serious socio-cultural, economic, and institutional issues at the local level, reflecting an empirical gap in the current research that is predominantly based on national trends. In this study, the extent to which women have access to formal education was evaluated. It also established some of the barriers to access to formal education by women and explored the effects of these barriers on the individual growth of women and their socio-economic position. A descriptive survey design, data were collected from 120 respondents through a structured questionnaire and analyzed with descriptive statistics and the chi-square test to elucidate the significance of these barriers. The results showed that, despite the comparatively high rates of access to formal education by women in the region, they still face significant challenges. The most crucial barrier was found to be financial constraints (mean = 3.33), then there was the necessity to combine income-generating activities with schooling (mean = 2.87) and social-cultural requirements (mean = 2.55). The chi-square test (χ² = 77.083, 24 = df, p = 0.025) showed that socio-cultural, economic, and financial factors have a significant impact on the access to education of women. The paper was able to conclude that these barriers are only overcome through combined initiatives like focused financial aid, sensitization of communities about the importance of educating their female members, and provision of gender sensitive learning facilities. These will facilitate access to education that is inclusive and equitable to women in the Ife Central Local Government and will also help in developing the society in a broader socio-economic way.
Chela Patricia Mwila, Professor Lubinda Haabazoka.
The Zambian banking sector has experienced a recurring pattern of institutional failures and regulatory seizures driven by persistent undercapitalization. This has led to growing exposure of the banking sector to macroeconomic instability. The occurrence of bank insolvencies indicates that regulatory adjustments alone have not resolved the underlying vulnerabilities affecting bank capital positions. The study aimed to establish the factors affecting the capital position/solvency ratio in Zambia and to analyse the effect of exchange, interest rates and GDP on capital position over the period 2007 to 2024. The study adopted a quantitative research approach using secondary time-series data covering the period 2007 to 2024. An AutoRegressive Distributed Lag model and Error Correction Model framework were employed to estimate both short-run and long-run relationships among variables. Descriptive statistics and diagnostic tests were conducted to ensure model validity and reliability. The findings indicate that the average capital-to-asset ratio was 11.15%, reflecting moderate capital adequacy within the banking sector over the study period. The findings reveal that the model is statistically significant and explains 52% of the variation in bank capital position (R² = 0.5202). In the long run, lending interest rate has a negative and statistically significant effect on CAR (β = −0.0362, p < 0.01), while GDP growth exerts a positive and significant influence (β = 0.2459, p < 0.05). Exchange rate depreciation negatively affects bank capital (β = −0.1868, p < 0.05). Similarly, unemployment rate shows a negative and significant effect (β = −0.7276, p < 0.05). The study concludes that macroeconomic conditions play an important role in shaping the resilience of the banking sector in Zambia. Stable exchange rates, moderate interest rates, and sustained economic growth are associated with stronger bank capital positions. Therefore, policymakers should promote macroeconomic stability and banks should strengthen risk management practices to improve capital resilience.
Nik Norliati Fitri Md Nor, Nur Aisyah Humaira Abu Bakar, Siti Masayu Rosliah Abdul Rashid
The rising demand for commercial fish feed has created significant economic pressure on aquaculture farmers, particularly small-scale operators with limited financial resources. In Malaysia, this challenge affects the sustainability and profitability of domestic aquaculture systems. Although duckweed (Lemna spp.) has been widely recognized as a high-protein and cost-effective alternative feed source, studies examining its socioeconomic and spatial implications remain limited. This paper develops an integrated conceptual framework by combining the Sustainable Livelihood Approach (SLA), Sustainable Aquaculture Framework (SAF), and Circular Economy Model (CEM). The framework explains how duckweed utilization may reduce feed costs, improve production efficiency, strengthen farmer well-being, and support environmental sustainability across different spatial settings. The proposed framework contributes to the literature by offering a multidisciplinary perspective and provides a foundation for future empirical research and policy interventions aimed at developing a more inclusive and resilient domestic aquaculture sector in Malaysia.
Olusegun A. Obasun
This paper argues that national champion strategies succeed not through firm-level support alone, but through alignment across industrial ecosystems, technological hierarchies, and spatial-industrial coordination. It develops the Ecosystem–Stack–Symbiosis (ESS) framework as a system-level sequencing logic linking institutions, capabilities, ecosystem formation, stack positioning, industrial symbiosis, and competitive selection. Drawing on comparative illustrative cases, the paper shows that industrial outcomes depend less on isolated firm support than on alignment across institutional, technological, and industrial systems. Misalignment across these dimensions generates predictable failure patterns, while coordinated sequencing improves the likelihood of globally competitive firm emergence. The paper contributes in three ways. First, it synthesizes fragmented literatures on industrial policy, innovation systems, techno-industrial competition, and industrial symbiosis into an integrated analytical framework. Second, it develops a functional sequencing logic explaining how national and industry champions emerge from broader industrial systems. Third, it proposes a stage-contingent governance architecture emphasizing competition, conditionality, transparency, and sunset discipline. The ESS framework is intended as a theory-building and diagnostic architecture rather than a fully validated predictive model. Its principal contribution lies in providing a structured foundation for future comparative and empirical analysis of industrial transformation.
Prof. Shishir Kumar Verma, Prof. Vinita Katiyar
Poverty is a complex phenomenon in India. It creates multilayered challenges that extend beyond income deprivation to include deficits in health, education, and living standards. This study examines the nature, extent, and determinants of multidimensional poverty in India and also analyses trends, regional variations in the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI), and the core indicators contributing to poverty. This paper reveals a significant decline in multidimensional poverty due to substantial progress driven by improvements in sanitation, electricity, housing, and access to basic services. Rural areas experienced slightly sharper reductions compared to urban regions, although disparities persist. This paper also highlights state-level analysis of multidimensional poverty. This study further evaluates the impact of major government schemes and initiatives in health, education, and infrastructure, demonstrating their critical role in reducing poverty across multiple dimensions. In addition to statistical analysis, this paper also incorporates community experiences to understand the impact of multidimensional poverty on people’s daily lives. These experiences show that poverty is not just a lack of income, but also includes limited access to health services, barriers to education, inadequate housing facilities, social exclusion, limited opportunities and insecurity. Community experiences show that government programs have improved living conditions, but inequalities and regional disparities in service delivery continue to impact the real lives of vulnerable populations. The paper also provides policy recommendations emphasizing targeted interventions, improved service delivery, inclusive economic growth, and strengthened governance mechanisms.
Omollo, C., Ong’anyi, O. P
Available data indicates that a vast majority of Persons Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) are in the reproductive age and therefore presumably sexually active. Being sexually active, PLHWAs, like everyone else, have a right to their sexual and reproductive rights, as enshrined in various international and national legal instruments. One of the interventions designed to enhance enjoyment of sexual and reproductive rights is the use of contraceptives. The main objective of this research was to investigate determinants of contraceptive preference and use among people living with HIV and AIDS in Nyamarambe sub-County in Kisii County, Kenya. This study used a mixed method approach, in which both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered. The targeted population in this study were all individuals of reproductive age 15 - 49 years, who were PLWHAs and attending antiretroviral clinic in the three selected health facilities. A sample of 107 PLWHAs respondents was used, on who questionnaires were administered. In addition to PLHWAs, the study also interviewed nine (9) key informants who included two (2) counselors and one (1) the medical officer in each of the three study sites. The size of the sample for this study was 107 PLWHAs. Descriptive Statistics was used to analyse quantitative data while qualitative data was analysed thematically, and presented in narrative form. The study established that most of the respondents (93.0%) reported they know about family planning. The most preferred family planning method was Implants (29.5%) followed by IUCD (19.3%), then Condoms (18.2%) among others mainly due to ease of accessibility and use. While use of any contraceptive method was high at about 88.6%, contraceptive method use varied widely, the mismatch between preference and actual use points to an interesting gap that needs consideration. The study recommends that the ministry of health of the national and county governments should encourage usage and make accessible double-edged such as condoms as this would give double care in case of unwanted pregnancies and further spread of the virus and other STDIs.
Frank Jonard D. Suad, Renon P. Tobias
The Toy Story trilogy (1995–2010) is commonly interpreted as a narrative of childhood development, friendship, or the anxiety of sibling displacement. This paper proposes an alternative reading by arguing that the films dramatize a distinctively existentialist crisis centered on the fear of being rendered ontologically contingent through replacement. Drawing on Jean-Paul Sartre’s Being and Nothingness (1943) and Simone de Beauvoir’s The Ethics of Ambiguity (1947), the study introduces the concept of the anxiety of replacement. This refers to a form of existential dread that arises not from mortality, but from the realization that one’s role, value, and identity can be occupied by another, thereby exposing the instability of one’s perceived purpose.Through a close analysis of Woody’s character arc from Toy Story to Toy Story 3, the paper identifies three developmental phases. The first is Woody’s condition of bad faith, in which he constructs his identity around an assumed and fixed hierarchy of Andy’s affection. The second is the destabilization of this identity through the presence of Buzz Lightyear, which introduces a crisis of recognition and disrupts Woody’s sense of uniqueness. The third phase occurs in the resolution of the trilogy, where the focus shifts from individual validation by Andy to a collective redefinition of identity among the toys themselves. By reframing replacement not as psychological trauma but as an ontological condition, this study argues that the trilogy articulates an existentialist ethics in which authenticity is not grounded in uniqueness or permanence. Instead, it emerges from the acceptance of one’s replaceability alongside the continued commitment to self-chosen meaning and action.
Dr. Musa Hussaini, Dr. Sarah Kaddu, Ladan Dogara
This study investigated the application of blockchain technology in law library operations in selected academic law libraries in North-Central Nigeria with emphasis on opportunities, challenges, and adoption readiness. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design using a mixed-methods approach. The population of the study comprised 119 professional and paraprofessional library staff from selected academic law libraries, while 12 library administrators and ICT personnel participated in interview sessions. A total of 87 valid questionnaires were retrieved and analyzed, representing a response rate of 73.1%. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview guides. Descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean, and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions, while regression analysis was used to test the hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance using SPSS version 27. The findings revealed that blockchain technology can be applied in major areas of law library operations including cataloguing, circulation services, digital archiving, copyright management, and authentication of legal documents. The study further showed that blockchain technology enhances information security, digital preservation, transparency, and operational efficiency in library services. However, major challenges affecting adoption include inadequate ICT infrastructure, poor funding, lack of technical expertise, and erratic power supply. Regression analysis revealed that ICT infrastructure significantly influenced blockchain technology adoption readiness (β = .642, p < .001), while librarians’ technological competence (β = .587, p < .001) and institutional support (β = .611, p < .001) significantly predicted blockchain technology adoption in academic law libraries. The study concluded that blockchain technology possesses significant potential for improving security, transparency, digital preservation, and operational efficiency in academic law libraries. The study recommended improved ICT infrastructure, increased funding, institutional support, and continuous staff training to facilitate effective adoption and implementation of blockchain technology in law library operations.
Aurora E. Perillo, Cyla Chrystanny C. Moreno, Esther G. Domingo, Joel B. Faustino, Joseline M. Santos, Mikaella Capiral, Romaica M. Verdan, San Jose, Nhetant Vincent C
Almost all experts agree that early childhood education (ECE), especially at the preschool level, is a crucial time for brain development and starting the learning process that will continue through life. It is also a key time for a child's whole development (UNICEF, 2021). Actually, during this age children develop the basic brain, social, and emotional skills that will determine their learning success and personal growth for their whole lives. High-quality early childhood education is a very important factor in the ability to learn, that is why a good preschool education is highly recommended. For instance, quality education at this level leads to the acquisition of key cognitive skills such as memory, reasoning, problem-solving, etc., which are the very first steps towards school success and further development of other areas of the child's life. Play-based learning is a fun and very effective way of teaching children. Studies show that structured and targeted play can promote the cognitive development of young children (Yee et al. 2022; Gica et al. 2025; Gaffar et al. 2021).
Azhani Arshad, Ira Rozana Mohd Asri, Mohammad Hidir Baharudin, Rahmawati Mohd Yusoff, Syuhaeda Aeni Mat Ali
Family Law is a difficult area of legal education because it requires students to apply legal doctrine while responding to emotionally sensitive disputes involving divorce, child custody, maintenance, and domestic violence. Traditional doctrinal teaching remains important, but it may not sufficiently prepare students to exercise empathetic judgment, ethical reasoning, and practical decision-making in client-centred contexts. This article examines how Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) can inform Family Law pedagogy through observational learning, modelling, behavioural practice, feedback, and self-efficacy development. Using a concise descriptive qualitative and conceptual case-study approach, the article synthesises SCT, clinical legal education, and simulation-based learning literature to propose an SCT-Enhanced Simulation Model for undergraduate Family Law courses. The model combines faculty demonstration, structured role-play, standardised client scenarios, peer feedback, and guided reflection. The article argues that this approach can strengthen students’ confidence, ethical awareness, empathy, and readiness for legal practice, while recognising that future empirical studies are needed to test its long-term impact across diverse Malaysian law schools.
Celestine Okechukwu, Nwosu, PhD
Armed conflicts have occasioned crisis migration in South Sudan, endangering the rights and safety of the country’s civilian population. To address this monumental humanitarian problematic in the face of the visible incapacity of the state to act decisively and effectively, the United Nations Mission in South Sudan intervened to protect civilians. In doing so, it introduced a paradigm shift by establishing the protection of civilian sites (PoCs). However, the role of UNMISS in addressing the migration crisis has been understudied. Utilizing secondary data and premised on the humanitarian development approach, this article underscores the relevance and limitations of protection of civilian sites in the management of the migration crisis. It further establishes that the Mission was unable to effectively manage the migration crisis because millions of internally displaced persons living outside the PoCs and refugees in neighboring countries were not adequately catered for. Furthermore, there were challenges with the resettlement of IDPs and return of refugees due to the persistence of violence and rural insecurity. It is, therefore, recommended that UNMISS in collaboration with the government of South Sudan should enforce existing peace agreements to resolve the conflict and stop the further escalation of the conflict and forced migration, collaborate in restoring legitimate governance attuned to the needs of the people, put in place social and economic recovery initiatives that will address the needs of the displaced parsons, empower the returnees to restart their economic activities and spark development in the communities recovering from the armed conflicts.
Anis Marjan Azmimurad, Nurhayati Kamarudin, Wirda Syaheera Mohd Sulaiman
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping educational practices by providing innovative approaches to teaching, learning, and assessment. Within Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET), AI-driven technologies have gained increasing attention due to their potential to support sustainable learning and enhance students’ academic and professional competencies. Among these competencies, English language proficiency remains essential for TVET graduates as industries become more globalized, digitalized, and communication-oriented. Despite its importance, many students continue to struggle with grammatical accuracy, particularly with prepositions, which affects the clarity and effectiveness of written and spoken communication. Recent developments in AI-powered language learning applications, including intelligent tutoring systems, natural language processing (NLP), and automated grammar correction tools, offer opportunities to address these challenges. By providing immediate feedback, personalized guidance, and adaptive learning experiences, these technologies can help students identify and correct language errors more effectively than conventional learning approaches.This study examines the factors influencing the effectiveness of AI-assisted prepositional error correction in improving English language proficiency among TVET students. Specifically, the study investigates the roles of personalized feedback, real-time error detection, adaptive learning capability, learning engagement, and perceived usefulness in shaping language learning outcomes. A quantitative research design was employed, and data were collected through an online questionnaire distributed to TVET students enrolled in English-related courses at selected institutions in Malaysia. A total of 350 valid responses were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) through SmartPLS 4.0. The analysis included measurement model assessment and structural model evaluation, covering reliability testing, convergent validity, discriminant validity, path coefficient analysis, bootstrapping procedures, and Importance-Performance Map Analysis (IPMA). The findings reveal that personalized feedback is the strongest predictor of English language proficiency enhancement, followed by real-time error detection. Adaptive learning capability, learning engagement, and perceived usefulness also demonstrate significant positive relationships with students’ language development. The results suggest that AI-assisted learning environments can improve grammatical accuracy through timely corrective feedback, individualized learning support, and flexible learning pathways. The IPMA findings further indicate that personalized feedback should remain a priority for educators and educational technology developers seeking to maximize the effectiveness of AI-supported language learning systems.In conclusion, AI-assisted prepositional error correction represents a valuable educational innovation that can strengthen English language proficiency within sustainable TVET education while supporting lifelong learning and workforce readiness among future TVET graduates.
Khairil Fazly Bachok, Mohd Khuzairy Mohd Yusof, Noraini Harun
The rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AI), particularly generative AI technologies, has significantly transformed teaching and learning practices in higher education. While AI offers substantial opportunities to improve instructional efficiency, personalized learning, and assessment automation, its integration also introduces multidimensional challenges for lecturers. This study critically reviews global and Malaysian literature on the issues and challenges faced by lecturers in adapting AI technologies within higher education teaching and learning environments. A qualitative critical literature review approach was employed through systematic searching and thematic synthesis of scholarly publications indexed in academic databases between 2019 and 2026. The analysis identified five major themes affecting lecturers’ adaptation to AI: academic integrity and assessment transformation, pedagogical restructuring, AI literacy and competency gaps, ethical and privacy concerns, and institutional readiness. The findings indicate that although these challenges are globally prevalent, they are more pronounced within the Malaysian context due to uneven technological infrastructure, limited institutional policies, insufficient professional training, and varying levels of digital readiness among educators. Furthermore, the increasing dependence of students on generative AI tools raises concerns regarding critical thinking, authentic learning, and independent knowledge construction. This paper argues that AI integration should not be viewed merely as a technological issue but as a broader pedagogical and institutional transformation process. The study contributes to the growing discourse on AI in higher education by proposing an AI Adaptation Readiness Framework consisting of technological, pedagogical, ethical, and institutional dimensions. The framework provides a contextual reference for policymakers and higher education institutions in designing sustainable AI integration strategies. Ultimately, successful AI implementation requires a holistic and human-centered approach that balances technological innovation with educational integrity and pedagogical quality.
Philip Chika Omenukwa
Laudable accomplishments have been made in the recent past in the biological sciences. One of such breakthroughs common to our visual conceptual imaginations revolve around issues bordering on genetic engineering. Particularly important here is the issue of creating a better and even more efficient human beings endowed with unimaginable versatility and thereby creating/producing/manufacturing higher qualitied human beings by tinkering their genetic constitution and so improve their biological system. However, still with a deeper thirst for higher and more dramatic aspirations, the human mind conceives and brings into fruition a certain intention of a post-biological life, whereby robots or similar objects are infused with artificial intelligence. The goal here is an inauguration of a post-biological life, a spatio-cosmic population of seemingly intelligent creatures without corporeality with an emphatic note of depopulation of natural intelligence, that is, a depopulation of the human beings which some people wrongly consider to be less intelligent than these manufactured robotic creatures. One therefore wonders that even with the apparent exhibition of multivariant supersonic qualities of efficiency and terrific manifestation of intelligence in the execution of tasks, whether these robotic intelligent creatures can be conceived and even be addressed as persons or whether they are still deficient in the possession of the defining qualities characteristic of the human person and attributable to him. It is the intention of this paper to delve into this anthropological concern and so lend a voice in resolving the tensions in-between.
Egbunwoke, B.O., Ogbu, P., Udedibie, O.B.I., Uzor C.G
Background: Workplace deviance among employees is rising. Employers want to know what causes workplace deviance to help reduce counterproductive behaviors. This study examines how work-family conflict, family-work conflict, and workplace deviance relate to one another, and whether effort-reward imbalance mediates these relationships. Reward Imbalance Questionnaire (ERIQ), the Work-Family Conflict and Family-Work Conflict Scale (WFC-FWCS), and the Interpersonal and Organizational Deviance Scale. The study adopted a cross-sectional design. Three hypotheses were tested using mediated hierarchical multiple regression. Results: Work-family conflict and family-work conflict each significantly predicted workplace deviance. Effort-reward imbalance also significantly predicted workplace deviance. Furthermore, effort-reward imbalance partially mediated the relationships between work-family conflict and workplace deviance, and between family-work conflict and workplace deviance (indirect effects: β = .04, CI = .02–.06; and β = .05, CI = .03–.07, respectively). Conclusions: Effort-reward imbalance partially explains the link between work-family conflict and deviant workplace behaviors. Training initiatives and job flexibility are suggested as likely interventions to reduce workplace deviance. Future studies should explore additional stress models and employ longitudinal approaches.
Maria Luisa Miccoli, Wambua Pius Muasa, Ph.D
Comboni Missionary Sisters serving in the East Africa Province are frequently exposed to cumulative adversities that challenge their psychological and spiritual well-being. While trauma is often framed through negative outcomes, post-traumatic growth (PTG) describes the constructive psychological evolution that can emerge from the struggle with adversity. This study investigated the degree and nature of PTG among Sisters serving in Uganda and South Sudan, exploring how missionary vocation influences the transformative process. The study was grounded on stress and coping theory and PTG theory. The study employed an embedded mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected from 63 participants using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory, followed by semi-structured interviews with 10 purposively selected Sisters to provide interpretive depth. Findings revealed a moderately high degree of PTG (M=75.13), with the most significant gains identified in Spiritual Change (79.7%), Personal Strength (74.4%), Appreciation of life (71.3%), and Relating to Others (71.0%). Conversely, New Possibilities (66.8%) was the least pronounced domain. Qualitative themes elucidated that growth is driven by spiritual anchoring, cognitive reframing, and communal solidarity. The data suggest that for religious missionaries, transformation is primarily an inward "renovation" of existing identity rather than an outward life redirection. PTG in this context is a communal and vocational endeavour. Fostering long-term resilience among missionaries requires a deliberate integration of trauma-informed formation, professional counselling, and robust community-based support systems.
Dr. Edward Tshuma, Dzenga Moreblessing, Edson Mudimba, James Sengu., Nomagugu Sibanda, Phylis Vengesai, Shadreck Dube, Tracy Chihwayi
Drug abuse is an escalating public security challenge in climate-vulnerable peri-urban settlements across sub-Saharan Africa, yet the effectiveness of deployed policing strategies in such contexts remains empirically under-evaluated. This study assessed the effectiveness of policing strategies in addressing drug abuse in Budiriro Township, a flood-prone, low-income suburb in south-western Harare, Zimbabwe. Grounded in Problem-Oriented Policing (POP) theory (Goldstein, 1990) and a pragmatic philosophical orientation, the research employed a descriptive mixed-methods design with a comparative component contrasting climate-stressed and relatively stable sub-localities within Budiriro Township. Structured questionnaire data were collected from 130 respondents drawn using stratified systematic random sampling from ward registers, with sample size determined using Yamane's (1967) formula applied to the verified adult population of Budiriro Township. This was complemented by 13 key informant interviews (KIIs) and 4 focus group discussions (FGDs). SPSS Version 28 facilitated Pearson correlation analysis and descriptive statistics; Braun and Clarke's (2019) six-phase thematic analysis guided qualitative interpretation. Findings reveal that reactive enforcement correlates weakly with improved community safety (r=0.29, p<0.05), a correlation that, while statistically significant, explains only 8.4% of outcome variance and should not be interpreted as evidence of meaningful causal effect. By contrast, climate-aware targeted policing yields the strongest associations with positive outcomes (r=0.74, p<0.001), explaining 54.8% of outcome variance. Climate-induced social disorganisation (r=0.74), livelihood loss (r=0.69), and flood frequency (r=0.54) all demonstrate statistically significant positive relationships with drug abuse severity (p<0.01). A convergent parallel synthesis of quantitative and qualitative findings within a unified climate-policing-drug nexus framework confirms that structural climate vulnerability mediates the relationship between policing strategy type and community safety outcomes. The study calls for integration of climate vulnerability analysis into community policing frameworks, cross-sectoral governance reform, and investment in evidence-based rehabilitation pathways.
Johnson Chingozho, Tinotenda Mudiwa Tagwireyi
The prevalence of child violence and abuse remains a critical psychosocial concern globally, with girl children disproportionately affected. This empirical study aimed to assess the efficacy of drop-in centres in reducing the vulnerability of girl children in urban Harare, Zimbabwe, focusing exclusively on the Musasa Project. Employing a qualitative case study design, data was collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 vulnerable girls aged 10–18 years and 3 key informant staff members selected via purposive sampling. Inductive thematic analysis revealed four primary themes: the provision of holistic services (including psychosocial support, legal aid, shelter, and medical care); complex vulnerability profiles characterized by orphanhood, abuse, and homelessness; high service satisfaction culminating in improved quality of life and well-being; and operational challenges including destructive religious beliefs, fear of victimization, and victims' unwillingness to change. Findings indicate that while the Musasa Project is highly effective as an immediate safety net and rehabilitation mechanism, long-term efficacy is heavily mediated by broader socio-cultural barriers and systemic economic challenges. The study contributes empirical insights into non-governmental child protection mechanisms in urban African contexts and offers actionable recommendations for policy, programmatic scaling, and community advocacy.
Ginanjar Wira Saputra, Pandji Santosa
Background and Objective: Rapid urbanization has escalated waste management challenges in metropolitan areas like Bandung City, Indonesia. Addressing this requires synergy among stakeholders. This study aims to assess the impact of Collaborative Governance dimensions specifically Face-to-Face Dialogue, Trust Building, Commitment to the Process, Shared Understanding, and Intermediate Outcomes on the effectiveness of waste management programs in Bandung City, West Java Province. Methods: A quantitative research approach was utilized, involving a sample of 350 respondents derived from relevant stakeholders, including government agencies, private sectors, and the community. Data were collected using structured questionnaires and analyzed using Multiple Linear Regression via SPSS to determine the significance of each collaborative dimension. Results: The regression analysis revealed that Collaborative Governance significantly affects program effectiveness. Trust Building emerged as the strongest predictor (β = .431, t = 8.764, p < .001), followed by Shared Understanding (β = .241, p < .001), Commitment to the Process (β = .205, p < .001), and Face-to-Face Dialogue (β = .170, p < .001). However, Intermediate Outcome did not show a statistically significant effect on program effectiveness (β = -.039, t = -.714, p = .475). Conclusion: Trust Building is the most crucial element in fostering effective collaborative waste management in Bandung City. Policymakers should prioritize transparency, equitable power-sharing, and consistent relationship-building among stakeholders. The insignificance of intermediate outcomes suggests a need to re-evaluate short-term milestones to ensure they translate into long-term program effectiveness.
Dadirai Sibanda, Daphne Rumbidzai Mutevera, Dr Edward Tshuma, Dr Wiklef Makamache, Isaac Kashiri, James Sengu, Michael Makovere, Obey Mbofana, Thembiwe Maphosa
Access to legal representation is a fundamental right to ensure a fair trial. In many developing countries, unrepresented accused persons or defendants still struggle to obtain skilled legal assistance. This study investigates on how legal representation affects criminal sentencing outcomes of accused persons without lawyers, mainly focusing on Zimbabwe's criminal justice system. Through a descriptive quantitative approach, 80 participants were surveyed who included magistrates, legal aid practitioners, criminal defense attorneys and former accused persons. Data from structured questionnaires were analyzed with SPSS. Results show a statistically significant link between the presence and quality of legal counsel and sentencing: unrepresented accused persons were more likely to receive custodial sentences, longer prison terms and face fewer acquittals.
Chaithanya S., Chandralekha M.
This study examines the role of the Kochi Metro in improving public transport efficiency in Ernakulam, focusing on its impact on urban mobility, traffic conditions, and commuter behaviour. With rapid urbanization and increasing traffic congestion, the need for efficient and sustainable transportation systems has become critical. The research is based on both primary and secondary data, where primary data were collected from 302 respondents using structured questionnaires and online surveys, and secondary data were gathered from existing literature and reports. Statistical analysis, including ANOVA, was applied to evaluate variations in public perception. The findings reveal that the Kochi Metro has significantly improved travel convenience, safety, and overall transport efficiency, while its impact on reducing traffic congestion and dependence on private vehicles remains moderate. The study also indicates consistent satisfaction with ticketing systems and service quality among users, whereas perceptions of safety vary across different groups. Furthermore, differing opinions regarding future metro expansion highlight the need for better planning and communication. The study concludes that although the Kochi Metro enhances urban mobility, addressing issues such as last-mile connectivity, affordability, and awareness is essential to maximize its long-term effectiveness.
Mr. GUETARNI Adnane
The evolution of inspection activities and the emergence of new digital, organizational, and governance-related challenges are progressively transforming the management systems of accredited inspection bodies. In this context, the forthcoming ISO/IEC 17020:2026 standard introduces new orientations related to data governance, digital traceability, supervision mechanisms, risk management, and the integration of electronic evidence within conformity assessment systems. This article aims to evaluate the adequacy of the Quality Management System (QMS) implemented by BETEC Inspection with respect to the emerging requirements of ISO/IEC 17020:2026. The study is based on a multicriteria analytical approach combining governance assessment, traceability analysis, supervision evaluation, and digital maturity review. The adopted methodology relies on a case-study approach supported by analytical matrices, maturity assessment grids, and comparative evaluation mechanisms. Several dimensions were examined, including data governance, documentary continuity, digital evidence management, supervision practices, and operational traceability.
Veronica B. Afable, Virgilio P. Rapada JR. PhD
The study focused on the correlation between School Heads’ Instructional Supervision and Teachers’ Work Performance within the division of Eastern Samar for school year 2025-2026, using quantitative correlational design. 48 school heads and 48 teachers, for a total of 96 school personnel from the different secondary schools of Eastern Samar division were chosen as samples via total enumeration sampling. Meanwhile, the main research instrument used in the study to obtain data relative to instructional supervision of school heads was an adapted survey from DepEd Region 10 Instructional Supervisory Form (2017), and the teachers’ work performance were collected based on the respondents’ IPCRF rating for school year 2024-2025. In analyzing the data collected, mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage were employed to interpret the descriptive aspect of the information; however, Spearman’s rank correlation was utilized to test the significant relationship between the variables. In terms of findings, it was revealed that the school heads’ instructional supervision was highly proficient. On the other hand, the teachers’ work performance very satisfactory to outstanding. Lastly, it was found out that there was no significant relationship between school heads’ instructional supervision and teachers’ work performance. It was strongly recommended in the study that school heads should implement stringent school leadership to decisively enhance teaching and learning, requiring for further training to achieve more effective supervisory skills.
Anis Nabila Abdul Malik, Khairul Farhah Khairuddin
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) has increasingly been recognised as a means of supporting communication and participation among students with special educational needs. While earlier applications of AAC focused primarily on basic communicative functions, recent research has highlighted its potential to support advanced language skills such as narrative development, literacy engagement, and pragmatic social communication. This article presents a narrative review of recent literature examining the use of AAC for advanced language development within school based special education contexts. Relevant studies published between 2020 and 2025 were identified through major academic databases and analysed thematically. The review highlights emerging AAC supported approaches, including story grammar based narrative activities, shared book reading, and dialogic interaction, which enable extended discourse and meaningful classroom participation. At the same time, persistent challenges remain, particularly in relation to teacher training, cross disciplinary collaboration, contextual applicability, and limited empirical evidence from Malaysia. Overall, the findings underscore the need to reconceptualise AAC beyond basic communication support and to prioritise classroom based, interaction driven approaches that align with local educational realities. Implications for practice and directions for future research are discussed to support more effective and contextually relevant AAC implementation in special education.
Foronda, Isagani Jr. R.
Education plays a key role in Road Safety, which has reduced deaths caused by accidents in developed countries. This study aims to determine the level of awareness and compliance of SMU students to the traffic rules and regulations of the Land Transportation Office, as well as the ordinances of the Municipality of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya, where the results were collected by the researcher through an adapted and modified questionnaire that is made by the researcher. A descriptive-quantitative design was used wherein the respondents’ level of awareness and compliance with the traffic rules and regulations was described through the numerical and statistical data that was collected through the questionnaires. The respondents are from the tertiary level who have experience in driving, are enrolled student of Saint Mary’s University for the academic year 2022-2023, has a driver’s license, and are current residents of Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya. The researcher has employed a snowball sampling. The study’s outcome shows that the students have high knowledge and are aware of the rules and regulations of the LTO and the municipal ordinances. While for compliance, it shows that the students have a high sense of compliance with these rules and regulations and the ordinances of traffic; however, they do not always comply with some of the traffic rules, which indicates that there should be some improvements to be made. The researcher recommends that the DSAS offices increase the regular orientation about the traffic rules to provide a high level of compliance among the student drivers of Saint Mary’s University.
Cathrine L. Tomas, Esther S. Olino
Child protection is a fundamental human rights concern and an essential component of safe and inclusive educational systems. Globally, violence against children remains pervasive despite international efforts to eliminate abuse, exploitation, and neglect. (The World Health Organization [WHO], 2020) estimates that nearly one billion children aged two (2) to seventeen (17) years have experienced physical, emotional, or sexual violence or neglect, highlighting the persistent vulnerability of children across diverse contexts (The World Health Organization [WHO], 2020). These realities underscore the need for effective legal frameworks and competent frontline implementers, particularly within schools where children spend a significant portion of their formative years. RA 7610 aligns with the country’s commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals 4, which promotes inclusive, equitable, and safe learning environments (United Nations, 2019).
Mohd Farid Abd Latib, Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Kassim, Muhammad Safizal Abdullah, Ridzhal Hasnan
This article examines how technical and vocational education and training (TVET) can be integrated into tahfiz-(memorization of Quran) based Islamic education without weakening the religious mission that gives such institutions their legitimacy. Drawing on a documentary case study of two Kedah Tahfiz-TVET research reports prepared in 2026, the article synthesises aggregate descriptive survey evidence and focus group discussion (FGD) thematic evidence from key stakeholders, namely asatizah or teachers, huffaz or students, parents or guardians, and relevant policy and implementation agencies. The survey report indicates favourable stakeholder orientation, with reported overall agreement of 80.3% among asatizah, 79.7% among huffaz or students, 78.1% among parents or guardians, and 79.2% across all reported responses. The FGD report, however, shows that acceptance is conditional rather than unconditional: stakeholders support Tahfiz-TVET when it is understood as a value-adding reform that protects hafazan (memorization of Quranic verses) and murajaah (reviewing memorized portions of the Quran verses), preserves Islamic values and adab (manners), controls cost and safety risks, provides recognised certification, and is governed through phased, modular implementation. The article proposes a Conditional Legitimacy Framework for Value-Compatible Vocationalisation, arguing that vocational reform in faith-based schooling gains legitimacy through five interacting mechanisms: interpretive clarity, core-mission protection, capability-value gain, implementation trust, and governed modularisation. The article contributes to TVET, Islamic education, and educational change scholarship by shifting the analytical focus from simple acceptance to legitimacy formation in value-sensitive educational reform. It also offers policy implications for designing Tahfiz-TVET as a phased capability-expansion model rather than a disruptive curriculum insertion.
Michael Nyasimi Manyange (PhD), Nabimanya Rhina, Tom Ongesa Nyamboga (PhD)
This study addressed a knowledge gap on how workload management influences employee performance in tea factory settings, where existing literature had largely focused on burnout, occupational stress, or general HRM practices rather than structured workload allocation. The study aimed to examine the effect of workload management on employee performance at Igara Tea Factory. It was anchored on the Job Demands–Resources theory and Goal-Setting theory, which explain how balanced job demands and clear task goals enhance employee outcomes. A descriptive research design supported by a mixed-methods approach was adopted to capture both numerical trends and contextual experiences. The target population comprised 489 employees, including supervisors, clerical staff, casual workers, and support staff. A sample size of 220 respondents was determined using Yamane’s formula, with proportionate stratified random sampling and simple random sampling applied for the quantitative component, while purposive sampling was used to select 19 supervisors for qualitative interviews. Quantitative findings revealed a strong and significant positive relationship between workload management and employee performance (r = 0.688, p < 0.05), while regression analysis confirmed workload management as a significant predictor (B = 0.467, p = 0.000). Qualitative findings further indicated that poor workload distribution reduced efficiency and morale, whereas fair task allocation and clear instructions enhanced performance. The study concluded that effective workload management significantly improves employee performance. It is significant to policy and practice by informing structured workload allocation systems and improved HR planning in tea factories. The study contributes to literature by integrating workload management within performance frameworks in agro-industrial contexts and extending application of JD-R and Goal-Setting theories to workload-performance relationships.
Collins W. Munene, Dr. Joanes Kyongo
The problem affecting the performance of NGOs is the absence of strategic planning and evaluation frameworks. Without a clear strategic direction, NGOs often struggle with inefficient resource allocation, ineffective program implementation, and an inability to achieve meaningful outcomes. NGOs intervene in various programmes; however, there has been limited success attributed to a lack of thorough strategy evaluation and control practices. Hence, this study sought to determine the effect of strategy control and evaluation practices on the performance of NGOs in Kenya, with a focus on World Vision in Taita Taveta County. The objectives of the study were to determine the effect of benchmarking on the performance of NGOs, establish the effect of performance appraisal on the performance of NGOs, and assess the effect of strategy audit on the performance of NGOs. The study was underpinned by the Theory of Change and Agency Theory. A descriptive research design was adopted. Primary data was collected from a census population of 95 using a structured questionnaire. The pre-test was done on 10 respondents from Mercy Corps International, Kenya. The analysis was done using SPSS 26.0. The data was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics and presented in tables, percentages, and frequencies. The study found a statistically significant relationship between benchmarking strategy and organizational performance. The study concludes that, for NGOs like World Vision, a multifaceted approach that includes adequate staffing, effective performance appraisal systems, strategic audits, and a supportive organizational culture is crucial for enhancing overall performance. Policymakers should contemplate establishing supporting structures that enable funding and resource allocation for NGOs. This entails offering incentives to NGOs that exhibit good performance and accountability, while also ensuring that regulatory frameworks facilitate NGO activities.
ThankGod Chinemelum Chukwuma
This study explored the lived experiences of healthcare workers in Pangasinan regarding ethical dilemmas encountered in professional practice. Specifically, the study examined the ethical conflicts experienced by healthcare workers, the coping strategies used to manage these dilemmas, and the insights they developed through their experiences in healthcare settings. This study utilized a qualitative phenomenological research design to investigate the lived experiences of healthcare workers encountering ethical dilemmas in healthcare practice. Purposive sampling was employed to select participants who had direct experiences with ethical conflicts in healthcare settings. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and the data were analyzed using Colaizzi’s phenomenological descriptive method. The findings revealed that healthcare workers commonly experience ethical dilemmas related to resource limitations, patient autonomy, end-of-life care, institutional pressures, confidentiality concerns, and financial constraints affecting patient care. Participants managed ethical conflicts through consultation with colleagues and supervisors, adherence to ethical guidelines, reflective practice, and open communication with patients and families. The study also highlighted the emotional and professional impact of ethical dilemmas, including moral distress, compassion fatigue, and emotional exhaustion, while demonstrating the importance of resilience, peer support, and ethics education. The study was limited to selected healthcare workers in Pangasinan and focused primarily on physicians and nurses. Future studies may include other healthcare professionals and broader geographic settings to further explore ethical dilemmas across diverse healthcare environments. Healthcare institutions may strengthen ethical decision-making and reduce moral distress by providing ethics education, establishing structured support systems, improving staffing conditions, and encouraging collaborative ethical discussions among healthcare professionals. Understanding healthcare workers’ ethical challenges may contribute to improved healthcare delivery, patient-centered care, and the development of supportive This study contributes to the growing body of literature on healthcare ethics by providing context-specific insights into the lived experiences of healthcare workers in provincial healthcare settings in the Philippines.
Mohd Effendi @ Ewan Mohd Matore, Nur Ashiela Abdul Manaf
The rapid integration of generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into students’ academic practices has brought not only benefits but also a hidden threat, namely AI hallucination. This phenomenon occurs when systems generate outputs that appear convincing but are in fact inaccurate, thus posing a critical challenge to academic integrity. This concept paper aims to elaborate and clarify the position of the concept of digital immunity against AI hallucination risk in educational contexts by developing a conceptual framework that integrates cognitive, behavioural and contextual dimensions of AI use. Its specific objectives are to explain the forms of AI hallucination risk in education, identify research gaps in AI literacy, propose a risk‑assessment instrument framework and discuss the implications of its implementation for learners, teachers and educational institutions. Methodologically, the paper employs document analysis and synthesis of recent literature, drawing on AI literacy frameworks, dual‑process theory, risk perception theory and information quality frameworks to shape the constructs of digital immunity and hallucination‑risk domains. The conceptual findings indicate the need for a valid and reliable psychometric instrument to assess risk awareness, the ability to detect false information and dependence on AI as a basis for planning pedagogical interventions. The main limitation of this study is the absence of empirical data to validate the proposed digital‑immunity framework and AI hallucination‑risk constructs. Hence, future studies may focus on developing and empirically validating a psychometric instrument to measure levels of digital immunity and AI hallucination risk among educational users. Fostering digital immunity is a crucial step to protect the cognitive safety of educators and learners, uphold academic integrity and align AI use with the aspirations of the national Digital Education Policy.
Charity L. Bermudo, Daniella A. De Guzman., Dante M. Balansag Jr., Domenic D. Venlasa., Regidor T. Carale EdD, PhD-CDDS, Xieney V. Soco
Artificial intelligence (AI)–generated tools such as ChatGPT, Bard, and Copilot have become increasingly integrated into higher education, transforming how students accomplish academic tasks. While these technologies provide convenience and efficiency, concerns remain regarding their influence on the development of essential 21st-century skills, particularly creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration. This study examined the relationship between students’ reliance on AI-generated tools and the development of these 21st-century skills among undergraduate students at Negros Oriental State University. Using a quantitative descriptive–correlational research design, data were gathered from 35 pre-service teachers through a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson Product–Moment Correlation, t-test, and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) were employed to analyze the data. Findings revealed that respondents demonstrated a high level of reliance on AI-generated tools for academic purposes, particularly in brainstorming ideas, verifying information, and completing academic tasks. Students also generally agreed that AI positively contributed to their creativity, communication, collaboration, and critical thinking skills. However, moderate indicators suggested that students were not entirely dependent on AI technologies and still maintained independent learning practices. The study concludes that AI-generated tools can serve as valuable academic support systems when used responsibly and critically. Educational institutions are encouraged to establish guidelines promoting ethical AI use while strengthening independent thinking and higher-order cognitive skills.
Md. Abdur Rashid, Md. Arifur Rahman, Nazrul Islam
The post-independence novels of R.K. Narayan (1906-2001) capture the fears, hopes, and complexities of a nation which is just emerging from its status as colony and coming into terms with its new identity and role. This study analyzes the post-independence novels of R.K. Narayan including The Financial Expert, The Vendor of Sweets, The Painter of Signs, and Waiting for the Mahatma through post-colonial theories in order to bring out the issues of freedom, identity, hybridity, the adaptation of the English language, and effects of westernization. The study uses historical contextualization to explain the socio-political context during the time of writing in relation to the post-independence novels of Narayan. The study shows that post-independence novels of R.K. Narayan exhibit the issues related to identity, cultural hybridity, and postcolonialism in an independent India.
Delia V. Mendoza, Hazel Marie P. Oropesa
This study seeks to rediscover, document, and highlight the heritage landmarks, cultural practices, and local narratives that define Jovellar beyond its natural attraction. By addressing this gap, the study aims to shift the community’s and the public’s attention toward historical appreciation, strengthen cultural identity, and contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of Jovellar’s meaningful place in Philippine history. Using the qualitative type of research and utilizing the historical method helped the researcher to investigate, interpret, and communicate past events. The study refers to the 14 key informants who are the primary source. The researcher employs a semi-structured questionnaire and conducts the face-to-face interview wherein the informants can share their own experiences and elaborate the story about the matter. The cultural and historical places of Jovellar is contextualized and dynamic– combining of its historical structures, religious traditions, local legends, community practices and natural landscapes. The study also illustrates that the development is not merely economic or political in nature but is deeply rooted in the actions and practices of its historical and cultural people. The progress undergone by the residents was driven by the dynamic relationship between the heritage, livelihood and governance, continue to guide the community behavior, shape the identity, social cohesion, and influence policy-making.
Emmalee Kaewsan, Montathip Chansuwan, Narawit Ariyawongsakul, Onsine Khamjunla, Pawanrat Noon-anan
Carbonated beverage consumption remains a prevalent behavior among adolescents and is increasingly associated with adverse health outcomes. This study aimed to examine consumption patterns, behavioral drivers, and self-reported health effects among middle-to-late adolescents using a cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from adolescent students aged 12–19 years through structured questionnaires. Descriptive analysis revealed that most participants reported low-to-moderate consumption, with approximately 60–70% consuming carbonated beverages occasionally or 1–2 times per week, while around 20–30% reported frequent intake (≥3 times per week or daily). The typical intake per occasion was approximately one standard serving (≈325 mL). Consumption was most commonly associated with leisure activities and social contexts, particularly during screen time and outings. Key determinants included taste preference, perceived refreshment, habitual consumption, and peer influence. Health outcome analysis indicated a clear pattern in which higher consumption frequency was associated with increased prevalence of adverse symptoms. Frequently reported conditions included gastrointestinal disturbances (acid reflux, abdominal pain), sleep disturbances, dental problems, and cognitive-behavioral symptoms such as reduced concentration and irritability. Notably, participants with frequent intake patterns reported multiple concurrent symptoms more often than occasional consumers. In addition, over 80% of participants demonstrated awareness of potential health risks, yet this did not translate into reduced consumption behavior. Barriers to reducing intake were predominantly craving, habitual dependence, and perceived functional benefits (e.g., refreshment and energy). These findings highlight a significant discrepancy between health awareness and actual behavior, suggesting that knowledge alone is insufficient to drive behavioral change. Targeted interventions should therefore integrate behavioral modification strategies, environmental control, and promotion of healthier alternatives to effectively reduce carbonated beverage consumption and its associated health risks among adolescents.
Nor Azlina binti Mohd Noor
This study examines the scholarly landscape on geographical indication and the law through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis aimed at identifying conceptual trends, research patterns and global collaboration structures within the field. Despite the growing importance of geographical indication as a legal mechanism for protecting origin-based products, enhancing rural development and shaping international trade negotiations, existing scholarship remains dispersed across multiple disciplines, creating a need for a systematic assessment of its intellectual structure. To address this gap, the study employed a structured methodology beginning with data collection through Scopus advanced searching, which yielded a final dataset of 838 peer-reviewed English-language documents published between 2015 and 2025. Statistical trends and performance indicators such as publication growth, authorship patterns, country contributions and citation metrics were analysed using the Scopus Analyzer. OpenRefine was then used to clean and harmonise author names, affiliations and keywords to ensure data accuracy and consistency. The refined dataset was subsequently processed in VOSviewer to generate visualisations of co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence maps and citation structures, enabling the identification of dominant themes, emerging clusters and influential actors. The numerical results reveal rapid publication growth after 2018, strong contributions from European and Asian countries, and high thematic concentration around intellectual property law, sustainability, protected geographical indication, traditional knowledge and international trade. The visual analyses also highlight dense collaborative linkages among countries with established geographical indication systems, alongside increasing participation from developing regions. The study concludes that research on geographical indication and the law has expanded into a multidimensional field shaped by legal, economic and socio-cultural considerations, underscoring the need for continued interdisciplinary engagement to support policy development and global regulatory coherence.
Jose F. Cuevas, Jr, Ricky Jean R. Alegrado
In higher education, the shift to blended learning, combining online and face-to-face instruction, has introduced new opportunities for flexible, engaging learning experiences. This study examined how blended learning instruction relates to the engagement and satisfaction of criminology students in a higher education institution in Ozamiz City. The study utilized a descriptive-correlational research design. Data were gathered from 135 criminology students enrolled during the first semester of the academic year 2025–2026. They were selected through stratified sampling. Researcher-made instruments were used in gathering data. Mean, Standard Deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that students viewed the implementation of blended learning to a very great extent. They reported very high levels of engagement and satisfaction. Blended learning instruction has a significant relationship with student engagement. In addition, blended learning instruction and student satisfaction have also been significant in the relationship. It was concluded that blended learning instruction was implemented successfully and promoted high levels of student engagement and satisfaction among criminology students. Stakeholders may collaboratively sustain and strengthen blended learning by continuously improving instruction, technology, faculty development, and support systems to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.
Aditya Manggala, I Wayan Sugiartana, Komang Trisna Eka Putra, Ni Kadek Mira Suryaningsih, Ni Made Puriati
Bali holds significant potential for developing blue economy-based entrepreneurship to achieve economic and ecological sustainability. This exploratory qualitative research aims to analyze strategies for optimizing marine resources through sustainable entrepreneurship. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with entrepreneurs and stakeholders in Bali's coastal areas, supplemented by document analysis and observation. The findings identify potential sectors such as conservation-based marine ecotourism, seaweed aquaculture, and innovative marine product processing. However, their development is constrained by three main challenges: (1) regulatory and governance complexity leading to legal uncertainty; (2) limited access to formal financing and technology; and (3) suboptimal entrepreneurial capacity and mindset. The study concludes that a holistic strategy encompassing regulatory reform, acceleration of innovation and inclusive financing, and strengthening of value chains and local wisdom (Tri Hita Karana) is essential. Through this strategy, blue entrepreneurship can become a new, resilient, and competitive economic pillar aligned with sustainability principles in Bali.
Oghenehoro Evi Eni*
Border enforcement sits at the intersection of immigration law, criminal law, and international human rights obligations. States differ in how they treat unauthorized entry: some criminalize it, while others treat it mainly as a civil immigration issue. These choices shows deeper legal and political values about sovereignty, punishment, and humanitarian protection. This paper compares Canada and the United States and assesses their approaches against international legal standards, especially the 1951 Refugee Convention and the UN Smuggling Protocol. The United States criminalizes unauthorized entry under 8 U.S.C. §§ 1325 and 1326, thereby leading to widespread federal prosecutions. Contrastingly, Canada, mainly treats unauthorized entry as an administrative immigration matter under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), reserving criminal law for serious offences such as human smuggling. The paper finds that the U.S. model relies more on criminal prosecution, and raisesg concerns about proportionality, due process, and consistency with international refugee protection. However, Canada’s system is more aligned with international standards but still faces enforcement and administrative challenges. Hence, the paper concludes that criminalizing entry is a policy choice rather than a legal necessity and suggests reform toward more proportionate and rights-based enforcement systems.
Muna Liyana Mohamad Tarmizi, Norfarhana Fadilla Mohd Zaki, Nur Syamimi Zahari, Sharifah Nadia Syed Nasharudin
Digital transformation in higher education has increased the adoption of technology-mediated assessment methods, yet students' perception of video-based speech assessment in the ESL classroom remains understudied. This study investigated Malaysian ESL students' perceptions of pre-recorded informative speeches and examined their perceived impact on communication competence development. Grounded by Spitzberg and Cupach's (1984) communication competence model, this exploratory mixed-methods study examined forty-two LCC400 (English for Informative Speech) students' perceptions of pre-recorded speeches and the perceived impact on communication competence development across three dimensions: knowledge (content organisation and clarity), skills (verbal and non-verbal delivery), and motivation (confidence and engagement). Data were collected via an online questionnaire assessing perceived communication competence across three dimensions. Open-ended responses were analysed using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) thematic analysis. The findings identified positive student perceptions of communication competence development, particularly in non-verbal delivery and self-feedback mechanisms, alongside thematic patterns regarding (1) reflective learning and self-assessment benefits; (2) psychological impacts (confidence, anxiety, motivation); (3) technical and digital barriers; and (4) skill development specificity, with particular attention to alignment with Spitzberg & Cupach's three communication competence dimensions. This study provided insights into how Malaysian ESL learners perceive their development of communication competence through a pre-recorded speech assessment and identified practical considerations for educators implementing video-based communication assignments in Malaysian higher education.
Asukwo Etuk
This study examines the convergence of ritual and dramaturgy within the framework of Total Theatre as performance praxis in Uwemedimo Atakpo’s Isadok. While African theatre scholarship has consistently acknowledged the integrative nature of indigenous performance traditions, there remains limited critical attention to how these elements are structurally deployed within contemporary dramaturgical practice. This article interrogates Isadok as a paradigmatic text that synthesises ritual performance, narrative structure, music, dance, and spectacle into a unified theatrical experience. Drawing on Total Theatre theory, postcolonial performance aesthetics, and ethno-dramatics, the study adopts a qualitative textual and performance analysis approach. It explores how ritual elements such as invocation, symbolic embodiment, and communal participation are embedded within the dramaturgical architecture of the play. The analysis reveals that Isadok transcends conventional dramatic form by collapsing the boundaries between performer and audience, sacred and secular space, and narrative and enactment. The findings demonstrate that Total Theatre in Isadok operates not merely as an aesthetic device but as an epistemological framework that encodes cultural memory, social values, and cosmological consciousness. The play exemplifies how contemporary Nigerian theatre reconfigures indigenous performance logics into modern dramaturgical expressions, thereby challenging Eurocentric theatrical conventions. The study contributes to ongoing debates on African-centred performance theory by positioning Total Theatre as a viable methodological and conceptual model for analysing African dramaturgy. It further underscores the relevance of ritual aesthetics in shaping contemporary theatrical practices and advocates for the recognition of Total Theatre as a dynamic performance praxis within global theatre discourse.
Allen G. Amarilla, PhD, Justice Love C. Francisco-Diaz
Educational leadership in the Marshall Islands operates within a complex dynamic where indigenous customs (Manit) intersect with modern bureaucratic mandates. This qualitative case study explored how school heads in Ebeye navigate the tension between traditional authority and contemporary educational accountability. Anchored on Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions, Bass’s Transformational Leadership, Hallinger’s Instructional Leadership, and Khalifa’s Culturally Responsive School Leadership, the study involved nine (9) school heads selected through total enumeration. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews, field observations, and document analysis, and treated using thematic analysis. The findings revealed four key dimensions of leadership practice. First, leadership culture in Ebeye is defined by relational interconnectedness, where the school head functions as a protective "Umbrella," shielding the community through trust and visibility rather than positional power. Second, traditional authority remains a potent force; effective leaders act as cultural diplomats, negotiating with Iroij (Chiefs) and Alap (Landowners), and exercising Spiritual Stewardship to validate their leadership. Third, despite resource constraints, leaders are actively adopting modern accountability measures, transitioning from oral traditions to data-driven Instructional Leadership through School Improvement Plans (SIPs) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). Finally, the study synthesized a "Hybrid Framework" characterized by "Rooted Flexibility." Central to this framework is the concept of the Simulacrum, where the leader’s embodied example and personal integrity serve as the primary curriculum for the school. The study concludes that effective leadership in Ebeye is not a binary choice between tradition and modernity but a synchronized practice of honoring cultural roots while growing professional branches.
A.T. Baluyot, A.U. Dawinan, F.J.D Suad, M.S. Prudente, R.A.M. Lofamia, S.E. Aguja
Responsible conduct of research (RCR) underpins academic integrity. Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of research teachers regarding research ethics remain underexplored outside medical and scientific fields. Limited empirical evidence exists on how research teachers in junior high school, senior high school, and tertiary education understand and operationalize ethical principles, including informed consent, confidentiality, and protection of minors. This study assessed the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of research teachers regarding research ethics. A mixed-menthod research design was employed, and involved research teachers (N=91) from junior high schools (n1=33), senior high schools (n2=34, and 24 tertiary institutions in Metro Manila. An adapted 30-item KAP questionnaire and five open-ended qualitative questions were administered. Quantitative data were analyzed using a mixed-methods approach, wherein quantitative data were analyzed descriptively. Qualitative data underwent reflexive thematic analysis. Quantitative findings revealed high knowledge of research ethics principles (mean range: 4.56–4.90 out of 5). Confidentiality scored highest (M=4.90, SD=0.34). Minor assent procedures scored lowest (M=4.56, SD=0.69). Attitudes were strongly positive toward mandatory ethics training (M=4.85, SD=0.39) and ethical review (M=4.76, SD=0.50). Gaps emerged: 63.7% suspected academic dishonesty, 61.5% intervened in plagiarism cases, 72.5% struggled with workload-ethics balance, 93.4% reported past research shaped their teaching. Qualitative identified four major themes: (1) role of ethical review process, (2) recommendations for training, (3) significant ethical challenges including improper AI use (≈66%), data privacy (>50%), plagiarism and fabrication (>50%), and informed consent violations (≈45%), and (4) ethical concerns while supervising students. Teachers preferred restorative approaches over punitive measures. Despite high knowledge and positive attitudes, significant KAP gaps persist. There is an urgent need for contextualized ethics training, periodic refresher courses, institutional monitoring, and clear AI use policies.
Arlan S. Ravanera
International labor migration underpins the Philippine economy, yet the reintegration of Circular Labor Migration Returnees (CLMRs) typically leads to a recursive cycle of repeat migration. This study fills a significant research vacuum by going beyond economic remittances to the under-explored social and psychosocial aspects of return and by investigating the interaction between the institutional frameworks and human agency. The study sought to profile CLMRs, assess levels of institutional assistance in three domains (economic, social, and psychosocial), and identify structural hurdles to successful reintegration. The study was based on Rob Stones’ Structuration Theory (SST) and applied the Quadripartite Cycle to chart the relationships between institutional policy (External Structure), migrant knowledge (Internal Structure), strategic navigation (Active Agency), and reintegration outcomes. A concurrent mixed-methods design was used through triangulation of quantitative survey data and qualitative narratives from in-depth interviews and key-informant sessions with OFW returnees and institutional staff. The findings reveal a precipitous reintegration cliff for returnees. The data suggest that after years of intensive work abroad, majority of the households remain caught in low-income bracket, with the respondents describing their present economic situation as “poor.” This lack of economic progress is compounded by a huge institutional deficit, as nearly all returnees in this sample experienced a serious lack of psychosocial support to help them prepare for life back home. In addition, most respondents reported that they had failed in their attempts to obtain economic aid, largely due to the high bureaucratic barriers. The main findings suggest that the current reintegration process is characterized by structural reproduction, which entails that the lack of sustainable safety nets at the local level leads to a re-entry into the global market. The study advances de-bureaucratizing services by creating localized barangay-level centers and reorienting institutions from one-time handouts to long-term, impact-based mentorship and holistic social protection.
Ahmad Zubir Jamil, Mohd Razali Mohamad Sapiee, Muhammad Afif Firdaus, Norazlina Abd Razak, Shahrudin Zakaria
This paper addresses an important gap at the intersection of cognitive science, perception studies, and artificial intelligence: how systems can bridge the divide between visual input and embodied subjective experience. While visual consciousness remains a hard problem, this article attempts to address one tiny piece of the difficulty. This study proposes a conceptual framework where visual-body mapping serves as the foundational mechanism for defining experienced reality. Rather than treating reality as absolute truth, we conceptualize it as dynamic interaction between internal cognitive processes and external environmental references, situated within a broader conceptual awareness structure. Through systematic layered inquiry (Q1, Q2, and Q3) combined with hypothetical thought experiments, we apply logical reasoning to explore perceptual boundaries and examine how conceptual frameworks shape our understanding of reality. The central contribution demonstrates that perceived “reality” emerges from the interplay of timing dynamics, structural positioning, and embodied perception. This visual-body mapping framework offers a forward-looking perspective for how AI systems might achieve human-like perception in the future - by recognizing the critical role of information processing speed and embodied perception in shaping real visual perception. From a scientific perspective, this paper outlines how possibly humans may experience visual reality, suggests two key implications: first, it provides a technological foundation for advancing human-centered AI innovation (robotics, intelligent machines, interface design, etc.). Second, it contributes a novel theoretical perspective on embodied cognition within cognitive science, suggesting new pathways for understanding how perception emerges through physical embodiment. While technological implementation may present challenges, it establishes valuable theoretical foundations and future experimental directions for future research in human-machine perception.
Godsgift Harrold Ph.D., Ibikunle Olayiwola Ajisafe Ph.D., Oyinkansola Akinmade Ph.D.
Broadcast journalism in Nigeria and worldwide is rooted in the history of the people and their land. Long before modern media, the Alago Oba as it was called in Yorubaland, or the Ogene or Ikoro drummer in Igboland, and the Mai-Shela with his Kakaki trumpet in Hausa-Fulani regions functioned as the original broadcasters. In present-day Nigeria, this very important role is now reflected in the work of radio, television, satellites, smartphones, and digital/AI voices. This evolution, from the early-morning gong to today’s live streams and algorithm-informed news, shows the persistence and importance of the crier’s mission. (Folayan et al., 2021). Drawing on the African Trado-Modern Communication Model, this shows that broadcast journalism keeps its main democratic role as the electronic Fourth Estate, even as it adapts to changes in the 21st century (Hampton, 2009; Akpan, 2023). This analysis explores regional variations in the role of traditional criers, the evolution of Nigerian broadcasting from the colonial era to post-independence, the emergence of citizen journalism during #EndSARS and the 2023 elections, the ongoing prevalence of the “brown envelope” culture, the impact of media ownership, and the persistent digital divide that continues to isolate millions in so-called “silent villages.” Recent data from 2025–2026 indicate that while national internet penetration ranges from 45% to 65%, rural access remains significantly lower at only 23% in many communities (Umeh, 2025). This paper argues that professional journalists have shifted from being the sole sources of news to becoming important “curators of authenticity” amid widespread misinformation and platform-driven media. In 2024, Nigeria’s entertainment and media sector grew by 11.2%, the fastest rate in Africa, thanks to streaming, social video, and podcasts (Onwuamaeze, 2025). Even so, people tend to trust verified broadcast sources during uncertain times. The article ends with policy suggestions on subsidies, journalist welfare, AI ethics, and community media licensing. No matter if the gong is metal, satellite-linked, or digital, its purpose remains the same: to inform, educate, unify, and hold those in power accountable through reliable, accessible, and culturally relevant communication.
Angelica A. Soreño, Jessie Jr. T. Tanglao, Karyll Ann R. Abines, Manilyn A. Andog, Miles D. Mirambel, Regidor T. Carale, EdD, PhD-CDDS
Financial management has become a critical concern among college students, particularly student boarders who independently manage limited financial resources while pursuing higher education. This study examined the budgeting strategies and financial challenges of student boarders at Negros Oriental State University (NORSU). Specifically, the study identified the respondents’ demographic profiles, budgeting strategies, financial management practices, financial challenges, and coping mechanisms. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed involving 85 student boarders residing in boarding houses, dormitories, and apartments near the university. Data were gathered through a validated structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, weighted mean, standard deviation, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and regression analysis. Findings revealed that most respondents were aged 23–24 years old, predominantly female, and primarily residing in boarding houses with monthly allowances ranging from ₱4,001–₱5,000. Student boarders generally demonstrated effective budgeting strategies, particularly in prioritizing essential expenses, monitoring expenditures, and planning for unexpected expenses. However, respondents also experienced considerable financial management challenges caused by limited allowances, increasing living costs, and difficulty balancing academic and personal expenses. Despite these challenges, students employed adaptive coping mechanisms such as reducing unnecessary expenditures, saving portions of their allowances, and seeking affordable alternatives. The study concluded that budgeting strategies significantly influence the financial stability and resilience of student boarders. The findings emphasize the importance of strengthening financial literacy programs, budgeting education, and student financial wellness initiatives in higher education institutions. The study recommends that universities implement contextualized financial capability programs to support student boarders in managing financial pressures and sustaining academic success.
Mohammed Hashim Taha Sulaiman AL-Ogaidi
The purpose of the research was to design, construct and apply the Health Thinking Scale among the students of the Faculties of Education for Humanities and Pure Sciences. The sample consisted of (400) male and female students, selected by stratified random method with equal distribution, from all academic stages of the Faculties of Education for Humanities and Pure Sciences, and in order to measure healthy thinking, a scale was built based on theoretical bridging (synthesis method), which consisted of (24) items. The psychometric characteristics of the scale were extracted, including apparent truthfulness, which amounted to (98%), as well as the stability coefficient by the repeat method (0.80), while the statistical methods used were the Social Statistical Package (SPSS). The results showed that the arithmetic average of the students' score was (69.93) with a standard deviation of (17.20) and when comparing the arithmetic average of the students' score with the hypothetical average of performance of (60) using the T-scale for one sample, it was found that the calculated T value is equal to (11.54) which is greater than the tabular T value (1.96) at the significance level of (0.05) and a degree of freedom (399). This indicates that there is a statistically significant difference, i.e., the students of the Faculties of Education for the Humanities and Pure Sciences possess healthy thinking. We conclude from the research that the students of the Faculties of Education for Humanities and Pure Sciences have a positive outlook, intellectual flexibility, and self-awareness in managing the crises they face, and this is a clear proof of healthy thinking.
Khadijah Mohd Shahrin, Mastura Roni, Muhammad Fairuz Jamil, Norhafidzah AB Rahaman, Wirdawati Ahmad@Mohd Isa
Internationalising higher education is a strategic goal for Malaysia in its pursuit of becoming a global education hub. However, internal capacity constraints within Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) hinder these efforts. This conceptual paper presents a framework to help the Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) strengthens institutional capacity for sustainable global engagement. Grounded in the Resource-Based View, Organisational Learning Theory, and Institutional Theory, the framework outlines key capacity domains of human resources, infrastructure, governance, culture, and finance needed to develop “global-ready” institutions. It emphasises strategic processes such as diagnostics, professional development, policy alignment, peer learning, and continuous feedback. Strengthening these internal factors will enhance international student recruitment, research collaboration, and global rankings, supporting Malaysia’s higher education aspirations. This study offers practical insights for policymakers and institutional leaders aiming to improve internationalisation outcomes.
Brian Ndegwa
Few features of Kenya's contemporary economy lay bare the contradictions of global market integration with the clarity of the second-hand clothing trade, known locally as mitumba. This article approaches mitumba not as a discrete policy puzzle but as a window onto the political economy of a late-industrialising state caught between the discards of wealthier consumers, the conditional terms of preferential trade, and the imperatives of its own informal economy. Drawing on scholarship on global value chains, fast-fashion overproduction, and African industrial policy — and triangulating across official trade statistics, industry and policy-institute reports, investigative reporting, and the documentary record of the East African Community (EAC) used-clothing ban — the analysis traces eight entangled dimensions of the trade: its global-domestic architecture, the contours of household consumption, the labour it sustains, the digital and gendered organisation of informal entrepreneurship within it, the long-debated counterfactual of restriction, the political economy of the failed EAC ban of 2016–2018, the distributional matrix of who gains and who loses, and the textile-waste crisis now anchored at Nairobi's Dandora dumpsite. To support comparison across policy options, the analysis also develops three illustrative partial-equilibrium scenarios — for port-side quality filters, segment-targeted industrial relief, and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) fees — that translate the qualitative argument into transparent quantitative orders of magnitude. The argument that emerges is that mitumba operates simultaneously as a welfare instrument for low-income households, an absorber of informal labour, a constraint on industrial policy, and a vector of environmental injustice. To frame the question as one of permission versus prohibition is therefore to mistake its character. Integration outcomes turn less on tariff schedules than on consumption patterns, on the institutional capacity to govern waste, and on the bargaining geometries that determine whose costs are borne and whose are externalised. Kenya's room for manoeuvre on mitumba, properly understood, is a problem of governance rather than a binary policy choice.
Aminat Idowu Abdulkadri
Childhood trauma is increasingly recognised as a significant factor influencing behavioural and emotional outcomes in educational settings, particularly among pupils with Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC), Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. Although policies have increasingly endorsed trauma-informed approaches, there is still little understanding of how these approaches are applied in specialist education in the UK. As a result, this study sought to critically explore trauma-informed scaffolding and de-escalation approaches for these pupils. The study used a qualitative systematic review approach, incorporating eight peer-reviewed articles between 2015 and 2025. Thematic synthesis was employed to analyse the data and identify common themes, inconsistencies, and research gaps. The study finds that while behavioural dysregulation is commonly associated with trauma, it is better understood as an interaction between trauma, neurodevelopmental factors, and environmental influences. Although scaffolding and de-escalation strategies were commonly viewed as positive, they were not always consistent, well-tailored to neurodiverse students, or unaffected by contextual factors (such as a lack of resources and staffing) that often impact specialist education settings. Furthermore, there was a disconnect between theory and practice with teachers sometimes falling back on behaviourist practices when under stress. The study concludes that trauma-informed practice remains conceptually strong but operationally underdeveloped within specialist educational settings. It emphasises the need for more specific and contextualised frameworks and robust empirical evidence for better implementation. The study provides a more nuanced and practical perspective on trauma-informed educational approaches.
Dr. Edgard R. Cabales, Dr. Ma. Theresa P. Llano, Dr. Maria Araceli C. Juliano, Joven Lou C. Lagon
This study investigates the academic achievement and motivation to learn among indigenous learners. It also examines factors influencing these outcomes, including cultural, environmental, personal, school, social, and teacher-related aspects, to understand how these variables affect performance and motivation and guide the development of educational interventions. A descriptive correlational design was employed, combining quantitative and qualitative approaches in two phases. The first phase involved a survey on academic achievement, motivation, and influencing factors, followed by key informant interviews and focus group discussions to provide deeper explanations of the quantitative results. Based on the findings, the Systemic Accessibility: Giginhawa ang mga Indigenous People (SAGIP) program was developed to improve achievement and motivation by addressing awards, environmental barriers, and personal challenges. SAGIP offers mobility solutions such as module distribution through mobile schools, community-based learning centers, flexible scheduling, and literacy programs integrated with livelihood skills, making education more accessible, relevant, and supportive of learners’ well-being. The study concludes that cultural, environmental, personal, school, social, and teacher factors significantly influence academic achievement and motivation. Addressing systemic barriers through culturally sensitive teaching, inclusive curricula, and supportive policies fosters an environment that enhances both academic success and personal growth among indigenous learners.
Ashigabu T.J., Bashir I., Jibrin, M. D
The Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) was established in Nigeria to strengthen Primary Health Care (PHC) services, improve access to essential health interventions, and accelerate progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Despite its strategic importance, implementation challenges continue to hinder its effectiveness in several states, including Nasarawa State. This study examined the challenges and limitations associated with the implementation of the BHCPF in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional design was adopted using qualitative and quantitative approaches among health managers, PHC workers, and community stakeholders across selected urban and rural Local Government Areas. Data were collected through structured questionnaires, key informant interviews, and document reviews, and analyzed using descriptive and thematic methods. Findings revealed that inadequate funding disbursement, delays in release of funds, weak financial accountability systems, shortage of skilled health personnel, poor infrastructure, insufficient medical commodities, and inadequate community awareness significantly affected BHCPF implementation. Other identified limitations included weak monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, political interference, limited capacity of health facility management committees, and poor inter-sectoral coordination. Rural health facilities were disproportionately affected due to transportation difficulties, insecurity, and limited supervisory support. The study further demonstrated that although the BHCPF has improved availability of some essential PHC services, sustainability and equity in service delivery remain major concerns. Strengthening governance structures, ensuring timely and transparent fund disbursement, enhancing workforce capacity, improving infrastructure, and promoting community participation are critical to optimizing BHCPF performance in Nasarawa State. The study concludes that addressing systemic and operational barriers is essential for achieving effective BHCPF implementation and improving health outcomes among vulnerable populations in the state.
Bernadith C. Baluran, Ericson A. Molina, Jestoni P. Trozo
Modern rice farming faces serious limitations. I explored the challenges, coping mechanisms, and insights of local rice farmers regarding rice production, from land preparation to selling, in the context of limited access to infrastructure, technology, and high-quality seeds. I employed a qualitative descriptive approach to gather diverse viewpoints from rice farmers using purposive sampling technique. I found challenges in rice farming such as ineffective pest and rat control, financial struggles, unpredictable harvests, and limited access to inputs and support. These were addressed through peer strategies, loan reliance, government subsidies, and assistance from agricultural technicians. As a result, farmers developed adaptive practices, improved productivity efforts, and sustained their livelihoods despite ongoing difficulties. Future research should use a mixed-methods approach to evaluate how access to resources and support services impact farm resilience and sustainability, while also examining the influence of farmer experience and community initiatives.
Faith Raradza
Employing observations and in-depth interviews, this qualitative study sought to explore challenges experienced by well-to-do siblings who were raised in middleclass families, with a particular focus on the Mt Pleasant Heights community in Zimbabwe. Purposive sampling approach was used to identify participants and twenty adult individuals were interviewed, constituting of professionals as well as business people. The researcher employed a qualitative thematic approach for data analysis. Two major themes that kept on emerging were the emotional and psychological burden experienced by participants as a result of the contrast between the current affluence and their previous backgrounds as well as strained relationships due to the new financial statuses. Results of the study revealed that indeed, well-to-do siblings who grew up in middle class backgrounds experience various challenges which are mainly linked to internal conflicts around belonging and authenticity especially when their current lifestyles contrast severely with their upbringing. The study underscores the importance of acknowledging these unique experiences and calls for supportive structures such as mentorship, counselling, and open family dialogue to help individuals balance their socioeconomic transitions with emotional well-being. By offering insights from a localized context, the research contributes to a broader understanding of socioeconomic mobility, family dynamics, and identity in Zimbabwe’s evolving social landscape.
Chukwu Sunday
Chieftaincy institutions have historically played a central role in governance, social order, and conflict resolution within African societies. However, in recent decades, these institutions have been increasingly undermined by persistent chieftaincy disputes and succession crises. This paper examines the nature, causes, and implications of such crises, with particular attention to their impact on traditional conflict management systems. Adopting a conceptual and analytical approach, the study explores how factors such as ambiguity in customary succession rules, political interference, economic motivations, elite manipulation, and the interaction between customary and statutory legal systems contribute to disputes over traditional leadership. The paper further analyzes the effectiveness of indigenous conflict resolution mechanisms, including the roles of kingmakers, councils of elders, mediation processes, and spiritual sanctions. It argues that while these traditional systems were once effective in maintaining social cohesion, they are now facing significant challenges, including declining legitimacy, judicial intervention, erosion of cultural values, and the increasing militarization of disputes. The study highlights the broader implications of these crises for governance, peace, and community development. It concludes by advocating for a hybrid conflict resolution framework that integrates traditional practices with modern legal and institutional mechanisms, alongside the codification of customary laws and reduction of political interference. Such reforms are necessary to restore the relevance and effectiveness of traditional conflict management systems in contemporary African societies.
Yvonne Makaka
This article critically examines the intersections between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 as articulated through the National Development Strategies, NDS1 (2021–2025) and NDS2 (2026–2030). As Zimbabwe seeks to transition toward upper-middle-income status, Chinese financing, infrastructure development, and investment have become central to its modernisation agenda. Drawing on theoretical perspectives from South–South Cooperation, Dependency Theory, and Developmental State Theory, the paper provides a structured analysis of the opportunities and challenges posed by BRI engagement. The article argues that while Zimbabwe benefits from large-scale infrastructure, energy, and industrialisation projects under the BRI, long-term developmental outcomes depend on strengthening governance capacity, improving transparency, and aligning Chinese investments more closely with national policy priorities.
Cecilia D. Anunciado, Sheila Mae N. Bojos Edd
The Department of Education emphasizes that effective classroom management and Information Communication Technology integration work together to create an organized, engaging, and learner-centered environment that promotes discipline, active participation, collaboration, and improved learning outcomes. Classroom management strategies and ICT integration are essential for effective teaching and learning. This study examined the relationship between classroom management strategies and learners’ performance, with ICT integration as a mediating variable. The respondents were 239 Grade 11 learners and 139 teachers from six public high schools in the Inabanga Districts during the school year 2025–2026. Using a descriptive-correlational design, data were gathered through a questionnaire. Findings revealed that teachers demonstrated a high level of classroom management, particularly in classroom arrangement (M = 3.59, SD = 0.52). ICT integration was also very high, especially in creating and sharing interactive multimedia presentations (M = 4.53, SD = 0.55). Most learners achieved outstanding academic performance. Further analysis showed that ICT integration significantly mediated the relationship between classroom management strategies and learners’ performance. This indicates that effective classroom management, when supported by purposeful ICT use, enhances student learning outcomes. The study concludes that combining strong classroom management with effective ICT integration is essential for improving academic success. It could be strengthened by incorporating mixed- method approaches such as classroom observations, interviews, or focus group discussions to provide deeper insights into how classroom management and ICT integration influence learner performance in actual teaching situations. Future research may also include private schools and different educational levels to improve the generalizability of the findings. Conducting longitudinal studies would help determine whether the positive effects of classroom management and ICT integration are sustained over time.
John Ray C. Langurayan
Unfit and contaminated currency in circulation remains a concern in many public markets, particularly in wet markets where money is frequently exposed to water, food products, and unsanitary conditions. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas implemented the Clean Note and Coin Policy to promote proper handling and preservation of Philippine currency. This study examined the level of awareness, practices, and challenges encountered by entrepreneurs in the implementation of the Clean Note Coin Policy at the Teodoro Arcenas Trade Center in Roxas City. Specifically, it determined whether the profile of the entrepreneurs influences their awareness, identified their currency-handling practices, examined compliance challenges, and proposed strategies to enhance policy implementation. This study employed a convergent mixed-method research design involving 199 registered stall owners for the quantitative phase and 10 key informants for the qualitative phase. Data were collected through a validated survey questionnaire and semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, while qualitative data were analyzed through thematic analysis. Findings revealed that entrepreneurs demonstrated a moderate level of awareness of the policy. However, consistent best practices were not fully observed as vendors often prioritized the monetary value rather than the physical condition of currency during transactions. Environmental factors such as exposure to water, product contamination, and the fast-paced nature of wet market transactions were identified as major challenges affecting compliance. Limited awareness and insufficient educational programs affect effective policy implementation. The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and the local government may strengthen information dissemination campaigns, conduct regular financial education activities, and install educational materials within market areas to improve awareness and promote proper currency handling practices.
Dennis Mabeya Mamboleo
Climate variability is increasingly reshaping socio-ecological systems, livelihoods, and public health outcomes across Sub-Saharan Africa. In Western Kenya, shifts in rainfall patterns, prolonged droughts, and ecological degradation are closely associated with rising health inequalities, including malnutrition, waterborne diseases, and other climate-sensitive illnesses. While Indigenous Ecological Knowledge (IEK) is widely recognized as a key resource for climate adaptation, its gendered dynamics and implications for public health remain insufficiently integrated within climate-health policy frameworks. This study examines how gendered power relations influence the production, transmission, and application of IEK, and how these dynamics shape environmental processes and health outcomes. The analysis is based on a systematic qualitative synthesis of 45 peer-reviewed studies, policy documents, and regional case analyses published between 2015 and 2025, identified through structured database searches and analyzed using thematic content synthesis. The findings show that women play a central role in soil management, water conservation, and crop diversification practices that enhance environmental resilience, food security, and disease prevention. However, structural constraints, including unequal land tenure systems, limited access to resources, and exclusion from decision-making processes, restrict the translation of this knowledge into equitable health outcomes. The study further demonstrates that climate variability affects health primarily through environmentally mediated pathways and that IEK functions as a gendered adaptive system within these processes. The study concludes that integrating IEK into climate–health governance while addressing gender inequalities is essential for strengthening resilience and reducing health disparities.
Dr. Regidor T. Carale, Matt Daveler M. Dorimon
This study investigates the effectiveness of CogniStop, a custom-developed Android application designed to mitigate habitual social media scrolling among pre-service teachers through the implementation of cognitive friction. Grounded in Dual Process Theory (Kahneman, 2011), the Ludic Loop (Schüll, 2012), and Cognitive Friction Theory (Alter, 2017), the intervention introduces arithmetic challenges and intention declarations to disrupt automatic behavior associated with “Digital Autopilot.” A mixed-method explanatory sequential design was employed, involving purposively selected participants from the College of Teacher Education. Behavioral data were collected through application logs during a 14-day protocol consisting of a baseline phase and an intervention phase. Quantitative results revealed no significant change in app launch frequency (p = .230), but a highly significant reduction in usage density (p = .004). The intervention achieved a deterrence rate of 57.83% and significantly improved perceived digital self-control (p < .001). These findings confirm that cognitive friction effectively reduces mindless scrolling and enhances metacognitive awareness without restricting user autonomy. The study contributes to the development of ethical digital wellbeing tools that promote self-regulation through deliberate cognitive engagement.
Allan Jay S. Cajandig, PhD, Jevie T. Bellosa
This study examined the influence of cognitive knowledge, strategic deployment, metacognitive regulation, and mindset on the mathematical problem-solving performance of Grade 7 students in public secondary schools. Using a quantitative-correlational design, data were collected from selected students in the Banga East District, South Cotabato. Instruments included a researcher-developed questionnaire and open-ended problem-solving tasks aligned with Polya’s framework. Findings revealed that all four factors significantly contribute to students’ problem-solving performance, with metacognitive regulation and strategic deployment emerging as strong predictors. Students demonstrated moderate proficiency in conceptual understanding but showed difficulties in planning, monitoring, and adapting strategies in non-routine tasks. Results also indicated that growth mindset and self-efficacy positively influence persistence and engagement. The study highlights the importance of integrating cognitive, strategic, metacognitive, and affective components in mathematics instruction. A holistic approach is recommended to enhance students’ ability to solve both routine and real-life mathematical problems.
Md. Billal Hossain, Md. Moslah Uddin
This study examines the components that have contributed to the success of Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs who received benefits from small-scale financing programs. In order to figure out the primary variables impacting the success of women who have taken part in microcredit programs, this study focuses at the difficulties entrepreneurs with small businesses have. Based on the Lussier model of success, the method of qualitative research is applied to the study of nine female entrepreneurs from the Kustia District of Bangladesh. The study aims to look into the elements that contributed to their success as entrepreneurs. The results point to a number of crucial success elements, such as funding, family support, managerial abilities, collaborations, communication, networking, education, and previous experience. It has been demonstrated that these elements significantly affect Bangladeshi women entrepreneurs' success. The outcomes provide more evidence that the Lussier model of success can be applicable not only domestically but also internationally. The research also provides policymaker valuable information and suggestion for making initiatives that help female entrepreneurs. This research also highlights the reasons behind why female entrepreneurs become successful who participate in the microfinance program.
Chara Mae Gapo, Elesar Malicoban, Joy Bagaloyos, Manuel Barquilla, Nanette Hope Sumaya
Genetics is widely recognized as one of the most conceptually challenging areas in secondary science because many of its key ideas are abstract and difficult for students to visualize. This study identified the conceptual difficulties of secondary students and examined the instructional challenges encountered by teachers in teaching genetics concepts. Using a descriptive research design, the study involved students from selected public secondary schools in Iligan City, Philippines, who completed a 30-item needs assessment test. In addition, five (5) in-service science teachers answered a needs assessment questionnaire to provide qualitative data on classroom difficulties and instructional strategies related to genetics. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data, while thematic analysis was applied to the teachers’ responses. The findings revealed that 83.75% of students falls below the passing mark of 75%. The results demonstrated low mastery of students in competencies related to non-Mendelian inheritance, mitosis and meiosis, and molecular processes involving DNA, RNA, and protein synthesis. Teachers likewise identified recurring instructional challenges, including the sequential complexity of genetics lessons, the abstract nature of molecular concepts, students’ limited prior knowledge, and inadequate instructional resources. These findings suggest the need for more visual, scaffolded, and context-based approaches to improve students’ understanding of genetics.
Aby Maulana, Hesty D. Lestari, Muhammad Hasyim Maulana, Sawitri Yuli Hartati
Despite the constitutional mandate established through Constitutional Court Decision Number 18/PUU-XVII/2019, the execution of fiduciary guarantees in Indonesian vehicle financing continues to occur through procedures that undermine debtor rights, exposing a persistent gap between legal norms and field practice. This study pursues two objectives: first, to critically examine the legal framework governing fiduciary guarantee execution under Law Number 42 of 1999 and its consumer protection implications under Law Number 8 of 1999; and second, to evaluate the legal reasoning of Supreme Court Decision Number 398 K/Pdt.Sus-BPSK/2025 and assess its jurisprudential consistency against Decisions Number 321 K/Pdt.Sus-BPSK/2019 and Number 126 PK/Pdt.Sus-BPSK/2021.
Daniel Quainoo, Jacob Fraikue, Nuhu Alhassan
This study examines the determinants of audit fees among firms listed on the Ghana Stock Exchange (GSE) over the period 2015–2024, extending earlier research by incorporating a more recent, post-financial-sector-reform era. The study focuses on three broad categories of determinants: client firm characteristics, audit firm attributes, and corporate governance mechanisms. Using a panel data research design with 320 firm-year observations drawn from 32 listed companies and employing Generalised Least Squares (GLS) estimation with fixed effects, the study investigates how variables such as firm size, profitability, complexity, leverage risk, industry classification, audit firm size, audit tenure, board size, board diligence, CEO duality, audit committee independence, and audit committee expertise influence audit fees. Descriptive statistics reveal a mean log audit fee of 5.201 (approximately GHS 159,000), with substantial cross-sectional and temporal variation. The mean log of total assets is 5.610 and mean profitability (ROA) is −0.010, reflecting the mixed financial performance of GSE-listed firms during a decade that encompassed the banking sector clean-up (2017–2019) and the COVID-19 pandemic (2020). Correlation analysis shows strong positive associations between audit fees and client size (r = 0.7643), profitability (r = 0.6546), complexity (r = 0.3750), and leverage risk (r = 0.3254). VIF tests confirm multicollinearity is within acceptable bounds (Mean VIF = 1.78). The Hausman specification test favours the fixed-effects model. The within-firm R² is 0.8270, indicating that the model explains 82.70 percent of the variation in audit fees after controlling for firm-specific effects. Client size emerges as the dominant driver (β = 0.6665, p < 0.001). Corporate governance mechanisms exhibit significant negative associations with fees, consistent with the substitution hypothesis. These findings carry important implications for regulators, investors, and audit professionals navigating Ghana’s evolving corporate environment.
ADOYI, Mathias Apochi, PhD, DBA
Financial sustainability remains one of the most pressing challenges confronting non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in developing economies. Despite the central role NGOs play in social service delivery, humanitarian response, and governance advocacy, many organizations experience unstable funding and limited institutional resilience. Emerging scholarship suggests that leadership styles influence resource mobilization and organizational performance; however, their effectiveness is often contingent upon governance structures that promote transparency, accountability, and strategic oversight. This study examines how corporate governance practices moderate the relationship between leadership styles such as transformational, transactional, visionary, and collaborative and the financial sustainability of NGOs in Nigeria. Using a quantitative case study approach focused on the Elite Network for Egalitarian Society, Peace & Responsibility (ENESPR), data were collected from NGO staff and management and analyzed using multivariate statistical techniques. The findings indicate that transformational and collaborative leadership significantly improve financial sustainability through enhanced partnership development and donor engagement. However, their impact becomes substantially stronger when supported by effective governance mechanisms such as active boards, internal controls, and transparent reporting systems. Conversely, weak governance structures dilute the positive influence of leadership practices on financial outcomes. The study contributes to nonprofit governance informatics by demonstrating that leadership effectiveness in NGOs operates within governance ecosystems that shape organizational resilience and donor confidence. The findings highlight the need for integrated leadership–governance frameworks to strengthen NGO sustainability in developing countries.
Ajah, Gloria C., Okonewa, Onyinyechukwu, Umenzekwe, Peace C.
This study investigated the cost implications of peace accounting on economic growth in Nigeria. It assessed the effect of government security expenditures on Gross Domestic Product (GDP), analyzed opportunity costs related to high security spending, evaluated insecurity's effects on Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), and explored the influence of regional conflicts on national unity. Ex-post facto research design was utilized, secondary data from the Central Bank of Nigeria covering 2015 to 2023 were analyzed through descriptive statistics and Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression. Findings revealed that government defense expenditures significantly affect GDP, with a coefficient of 5.210431 (p-value = 0.0050), indicating a positive correlation between military spending and economic growth. However, high security spending incurred opportunity costs that limited investments in critical sectors, evidenced by a coefficient of 4.667122 (p-value = 0.0072). Insecurity negatively affected FDI, with a marginally significant coefficient of -0.960021 (p-value = 0.0544). Additionally, the study highlighted that regional conflicts and perceptions of neglect significantly influence national unity (coefficient = 0.908664, p-value = 0.0000). In conclusion, while security expenditures bolster GDP growth, they detract from other vital sectors. The study recommends strategic resource allocation to balance security needs with economic development, implement comprehensive security reforms to attract FDI, and prioritize initiatives fostering national unity. By aligning peace accounting with broader developmental goals, Nigeria can enhance economic growth and stability, paving the way for a more cohesive society.
Akume, Gabriel Terzungwe., Igbudu, Erdoo Jennipher, Igbudu, Terhemen Joseph
The study investigated counselling intervention: a tool for digital technology use and marital satisfaction among couples in Benue State University Teaching Hospital. The Survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study was 2900 staff of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital Makurdi. A sample size of 80 respondents was taken from the population using the purposive sampling technique. A self-developed instrument titled Digital Technology use and Marital Satisfaction (DTMS) was used for the study. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to answer the research questions and The T-Test statistical tool was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that: digital technology contribute to maintaining and enhancing communication between couples who are separated by a great distance, but it also brings about distractions and interruptions undermining the benefits of spending time with one’s spouse resulting to lack of satisfaction among couples. It was recommended among others that Spouses watch the amount of time they spend using digital technology devices because it can negatively affect their marital life, personal interaction and that face to face discussion with their spouse should be of paramount instead of constantly been on their phones and personal Computer, ensuring that trust is prioritized among couples which can be gained through close interpersonal relationship and communication.
Nur Farahiyah Mohd Nasir, Nur Syakirah Samsudin
Wage theft remains a pervasive issue in Malaysia despite the existence of legal frameworks such as the Employment Act 1955 and related enforcement mechanisms, as Malaysian law addresses wage-related violations without expressly criminalising wage theft. In contrast, Australia has adopted a stronger regulatory approach by criminalising intentional wage theft under the Fair Work Act 2009. This study examines the legal frameworks, forms and impacts of wage theft in Malaysia by drawing comparative insights from Australia’s more stringent legal and enforcement model. It specifically analyses the legal loopholes that allow wage theft to persist in Malaysia and evaluates how Australia’s approach may offer useful lessons for reform. Using a qualitative comparative methodology, the study analyses primary legal materials, including International Labour Organization instruments, Malaysia’s Employment Act 1955, the Employment Act (Amendment) 2022 and Australia’s Fair Work Act 2009, alongside secondary sources such as academic literature, policy papers, research reports and newspaper articles. The findings reveal that wage theft occurs through non-payment, late payment, illegal deductions, withholding of statutory entitlements and discriminatory wage practices, all of which cause significant financial, social and psychological harm to workers. These problems persist due to legal loopholes, weak enforcement, limited deterrence and barriers faced by workers in accessing remedies. This research contributes to the existing literature by identifying specific legal and enforcement gaps in Malaysia and proposing actionable reforms to strengthen worker protection, improve enforcement effectiveness and support a fairer labour regulatory framework.
Muh Zaimi Abd Majid, Nofita Harwin, Shek Poi Ngian, Zelmi Sriyolja
Competitiveness is a crucial criterion for enhancing the sustainability of a company’s survival. It enhances creativity and improved business performance. In Indonesia, the lack of competitiveness has led to entrepreneurship closures and a decline in the membership of consulting firm associations. Over the past decade, a total of 3,123 enterprises had closed their business operations. Hence, this research aims to obtain critical internal factors and sub-factors in improving business activities in consulting companies in West Sumatra to assist corporate directors with important skills to improve important competitiveness, thus addressing future challenges in competitiveness. The methodology of this study included a literature review, main survey, SPSS analysis as well as Smart PLS using data obtain from main survey. The results revealed that the competitiveness framework for consultant company in West Sumatera has 10 critical internal factor and 18 critical sub-factors with factor loadings >0.90. The critical internal competitiveness factors and sub factor are: Human Resource (Skill, knowledge), Financial (financial stability), R&D (scientific findings, patten), Technology (information system, specializet IT), Project Management (management healt & safety, Management environment, Risk management), Innovation (product innovation, technology innovation), Marketing (promotion, market knowledge), Organisation (culture, company grade), Managemen Proces (system & procedure), strategi (strategy focus). The study has successfully developed a framework to evaluate the competitiveness for construction consultant companies. All critical sub factors identified will guide the management in enhancing their competitiveness.
Mirko Ivanović
This paper is significant because it includes research from several scientific perspectives, which together with the research of the author of this paper gives an overall multidisciplinary picture of the current economic, demographic and geopolitical situation on the island of Cuba and the reasons that led to it. Cuba's communist regime is facing the greatest threat of collapse in its decades-long rule of the island. The author of this paper wants to prove the existence of "two" Cubas, one on the island, while the other was created due to mass migrations in the South Florida region. That "other" Cuba has a great influence on the elections in the USA as well as on its foreign policy towards Cuba. It is not possible to single out a specific methodology that contributed to this work, as mentioned this is the result of multidisciplinary research, all the methods used are listed in a separate chapter and all of them are significant. The US Trump administration wants to carry out a long-awaited geopolitical strategy of overthrowing the only remaining "real" communist government in the world located just 90 miles from the US mainland.
Halimah Mohamed Ali, Mohamad Luthfi Abdul Rahman, Mohammed Abdullah Hussein, Nadiatul Shakinah Abdul Rahman, Zaid N. Mahir
This study engages with Orhan Pamuk’s Istanbul: Memories and the City (2003) to explore cultural amnesia in light of memory studies. Drawing on Andreas Huyssen, Paul Connerton, and Assmann, it argues that modernity produces a paradoxical configuration in which an obsession with memory coexists with structurally and politically supported mechanisms of forgetting. The research analyzes the memoir to articulate four interrelated domains of cultural forgetting: urban reformation as topographical erasure, selected reclamation of history, loss through representation, and the way hüzün opens a productive space for concession to the future. These results show Istanbul represented as a space where memory survives in scattered pieces while historical continuity dissolves. This study contributes to memory studies and literary scholarship on Pamuk by demonstrating how his memoir figures the emblematic twinning of memory and forgetting as a defining trait of modern cultural experience.
Imelda Ann binti Achin, Liping Xu, Meifeng Zhang, Mohammad Puad bin Bebit
This study takes the Yuan blue-and-white porcelain collection of the Gao’an Yuan Blue-and-White Porcelain Museum as its research object. As an artistic treasure of the Yuan Dynasty, these ceramics are renowned for the distinctive coloration of Sumaliqing cobalt, intricate and well-structured decorative patterns, and the expressive elegance of their classic forms. However, they currently face challenges in cultural transmission, including lagging cultural and creative product development, limited forms of expression, and insufficient appeal to younger audiences. Through a systematic analysis of the cultural elements of Gao’an Yuan blue-and-white porcelain, this study identifies three core design dimensions. Based on these traditional elements, this study develops a series of contemporary ceramic blind box IP products. By analyzing current trends in the blind box market and the development of museum cultural and creative products, representative motifs from Gao’an Yuan blue-and-white porcelain are incorporated into the IP concept. These traditional motifs are innovatively embedded into blind box design, balancing cultural authenticity with the aesthetic preferences and collecting habits of younger consumers, thereby revitalizing Yuan blue-and-white culture in a contemporary context. This design practice not only provides new insights into the modern transformation of cultural heritage but also explores feasible pathways for developing cultural and creative products rooted in tradition. By integrating traditional ceramic craftsmanship with modern blind box design, the study both preserves the cultural essence of Gao’an Yuan blue-and-white porcelain and opens new avenues for its sustainable development, offering a valuable practical reference for the contemporary museum cultural and creative industry.
Dr. Tamashwar Budhoo
This study investigates the transition from the Trained Teacher Certificate (TTC) to the Associate Degree in Education (ADE) at the Cyril Potter College of Education (CPCE) in Guyana, placing the reform within global efforts towards teacher professionalisation in the Global South. Using a qualitative case study approach, the research examines policy documents, curriculum frameworks, institutional reports, and stakeholder insights to explore both structural and psychological aspects of the reform. A Psychological Pathways Model is introduced to explain how changes affect teacher identity, self-efficacy, and instructional adaptability. Findings indicate that the ADE improves teacher preparedness, professional recognition, and classroom practice through enhanced curricula, higher entry standards, and expanded training. The study emphasises the importance of integrating structural, curricular, and psychological components in reform and presents recommendations aligned with Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) for strengthening teacher quality in resource-constrained settings.
Norasiah Omar, Suhaily Mohd-Ramly
This study maps the intellectual structure and thematic evolution of customer engagement (CE) research within service ecosystems, tracing its shift from firm-centric to ecosystem-based and innovation-driven perspectives through a longitudinal bibliometric approach. A total of 1,139 peer-reviewed publications indexed in the Scopus database were analyzed using a systematic search strategy. Data cleaning and standardization were performed using biblioMagika® and OpenRefine to ensure consistency in author keywords, source titles, and bibliographic records. Bibliometric techniques, including performance analysis, co-occurrence analysis, thematic mapping, and thematic evolution analysis, were implemented using R-Biblioshiny and IIP Maps. The findings reveal that CE research has experienced sustained growth, with notable acceleration after 2019 reflecting increasingly scholarly interest in engagement as a dynamic and multidimensional concept. CE and loyalty form the field’s conceptual core, highlighting the continued importance of relational outcomes in service research. At the same time, emerging digital themes, particularly artificial intelligence (AI), immersive platforms, digital service innovation, and technology-enabled interactions, signal a shift toward innovation-enabled, ecosystem-oriented engagement. Thematic evolution further indicates a transition from relationship-based and customer-focused perspectives toward multi-actor, technology-embedded, and value co-creation perspectives within broader service ecosystems. This study contributes to the CE literature by providing a structured overview of key research trends, dominant themes, and emerging innovation perspectives. It also offers insights for scholars seeking to position future studies within the evolving CE knowledge domain. By integrating co-occurrence, thematic mapping, and thematic evolution analyses, this study provides a theory-informed, longitudinal overview of CE research that informs future innovation-oriented theory and research. The study is limited to publications indexed in Scopus and focuses on structural patterns rather than detailed content analysis. Future research could integrate multiple databases and qualitative approaches to extend these insights.
Jogeswari Ramamoorth, Mughaneswari Sahadevan, Nuratiqah Zulkurnain, Parimela Devi Ramayah, Safiah Izzati Binti Mahidir, Yuhanis Abdul Jamal
This study investigates the determinants of customer service satisfaction in online platforms, emphasising four critical factors such as price, service quality, promotion and privacy. The objectives are to analyse these key issues, examine their impact on satisfaction, and propose actionable recommendations for improvement. Using a structured questionnaire distributed among 450 students at a private university in Shah Alam, the research employs correlation and regression analyses to examine the relationships between these variables and overall satisfaction. Findings reveal that promotional strategies exert the strongest influence on customer satisfaction (R2 = 0.571), followed by price (R2 = 0.551) and service quality (R2 = 0.507), while privacy, though significant, demonstrates a comparatively weaker effect (R2 = 0.281). These results underscore the necessity for businesses to adopt a balanced approach that integrates competitive pricing, superior service delivery, strategic promotional activities and robust data protection measures to enhance trust and loyalty. The study contributes to the literature on digital consumer behaviour and offers actionable insights for e-commerce operators seeking sustainable growth. By promoting inclusive and secure digital practices, this research aligns with SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production).
Abubakar Solihu Orisankoko
This study examines the effect of the United Kingdom's General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and Nigeria's Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023 in influencing human resource management (HRM) operations within public sector organisations. A mixed-methods research approach, which combined questionnaire surveys with document reviews to study essential HR operations that include recruitment and personnel records management, employee monitoring, health data administration, and termination procedures, has been adopted. The research shows that UK HR practices experienced major changes because of GDPR, through its enforcement of compliance requirements, employee rights protection, and institutional accountability measures. On the other hand, the NDPA 2023 was legislated recently by the Nigerian government to engender a modern legal structure within the scheme of development, yet public sector implementation faces obstacles because of several inhibiting factors like insufficient public knowledge, restricted financial backing, weak regulatory supervision and compliance enforcement. The NDPR 2023 is a total replacement for the erstwhile Nigeria Data Protection Regulation (NDPR) 2019, which was in operation until its repeal in June 2023. The research demonstrates that institutional theory shows legislative frameworks that enforce rules do not ensure compliance because institutional power, together with staff knowledge and professional codes, determines the outcome. The research study advances existing knowledge about international data protection practices while delivering practical guidance to HR professionals, governmental bodies, and employees who operate in both domestic and foreign settings.
Douglas Livanga, Dr. Edward Tshuma, Dr. Wiklef Makamache, Eneth Kachasu, James Sengu, Keresia Chido Nyakudya, Kudakwashe Marandu, Milcah Gweta, Moses Stembani Nyathi, Rose Rutsito
This study investigates the nature, extent, and underlying causes of delays in the criminal justice system within Matabeleland North Province, Zimbabwe. Persistent case backlogs represent one of the most critical challenges confronting the administration of justice in developing nations, resulting in prolonged pre-trial detention, erosion of public trust, and systemic violations of the constitutional right to a fair and expeditious trial. Using a mixed-methods empirical approach, this research collects quantitative data from court records and qualitative data through interviews with magistrates, prosecutors, defence lawyers, police officers, and accused persons or remand prisoners. The study examines structural, procedural, human resource, infrastructural, and socio-economic factors that contribute to case accumulation and slow resolution in the region. Findings are expected to provide an evidence-based foundation for targeted policy reforms, resource allocation strategies, and institutional capacity building within the Zimbabwean criminal justice system. The study is anchored in the right to a fair trial as enshrined in Section 69 of the Constitution of Zimbabwe (2013) and draws on comparative jurisprudence from neighbouring jurisdictions in Southern Africa.
Dr. Akhogbai Emmanuel Monday Ph.D
Across much of Africa, the expansion of formal democratic institutions since the 1990s has not been matched by sustained citizen participation. This paper interrogates the paradox of “democracy without citizens” by examining the rise of civic apathy and political disengagement across the continent. Moving beyond interpretations that frame apathy as mere indifference, the study argues that disengagement often represents a rational response to persistent institutional failure, limited political efficacy, and declining trust in governance structures. Drawing on democratic theory and empirical insights from selected African contexts, the paper identifies key drivers of disengagement, including electoral malpractice, corruption, socioeconomic precarity, and entrenched systems of clientelism. It further explores the implications of weak civic participation for democratic legitimacy, accountability, and policy responsiveness. The analysis reveals that without meaningful citizen engagement, democratic systems risk becoming procedurally intact but substantively hollow. The paper concludes by considering pathways for re-engaging citizens through institutional reform, civic education, and the revitalization of civil society. In doing so, it contributes to ongoing debates on the quality and sustainability of democracy in Africa.
Chukwuemeka Metu, José Maria Marbán
The lack of standardized instrument for measuring students’ growth mindset led to the development and content validation of the Growth Mindset Relationship Model (GMRM). GMRM was anchored on the Social Cognitive Theory, Self-Determination Theory and Self-System Model of Motivational Development. The scale was categorized into five dimensions; relationship with oneself, relationship with mathematics, relationship with peers, relationship with non-peers and relationship with environment, which was subjected to content validation. A total of six experts validated the instrument based on clarity, pertinence and relevance. Data collected were analysed using the Aiken V coefficient. Items with Aiken V index ≥ 0.83 and a corresponding lower limit of ≥ 0.6 at a 95% confidence interval were accepted. A total of 71 out of 97 items met the threshold and were ascertained as a good measurement tool. The construct validity and test-retest reliability were suggested to be included in the future research.
Mr. Umbakilile Mwiinga
Zambia’s agricultural sector employs over 60% of the rural workforce yet captures minimal value in international markets, exporting predominantly unprocessed primary commodities. Identifying which structural factors most strongly drive agricultural trade competitiveness, and how they interact over time, is essential for designing effective policy in a resource-rich but structurally underdeveloped economy. This study investigates the long and short-run determinants of agricultural trade competitiveness in Zambia over 1990-2024, examining the joint role of technological innovation, renewable and non-renewable energy consumption, foreign direct investment, economic growth, global value chain integration, and institutional quality. Annual time-series data are analyzed within an integrated econometric framework comprising Augmented Dickey–Fuller unit root tests, Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) bounds testing, a Vector Error Correction Model (VECM), Granger causality analysis, mediation analysis, and Fully Modified OLS for robustness. The results reveal that all seven determinants exert statistically significant long-run effects. Global value chain integration (β= 0.517, p < 0.01) and technological innovation (β = 0.462, p < 0.01) emerge as the dominant drivers, followed by economic growth (0.398), institutional quality (0.336), renewable energy (0.285), foreign direct investment (0.241), and a marginally negative effect of non-renewable energy (−0.172). The error correction term (−0.641, p < 0.001) implies that approximately 64% of deviations from long-run equilibrium are corrected within one year. Mediation analysis confirms that technological innovation operates partially through GVC participation (indirect effect = 0.238) and institutional capacity (0.147), while FDI partly enhances competitiveness through technological transfer. The findings indicate that agricultural competitiveness is system-driven rather than dependent on a single lever, supporting an integrated, sequenced policy strategy combining short-term institutional reform and medium-term infrastructure expansion and value-chain deepening. The study extends endogenous growth, national innovation systems, and global value chain theory to a low-institutional-capacity Sub-Saharan African setting and provides empirically grounded guidance for sustainable agricultural transformation.
Jema Kiazolu
Antibiotic misuse and suboptimal implementation of Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) represent major drivers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Indonesia. This scoping review systematically maps the determinants of antibiotic misuse and the barriers to ASP implementation across Indonesian healthcare settings. A structured literature search was conducted across PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, supplemented by grey literature, covering publications from 2008 to 2024. Eligible studies addressed antibiotic prescribing, dispensing, self-medication practices, or stewardship program implementation within the Indonesian context. Evidence was synthesized thematically and organized according to a socio-ecological framework encompassing individual, prescriber, institutional, and systemic levels. Findings indicate that antibiotic misuse is driven by multifactorial determinants, including insufficient public health literacy, high rates of self-medication, unrestricted over-the-counter antibiotic availability, and prescriber-related factors such as diagnostic uncertainty and perceived patient demand. At the institutional level, key barriers to ASP implementation include inadequate microbiological infrastructure, limited interdisciplinary collaboration, a shortage of dedicated stewardship personnel, and weak enforcement of existing policies. Systemic barriers include fragmented governance structures, insufficient regulatory oversight, funding constraints, and persistent gaps between national AMR policy frameworks and local practice. Although national stewardship frameworks and regulatory instruments are in place, their operationalization remains inconsistent across hospital tiers and primary care settings. To advance ASP implementation in Indonesia, strategies must incorporate health workforce development, investment in diagnostic infrastructure, strengthened multisectoral governance, digital health integration, task-shifting models, community-based stewardship approaches, and culturally and socioeconomically appropriate community engagement. This review provides a comprehensive evidence base to support policy formulation and programmatic interventions aimed at reducing the AMR burden across Indonesia, including underserved rural and eastern regions.
Khalid Hicham, Nabil El Ouardi
This study explores the development and implementation of a Culturally Responsive Writing Assessment model tailored for Moroccan English as Foreign Language secondary classrooms. Grounded in culturally responsive pedagogy, sociocultural theory, and critical language assessment, the model integrates students’ cultural backgrounds, languages, and identities into writing instruction and evaluation. Using a mixed-methods quasi-experimental design with 68 students and four teachers across two schools, the study has proven that the Culturally Responsive Writing Assessment model significantly improved students’ writing performance, especially in idea development, cultural expression, and audience awareness, while fostering greater motivation and identity affirmation. Teachers reported increased student engagement and a shift toward formative, inclusive assessment practices, though challenges related to standardized exam demands and professional development needs were noted. The study underscores the potential of Culturally Responsive Writing Assessment to transform writing pedagogy in Moroccan EFL contexts by making assessment more inclusive, authentic, and empowering for learners. Implications are discussed for curriculum reform, teacher training, and national policy.
Johari Surif, Usha Devi Ramasundram
Epistemic fluency, understood as the capacity to navigate, integrate, and apply multiple forms of knowledge, is increasingly recognised as a critical outcome of science education. Despite this, many students continue to experience difficulty in transferring theoretical knowledge to practical contexts, highlighting a persistent disconnect between conceptual understanding and application. This study investigates how design thinking, conceptualised through a sociocultural lens, supports the development of epistemic fluency among pre-university chemistry students. Adopting a qualitative case study approach, data were collected from six’ students through project proposals, written reports, and classroom observations during a design thinking intervention. The data were analysed thematically to examine shifts in students’ epistemic practices. Findings indicate that students initially demonstrated fragmented understanding and limited ability to apply disciplinary knowledge. However, through collaborative engagement, iterative problem-solving, and interaction with authentic tasks, students progressively developed the capacity to move between theoretical, procedural, and experiential knowledge forms. The study highlights the role of social interaction, guided participation, and artefact construction in mediating learning, supporting the view that epistemic development is socially situated. It contributes to the literature by positioning design thinking as a sociocultural pedagogical approach that fosters epistemic fluency and enhances meaningful learning in chemistry education.
Ariel Ellare, Charisse Mae Manatad, Eddie Mondejar, Monera Salic-Hairulla, Vanjoreeh Madale
Genetics remains a challenging topic in Biology because it involves abstract concepts and technical vocabulary that learners often find difficult to understand. This study aimed to develop and validate an adaptive e-learning module website for teaching genetics vocabulary among secondary learners. Using a developmental research design with a quantitative evaluation approach, the study identified weak vocabulary under heredity and genetics and used these as the basis for developing three differentiated module versions: easy, average, and hard. The website was designed to direct learners to an appropriate module based on their pretest performance and guide them through vocabulary-focused activities. The developed website was evaluated using the SMOG Index for readability and expert validation for content quality and technical acceptability. Eight validators participated in the evaluation, composed of five content experts and three ICT experts. Results showed that the three modules were suitable for secondary learners, with SMOG scores of 8.46, 8.86, and 9.62. Content validation showed very high ratings in concept development and context, while ICT validation indicated highly acceptable functionality and accessibility, with excellent ratings in browser compatibility, mobile design-access, and privacy. Overall, the adaptive e-learning module website was found to be readable, content-valid, and technically acceptable for supporting genetics vocabulary instruction.
Fahdah Mansour Alzeer, Prof. Madya Dr. Adibah Binti Abdul Latif
The increasing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into educational assessment has created a need for valid, context-sensitive instruments to measure lecturers' acceptance of and behavioural intention toward AI-based assessment practices. Although existing technology acceptance models provide useful theoretical foundations, many available instruments were developed for general educational technologies and may not adequately capture the professional, ethical, and psychological concerns associated with AI-based assessment. This study aimed to develop and validate an extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT)-based instrument for measuring lecturers' acceptance and behavioural intention toward AI-based educational assessment in Saudi higher education. The instrument was developed based on UTAUT and extended by incorporating three AI-related constructs: Perceived Trust in AI, Perceived Threat to Professional Autonomy, and Job Security Concern. A quantitative instrument-development design was employed. Items were generated through literature review, construct mapping, and expert validation. The instrument comprised sections on demographic profile, technology acceptance, extended AI-related constructs, and behavioural intention. Rasch measurement analysis was used to examine item fit, person and item reliability, separation indices, dimensionality, rating scale functioning, and item hierarchy. The preliminary findings indicated that the instrument demonstrated acceptable psychometric properties, with most items fitting the Rasch model and representing the intended constructs. The validated instrument is expected to provide researchers, university leaders, and policymakers with a diagnostic tool for assessing lecturers' readiness to adopt AI-based educational assessment. This study contributes to educational measurement by providing a theoretically grounded, contextually relevant instrument for future research on AI adoption in higher-education assessment.
Cao Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Dang Thi Kieu Oanh
In the context of operationalizing Resolution No. 80-NQ/TW on the development of cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in the digital era, this study conceptualizes creative space networks as a pivotal infrastructural component of the urban ecosystem. The study employs a qualitative content analysis combined with comparative institutional analysis, utilizing a triangulation of secondary data sources. The objective is to provide a systematic understanding of how creative space networks function as mediating structures between policy directives and urban cultural production. Findings reveal significant differences between the two cities in terms of institutional arrangements, network density, and governance effectiveness. Moreover, the comparative analysis highlights that Shanghai demonstrates a more mature model characterized by strong inter-agency coordination, whereas Ho Chi Minh City exhibits an emerging but fragmented structure. Based on these findings, the article proposes an implementation-oriented framework for Resolution 80-NQ/TW aiming to enhance network coordination and support the sustainable development of creative spaces adapted to the Vietnamese urban context.
Muhammad Noorazlan Shah Zainudin, Muhammad Raihaan Kamarudin, Sufri Muhammad, Zul Atfyi Fauzan
Simulation platforms are widely used in behavioural and environmental interaction studies due to their ability to provide flexible, low-cost, and repeatable experimental environments. This paper presents the development of a lightweight two-dimensional behavioural simulator designed for movement visualization and stimulus-based interaction analysis within a simplified virtual environment. The simulator consists of several modular components including environment modelling, behavioural network connectivity, locomotion control, environmental sensing, and real-time visualization modules. In addition, the simulator supports configurable simulation environments through a simplified file-based configuration structure. Several simulations were conducted under both stimulus and non-stimulus environmental conditions to evaluate the functionality and behavioural capabilities of the simulator. The results demonstrated that the simulator is capable of producing reproducible as well as stochastic movement behaviours depending on the simulation configuration. The simulator also successfully represented exploratory movement patterns and adaptive directional movement toward environmental stimulus regions. The proposed simulator provides a flexible platform for behavioural visualization and environmental interaction analysis within a lightweight two-dimensional environment.
Andisen Chance Zulu, Christopher Kabwe Mukuka, Gregory Chikwanka
Since the early 1990s, Zambia has produced a steady stream of technically sound development plans. Yet the translation of these plans into actual poverty reduction has been limited. The poverty headcount ratio fell slightly, from around 70 percent in 1991 to approximately 64 percent in 2022, while the absolute number of Zambians living in extreme poverty grew substantially. This paper asks: Why have successive, technically credible national development plans failed to reduce poverty significantly, and what process oriented reforms could break this cycle? Drawing on a political economy approach, the article argues that frequent revisions of plans tied to changes in government, and consultative processes that yield weak national ownership, undermine the continuity and long term impact of development frameworks. A comparative institutional analysis of development planning and constitutional reform exercises in Zambia reveals that constitutional processes have historically mobilised deeper public participation and acquired stronger societal legitimacy. The paper distils lessons for redesigning the planning architecture: a deliberative, inclusive, nationally rooted consultation model, a semi autonomous planning commission, a codified long term vision, and robust public accountability mechanisms. These reforms aim to shield long term strategies from political discontinuity and better link them with sustainable poverty reduction. The article contributes to the literature on policy durability, domestic ownership in aid dependent states, and the political economy of development planning in sub Saharan Africa.
Ainur Maisarah Zainul Abidin, Khairul Hisyam Kamarudin, Nadzirah Hosen
This review paper examines how Indigenous cultural tourism in Malaysia is shaped by the interconnected dynamics of cultural commodification, authenticity, tourist gaze, and digital transformation, with particular reference to the broader context of Orang Asli tourism. Drawing on interdisciplinary scholarship in tourism studies, Indigenous studies, and cultural representation, the paper argues that commodification in Indigenous tourism should not be viewed solely as an economic process, but as a representational and political process through which cultural meanings are selected, simplified, circulated, and contested. The review shows that tourism may create opportunities for cultural visibility, livelihood diversification, and heritage revitalisation, while simultaneously exposing Indigenous communities to stereotyping, selective authenticity, and unequal control over representation. These tensions are intensified in the digital era, where social media and platform-based tourism systems privilege visual appeal, speed, and shareability, often detaching cultural images from their social and spiritual contexts. The paper proposes a conceptual synthesis in which tourist gaze and digital transformation operate as interrelated representational forces shaping commodification outcomes, while Indigenous agency mediates whether authenticity is preserved, negotiated, transformed, or eroded. It concludes that the key issue is not whether culture enters tourism markets, but whether Indigenous communities retain authority over representation, interpretation, digital circulation, and benefit-sharing. The review contributes a Malaysian perspective to wider debates on Indigenous tourism and identifies directions for more ethical, rights-based, and community-centred tourism governance.
Donna Mae B. Fabillar, Gladys S. Escarlos PhD
This study aimed to determine the relationship between digital competencies, school resources, and the instructional delivery of Technology and Livelihood Education teachers in the Division of Valencia City during the 2025-2026 school year. The research employed a descriptive-correlational design and collected data from the teaching staff using a survey instrument to assess technical proficiencies and institutional support systems. The findings revealed that teachers possess a high level of digital competency, particularly in using digital resources, although empowering students through digital creativity remained the lowest-scoring domain. School resources were rated as adequate, with Information and Communications Technology equipment being the most sufficient, while physical laboratory infrastructure was identified as the weakest area. Statistical analysis established a strong positive correlation between digital competencies and instructional delivery, alongside a moderate positive relationship regarding school resources. Regression analysis further demonstrated that the ability to evaluate and assess, combined with the availability of functional ICT hardware, served as the primary predictors of teaching success, explaining over sixty percent of the variance in instructional performance. It was concluded that strengthening personal digital proficiency and ensuring targeted resource access are critical for maintaining instructional excellence. The study recommends that the Department of Education prioritize specialized training in digital assessment and modernize physical workshops to bridge the gap between digital theory and practical vocational mastery.
Aida Hanim Binti A.Hamid, Fan Jiahui
In an era marked by rapid global digital transformation, digital literacy has evolved from an optional skill to a core competency that directly determines graduate employability. This study investigates the relationship between digital literacy competency and employment outcomes among students in vocational colleges in Qingdao. Against the background of China’s rapidly expanding digital economy, the service sector increasingly demands talents equipped with integrated professional and digital capabilities. Adopting a mixed-methods research design, this study combines questionnaire surveys, semi-structured interviews, and document analysis to explore the current status of digital literacy development, identify skill gaps between education provision and industrial demand, and examine how digital capabilities influence graduate employability. The findings reveal that although vocational students generally demonstrate basic digital operational skills, they lack advanced professional digital application, data analysis, and cross-platform collaborative abilities. A clear perception gap exists whereby students consistently rate their digital abilities higher than employers do. Curricula remain outdated, practical training is insufficient, teacher industrial exposure is limited, and industry-education collaboration remains superficial. This study enriches empirical understanding of digital literacy development within vocational education and provides evidence-based suggestions for educators, enterprises, and policymakers to strengthen digital skill training and enhance graduate employability in the digital era.
Folorunso Oluwatise Rhoda
Digital media has become a significant tool for political mobilization, advocacy, and civic engagement globally. In Nigeria, where women remain underrepresented in political leadership and decision-making positions, social media campaigns have emerged as important platforms for gender advocacy and political mobilization. This study examines the role of digital media in promoting women’s political participation in Nigeria, focusing on social media campaigns and online gender advocacy movements. Using a qualitative research design based on secondary data and content analysis of existing literature, journals and digital campaigns, the study explores how platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram facilitate awareness, mobilization, and support for women in politics. Findings indicate that digital platforms have increased visibility for gender advocacy movements and have helped mobilize women voters and political aspirants. However, structural barriers such as cultural norms, financial constraints, and online harassment still limit women’s participation in Nigerian politics. The study concludes that while digital media has enhanced gender advocacy and political engagement, sustainable institutional reforms and supportive policies are required to translate online activism into tangible political representation. The research recommends stronger digital advocacy strategies, policy reforms, and increased media support to improve women’s political participation in Nigeria.
Ajoku, Vivian Chizobam. N, Akpan, Stella Malachy
HIV/AIDS prevention among female sex workers (FSWs) remains a critical public health challenge in Nigeria. This paper examines the intersection of digital media, language use, and development communication strategies in HIV/AIDS prevention and control efforts targeting FSWs in Calabar Municipal, Cross River State. Drawing on the Diffusion of Innovations (DOI) theory as its analytical framework, the study investigates how digital platforms mediate the dissemination of health information, sustain peer support networks, and facilitate access to HIV/AIDS services. Using qualitative internet ethnography, data were collected as selected excerpts of posts from two closed social media groups — a WhatsApp group and a Telegram group, each comprising fifty (50) enrolled FSW members — monitored over a defined period for evaluation of behaviour change communication (BCC) outcomes. The study finds that Nigerian Pidgin English, deployed through WhatsApp and Telegram, is particularly effective in transmitting health messages and eliciting responses that expose knowledge gaps, enabling targeted peer educator follow-up. The paper concludes that culturally sensitive, multilingual digital approaches are essential in designing effective BCC interventions for marginalized populations, and recommends that development project designs prioritize multilingual digital communication strategies and expand platform diversity to enhance reach and representativeness.
Noor Khairiah Razali, Nurul Atifah Norisham
This paper explores the modeling of the Labu Sayong, a traditional Malaysian pottery form, using higher-order Generalized Trigonometric (GT) Bézier curves. The research compares Cubic (m = 3) and Quartic (m = 4) curves through the rotational sweep surface method. Evaluation metrics include Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) for geometric accuracy, CPU processing time for computational efficiency, volumetric calculations for functional preservation and curvature profiles for smoothness. Data was extracted from a symmetrical reference image and discretized into 24 distinct segments, utilizing 72 control points for the Cubic model and 96 for the Quartic model. Results indicate that the Cubic GT-Bézier curve achieves superior accuracy with a lower average RMSE of 1.33759 and a faster average computation time of 96.78 seconds. Furthermore, curvature assessment confirms that the Cubic formulation maintains a stable organic flow without the localized ripple distortions observed in the Quartic model. These findings conclude that higher-order curves do not necessarily guarantee superior reconstruction, with the Cubic curve providing the optimal balance between mathematical precision and computational efficiency for the digital preservation of axially symmetric cultural artifacts.
Danica Legesniana, Dr. Aurora E. Perillo, Dr. Joseline M. Santos, Edmark L. Esparaz, Jeann May Olay, John Ryan Torres
Integrating reproductive health concepts into Values Education subject is challenging due to limited age and developmentally appropriate materials, lack of teacher training, and understudied classroom realities. With these implementation gaps, this study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of digital storytelling as an instructional tool in teaching reproductive health concepts in Values Education subject within the MATATAG Curriculum. Employing a quantitative approach, specifically quasi-experimental nonequivalent control group design with convenience sampling, the research involved 61 Grade 8 participants from Bulacan State University’s Laboratory High School. In the implementation, the four phases of Transmedia Integration Approach were used, specifically the analysis phase, design phase, development phase, and evaluation phase. The researchers also used 10 validated digital storytelling videos uploaded on YouTube by Roots of Health with original attribution to Amaze.org. Data collection utilized 20-item multiple-choice pretests and post-tests in both groups alongside the 10-item System Usability Scale (SUS) survey on experimental group only. Results showed the experimental group’s mean score improved from 17.85 to 18.65, while the control group showed no meaningful change. Moreover, paired samples t-test analysis revealed this improvement as statistically significant, but the independent samples t-test revealed no significant difference—an inconsistency that highlights the mixed effectiveness of the intervention. Meanwhile, the SUS score of 79 indicated "excellent" usability for the digital tool. In conclusion, digital storytelling contributes to improving knowledge levels in reproductive health and is highly usable. However, it requires further testing through a scaled-up research design to confirm its pedagogical impact and its broader academic effectiveness.
Benarbi Houda, Mahir Aya, Mahir Sarah, Najeh Wassim Abdessalam
The convergence of digital technologies and behavioral research has become a defining feature of contemporary financial innovation, bringing together advances in artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain with evolving work on decision-making, risk perception and investor behavior. Yet the literature at this convergence remains fragmented, with few studies offering an integrated view of its intellectual structure. This paper responds to that gap through a bibliometric analysis of 4975 articles retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection between 2015 and 2024, combining Bibliometrix R and VOSviewer for performance analysis and science mapping. The findings show a marked acceleration of research output following the Covid-19 pandemic, with China, the United States and India emerging as the leading contributors, and with technologically oriented journals such as IEEE Access, Scientific Reports and Sensors serving as the core publication outlets. Keyword co-occurrence yields five coherent thematic clusters that span the technological backbone of digital finance (machine learning, deep learning, blockchain, Internet of Things) and its behavioral dimensions (risk management, uncertainty, investor response to external shocks), with notable hotspots emerging around explainable and trustworthy artificial intelligence. By offering a large-scale mapping of this broader technological and behavioral landscape, the study provides scholars, practitioners and policymakers with a structured overview of how FinTech and behavioral research intersect and where future inquiry may concentrate.
Fang Liu, Lilian Lee Shiau Gee, Yating Cui
This study innovates the design of Henan local Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum with the help of modern AIGC digital intelligence technology. The study takes the digital museum in Yellow River Transportation College, draws on the relevant literature of the core functions of the museum, and discusses the influencing factors affecting the use experience of the museum. This study combines the results of interviews with museum visitors and experts to define the eight impact factors of the digital museum, and makes an in-depth analysis of the user experience of the Henan Intangible Cultural Heritage Digital Museum. And from the eight core dimensions of Usability, Self-efficacy, Learnability, Interaction Quality, Interface Design, Visual Guidance, Philosophical Sociality, and Economic, the hypothesis was tested by correlation analysis, multiple regression analysis, the results show that, Interaction quality and interface design are two key factors in determining user satisfaction, User engagement depends on the combined action of multiple variables. According to this study put forward the future from AI interaction optimization, VR / AR technology, intangible original design.
Michael Moyo, Sharon Rose Garoes
This study examines how airport digitalisation contributes to service quality and passenger satisfaction at domestic airports in Namibia. Although digital technologies are increasingly used to improve passenger processing, information access and airport coordination, existing airport service quality research remains strongly centred on large international airports and conventional service quality models. This creates a gap in understanding how digitalisation becomes service value in smaller and resource constrained domestic airport settings. Drawing on service quality theory, the Technology Acceptance Model, the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology and Expectation Confirmation Theory, the study develops and tests a Domestic Airport Digital Service Quality Model. The model proposes that airport digitalisation improves operational efficiency, operational efficiency improves domestic airport service quality, and domestic airport service quality improves passenger satisfaction. A quantitative explanatory design was adopted and data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling. The measurement model showed strong indicator loadings, internal consistency, convergent validity and discriminant validity. The structural model showed significant positive relationships among airport digitalisation, operational efficiency, and domestic airport service quality and passenger satisfaction. The mediation results further confirmed that airport digitalisation influences passenger satisfaction through a sequential service delivery chain. The study contributes to knowledge on airport service quality by shifting the airport service quality debate from generic service quality and large airport settings toward a context specific digital service quality model for domestic airports in developing economies. The findings offer practical guidance for airport authorities seeking to make digital transformation meaningful for passengers through reliable operations, responsive services and human supported digital systems.
Alona S. Galache, Cristine Mae S. Bajenting, Edu A. Lavega, Leticia O. Descallar, Marianne Kaye B. Fernandez, Mark Gim M. Eguia, Queen Bee Onarse
This study examined the predictive influence of Disaster Risk Reduction Education (DRRE) and student preparedness on resilience among high school learners in New Bataan, Davao de Oro. Grounded in Protection Motivation Theory, the study employed a quantitative predictive-correlational design involving 304 Grade 10 students selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a validated survey questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rho correlation, and multiple linear regression. Results revealed high levels of DRRE (M = 3.66), student preparedness (M = 3.62), and student resilience (M = 3.70). Significant positive relationships were found between DRRE and student resilience (ρ = .816, p < .001) and between student preparedness and student resilience (ρ = .774, p < .001). Multiple regression analysis further showed that DRRE and student preparedness significantly predict student resilience (R² = .795, p < .001), with DRRE emerging as the stronger predictor. The findings highlight the importance of strengthening disaster risk reduction education and preparedness programs to enhance student resilience in disaster-prone communities.
Jacklyn Joseph, Mohd Rozilee Wazir Norjali Wazir, Tengku Fadilah Tengku Kamalden
This study examined differences in physical performance between selected and non-selected youth rugby players within the Malaysian National Rugby Development Program (NRDP), with particular emphasis on the role of physical attributes in talent identification processes. A total of 88 male players aged 13–14 years participated in the study and were categorised into selected (n = 39) and non-selected (n = 49) groups based on programme selection outcomes. Physical performance was evaluated using a comprehensive standardised test battery assessing muscular strength, muscular endurance, speed, power, agility, flexibility, and aerobic capacity. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was conducted to determine differences between groups. The results revealed a statistically significant overall effect of selection status on physical performance (p < .05), indicating that selected players demonstrated superior performance across several key physical attributes. In particular, significant advantages were observed in muscular strength, speed, and lower-body power among selected players. These findings suggest that physical performance plays a critical role in youth rugby selection processes and decision-making criteria. However, the results also raise important concerns regarding the potential influence of biological maturation, as early-maturing athletes may possess temporary physical advantages that affect selection outcomes. Consequently, reliance solely on physical performance metrics may limit the effectiveness and fairness of talent identification systems. This study contributes to the growing body of literature by highlighting the need for more comprehensive and multidimensional evaluation approaches that integrate physical, technical, tactical, and developmental factors to improve the accuracy of athlete selection processes.
Enoch Kwateh Dongbo, Fero Patience, Jun Yang, Ormelia Kabeke Mulopwe
This study examines whether capital market liberalization drives corporate digital transformation by exploiting Chinese A-share firms’ phased inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index starting in June 2018. Using a difference-in-differences design with propensity score matching, we analyze 35,264 firm-year observations from 2010 to 2022, measuring digital transformation through natural language processing of annual reports across six technology domains: artificial intelligence, big data, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, blockchain, and enterprise digitization. In our preferred specification, MSCI inclusion increases digital transformation intensity by 0.394 log points, equivalent to approximately exp (0.394) − 1 ≈ 48%. Event-study evidence supports treatment timing and parallel trends, placebo tests reject spurious correlation, and alternative outcome specifications confirm robustness. The impact is most pronounced among firms in technology-intensive industries and those located in economically developed provinces. These results provide evidence that capital market liberalization can act as a catalyst for corporate digital transformation in emerging economies.
Amirah Hassan @ Asan, Fakrulnizam Jafri, Masliya Yahya, Muhammad Hakimi Tew Abdullah, Muhammad Nabihan Abu Bakar
This study explores the influence of Social Media Promotion (SMP) and Social Media Peer Network (SMPN) on Impulse Buying Behaviour (IBB) among undergraduate students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Rembau Campus, Malaysia. Grounded in the Stimulus-Organism-Response (S-O-R) model, the research investigates how digital marketing stimuli and peer interactions on social platforms trigger spontaneous buying tendencies among young consumers. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed, and data were collected from 202 undergraduate respondents using a structured online questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS, involving descriptive statistics and multiple regression analysis. The findings reveal that both social media promotion and peer network interaction significantly influence impulse buying behaviour (p < 0.001). Social media promotion was identified as the stronger predictor (β = 0.512, t = 9.038), while peer network influence also had a positive yet lesser effect (β = 0.276, t = 5.423). The model accounted for 76.2% of the variance (R² = 0.762) in impulse buying behaviour, indicating a strong relationship between social media engagement and consumers’ impulsive purchasing patterns. The results suggest that social media promotions, including influencer marketing, discounts, and limited-time offers, play a pivotal role in stimulating unplanned purchases, while peer engagement reinforces these behaviours through social validation. The study highlights how platforms such as TikTok and Instagram have evolved into powerful commercial spaces, shaping youth consumption habits. The findings emphasise the importance of digital awareness and ethical marketing, recommending strategies that encourage financial discipline and responsible online spending among youths.
Karan Anand, Ratnam Mishra
Remittances are the largest source of external finances for emerging economies, and therefore form a major place in the migration development nexus and debates. Our study looks into the impact of financial development on the inflow of personal remittances in the context of India. As only a few studies earlier have looked into country specific effects, our contribution to the literature is manifold. Our primary goal is to assess whether remittances are interconnected with financial development that may leads to the overall development of the economy and people in several ways. To measure the impact if financial development on remittances, we employ the Financial Development Index as calculated by IMF and personal remittance data provided by World Bank for the period 1986 to 2021, taking GDP Growth, Inflation and FDI as control variables. The study uses Auto Regressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) model to cointegration to examine the relationship between personal remittances and financial development. Our results reveal that, in the short run, financial development does not exhibit a significant relationship with remittances but does show a long-run significant impact on the inflow of personal remittances to India, leading to inclusive growth and financial inclusion.
M.N.Shah Zainudin, M.R. Kamarudin, M.Safirin Karis, Peyyala Vishnuvardhan, Sufry Muhammad
Crop diseases pose a serious threat to global food security by significantly reducing agricultural yield and economic stability. Although recent advances in deep learning have enabled automated crop disease detection with high accuracy, most existing systems focus primarily on leaf-based classification and fail to provide disease severity assessment, which is crucial for real-world agricultural decision-making. This paper presents a deep learning powered system for early detection of crop diseases that integrates HSV color-space segmentation with convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to detect diseases affecting both leaves and fruits while quantitatively estimating disease severity. The proposed system enhances lesion visibility through HSV-based pre-processing and isolates infected regions prior to classification using a transfer-learning-based EfficientNet-B4 architecture. Disease severity is estimated by calculating the percentage of infected tissue and categorizing it into mild (1–10%), moderate (11–25%), and severe (>25%) levels. Extensive data augmentation techniques are employed to improve robustness under varying illumination and real-field conditions. Experimental evaluation conducted on benchmark datasets and real-field images achieved classification accuracies of 99.18% for leaf diseases, 96.47% for fruit diseases, and 83.33% under field conditions. A web-based interface enables real-time disease diagnosis with visual lesion interpretation and severity reporting. The results demonstrate that the proposed system is accurate, interpretable, and suitable for deployment in precision agriculture for early disease management.
Akosile, A. I, Fakoya, O. C
This study examined the effect of earnings management on the financial performance of listed industrial goods companies in Nigeria using Return on Assets (ROA). The study employed an ex post facto research design because of the availability of published data. The population of the study comprised all the 13 listed industrial goods companies as contained on the Nigerian Exchange Group Website and Factbook 2022 for period of the study (2011 to 2021); while census sampling technique was employed to select 11 listed industrial goods companies in Nigeria. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and inferential statistics of panel regression method. The results revealed that accrued earnings management had a positive and significant effect on profitability The study concluded that earnings management serves as a determinant factor of financial performance of industrial good companies in Nigeria. The study recommended that firms should reassessing their governance structures and practices to prioritize ethical standards. This will help ensure that any earnings management practices are balanced and transparent, maintaining the trust of investors and the integrity of financial reporting.
Gazi Abu Horaira, Kamrun Nahar Salma, Sharmin Akter
Microfinance has emerged as an important instrument for promoting entrepreneurship, poverty alleviation, and financial inclusion in developing economies. However, disparities in educational attainment among entrepreneurs may significantly influence the effectiveness of microfinance services and business outcomes. This study investigates the impact of microfinance on educated and uneducated entrepreneurs in Bangladesh by examining differences in business performance, financial management capacity, and socio-economic improvement. The study employs a quantitative research approach based on primary data collected from entrepreneurs through structured questionnaires. Multiple regression analysis is used to assess the relationship between microfinance access and entrepreneurial performance while considering the moderating role of educational background. The findings reveal that microfinance positively contributes to income generation, business expansion, and financial independence for both groups of entrepreneurs. However, educated entrepreneurs demonstrate comparatively higher efficiency in utilizing financial resources, managing business risks, and achieving sustainable business growth. The regression results further indicate that education significantly enhances the effectiveness of microfinance by improving financial literacy, decision-making ability, and strategic business planning. Conversely, limited education constrains the productive utilization of credit among uneducated entrepreneurs. The study contributes to the existing literature by providing empirical evidence on the interaction between education and microfinance effectiveness in the context of Bangladesh. The findings suggest that policymakers and microfinance institutions should design differentiated training and support programs, particularly for less-educated entrepreneurs, toensure inclusive and sustainable entrepreneurial development.
Allan Jay S. Cajandig, Normaissa S. Sugatamama
In fact, students' ability to learn mathematics is still an issue because even when there have been improvements in terms of teaching methods, a number of students continue to perform poorly in the subject area. The present study looked into the association between educational factors and mathematical proficiency of grade seven students, focusing on the mediating effect of self-efficacy. Based on Self-Efficacy Theory (Bandura, 1997), the study identified the effect of instructional techniques, learning materials, and classroom settings on students' mathematics performance. Quantitative methodology was used for this study, with a sample size of 332 Grade 7 students. Survey questionnaires and mathematics proficiency test were utilized in collecting data. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and mediation analysis were used to analyze data. Findings indicated that students had positive perceptions about education-related variables, especially in terms of instructional techniques. Moreover, students had high self-efficacy levels, but they also experienced mathematics anxiety to some extent. Nonetheless, students performed poorly in mathematics proficiency, specifically in conceptual understanding. Furthermore, it was found out that there is a statistically significant influence of the educational variables on the math ability with a very low effect size. The self-efficacy was found to be an important mediator variable for the relationship between educational variables and math achievement. It means that enhancing the self-confidence of learners is as influential as optimizing learning conditions.
Gladys S. Escarlos, John Dave Aldwin Salgado
This study examines the relationship between educational planning practices and policy analysis of school leaders in the implementation of inclusive education in Philippine public schools. Anchored on Republic Act No. 11650 (Inclusive Education Act of 2022) and its Implementing Rules and Regulations, the research situates school leadership as a decisive factor in translating national mandates into localized strategies. Using a systematic review design, the study synthesized literature published between 2010 and 2025 from both international and Philippine-based journals, focusing on leadership practices, policy interpretation, and inclusive education outcomes. Thematic analysis revealed five recurring dimensions: curriculum adaptation, resource allocation, professional development, stakeholder engagement, and policy contextualization. Findings highlight that strategic planning, when embedded in School Improvement Plans (SIPs) through differentiated instruction and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), transforms inclusion from a compliance requirement into a proactive equity-driven initiative. Leadership-driven professional development emerged as critical in equipping teachers to manage diverse classrooms, while critical policy analysis enabled school leaders to identify gaps between policy intent and classroom realities, fostering localized innovations. Participatory and collaborative approaches were found to strengthen accountability and sustainability, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 4, SDG 10, SDG 16, and SDG 17). Despite these advances, persistent challenges such as resource constraints, excessive workloads, and limited training continue to hinder effective implementation. The study concludes that inclusive education thrives when school leaders exercise strategic foresight, institutionalize professional development, critically analyze policies, and foster participatory planning, thereby advancing both national mandates and global commitments to equity and quality education.
Ellen Grace B. Decir, MAHE-Ed, Gladys S. Escarlos, PhD
Digital learning has become a global priority as education systems increasingly integrate technology to enhance access, quality, and flexibility. Across countries, educational policies emphasize the use of digital platforms and innovative learning environments to support 21st-century skills and lifelong learning (OECD, 2025). However, despite these strong policy directions, many education systems struggle to translate digital education policies into effective and sustainable practice. This persistent gap between policy design and policy implementation limits the potential of digital learning to achieve inclusive and equitable educational outcomes. At the international level, organizations such as UNESCO promote digital learning as a fundamental component of sustainable and inclusive education systems. Global policy frameworks highlight the importance of digital transformation, policy coherence, and strategic governance in education. However, implementation remains uneven across countries due to differences in economic capacity, institutional readiness, and governance effectiveness (UNESCO, 2024). While some countries benefit from strong infrastructure and well-supported policy systems, others face constraints related to limited resources and weak institutional capacity. This uneven policy implementation results in disparities in access, quality, and overall effectiveness of digital education worldwide. In the Philippine context, national policies strongly support the integration of digital learning through initiatives led by the Department of Education (DepEd), particularly in promoting online and blended learning modalities. Despite these efforts, empirical studies reveal that the effectiveness of these policies is constrained by gaps in infrastructure provision, insufficient funding mechanisms, and limited teacher professional development systems (Tagyamon et al., 2025). These challenges indicate not only implementation issues but also limitations in policy design, resource allocation, and institutional support frameworks, which hinder the realization of policy goals. At the regional and local levels, disparities in access to technology become more pronounced, highlighting issues of policy responsiveness and equity. Rural and geographically isolated areas continue to experience poor internet connectivity and limited access to digital devices, restricting learners’ participation in digital learning environments (Lingayon, 2025). These structural inequalities reflect gaps in policy implementation, particularly in addressing the needs of marginalized communities. As a result, the digital divide persists as a critical policy concern that undermines inclusive education objectives. At the school level, the implementation of digital learning policies is further challenged by inadequate teacher preparation and weak institutional support systems. Teachers are expected to adopt digital pedagogies; however, many lack the necessary training, resources, and continuous professional development opportunities (Ampofo, 2026). This situation results in inconsistent instructional practices and reduced quality of learning. Moreover, the absence of clear operational guidelines, monitoring systems, and accountability mechanisms reflects weaknesses in policy enforcement and institutional governance. Another significant issue is the sustainability of digital learning initiatives. Many programs are implemented as short-term responses without long-term planning, stable funding, or integrated monitoring and evaluation systems (OECD, 2025). This raises concerns about the continuity, scalability, and long-term effectiveness of digital learning policies, particularly in resource-limited settings. Without sustained policy support, these initiatives risk failing to produce meaningful and lasting educational improvements. Furthermore, a notable mismatch exists between policy expectations and learner experiences. While policies emphasize accessibility, innovation, and quality, students often face technical difficulties, limited engagement, and insufficient academic support (Tagyamon et al., 2025). This disconnect suggests that policies are not always grounded in evidence-based practices or responsive to actual classroom conditions, thereby reducing their effectiveness and impact. Addressing these challenges requires a more comprehensive and policy oriented approach that strengthens governance structures, resource allocation systems, and implementation strategies. Enhancing teacher capacity, improving digital infrastructure, and ensuring equitable access must be supported by clear policy frameworks and institutional mechanisms. Additionally, integrating digital education policies into broader national development plans can improve coordination, sustainability, and overall impact (UNESCO, 2024). Finally, effective monitoring, evaluation, and accountability systems are essential in ensuring that digital learning policies achieve their intended outcomes. Establishing measurable indicators, promoting stakeholder participation, and utilizing data-driven decision-making processes can enhance policy responsiveness and effectiveness (OECD, 2025). Through these efforts, digital learning policies can move beyond theoretical intentions toward evidence-based, inclusive, and sustainable educational practices.
Olayiwola, Khafilat Temitope, Oyelakin, Oluwabusayo Tejumade
SMEs consist of 96% of Nigerian businesses, account for 48% of GDP, and provide 84% of employment, and concurrently, present a ₦24.2 trillion (≈USD 50 billion) credit gap. The credit models that rely on proper collateral placement, formal credit histories, and manual credit assessment and approval are ill-advised to the Nigerian economy and its environment. Within the Nigerian FinTech space, the AI-enabled credit assessment models that utilize alternative data sources, such as mobile money, utility bills, and digital footprints, are on the rise. While the enthusiasm for these range of technologies presents a positive outlook for the use of AI FinTech to both curb non-performing loans and improve credit possibilities for SMEs, the actual on the ground data that measures the impact on SME business growth, as well as the impact on the NPLs, are non-existent. This study seeks to address this gap.The study, grounded in Information Asymmetry Theory and the Technology Acceptance Model, used a survey of 150 OPay credit staff in Lagos. Simple linear regression tested four hypotheses. All were rejected (p < 0.001). AI‑powered credit assessment explained 41.2% of loan performance variance, 34.5% of NPL reduction, 49.1% of access to finance, and 42.9% of SME growth stability. Access to finance showed the strongest association; NPL reduction the weakest. AI thus enables lending to viable SMEs that traditional systems exclude. The study recommends that the Central Bank of Nigeria establish a transparent, consumer‑protective regulatory framework for AI lending, and that SMEs formalise digital records and use multiple AI platforms to build credit history.
Dr S. O. Olojede FCA, Okunnaiya Olufunke Felicia
This study examined the effect of audit firm rotation on audit quality in the Nigerian public sector using selected audit firms in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The study investigated the effect of audit firm rotation on audit quality, auditor independence, and the challenges associated with implementing audit firm rotation in the public sector. A descriptive survey research design was adopted. The population comprised audit partners, audit seniors, internal auditors, and government audit officers in Ibadan. Using stratified random sampling technique, a sample size of 40 respondents was selected, while 36 valid questionnaires were analyzed. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that audit firm rotation has a significant positive effect on audit quality and auditor independence in the Nigerian public sector. The study also identified challenges such as high transition costs, loss of client-specific knowledge, and weak regulatory enforcement. The study concluded that audit firm rotation enhances audit quality and strengthens public confidence in financial reporting. It recommended stronger enforcement of audit rotation policies and continuous professional training for auditors.
Marian Omoriotionmwan Oseghale, Nnamdi Ugochukwu Otiko, Ugwudioha Ofili
This study examines the effect of board characteristics on financial performance of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria for the period of ten (10) years covering 2015 to 2024. An ex-post facto research design was adopted for the study. The population of this study consisted of 18 out of 19 consumer goods firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX) as of December 31st, 2024. The data used were secondary data extracted from the annual reports and accounts of listed consumer goods firms that are listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group within the period of the study. The study used economic value added to measure financial performance, while board size, board independence, board gender diversity, board financial expertise were used as proxies for board characteristics. The study used panel multiple regression and the results revealed that board independence, board gender diversity, and board financial expertise have a positive and significant effect on financial performance of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria, while board size shows no significant effect on financial performance. The study concluded that board independence, board gender diversity, and board financial expertise enhance the financial performance of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Board size does not influence the financial performance of listed consumer goods firms in Nigeria. Therefore, the study recommended that consumer goods firms should prioritize enhancing board independence, gender diversity, and financial expertise while maintaining an optimal board size to improve financial performance.
Daryl Gae S. Gregorio, Janine Valerie M. Rambac, Michael Francis C. Garma, Michelle Emma A. Norial
This study evaluates the effectiveness of a Contextualized Learning Resource-Learning Activity Sheet (LAS) in enhancing the mastery level of Grade 10 learners in Music at Bagabag National High School during the 2025-2026 school year. Despite the mandates of Republic Act 10533 to localize and indigenize the curriculum, recent assessments identified the competency of relating 20th-century music to other art forms as one of the least mastered. The primary objective was to determine if contextualized materials significantly improve student performance and to explore the learners' experiences using this intervention. The study employed quasi-experimental design with embedded qualitative components comparing the performance of learners exposed to contextualized LAS and those using standard Self-Learning Modules, while also capturing students’ learning experiences. Results showed a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group, whereas the control group exhibited no meaningful gain. Qualitative insights further revealed that contextualized materials enhanced engagement, relatability, and conceptual understanding. These findings highlight that contextualization is a critical pedagogical strategy for addressing learning gaps and deepening comprehension. Beyond improving test performance, it fosters meaningful connections between content and learners’ lived experiences. The study implies that schools should move beyond generic modules by institutionalizing contextualized LAS and strengthening teacher capacity in culturally responsive instructional design to achieve sustained and authentic learning outcomes.
Akintaro Abel Abiodun, Alo Ebenezer Adebisi, Ogunrinade, R
This study investigated the effect of personal networking on the performance of small-scale enterprises (SSEs) in South-West Nigeria, addressing the challenges faced by SSEs in accessing resources, market information, and funding due to inadequate institutional support. Given the importance of personal networking, spanning social, business/professional, and institutional ties, the assessed their effect on business performance in a region where informal networkings often substitute for formal systems. Specifically, the study examined the effect of social, business/professional, and institutional networkings on business performance. Using a descriptive survey research design, and with a population of 235,222 registered SSE owners, data were collected from 519 small enterprise owners across six South-West Nigerian states through structured questionnaires. The study applied simple linear regression analysis to test the hypotheses that personal networking significantly affected business performance. Findings showed that all three dimensions of networking, social (0.970), business/professional (0.951), and institutional (0.889), positively affect the performance of the SSEs from the study areas. The study concluded that personal networking played a vital role in enhancing the growth and sustainability of SSEs by providing access to critical resources and fostering innovation. Based on these results, the study recommended that SSE owners prioritise building strong personal networking, including using digital platforms for social networking, and engage in professional associations and institutional collaborations to strengthen market positioning and access to resources.
ABDULLAHI, Mohammed Bashir, AHMAD, Abdul-rahman, YUSUF, Yahaya
The paper examined the effect of quality regulatory framework on perceived prevalence of cryptocurrency-related financial crimes in Nigeria. Employing mixed methods approach with survey data from 385 respondents and thematic analysis of 15 regulatory documents and 8 expert interviews, the study utilized descriptive and Ordinary Least Square (OLS) regression analysis. Diagnostic tests confirmed no serious multicollinearity (VIF < 5), heteroscedasticity (Breusch Pagan p > 0.05), and normality of residuals (Jarque Bera p > 0.05). The results revealed a significant relationship from improved monitoring tools (RUMT, β = 0.0939, p < 0.01) and blockchain compliance mechanisms (BCAC, β = 0.0960, p < 0.01) to the perceived prevalence of financial crimes thereby indicating rise in financial crimes and by exposing previously hidden irregularities. In addition, regulatory guidelines exhibit a weak deterrent effect (RAGC, β = -0.0412, p < 0.10), attributable to weak enforcement by agencies responsible for implementation (e.g., EFCC, NPF), lack of clarity in guidelines issued by the CBN and SEC, and fragmented institutional structures on AML/CFT (despite CBN and SEC being the guideline issuers, enforcement lags due to poor coordination among regulators and law enforcement). Customer Due Diligence Verification (CDDV) was statistically insignificant, indicating that traditional KYC/AML mechanisms are insufficient against sophisticated crypto-related activities involving mixers, decentralized finance platforms, and offshore exchanges. However, Culture of Compliance (CCUL, β = 0.0531, p < 0.05) and geopolitical zone (β = -0.0341, p < 0.05) also significantly shape perceptions. The findings suggest that Nigeria remains in an awareness stage of regulation defined as a phase where detection and monitoring capabilities improve (evidenced by positive coefficients for RUMT and BCAC) but enforcement mechanisms lag behind, allowing crimes to be identified more readily without commensurate reduction. Law enforcement agencies such as EFCC and NPF should prioritize strengthening enforcement capacity and adopting advanced blockchain analytics as the first step; policymakers (National Assembly, CBN, SEC) should ensure regulatory frameworks are clear and comprehensive, thereby reducing ambiguity and institutional fragmentation among CBN, CAC, NFIU, and others.
Oluwatosin Olushola (PhD), Ubiakwoyibo Ejiro Jennifer.
This study investigated the influence of selected macroeconomic variables such as exchange rate, interest rate, and inflation rate on aggregate investment in Nigeria. Using gross fixed capital formation (GFCF) as an indicator for the measure of investment performances, the study used annual time series data which were mainly obtained from the CBN statistical bulletin. The autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) technique was employed in this study to estimate the relationship among the variables in short run and long run. According to the bounds test, the result showed that there existed a long run cointegration relationship between the selected macroeconomic variables and aggregate investment in Nigeria. It is found that the exchange rate had positive and significant effects on investment. This means that a stable exchange rate would promote investments. On the contrary, the lending rate was found to have negative and significant effects on investment, which means that when borrowing cost is high, then investment will be discouraged. Also, inflation has a slight positive effect on investments. From the error correction model, there was evidence to show that the deviations from the equilibrium process is corrected to some degree along the long-run equilibrium path with the error correction parameter having a value of –0.63. The diagnostic test results revealed no presence of serial correlation and heteroskedasticity. On this basis, therefore, the study infers that macroeconomic stability such as exchange rate stability, moderate interest rate, and low inflation rates are essential for promoting aggregate investments in Nigeria.
Dr. Dingase E. Mtonga, Mulenga Chilufya, Phiri Simon
The study sought to assess the effectiveness of Civic Education programs in promoting electoral integrity in five selected wards of Livingstone Constituency. The study was based on three objectives one of which was the assessment of the effectiveness of civic education programs in promoting electoral integrity among citizens in five selected Wards of Livingstone Constituency. Using qualitative research methods, data was collected through document study, interviews and focus group discussions involving community members, Electoral Commission of Zambia officials, voter education facilitators, councilors, and other stakeholders. The findings showed that civic education programs have improved voter participation, awareness of electoral rights and responsibilities, peaceful coexistence during elections, and public confidence in democratic processes. The findings further revealed that many participants got interested in civic education programs because they wanted to learn more on voting procedures, electoral rules and their responsibilities as citizens of Livingstone Constituency. The programs also helped reduce electoral violence, encouraged issue-based political participation, and improved understanding of electoral procedures such as voter registration. This improved knowledge contributed to reduced voter apathy and confusion during voter registration. However, challenges such as insufficient participation of marginalized groups like persons with disability and the elderly continue to affect the program’s effectiveness. The study concluded that civic education programs are essential for promoting electoral integrity and recommended a broader scope of Civic education messages, inclusiveness in civic education programs and continuous voter education beyond election periods.
Lemuel O. Ponce
This study aimed to determine the effectiveness of Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) for grammar accuracy. The study utilized developmental research design to determine the effectiveness of the Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL) tools for grammar accuracy. This involved an experimental group exposed to CALL-based instruction with a total of 24 participants and a control group taught using traditional instruction with a total of 24 participants. A 50-item pre-test and post-test were administered to the participants for comparison to determine the effectiveness of CALL tools for grammar accuracy. A researcher-developed, content-validated survey questionnaire with a five-point Likert scale was used to gather the level of acceptability and functionality of CALL for grammar accuracy. The data from pre-test and post-test and the level of acceptability and functionality were analyzed using frequency, percentage distribution, mean and standard deviation. An Independent Samples t-test was utilized to determine whether there is a significant difference between the post-test scores of the experimental and control groups. The test was conducted at a 0.05 level of significance. The computed t-value of -2.189 and p-value of 0.034 reveal that there is a statistically significant difference between the experimental and control groups at the 0.05 level of significance, the null hypothesis is rejected. The use of computer-assisted language learning tools proved to be a statistically in improving the grammar accuracy of students. Results showed that the CALL tools were Very Highly Acceptable (M = 4.88) level of acceptability and for the level of functionality, the tools were rated Very Functional (M = 4.68). The findings reveal that CALL enhances engagement, supports grammar learning and provides an effective and user-friendly instructional approach. The study concludes that CALL is an effective pedagogical tool for enhancing grammar accuracy when supported by clear instructional design and reliable technological performance.
Dr. Joseline M. Santos, Dr. Reniel Renz C. Gallardo, Erika Jane A. Tinaco, Kristine C. Nigoza, Lyka R. Silverio, Robert A. Ricafranca, Sheryll Jhoy P. Dayao
This research examined the performance of Educaplay as a gamified instructional medium in enhancing the written evaluation scores of Grade 8 students in Values Education at Bulacan State University Laboratory High School. The study has solved the long-standing problem of low learner engagement and the shortcomings of conventional pedagogical practices in imparting abstract moral ideas. A to identify the effects of incorporating digital tools quantitative quasi-experimental research design was implemented with 42 students that were split into experimental and control groups. The experimental group was taught with the help of Educaplay, and the control group was taught using the Educaplay group learned in conventional learning. The data were collected by means of pre-test and post-test, as well. as the structured questionnaires that are based on the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology 2 and the System Usability Scale. These measures were used to evaluate the academic achievements of students, their degree of acceptance and many other things. perceptions of the usability of the platform. Statistical tools such as mean, standard deviation, and percentage were used to inquire into the results. The results showed that the students in the experimental group indicated an improvement in their. Comparison of their post-test scores with their pre-test performance, which showed that Educaplay had a positive impact on their. academic achievement. Furthermore, the platform was highly rated in terms of usability and acceptance, implying that it was effective in increasing student engagement, motivation, participation. The research finds that Educaplay is a useful additional resource that could be used to improve learning outcomes in Values Education. It is advised that teachers should consider integrating gamified platforms that can promote interactive, student-centered learning and enhance general performance in school.
B.W.R.Damayanthi, G.H.D. Jayani P. Gurunada
This research work was pursued to evaluate the performance of teacher trainees of English in a National College of Education in Sri Lanka to determine the objective; To investigate the effectiveness of Outcome-based Education (OBE) in enhancing student learning outcomes and instructional quality in a National College of Education. The researcher utilized experimental method and an observation schedule was employed as the primary data gathering tool. The respondents of the study were 163 teacher trainees, 82 from the experimental group and 81 from the control group respectively, and 14 lecturers to evaluate the performance of teaching practicum of teacher trainees through lesson observation, and the sample was selected on the basis of purposive sampling method. The observation schedule was designed using four OBE principles.; Clarity of focus (COF), Design down (DDW), Expanded opportunity (EOP), and High expectation (HEP). Mean comparison of experimental group was done with the control group using independent sample T test, and one sample test. In addition, data was analyzed using descriptive analysis. Findings indicate that the comparative analysis of the experimental (OBE) and the control (non-OBE) groups demonstrate a consistent and statistically significant difference in all the dimensions of teaching performance. Thus, teacher trainees from the experimental group outperformed the control group and OBE implementation led to significant improvements in achieving outcomes related to OBE principles contributing for more effective planning, teaching, and assessments. The study concludes that while OBE offers a robust framework for aligning educational practices with desired outcomes, its success heavily depends on constant application, continuous professional development and stakeholder engagement. Recommendation for future implementation strategies is; teacher trainees in the control group and the lecturers should be made aware of OBE approach through professional development training to increase their knowledge and skills in coping up with the learning teaching process. It is also recommended that future implementation strategies should be employed to enhance the sustainability and scalability of OBE in pre-service teachers.
Enose M.W. Simatwa, Kennedy Machacha Wichenje, Solomon Esokomi Nuni
The government of Kenya invests heavily in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This has necessitated signing Performance Contracts to ensure that the resources allocated to TVET institutions are prudently utilized to achieve the intended goals. Infrastructure development in TVET institutions is critical for trainees to develop the desired competences fully. The objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of Performance Contract (PC) planning in enhancing development of physical infrastructure. The Context, Input, Process and Product (CIPP) evaluation model by Daniel L. Stufflebeam (1966) was used to examine the effectiveness of performance contract planning in enhancing the development of physical infrastructure in public TVET institutions in Kenya. The study established that while Performance Contracts planning was effective in instilling accountability and providing a sense of institutional direction, its effectiveness in driving tangible infrastructure development was undermined by limited inclusivity of stakeholders, poor alignment with available resources, and unrealistic ambition. Quantitatively, 25 of 30 projects (83%) reviewed by PC Coordinators were executed with alignment to both strategic priorities and available resources, while 5 projects (17%) experienced partial alignment due to funding delays or internal resource limitations. This aligns with observed implementation outcomes, where Government of Kenya funded projects had higher completion rates (average evaluation score 82%) than internally funded projects (average evaluation score 50%). Performance Contracting planning were effective in setting strategic intentions and producing comprehensive documents however, the processes were weakened by poor feasibility assessment. The study concluded that Performance Contracting in enhancing development of physical infrastructure was effective as more than 80% of the infrastructure targets were achieved. The study recommended Planning, that mandate structured consultation with principals, Heads of Departments, technical staff, and implement make it a requirement that all planning processes incorporate feasibility studies and audits of available financial, technical, and human resources, thereby reducing the likelihood of stalled or partially completed projects. The findings of the study are significant to the Government of Kenya Policy Formulation and review in Performance Contracting, Principals of public Technical Training Institutes who make proposals and Researchers in related fields by providing baseline information.
Isaiah, O.O., Odelola J.O., Olalekanmi, S.E.
Background: Knowledge and attitude play essential roles in controlling hepatitis B among all populations, including in-school adolescents with hearing impairment who regularly face barriers to health information. Hepatitis B continues to remain a significant public health challenge in Nigeria, especially for adolescents with hearing loss. Studies report low levels of knowledge and unfavourable attitudes toward hepatitis B in Nigeria, including Oyo State. Previous work has mainly examined causative factors, offering limited focus on approaches such as Disease Education (DE). This study assessed the effect of disease education on knowledge and attitude toward hepatitis B among in-school adolescents in Oyo State, Nigeria. Method: A pretest–posttest control group quasi-experimental design was used. The 123 participants were assigned to experimental (n = 78) and control (n = 45) groups. The experimental group received an 8-week intervention guided by the intervention manual, while the control group receive no intervention. Data were collected using validated tools: the Knowledge of Hepatitis B Test (r = 0.79) and the Attitude toward Hepatitis B scale (r = 0.71). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and analysis of covariance at the 0.05 significance level. Result: Among 123 participants, 65.9% were female, with a mean age of 18.23± 1.34 years. There was a statistically significant main effect of the intervention on Hepatitis B knowledge (F(1,115) = 1205.23, partial η² = 0.91). DE participants (x̄ = 31.74) outperformed the control group (x̄ = 20.40). The intervention also had a significant effect on attitude (F(1,115) = 2856.05, partial η² = 0.96). DE participants (x̄ = 40.57) showed more positive attitudes than controls (x̄ = 28.90). Conclusion: Disease education intervention significantly improved knowledge and attitudes towards hepatitis B. Inclusive health education interventions are effective for in-school adolescents with hearing impairment.
Marla Magclayo-Pante
This study examined the effectiveness of the Learning Recovery and Continuity Plan (LRCP) in improving the reading proficiency of Grade 10 struggling readers in a public secondary school setting. An embedded mixed-methods research design was used. The quantitative data were obtained from the Group Screening Test (GST) and the Philippine Informal Reading Inventory (Phil-IRI) pre-test and post-test results component serving as the primary strand, and the qualitative data were gathered through surveys, semi-structured interviews, and Focus Group Discussions (FGDs) with teacher-implementers, which were components providing supportive and explanatory insights. Respondents were selected through cluster and purposive sampling. Forty (40) struggling readers per academic year were identified as learner-respondents, while 40 teacher-implementers participated in the survey. Additionally, six (6) teachers were interviewed, and another six (6) participated in FGDs due to their direct involvement in LRCP implementation. Results revealed significant improvement in the learners’ reading proficiency, with a notable increase in the number of students achieving independent reading levels after the implementation of the LRCP. The results highlight the effectiveness of structured reading interventions, continuous assessment, and consistent instructional support. However, the study also identified several implementation challenges, including increased teacher workload, insufficient training, limited instructional materials and administrative support, student absenteeism, and inadequate parental involvement. These factors were found to affect the efficiency and sustainability of the program implementation. In conclusion, the study affirms that the LRCP is an effective intervention in improving reading proficiency among struggling readers. Nevertheless, its sustainability and long-term effectiveness require strengthened institutional support, continuous professional development for teachers, adequate instructional resources, and improved collaboration among stakeholders.
Le Thi Giao Chi, Nguyen Hoang Vy Thao, Nguyen Phuc Mai Thy, Nguyen Tuan Quang Tung, Vo Anh Thu, Vo Thi Duyen Quynh
This study examines EFL learners’ perceptions and practices regarding the integration of patriotism into bilingual materials at University of Foreign Language Studies, the University of Danang (UD-UFLS). Grounded in Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL), the study features the implementation of a student-led project in which students designed and developed a digital platform, THE PATRIO, offering content-rich bilingual materials embedding themes of Vietnamese patriotism. A mixed-methods design was employed. Quantitative data were collected through two rounds of questionnaires administered to 451 and 429 students, respectively. Qualitative insights were gathered via a semi-structured interview with 25 students evaluating user experience and perceived effectiveness of the platform, and learner reflections on their experience in conducting the project. The findings reveal strong awareness of patriotic content and high demands for culturally integrated bilingual materials from the part of EFL learners, acknowledging limited availability of such resources. Students also expressed positive perceptions of THE PATRIO, noting improvements in both patriotic awareness and language competence, particularly in reading and vocabulary development. The study highlights the potential of promoting student-led, project-based digital platforms with culturally dense bilingual materials to bridge resource gaps and to enhance both language competence and national awareness in English language education.
Mashita Abd Jabar, Nik Rozilaini Wan Mohamad, Nur Adlina Nuraddin, Nurain Fatimah Noormad Razamussein, Shareenie Shera Abd Hamid, Zaity Akhtar Mukhtar
This study evaluates passenger satisfaction at Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) and identifies the key variables influencing it, addressing a geographical gap in airport service research. A quantitative, cross-sectional design was employed, utilizing a structured questionnaire administered to 396 KLIA passengers. Data were analyzed via descriptive statistics, independent T-tests, and multiple linear regression. The findings reveal high overall passenger satisfaction. Specifically, cleanliness, staff service, queuing efficiency, and future development initiatives significantly and positively impact user satisfaction. Conversely, digital innovation, sustainability practices, and signage showed no significant effect. Male and female passengers reported similar satisfaction levels, though males showed slightly higher reuse intentions and dining satisfaction. Practically, these results urge KLIA management to prioritize front-line staff training, maintain rigorous facility cleanliness, and develop gender-inclusive amenities. This study uniquely integrates traditional service dimensions with modern digital and sustainable demands within the Malaysian context.
Leo Orson Lacaya Bandivas
Reassignment is the movement of an employee from one position, office or work location to another within the same Local Government Unit (LGU), without changing their employment status or salary. This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of the local government employees of their reassignment under the provincial LGU in Western Mindanao. The study involved eight participants selected through purposive sampling, and data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. Data were gathered using interview guide to gain deep insights and analyzed using reflective thematic analysis guided by van Manen’s lifeworld existentials: lived space, lived time, lived body, lived relation, and lived things to uncover meaningful insights from local government employees’ lived experiences. The analysis generated five themes: Navigating and Adapting to New Work Environment: the Interplay of Space, Comfort, and Psychological Adjustment; Adapting to Physical, Emotional, and Mental Adjustment in a New Work Environment; Reframing Time Through Reflection, Adaptation, and Anticipation in Reassignment; Building Supportive Connections: Navigating Relationships with Colleagues and Supervisors to Adapt and Thrive in a New Work Environment, and Familiarity and Functionality of Work Tools as Anchors for Adaptation and Belonging. These themes show that reassignment is disrupting and transformative. Although it may create emotional distress and structural pressure, it also fosters adaptation, navigate change, and ultimately strengthening resilience and sense of belonging. In conclusion, reassignment serves as supportive and developmental workflow that enhances local government employees’ capability, professional growth, and deliberate coping mechanisms through continuous strategic planning and coordination It is recommended that local government units (LGU) will implement comprehensive transition and reassignment programs to address both the physical and mental health needs, incorporating periodic evaluation and feedback.
Felisa Valiente Franco
Emotional intelligence (EI) has been increasingly recognized as a critical leadership competency in educational administration, particularly in school settings characterized by complex interpersonal and organizational demands (Goleman, 1998; Mayer et al., 2004). This study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence and the administrative performance of school principals in public elementary schools in the western part of Region III, Philippines. A quantitative descriptive–correlational research design was employed. Emotional intelligence was assessed across five domains—intrapersonal, interpersonal, adaptability, stress management, and general mood—while administrative performance was examined using the Philippine Professional Standards for School Heads (PPSSH) (DepEd, 2020). Respondents included 50 school principals and 300 permanent teachers selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using the Bar On Emotional Quotient Inventory–Short Form (Bar On, 2006) and a researcher-developed administrative performance questionnaire aligned with national leadership standards. Results revealed effective emotional functioning among principals and excellent administrative performance. Emotional intelligence showed a strong, statistically significant relationship with administrative performance, with intrapersonal intelligence and general mood serving as significant predictors. These findings reinforce the importance of integrating emotional intelligence into educational leadership development.
Alshadat B. Sabal., Hazel D. Jovita-Olvez
Ensuring that marginalized Sama Dilaut communities benefit from local government initiatives is critical to their identity, cultural preservation and political empowerment. This study investigates how local government units promote inclusive and participatory governance to improve the welfare of the Sama Dilaut in Tawi-Tawi amid persistent insecurity and sociopolitical marginalization. Using a qualitative research design, data were gathered through key informant interviews with 25 purposively selected local elective and appointive officials and analyzed through thematic analysis. Results indicate that the institutionalization of the Indigenous Peoples Mandatory Representative (IPMR), documentation, and access to government housing programs have directly benefited Sama Dilaut communities, reflecting Local Government Units’ proactive role in fostering collaborative governance. The study highlights the importance of co-created governance approaches that prioritize Sama Dilaut voices and needs. Findings reveal that Sama Dilaut have limited or uneven participation in governance, implying that legal and cultural barriers, selective placement of beneficiaries, and the unilateral design of housing projects continue to exclude the Sama Dilaut from inclusion and planning processes, thereby undermining their identity, recognition, accessibility and participation. Addressing power imbalance and bridging the gap between LGUs and Sama Dilaut communities, local policymakers and government institutions should adopt culturally sensitive, community-based strategies that prioritize meaningful engagement, cultural relevance, and inclusive decision-making. Such approaches can promote recognition, participation and accessibility, ensuring more responsive equitable governance.
Nurul Farhana Ayob, Rohayu Roddin, Shamnor Syaza Dania Badrol Hisham, Siti 'Afiat Jalil
Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) serve as a strategic catalyst for Malaysia’s aspiration to become a high-income nation. Despite aggressive policy interventions, the participation and completion rates among the Orang Asli (indigenous) youth remain disproportionately low, signaling a persistent systemic gap. Current educational models predominantly adopt a "one-size-fits-all" approach, often neglecting the complex socio-cultural and environmental dynamics unique to marginalised communities. This paper proposes a robust conceptual framework that synthesises Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach with Matachi’s Capacity Development Model. By shifting the focus from mere economic output to holistic empowerment, the framework identifies critical conversion factors across three interconnected levels: individual readiness, organisational support, and institutional environment. This multidimensional lens explores how personal agency, culturally responsive pedagogy, and inclusive policy frameworks facilitate the transformation of vocational resources into real opportunities (capabilities) and meaningful socio-economic outcomes (functioning). The proposed framework offers a novel theoretical contribution to indigenous education literature and provides a strategic roadmap for policymakers to design TVET programs that are not only accessible but also culturally resonant with the Orang Asli community.
Abayomi Olubanjo, Olusa, Olajumoke Esther, Adegoke
This study investigated the role of empowering leadership as a predictor of job creativity and innovative work behaviour among nongovernmental workers in FCT-Abuja. A cross-sectional research design was adopted and with a sample of 310 workers (male= 156, female= 154), an instrument containing leadership empowerment behaviour, a job creativity scale, innovative work behaviour and sociodemographics was administered to gather the research data. Hypotheses were tested via regression analysis. Findings revealed that the prevalence rate of job creativity was 61.3%, that of innovative work behaviour was 59.7%, and that of empowering leadership was 61.3% among workers. Additionally, the results identified that empowering leadership significantly predicted job creativity positively (β = .37, t = 7.04, p <.01). Similarly, empowering leadership significantly predicted innovative work behaviour positively (β = .60, t = 13.04, p <.01). The study recommends that employees should display proactive behaviour that will result in their goals and objectives attaining in good time.
Ogungbade Aderonke Ayobami, Oloyede Oluwayemisi Eunice, Osisanwo Temitope
In an era defined by digital transformation, librarians are increasingly expected to transcend traditional roles and integrate data analytics into library operations to support evidence-based decision-making and enhance service delivery. This study investigates the current level of data analytics proficiency among Nigerian librarians, explores perceived relevance, identifies key challenges, and proposes strategies for capacity development. A survey was conducted among 63 professional librarians across academic libraries in Nigeria, and data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings reveal that most librarians possess only basic or intermediate proficiency in tools such as Microsoft Excel, SPSS, Power BI, and data visualization techniques. Notably, Power BI and advanced data cleaning remain areas of low competence. The major barriers to skill acquisition include a lack of formal training (87.3%) and limited institutional support (6.3%), especially in mentorship. Despite these challenges, an overwhelming majority (90.5%) perceive data analytics as highly relevant to their professional responsibilities, highlighting a strong willingness to learn and adapt. The study recommends integrating data analytics into LIS curricula, institutionalizing regular professional training, and fostering mentorship and support systems. It also advocates for policy reforms and dedicated funding to bridge the data competency gap. By empowering librarians with data analytics skills, libraries can better align with global digital trends and reinforce their roles as indispensable partners in academic and research ecosystems.
Amirudin Razali, Haida Umiera Hashim, Hanna Insyirah Mohd Sukri, Noorfarida Filzah Mohd Sobri Paridaluddin, Nur Asyrani Che Ismail, Nurfarah Saiful Azam
This study explores the importance of culturally inspired English learning resources in supporting the language development and learning engagement of Malaysian Siamese primary school students. Despite the increasing emphasis on inclusive and multicultural education within the Malaysian education system, minority learners such as Malaysian Siamese students continue to experience challenges in English language acquisition due to limited representation of their cultural identity in mainstream instructional materials. Grounded in Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory of Learning, this qualitative design-based research investigates how culturally relevant learning materials may enhance students’ motivation, participation, confidence, and language learning experiences. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview with an English language teacher from a Siamese community school in Kedah, Malaysia. The findings reveal several interconnected themes, including low English language proficiency, dominance of the Siamese linguistic environment, the importance of cultural identity in motivating learners, and the urgent need for more engaging digital and culturally responsive teaching resources. The teacher highlighted that integrating familiar cultural elements such as Songkran celebrations, Thai dance, food, customs, and local history into English lessons increased students’ confidence and classroom participation. The study further suggests that culturally inspired instructional resources may function as pedagogical bridges that reduce learners’ affective barriers while supporting more meaningful and inclusive English language learning experiences. The findings contribute towards discussions on culturally responsive pedagogy, minority language education, and inclusive English language learning practices in Malaysia.
Joseph A. Anuga, Kwopnan I. Bulus, Sheriff Omotayo Oyewopo
Conditional cash transfer (CCT) programmes across the Global South are predominantly designed around women as both primary recipients and agents of household welfare improvement. The assumption underpinning this design (that women’s preferential receipt of transfers will produce better household outcomes and simultaneously advance women’s economic empowerment), has been extensively debated in the gender and social protection literature. This article examines the gendered dimensions of the Household Uplifting Programme–Conditional Cash Transfer (HUP-CCT) in Plateau State, Nigeria (2016–2023), through an explanatory sequential mixed-methods analysis of survey data from 321 beneficiary households and nine Focus Group Discussions. Three interconnected findings are reported. First, a gender paradox is identified. Although women constitute 64.2% of HUP-CCT beneficiaries, female beneficiaries report marginally but significantly worse financial outcomes than male beneficiaries in the multivariate model (OR=1.21, p=0.041), even after controlling for programme duration, disability status, household size, LGA, and programme status. The bivariate comparison is non-significant (p=0.569), but the regression finding signals a marginal intra-household resource control constraint operating through gender-differentiated conversion factors. Second, and in productive tension with this finding, the study documents an original empowerment counter-narrative. The women’s cooperative productive economy in Angwan Rogo (Jos North) (twenty-member cooperative societies acquiring grinding machines, establishing food stalls, and operating a beneficiary-populated street market), represents a spontaneous, programme-catalysed collective economic empowerment phenomenon without documented parallel in the Nigerian CCT literature. Third, the programme’s identity politics produce a specifically gendered social recognition. The label ‘Hajiyoyin gwamnati’ (Women of the government), documented in Angwan Rogo, confers a prestige-inflected citizenship identity on beneficiaries that transforms their social position in ways the financial data alone cannot capture. Together, these findings document a gendered empowerment paradox in which the same programme simultaneously constrains individual financial autonomy through intra-household resource dynamics and generates collective economic agency through cooperative formation. The article argues that this paradox is not resolved by choosing between the deficit and the asset framing; it is resolved by programme design that actively protects the first while deliberately scaling the second.
Aralene G. Balalilhe, Rolene T. Bantilan
English language proficiency remains a critical competency for senior high school students in the Philippines, yet disparities persist across educational contexts. This quantitative comparative study examined and contrasted the English language proficiency of Grade 12 students from one private and one public senior high school in a component city in Negros Occidental, Philippines. Using stratified random sampling, 218 students (n = 137 private, n = 81 public) completed a validated English Proficiency Test measuring listening, reading, speaking, and writing. Independent-samples t-tests were used to compare proficiency levels across school types, and descriptive statistics identified contributing factors and preferred improvement strategies. Results indicated that students overall were Proficient in receptive skills—listening (M = 3.90, SD = 0.62) and reading (M = 3.83, SD = 0.68)—but only Moderately Proficient in productive skills—speaking (M = 3.47, SD = 0.75) and writing (M = 3.46, SD = 0.71). Private school students scored significantly higher than public school students in reading, writing, and speaking, with large effect sizes (d = 0.79–0.91), though no significant difference emerged in listening. Students identified access to English media and teacher quality as the strongest contributors to proficiency. They expressed the strongest preference for speaking and listening practice and technology-supported instruction as improvement strategies.
Abdulahi Mayowa, OLANIYI, Oluwakemisola Omobolanle, ALUKO, Roseline Ifeoma, ECHEZONA
This study examined the digitisation of local collections in selected university libraries in South-West Nigeria. The study covered six universities comprising federal and private institutions across Ogun, Oyo and Osun States, Nigeria. A descriptive survey research design was adopted for the study. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire administered electronically using Google Forms to library personnel in the selected universities. A total of 126 valid responses were received and analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed a high level of digitisation across the selected university libraries, with respondents demonstrating positive perceptions and attitudes towards digitisation initiatives. The most digitised local collections identified were journal articles, theses and dissertations, project reports and conference papers. The study further showed that digitisation improves retrieval speed, enhances resilience to disasters, strengthens information security and promotes cooperation and information exchange among libraries. Despite these benefits, major challenges affecting digitisation efforts included high cost of digitisation equipment, poor internet connectivity, inadequate funding and technical infrastructure limitations. To address these challenges, the libraries adopted strategies such as staff training and career development, adoption of new technologies, user participation and awareness creation through media platforms. The study concludes that effective digitisation of local collections requires adequate technological infrastructure, skilled personnel, institutional support and sustainable funding. It therefore recommends increased funding, improved technical facilities, regular staff training and stronger inter-library collaboration to enhance digitisation initiatives in university libraries in Nigeria.
Azhani Arshad, Mohammad Hidir Baharudin, Rahmawati Mohd Yusoff
Islamic Estate Administration is a demanding subject for undergraduate law students because it requires them to connect substantive Islamic inheritance concepts, including Faraid, Wasiyyah, and Hibah, with procedural administration, heir identification, and estate-distribution calculations. In Malaysia, Muslim estate administration also requires students to understand the relationship between civil administrative processes and the Syariah Court’s role in confirming Faraid entitlement. This article examines the use of visual process mapping as a concise pedagogical strategy for improving students’ comprehension of this complex legal framework. The paper adopts a descriptive qualitative and conceptual approach, supported by selected literature on cognitive load theory, multimedia learning, concept mapping, and visual learning in legal education. It also draws on classroom-based reflective feedback from students and law lecturers to identify practical indicators of comprehension. The analysis suggests that well-designed visual maps may reduce extraneous cognitive load by organising complex legal rules into clear sequences and relationships; however, poorly designed maps may create additional confusion if they contain excessive detail or weak sequencing. The article therefore recommends guided co-construction of flowcharts, heir-classification maps, and algorithmic diagrams as practical tools to bridge legal theory and problem-solving practice.
Marven B. Laude, Rudeno B. Pequero
Given the limited proficiency in data analysis among senior high school students, this study explored the effectiveness of a targeted seminar-workshop in enhancing data analysis skills among 72 Grade 12 STEM students at Dangcagan National High School. Using a one-group quasi-experimental design conducted over a six-week period, participants received intensive instruction on core statistical concepts and hands-on training in using SPSS for data processing and interpretation. Pre-intervention scores indicated moderate proficiency (M = 12.04, SD = 2.18), which significantly improved after the intervention (M = 16.10, SD = 1.95), with a mean gain of 4.06 points (SD = 2.28, p = .001). The computed Cohen’s d = 1.78 indicated a large effect size. Further analysis showed no statistically significant difference in performance between male and female students (p = .20), suggesting equitable learning outcomes. Comparison of immediate (M = 16.10, SD = 1.95) and delayed (M = 16.91, SD = 2.11) post-test scores after six weeks demonstrated strong retention, with a small effect size (Cohen’s d = 0.34). These findings highlight the value of short, focused interventions in strengthening data analysis competencies. To sustain proficiency, the study recommends integrating similar workshops before Capstone Projects, alongside structured instruction, supplementary modules, retrieval-based assessments, and ongoing evaluation.
A.C.Imesha Kinkini, A.M.M.W. Amarasinghe.
This study investigates the effectiveness of integrating the PERMA model of positive psychology to enhance Sinhala essay-writing skills among secondary school students in Sri Lanka. Despite the central role of essay writing in language assessment, persistent low achievement levels indicate limitations in conventional, cognitively focused pedagogical approaches that overlook learners’ emotional and motivational dimensions. Addressing this gap, the study adopts a mixed-methods design with a quasi-experimental intervention component. A sample of 100 students and 20 teachers from 10 schools in the Sri Jayawardenepura educational zone was selected using proportional sampling. In addition, an action research intervention was conducted with a Grade 8 class over eight weeks, incorporating structured activities aligned with the five PERMA elements: Positive Emotion, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment. Data were collected through pre- and post-tests, questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, and classroom observations. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and paired-sample t-tests, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The findings reveal a statistically significant improvement in students’ essay writing performance following the intervention, with mean scores increasing from 13.04 to 16.48 (p < 0.001). Qualitative evidence further indicates enhanced student motivation, reduced writing anxiety, improved organizational skills, and greater engagement in the writing process. The integration of PERMA elements, particularly positive emotional support, collaborative learning, and immediate feedback, was found to play a critical role in fostering both cognitive and affective development. The study contributes to the emerging field of positive psychology in language education by demonstrating the applicability of the PERMA framework within a mother-tongue learning context. It offers practical implications for curriculum design and pedagogical innovation, emphasizing the importance of addressing learners’ well-being to improve academic performance. The findings suggest that incorporating psychologically informed teaching strategies can significantly enhance writing proficiency in secondary education settings.
Allyson Lois P. Bacucang, Alyana Capili, Aurora E. Perillo, Esther G. Domingo, Joel B. Faustino, John Russel I. Aguinaldo, Joseline M. Santos, Reynalyn Naldo
Handwriting is an essential part of child development because it helps intertwine fine motor skills, literacy, and self-expression. On the other hand, most kindergarten students nowadays are showing lesser handwriting skills, mainly because of increased digital usage and fewer motor-based activities. The authors came up with the PENMA Program (Purposeful Experiences Nurturing Motor Abilities), which is designed to develop handwriting skills through structured and intentional experiences. The study utilized a quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest design involving kindergarten students of Pulilan Central School. The instruments used in the study were validated for pencil grip, letter formation, physical comfort, motor coordination, and attitudes toward handwriting. The results positively and significantly showed that handwriting performance, motor coordination, and learner attitudes have improved after the intervention. The study results prove that movement-based activities, when done purposefully, can serve as a tool to enhance the readiness of handwriting. This serves as an excellent model that can help bring about literacy and motor development in early childhood education settings and can be made use of by educators and policymakers.
Jullien A. Abanes
The new normal in education gave rise to redefining the schools’ way of teaching and assessing students. It brought into the fore an alternative to more traditional educational approaches, competency-based learning, which made it the new normal in education. It is for this reason that ready to play lessons, anchored on the Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELCs), have been developed and utilized in order to target the multiples ways in which the learners learn best as well as to improve the learners performance in English among the Grade 5 learners at Pangapisan Elementary School during the school year 2021- 2022. Utilizing the results of the pretest and posttest in English, results of the study showed how the Grade 5 learners of PES benefited from the use of ready to play lessons in English as evidenced by their improved levels of performance in the said tests. Moreover, the results of the study reveal that there was significant difference in the levels of performance of the Grade 5 learners after they were taught in English using ready to play lessons. Thus, teachers are recommended to scaffold the instruction in English with the use of tools that are competency-based and target the best ways in which the students learn best.
Dr Godfrey Barigye, Sr. Dr. Prisca Kobusingye
Entrepreneurship is widely recognized as a cornerstone of sustainable economic development, social transformation, and investment growth globally. In Uganda and across Africa, entrepreneurship has historically evolved from indigenous systems of innovation, survival, and resource mobilization into a modern strategic mechanism for economic empowerment, poverty reduction, and national development. This paper provides a comprehensive examination of entrepreneurship by integrating indigenous African entrepreneurial traditions with modern theoretical frameworks and contemporary business practices. It explores the conceptual foundations, dimensions, motivations, processes, competencies, risks, stress factors, and strategic pathways necessary for entrepreneurial sustainability. Drawing on interdisciplinary entrepreneurship theories, development frameworks, and Ugandan socio-economic realities, the paper argues that entrepreneurship is both an inherited cultural practice and a transformative modern enterprise strategy. It examines how disruptions—both positive and negative—serve as catalysts for entrepreneurial action, while emphasizing the critical role of creativity, innovation, managerial competence, and resilience in entrepreneurial success. The paper further analyzes myths, opportunities, barriers, coping strategies, and policy implications related to entrepreneurship. Findings suggest that sustainable entrepreneurship in Uganda requires the integration of indigenous knowledge systems, technical competencies, financial literacy, strategic planning, and supportive policy environments. Entrepreneurship education, financial inclusion, technological adaptation, and institutional support are essential for nurturing resilient entrepreneurs capable of contributing meaningfully to national transformation. The paper concludes that entrepreneurship is indispensable for achieving sustainable development goals, employment creation, and socio-economic resilience in Uganda.
Zulkiffly Baharom
This paper develops a conceptual framework to understand how integrating Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) dimensions drives corporate financial sustainability (CFS). Despite a voluminous empirical literature, the field remains fragmented by inconsistent construct definitions, theoretical eclecticism, and methodological shortcomings that collectively obscure the mechanisms underlying the relationship between ESG and CFS. This study addresses this theoretical deficit. A conceptual synthesis was conducted based on 100 peer-reviewed articles retrieved from Scopus (2015–2025), following a structured PRISMA-informed filtering process across Business, Management and Accounting, and Economics, Econometrics and Finance subject areas. The literature was critically appraised for theoretical coherence, construct validity, and explanatory adequacy. The paper proposes a three-tiered conceptual framework that positions ESG integration dimensions (Environmental, Social, and Governance) as independent constructs, ESG Risk Management and Sustainability Reporting Quality as mediating mechanisms, and CFS as the dependent outcome. Board Oversight Quality and Regulatory & Institutional Pressure are posited as boundary-setting moderators. Seven formal propositions are advanced. The framework is theoretical and has not been empirically validated. Its generalisability is bounded by contextual factors, including market maturity, regulatory environment, and industry sector. The Scopus corpus, while rigorous, may under-represent grey literature, practitioner-driven insights, and regional perspectives from under-researched contexts such as Sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. The framework provides corporate boards, sustainability officers, and institutional investors with a theoretically grounded map for strategically embedding ESG into financial planning, risk governance, and disclosure practices. This paper makes a distinctive contribution by critically interrogating the theoretical fragmentation of the ESG–CFS literature, integrating agency, stakeholder, legitimacy, and resource-based perspectives into a unified explanatory architecture, and advancing testable propositions that address identified construct ambiguity.
Kalisto Kalimaposo
Epistemicide is a conceptual approach for understanding and analysing ways knowledge systems are silenced or devalued. The Ichisungu and Ifimbusa rites of passage for the Bemba speaking people of Northern Zambia involve inducting girls into young adulthood and marriage adult life respectively. The socio-cultural functions of these rites provide the Bemba community with a sense of cultural identity and continuity. The rites embrace and enhance the unity, cohesiveness, and social fabric of the Bemba community through the impartation of indigenous knowledge and skills to the young generation about marriage as a social institution. In addition, the rites promote traditional norms, values, and customs through the preservation and respect for the Bemba cultural heritage. The two rites of passage are still viable. However, there has been decreased frequency in the performance of these rites sometimes necessitated by lack of natural spaces and other ritual-related items. It has been observed by various stakeholders that the value of intangible cultural heritage and its contribution to national identity is under threat of dilution or extinction and the initiation rites of the Bemba-speaking people of Northern Zambia are a case in point. The Ichisungu and Ifimbusa rituals involve brief seclusion of the initiates in the bush for training and acquisition of societal values and skills. The bush seclusion does not take place in some places because forests have been cleared. These rites provide apprenticeship, mentorship and the transfer of knowledge and leadership skills. Therefore, it is important to safeguard these rituals by mentoring a new generation of young elders with knowledge and skills for the continued enactment of these rituals for posterity.
Ariel L. Ramos, Ceferina L. Rodriguez, Marcelina S. Deiparine, Marianel A. Flores
This study explores the error patterns and written communicative effectiveness of 3rd-year BSEd English pre-service teachers at Sibonga Community College during the academic year 2025–2026 as a basis for proposed enhanced instructional intervention in essay writing. Using a multi-phase mixed-methods design and AI assisted validation, the research identified and categorized grammatical errors in student essays, examined their impact on clarity, coherence, and accuracy and implemented a one-month instructional intervention. Findings revealed that errors—primarily in grammar, mechanics, clarity, and coherence—were shaped by linguistic, cognitive, affective, institutional, and socio-cultural factors. Results showed modest reductions in errors, slight gains in clarity and coherence, and increased confidence in writing after the intervention. These outcomes affirm that students’ errors are not isolated mistakes but reflections of deeper challenges in language proficiency, cognitive processing, emotional resilience, institutional support, and cultural context. The one-month intervention demonstrated effectiveness in reducing errors and fostering confidence, proving that systematic and compassionate teaching strategies can transform essay writing into a skill of empowerment. Sustained implementation over longer periods is expected to yield greater improvements in communicative competence. It is recommended that future interventions extend beyond one month to allow for more substantial progress in grammar and discourse competence. Writing instruction should integrate reflective practices, such as journals and peer editing, to build metacognitive awareness and foster collaborative learning. Institutions should strengthen feedback mechanisms and provide consistent opportunities for practice across subjects to normalize technical writing. Additionally, socio-cultural factors such as limited exposure to authentic English texts should be addressed by promoting reading habits and integrating writing tasks across the curriculum. By embedding essay writing instruction in broader academic and cultural contexts, pre-service teachers can develop stronger communicative competence and be better prepared to model effective writing in their future classrooms.
Temesgen Woldetsadik Ossa
This article examines Ethiopia’s joining of BRICS in January 2024, providing an explanation on how this accession can lead to an expansion of development opportunities for the nation and elevates the global position and diplomacy of the country. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach consisting of document analysis, comparative analysis, and content analysis within the timeframe January-June 2024, the article assesses alignment between the objectives of Ethiopia and the joint objective of BRICS in areas of infrastructure, agriculture, industry, trade, and security. The major conclusions drawn from this article are that: the sentiment of Ethiopian media on Ethiopia joining the BRICS is predominantly positive at 80%; nevertheless, there is an evident trade imbalance, whereby the contribution of BRICS member nations to Ethiopia's imports stands at 34.29%, while their contribution to Ethiopia's exports stands at 7.65%. There are also specific benefits driving Ethiopia's accession include New Development Bank financing, infrastructure modernization, and technology transfer to the agricultural and energy sector. The article highlights the economic benefits associated with increased market access, investments, technology transfer, and the establishment of financial instruments led by BRICS nations, while at the same time analysing issues such as geopolitics, governance constraints, institutional capacity gaps, and macroeconomic vulnerabilities. The article ends with specific policy recommendations that can assist Ethiopia in harnessing the full potential of BRICS and fostering south-south collaboration.
Saleh Ali Abdalla Mubarak, Sofian Rosbi
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has invested heavily in digital construction technologies to improve project efficiency, responsiveness, and sustainability. Digital transformation is increasingly viewed as a key enabler for Agile Project Management (APM) and sustainability-oriented project delivery within the construction sector. Despite this investment, digital transformation adoption among UAE contractors remains inconsistent, which limits the achievement of sustainability and efficiency targets in agile construction projects. This study the evaluating digital transformation as mediator and organizational culture as moderator in UAE agile project management. This study employed a quantitative, hypothesis-driven survey design under a positivist paradigm and deductive approach, guided by the Technology–Organization–Environment (TOE) framework. The population comprised contractors involved in sustainable construction projects in the UAE, based on licensed and classified construction firms listed by the UAE Ministry of Infrastructure Development. The sample size determination based on a population of 11,676 contractors, the required sample size was 371 respondents. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire survey, distributed electronically to targeted contractor managers, supported by official access to company lists and facilitated through the licensing sector to enhance reach and participation. The study analyzed data using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS, including mediation and moderation testing to assess a moderated mediation model linking TOE determinants to sustainability outcomes through digital transformation. Findings indicate that technological, organizational, and environmental factors significantly influence contractors’ digital transformation adoption. Digital transformation also shows a strong mediating role in improving sustainability outcomes. Moreover, organizational culture significantly moderates the relationships between TOE factors and digital transformation, strengthening the effects of these drivers on adoption. This study contributes by offering an integrated empirical model that positions digital transformation as a mediator and organizational culture as a moderator in explaining sustainability-oriented APM within the UAE construction industry.
Edith Maria Carmona Ramos
Idiomatic competence is a crucial component of advanced foreign language proficiency. Despite their prevalence and communicative value, idioms remain one of the most challenging aspects of language learning, especially for students preparing for high-stakes international examinations, where lexical sophistication and naturalness of expression are key indicators of proficiency. The following study is aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of a topic-based workbook targeting idioms for developing learners’ idiomatic competence in high-stakes international examination contexts. An initial needs analysis was conducted, which included a questionnaire administered to students and interviews with two experienced language teachers. Based on the findings obtained from these methods, the workbook was designed to incorporate a combination of authentic input, controlled practice, metacognitive activities, and communicative tasks that encourage the meaningful use of idiomatic language. In the final stage of the study, the workbook was implemented in a trial session with a small group of learners at a B1–B2+ proficiency level. Prior to the intervention, participants completed a pre-test consisting of two Use of English tasks and a Speaking task. Following this, students received a usual preparation lesson, but the teacher used the workbook as a complementary material. Following this instructional session, students were given a post-test with a similar structure from the pre-test in order to measure changes in their performance after the intervention. The results indicated an overall improvement in students’ idiomatic competence. These preliminary results show that the workbook intervention was generally successful and that these type of materials can have a positive impact on the enhancement of idiomatic competence in learners. Further research with larger samples and longer intervention periods is recommended to confirm these preliminary findings.
Mohamad Zain Hashim, Muriatul Khusmah Musa
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important component of civil engineering education because it exposes students to environmental compliance, impact prediction, mitigation planning, regulatory procedures, and EIA report preparation. This study evaluates the effectiveness of the IDP Talk Webinar Series 2026 on Environmental Impact Assessment in enhancing students’ awareness and technical understanding of EIA processes. A quantitative survey design was employed. Data were collected from 99 webinar participants using a structured questionnaire measuring three constructs: EIA awareness, technical understanding, and perceived webinar effectiveness. The data were analysed using SPSS through descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis. The findings revealed high levels of EIA awareness, technical understanding, and perceived webinar effectiveness. The reliability results showed excellent internal consistency for all constructs, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from .938 to .956. The factor analysis supported a three-factor structure, while correlation analysis showed significant positive relationships among EIA awareness, technical understanding, and webinar effectiveness. Regression analysis further indicated that both EIA awareness and technical understanding significantly predicted perceived webinar effectiveness. The study contributes to civil engineering education by demonstrating that industry-oriented webinar activities can strengthen students’ environmental literacy, procedural understanding, and professional readiness. It also provides useful evidence for improving future IDP activities by integrating practical EIA case studies, report review tasks, and expert-led professional sharing sessions.
Feddie M. Ardales, Rhodora A. Cartagena
This study examined Integra-Quest: A Numeracy Adventure as an enrichment tool for developing integer competency among Grade 7 learners in a distant national secondary institution in Iloilo. Using a design-based research approach, both quantitative and qualitative data were collected from 33 learners and five expert evaluators. Learners completed pretest and posttest assessments, while experts provided structured evaluations of the tool’s content, instructional quality, technical quality, presentation, and up-to-datedness. Findings revealed that experts unanimously rated the manipulative as highly acceptable in terms of content (M = 3.96, SD = 0.09), instructional quality (M = 3.72, SD = 0.38), technical quality (M = 3.52, SD = 0.65), and up-to-datedness (M = 3.60, SD = 0.46), with presentation and organization rated acceptable (M = 3.28, SD = 0.44). Learners’ evaluation likewise indicated acceptable ratings across all categories, including content (M = 3.46), instructional quality (M = 3.37), usability (M = 3.26), presentation (M = 3.49), and design (M = 3.37). Qualitative feedback highlighted increased engagement, enjoyment, and confidence in handling integer operations. Overall, the study concludes that Integra-Quest is a pedagogically sound and effective intervention for numeracy development. Continuous refinement, particularly in presentation and organization, alongside sustained expert and learner feedback, will ensure its relevance and effectiveness in mathematics education.
Apolinario B. Valenzuela, Jr., EdD, Robert A. Salvador, Phd
This study evaluated the implementation of the Work Immersion Program (WIP) for Grade 12 TVL-ICTCSS students in public senior high schools under the Schools Division of Ilocos Norte (SDOIN). Specifically, it assessed the pre-immersion activities implemented by the schools, examined the effectiveness of WIP implementation in terms of curriculum compliance, work immersion delivery, progress assessment, and supervision, and determined the strengths and weaknesses of the program. Data were collected using a validated survey questionnaire, while qualitative information was gathered through semi-structured interviews. Quantitative data were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, and means, whereas qualitative data were coded systematically to identify themes and categories through thematic analysis. A total of 226 purposively selected participants took part in the study, including 208 CSS students, 9 immersion teachers/coordinators/CSS teachers, and 9 school principals/head teachers. Findings revealed that key pre-immersion activities—particularly career guidance and counseling sessions—were fully implemented (100%), indicating strong institutional support for student career preparation. There was also a high participation rate (91.71%) in agreement signing, partner orientation, mock interviews, résumé workshops, legal briefings, and documentary completion, demonstrating substantial compliance with DepEd Order No. 30, s. 2017. However, orientations on immersion guidelines, safety protocols, and professionalism were implemented less consistently (71.43%), partly due to limitations in local partnerships in one school and the non-participation of some students in work immersion. The issuance of work immersion handbooks registered the lowest implementation rate (45.62%), reflecting limited access to essential reference materials. Despite these gaps, respondents perceived the WIP as highly effective, with an overall mean rating of 3.77. Teachers reported slightly higher satisfaction (3.89) than students (3.65), although both groups expressed strong agreement on most indicators. The lowest-rated indicator (3.42) highlighted the need to strengthen the alignment between immersion activities and CSS competencies. Student interview data further indicated a mismatch between assigned tasks—often involving basic ICT or clerical work—and the technical skills required in the CSS specialization, such as computer assembly, repair, and networking. Overall, while the WIP was perceived as effective, the findings underscored the need for improved competency alignment, enhanced orientations on safety and professionalism, and better distribution of program materials to ensure meaningful, industry-relevant, and skill-based immersion experiences for CSS students.
Adeleye A.T, Akintaro O.A, Ayoade A.K, Balogun O.J, Iyanda A.B, Ojeniyi R.O, Okanlawon A.J
The incidence of sleep disorders among university students, often intensified by excessive use of digital technologies and academic pressures is gradually becoming a public health concern, having serious implications on health and general wellbeing of Undergraduates. This study therefore examined the relationship between internet addiction, examination anxiety, and sleep disorders among undergraduate of the University of Ibadan, Nigeria. A descriptive correlational research design was employed for the study. A total of 200 undergraduates were selected from the University using a multistage sampling procedure. Data were collected through a structured, self-developed questionnaire (α=0.81) and analyzed using inferential statistical of Pearson Product Moment Correlation and multiple regression analyses. The findings revealed significant positive relationships between internet addiction and sleep disorders (r = 0.459, p < 0.001) as well as between examination anxiety and sleep disorders (r = 0.481, p < 0.001). Further analysis using multiple regression showed that internet addiction (β = 0.275, p < 0.001) and examination anxiety (β = 0.310, p < 0.001) were significant independent predictors of sleep disorders, with examination anxiety demonstrating a slightly stronger relative contribution. Demographic variables such as age, level of study, and religion did not have a statistically significant influence on sleep disorders. The study concluded that internet addiction and examination anxiety are significant and interrelated factors contributing to sleep disorders among undergraduate students. It therefore recommended that university authorities implement comprehensive wellness programs emphasizing digital literacy, stress management, and sleep hygiene in order to enhance students’ well-being and academic performance.
Dr. Aprell L. Abellana, Orlando Jr. I. Gemao
This study examined the relationship between emotional intelligence, motivation, and teaching competence among basic education teachers. Specifically, it determined teachers' level of emotional intelligence (self-awareness, managing emotions, recognizing emotions in others, and handling relationships), motivation (intrinsic and extrinsic), and teaching competence (content knowledge, pedagogical skills, interpersonal communication, classroom organization, and student assessment), and the relationships and predictive strength among these variables. Descriptive-correlational research design was employed, involving 250 teachers selected through random sampling at the Maramag Districts I, II, and III, Division of Bukidnon, Philippines. Data were collected using validated questionnaires and analyzed using mean, Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient and Multiple Regression Analysis. Results revealed that teachers possess high emotional intelligence with a mean of 3.99, led by self-awareness. It also revealed that teachers are highly motivated with a mean of 4.07, predominantly driven by intrinsic motivation. Teaching competence is described as very good with a mean of 4.45, excelling in student assessment and content knowledge. Correlation results showed very strong positive relationships on both emotional intelligence (correlation coefficient of 0.846) with self-awareness obtaining the highest correlation (r= 0.817), and motivation (correlation coefficient of 0.850) with intrinsic motivation yielding the highest correlation (r= 0.846), towards teaching competence. Multiple regression confirmed self-awareness (from emotional intelligence) and both intrinsic and extrinsic motivation are significant predictors of teaching competence (F=444.809, p < 0.01, R² = 0.879). Intrinsic motivation (β = 0.398) and self-awareness (β = 0.225) as the strongest predictors, explaining 87.9% of variance. The findings highlight the importance of enhancing teachers’ emotional and motivational competencies to improve teaching effectiveness.
Yang Yang, Yee Mei Heong
This study examines the level of higher-order thinking skills (HOTS) among art students in higher education. HOTS, including analyzing, evaluating, and creating, are essential for fostering creativity and critical thinking in art education. However, limited empirical research has explored HOTS development among art students. This study investigates the level of HOTS among art students and examines differences based on gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and year of study. A quantitative research design was employed, involving 325 undergraduate art students from Dali University and Yunnan Arts University in China. A HOTS test adapted from the Synthesis Evaluation Analysis (SEA) test was used to measure analyzing (C4), evaluating (C5), and creating (C6). The findings indicate that the overall level of HOTS among art students remains relatively low, with no significant difference based on gender and SES. However, significant difference was found based on the year of study. These findings provide insights into students’ cognitive development and highlight the need for instructional strategies that promote HOTS in art education.
Mutahyoba Deusdedith Baisi, Mwanahawa Leonard Mhina
The study examined the influences of capital structure on performance for firms listed at the Dar es Salaam stock Exchange. It applied descriptive statistics on nine non-financial firms listed at the DSE between 2020 and 2024. Secondary data were collected through website survey and documentary analysis. While correlation analysis was used to find out the relationship between dependent and independent variables, multiple linear regression analysis was used to investigate the impact of capital structure on firm performance. Capital structure was measured by the ratio of total debt to total equity, ratio of short-term debt to capital employed, ratio of long-term debt to capital employed and the ratio of total debt to capital employed. Performance was measured by return on asset (ROA) and return on equity (ROE). The findings conclude that TD, LTD, STD and DE have significant negative relationship with ROA while there is no statistically significant relationship between firm performance and ROE. The study concludes that, in line with the Pecking Order Theory, capital structure has a negative relationship with firm performance.
Fahad Mansour B Aldawsari, Mazen Mohammed Farea
In today's tech-driven world, higher education institutions have recognized the necessity of digital transformation as a strategic priority to improve administrative efficiency, academic achievement, and institution sustainability. The adoption of digital transformation projects has gained pace in Saudi Arabia, including in the higher education industry, as part of Vision 2030. This study highlights the effects of the Digital transformation factors on the effectiveness of Educational Management in the Higher Education Institutions in Saudi Arabia. More specifically, this study examines how technology infrastructure, training and skill development relate to the outcomes of educational management. This study adopted the quantitative research method and utilized a structured questionnaire which was sent to academic and administrative staff of the Saudi Higher Education institutions. Descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used to evaluate the relationship between the study variables were analyzed. The findings indicate that technology infrastructure plays an important role in developing the educational management in improving the process of communication, decision making, and the work of educational institutions. Further, training was identified as a positive influence on employee’s readiness for digital systems and working with technological tools. The findings additionally show that skill improvement is a very important element in boosting digital competencies and in supporting good educational management practices. The study emphasises the need for continuous professional learning and digital competency development to support effective digital transformation in higher education institutions, while connecting with technological resources. These results offer significant insights and implications for policymakers, university administrators, and educational practitioners when designing strategies for digital transformation to support Saudi Vision 2030. This work also is part of a growing body of research on the topic of digital transformation and educational management in the context of developing education.
Caryl V. Lumapat, Dr. Richard S. Mula
This study determined the beginning teachers’ experiences in the Induction Program for Beginning Teachers (IPBT) and their longitudinal performance as measured by the Individual Performance Commitment and Review Form (IPCRF), as well as the challenges encountered and their influence on performance in Congressional District 1, Bohol for School Year 2025–2026. A correlational research design was used with a structured survey questionnaire. Weighted mean, standard deviation, mean, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, and linear regression analysis were employed to analyze the data. The findings revealed that beginning teachers demonstrated a very high level of experience in the IPBT (M = 3.74, SD = 0.44), particularly in professionalism, personal welfare, and accountability. However, they also reported a high level of challenges (M = 2.62, SD = 0.96), primarily due to a lack of resources, data gaps, and limited access to qualified mentors. While 86% of respondents achieved a very satisfactory performance level, statistical analysis showed no significant relationship between IPBT experience and performance (r = -0.09, p = 0.396). Furthermore, regression analysis confirmed that challenges encountered do not significantly intervene in this relationship (R² = 0.00865).It is concluded that while beginning teachers are highly engaged in the IPBT and perform satisfactorily, their experiences and challenges do not significantly affect performance outcomes. Other contextual factors may play a greater role. It is recommended that schools strengthen mentoring, improve resources, enhance coordination systems, and conduct further studies on other determinants of teacher performance.
Ahmad Haziq Bin Ahmad Bakhtiar, Azura Binti Abdul Jamil @ Kamarudzzaman, Nahfizah Binti Said, Nani Shuhada Binti Sehat
This study explores the strategies employed by Generation Y (Gen Y) lecturers to enhance student engagement and participation in hybrid learning environments at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM), Malaysia. Hybrid learning, which combines face-to-face and online instructional approaches, has become an increasingly important mode of delivery in higher education due to its flexibility and potential to support diverse student needs. However, maintaining student engagement and active participation in hybrid settings remains a significant challenge for educators. This study adopted a qualitative research design using a phenomenological approach to gain an in-depth understanding of the lived experiences of Gen Y lecturers who actively implement hybrid teaching practices. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with six purposively selected lecturers from UiTM campuses in Johor and Melaka, each with at least five years of experience in conducting hybrid classes. The interview data were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed seven key themes that represent the strategies used by Gen Y lecturers to promote student engagement and participation: blended teaching approach, use of interactive and gamified tools, active and collaborative learning, clear communication and structure, real-time participation and feedback, motivation and recognition, and monitoring and tracking. The results indicate that Gen Y lecturers are highly adaptable, technologically proficient, and student-centered in their instructional practices. They intentionally integrate synchronous and asynchronous learning activities, employ digital tools such as Kahoot, Padlet, and Google Classroom, and use rewards and participation-based monitoring to sustain student involvement. Despite challenges related to workload, digital readiness, and inconsistent student participation, Gen Y lecturers play a vital role in advancing effective hybrid learning practices. The study offers practical implications for institutional policy, professional development, and the continuous improvement of hybrid teaching and learning in Malaysian higher education.
Armie Lhyn D. Recla, Clint B. Calamba, Dr. Junvil A. Insong, Kevin M. Mercader, Reneje B. Cagas
Alcohol consumption among university students remains a growing concern due to its potential effects on academic functioning and personal well-being. This study examined the effects of beverage intoxication on the daily productivity of criminology students in Oroquieta City, Misamis Occidental. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to capture the lived experiences of twelve (12) purposively selected participants. Data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step method to generate meaningful themes grounded in participants’ narratives. The study is anchored on Self-Regulation Theory and Behavioral Learning Theory to provide conceptual grounding for students’ drinking behavior and productivity outcomes. The findings revealed four major cluster themes: (1) impact on academic focus and class attendance, with subthemes on difficulty concentrating and memorizing, and poor academic performance in class activities; (2) physical effects of alcohol on energy levels, including fatigue and drowsiness, and loss of motivation and productivity; (3) coping mechanisms, encompassing physical recovery strategies and academic adjustments; and (4) preventive measures and discipline, which include setting limits and saying no, and long-term awareness and future orientation. The study concludes that beverage intoxication negatively influences students’ cognitive, physical, and academic functioning, thereby affecting their overall productivity and preparedness for future professional roles. It is recommended that educational institutions implement targeted interventions, awareness programs, and support systems to promote responsible behavior and reduce alcohol-related risks among students. A limitations statement is also acknowledged regarding the small sample size and reliance on self-reported data.
Nurzalikha Aimi Mohd Subri, Wan Marhaini Wan Omar
The global halal cosmetics sector has emerged as a high-growth segment within the halal economy, yet its supply chain dynamics remain significantly under-explored compared to the food and pharmaceutical sectors. In the current landscape, manufacturers face increasing pressure due to tightening global regulations such as the mandatory halal certification requirements slated for 2026 and rising consumer demand for ingredient transparency and Shariah-compliant formulations. This study examines the relationship between management capabilities, halal cosmetic supply chain agility practices (HCSCAP), financial performance, and operational performance. Using a quantitative approach, data were collected from 205 manufacturers registered with the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) via an online survey. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between management capabilities and HCSCA. Furthermore, HCSCA was found to positively influence both financial and operational performance. These findings suggest that developing robust internal management competencies is essential for fostering agile supply chains capable of navigating the complexities of halal compliance. The study provides critical implications for manufacturers, highlighting that the implementation of effective management practices is a primary driver for enhancing organizational performance in the competitive halal beauty market.
Charles Ejesei Eruanga, Mary Idahosa
This study investigates the relationship between the work environment and the utilization of educational support systems (ESS) among library educators in university-based library schools in Edo State, Nigeria. Educational support systems, including digital libraries, learning management systems, and electronic research databases, are integral to effective teaching, learning, and scholarly productivity in Library and Information Science (LIS) education. Despite their availability, disparities in usage persist, raising concerns about underlying environmental influences. Adopting a descriptive survey research design, the study examines how dimensions of the work environment—physical infrastructure, technological facilities, administrative support, and psychosocial conditions—affect the extent of ESS use. Data were collected from library educators across selected universities in Edo State using structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings reveal that although library educators demonstrate a high level of awareness and positive disposition toward ESS, their effective utilization is significantly hindered by factors such as inadequate ICT infrastructure, erratic power supply, limited professional training, and weak institutional support mechanisms. The study concludes that the work environment plays a critical role in shaping ESS adoption and sustained use. It recommends that university management prioritize the provision of enabling infrastructure, continuous capacity-building programmes, and supportive policies to enhance the integration of ESS in LIS education.
Samuel Ojode Oluoch
Curriculum translation and implementation go through several stages, from the intended, all the way to the assessed curriculum. The purpose of this paper is to explore the role of assessed curriculum in strengthening competency-based learning, as implemented in senior secondary schools in Kenya. The perceptions of teachers and education leaders on assessment of competency-based learning, the context-dependent factors that shape assessment of competency-based learning and the use of assessment feedback to shape competency-based learning design were investigated. This study was based on an interpretivist paradigm that is exploratory taking a qualitative approach. The methods of data collection used included semi-structured interviews and document analysis. The data collected was analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that there is a general perception that; assessments should enable students to demonstrate their ability to apply knowledge; there is a lack of clarity on competency-based assessment, and learners not being responsible for their learning but only giving priority to passing rather than competencies. The study also reported that the reporting of feedback in most schools still takes the norm-referenced format, where marks are awarded generally with no specific look at the competencies. The reward system was also based on general ranking with no particular look at competencies. The study recommended the use of a range of assessment tools as suggested, reporting feedback based on different competencies, and then concentrating the point of an award on competencies developed.
Leonardo Caffo
This essay explores the intellectual legacy of Fabio Mauri, proposing a rigorous "technical" reassessment of the artist as a philosopher. By analyzing Mauri’s extensive writings and seminal works, the author identifies five distinct philosophical branches—history, politics, meta-philosophy, language, and art—arguing that Mauri’s methodology aligns him with the prominent figures of late 20th-century Italian thought. Central to this analysis is the tension between ideology and form, and the transition from the "saying" of philosophy to the "showing" of avant-garde art. The text delves into Mauri's engagement with Heidegger, Nietzsche, and Wittgenstein, particularly regarding the "German question" and the impossibility of traditional thought after Auschwitz. Furthermore, it examines Mauri’s early 21st-century reflections on anthropocentrism, the "apocalypse" of the European spirit, and the museum as a crystallized site of Hegelian reason. Ultimately, the essay characterizes Mauri’s philosophy as an "Aesthetics of Experimentation"—a diacritic, autobiographical, and phenomenal approach where art functions as a "regime of truth" capable of deconstructing the linguistic and ideological ownership of the world.
Ainun Nadzirah Mahmood, Cholo E. Javier, Ehsan Fansuree Surin, Filzah Fauzan, Hartini Zulaiha Jamal, Marhani Mohamed Anuar, Rabiatul Addaniyah Omar
Entrepreneurship plays a vital role in driving economic growth, innovation, and employment generation, particularly among the younger generation. However, entrepreneurial intention among Malaysian university students remains relatively low, highlighting the need to better understand the factors that shape their entrepreneurial mindset. This study aims to examine the relationship between risk-taking, innovativeness, locus of control, need for achievement, and self-efficacy on the entrepreneurial mindset of Malaysian university students. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), this research focuses on final-year students from Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM). A total of 103 responses were collected through online questionnaires, and the data were analyzed using multiple regression techniques. The findings demonstrate that innovativeness, need for achievement, and self-efficacy are significantly and positively associated with entrepreneurial mindset, with self-efficacy emerging as the most influential predictor. Conversely, risk-taking propensity and locus of control were not found to have significant effects. These results highlight the importance of psychological and cognitive factors in shaping students’ entrepreneurial mindset. The significant contributions of this study, along with recommendations for future research and its limitations, are also discussed.
Adilah Othman, Koay Huey Sian, Siti Noor Aishah Mohd Sidik
Voluntary action from customers to recommend the brand is crucial to influence company profit. This study wants to identify the factors that influence brand recommendation among smartphone users. Brand competence, price, and brand image are all under investigation. The sample consisted of students from the Universiti Teknologi Mara. An online questionnaire was distributed to respondents, with 195 data collected and usable. The entire dataset was analysed using SPSS to assess the correlation and regression effect of each variable. The study discovered that brand competence, price, and brand image, has positive correlation with brand recommendation. Regression analysis also indicates that brand competence is the most critical factor impacting brand recommendation. The findings serve as a reference for businesses to encourage customers to engage in brand recommendation and to compete with other competitors.
Mohamed Nazhif Ramlan, Murni Zarina Mohamed Razali, Nora'asikin Abu Bakar, Nursaadatun Nisak Ahmad
In Malaysia's rapidly evolving higher education landscape, marked by persistent graduate underemployment and a structural mismatch between graduate supply and quality job creation, this conceptual paper proposes an empirical investigation into the factors influencing entrepreneurial intention among university students in Malaysia. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as the primary theoretical framework, this conceptual paper examines eight predictors, namely attitude toward entrepreneurship, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, entrepreneurial education exposure, university support, risk-taking propensity, prior entrepreneurial exposure, and cultural values (collectivism and uncertainty avoidance), along with three demographic moderators (gender, family business background, ethnicity), and their proposed effects on entrepreneurial intention. Methodologically, this conceptual paper provides a framework for a longitudinal two-wave survey design with an embedded qualitative component, targeting final-year undergraduate students across public and private universities in five Malaysian regions such as the Greater Klang Valley, Penang, Johor, Sabah, and Sarawak. A stratified random sampling technique with proportionate allocation by region and university type is proposed, with a target sample size of 250 usable responses determined a priori using GPower software. Procedural remedies for common method variance include temporal separation of predictor and criterion variables across two waves. Theoretically, this conceptual paper extends the TPB to the under-researched Malaysian context by incorporating cultural, dispositional, and demographic moderators. Practically, the findings are intended to provide policymakers and university entrepreneurship centres with evidence-based insights to design targeted interventions that foster genuine entrepreneurial intention among students prior to graduation, thereby mitigating the persistent problem of graduate underemployment. A major strength of this paper is its rigorous methodological framework, including a priori sample size determination using GPower, explicit strategies to mitigate common method variance, and strong transparency in acknowledging limitations.
Obatonon, Marivic A, Romero, Maria Ligaya R., Vicencio, Evangeline A.
This study explored the financial management realities of school administrators in public schools, focusing on their challenges, adaptation strategies, and shared insights in managing limited controlled funding and externally controlled resources. A qualitative single-case study design was employed, and data were gathered through an in-depth interview with a school administrator. The data were analyzed thematically to identify emerging patterns in financial management practices. The findings revealed three major areas. First, regarding financial management challenges, school administrators experienced insufficiency and constraints of financial resources, financial pressure and resource allocation dilemmas, and communication and transparency challenges. These were characterized by inadequate MOOE allocations, dependence on external funding sources, competing budget priorities, financial stress, and difficulties in explaining financial allocations to stakeholders. Second, in terms of adaptation strategies, the study identified strategic planning and financial organization, collaboration and stakeholder engagement, transparency and communication, and adaptive leadership and problem-solving. These strategies showed how administrators managed financial limitations through structured planning, stakeholder involvement, resource mobilization, transparent communication, and flexible decision-making. Third, in relation to shared insights, the findings highlighted the importance of planning and prioritization, transparency and accountability, collaboration as a key strategy, and leadership adaptability. These insights emphasized disciplined planning, openness in financial reporting, stakeholder participation, and resilient leadership in addressing financial constraints. In sum the study found that financial management in public schools was a complex and adaptive process shaped by limited resources and external dependencies. It concluded that effective financial management required strong leadership, collaboration, and transparent communication to sustain school operations and ensure continuous service delivery in public education settings.
ADOYI, Mathias Apochi, PhD, DBA
The sustainability of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Nigeria remains a critical concern despite their significant contributions to socio-economic development, humanitarian interventions, and governance advocacy. This study examines the intersection of financial management practices and sustainability outcomes within Nigeria’s NGO sector, identifying key structural, institutional, and governance-related gaps that undermine long-term viability. Drawing on recent empirical and theoretical literature (2022–2025), the paper adopts a conceptual-analytical approach to explore how funding dependency, weak financial controls, governance inefficiencies, and limited capacity development affect NGO sustainability. The study further develops an integrative framework linking financial management systems, governance mechanisms, and sustainability performance. Findings indicate that while financial management practices are widely recognized as central to organizational survival, Nigerian NGOs continue to face systemic challenges such as over-reliance on donor funding, poor financial transparency, weak accountability structures, and inadequate strategic financial planning. The paper concludes that sustainable NGO operations require a paradigm shift toward diversified funding models, strengthened governance frameworks, and digital financial management systems. Policy recommendations are provided for practitioners, donors, and regulators to enhance financial resilience and long-term impact.
Hazel Lijano-Arevalo
This study examines the intricate relationship between financial management practices to job satisfaction and school performance among public schools. While individual research studies have independently highlighted the positive impact of effective financial management practices and heightened job satisfaction on organizational performance, a notable gap persists in the scholarly landscape pertaining to the holistic evaluation of these factors in the context of school performance. The study gathered data through a survey questionnaire distributed to 256 respondents, including school heads and teachers. The questionnaire utilized adopted formats focusing on financial management practices and job satisfaction. Employing a descriptive quantitative research design, specifically utilizing a descriptive correlational approach, the study aimed to analyze the complex relationships among financial management practices, job satisfaction, and the performance of public secondary schools operating with fiscal autonomy. Statistical tools such as frequencies, mean values, T-tests (both inferential and independent sample tests), and Pearson's r were employed to rigorously examine and statistically analyze the gathered data. Interestingly, the findings reveal the significance of financial management practices in influencing teacher satisfaction within schools. However, no significant relationships were found between financial management practices and school performance, as well as between teacher satisfaction and school performance. These results suggest that other factors beyond financial management and teacher satisfaction may play a more prominent role in determining school performance. Therefore, the implications urge educational administrators, policymakers, and stakeholders to adopt a holistic perspective in evaluating and enhancing school performance. Rather than focusing solely on financial management or teacher satisfaction as isolated determinants, a comprehensive approach that considers a spectrum of factors impacting the educational ecosystem is imperative.
Ommey Kulsom Smrity, Sebak Kumar Saha
Although the ready-made garment (RMG) industry is vital to Bangladesh’s economy, fire incidents cause significant loss of life and property in the sector. This paper explores RMG workers’ perceptions of fire safety preparedness in their factories and of their own preparedness, using a qualitative approach through interviews with 36 RMG workers and 14 key informants. Findings show that all factories have a safety committee, a fire prevention plan, an early fire warning system and an emergency action plan. Moreover, each factory conducts fire training and drills, performs regular workplace inspections, maintains provisions for the safe storage of chemicals, maintains firefighting equipment, trains personnel for fire emergencies, and clearly displays emergency contact numbers. Common problems at the factory level include often obstructed emergency pathways and workroom doors, blocked areas outside exit gates leading to the assembly point, narrow staircases, insufficient fire training for all workers, lack of participation by all workers in all evacuation drills and improper chemical storage. At the worker level, although all or most workers know one or more causes of fires, the drop, down, and roll technique, the locations of firefighting equipment and emergency contact information, problems remain in following established evacuation procedures and in understanding the appropriate actions to take to protect against smoke inhalation or if trapped inside a building during a fire. These findings suggest that improvements in fire safety preparedness are essential at both the factory and worker levels to strengthen the resilience of factories and their workers to fire hazards. These findings will help policymakers, government agencies, factory owners, RMG workers and other stakeholders take measures to strengthen the resilience of the RMG industry and its workers against fire hazards in Bangladesh and other similar countries.
Edekin A. JULIUS, Monsuru, Adedeji, OLUKOTUN, Olaniyi Olufemi Shoboyede
This study examines fiscal policy, debt management, and economic growth in Nigeria using annual data from 1990 to 2023 within an Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) framework. The results show that in the short run, government revenue to GDP has a negative and marginal effect on economic growth (β = –0.335, p≈0.055), while debt service payments significantly reduce economic growth (β = –3.70, p = 0.0120). External debt to GDP also exerts a delayed negative effect on growth (β = –0.932, p = 0.0068), whereas regulatory quality positively influences growth in the short run (β = 0.268, p = 0.0229). Foreign direct investment shows limited short run impact, while the error correction term is negative and highly significant (β = –0.889973, p = 0.0010), indicating a strong adjustment speed of about 89 percent toward long run equilibrium. In the long run, external debt to GDP positively affects economic growth (β = 1.68, p = 0.0001), alongside regulatory quality which also shows a significant positive effect (β = 1.31, p = 0.0006), suggesting that well managed borrowing and strong institutions support growth performance. However, government revenue to GDP (β = –1.49, p = 0.0134) and debt service payments (β = –1.01, p = 0.0013) exert significant negative effects on economic growth, indicating fiscal inefficiencies and crowding out of productive expenditure. The model explains about 70 percent of variations in economic growth, with a statistically significant overall fit (F-statistic probability = 0.0014). The study concludes that fiscal policy and debt management significantly influence economic growth in Nigeria, depending largely on institutional quality and debt sustainability, and recommends improved debt utilization, stronger fiscal discipline, and enhanced governance frameworks to promote sustainable economic growth.
Ayogu, Chiebonam Justina, Charles Ekene Udoye, Egwue, L.O., Nnadi, Onyinye Ifeanyi, Onyenekwe, Sylvia Chinasa
Food safety in vegetable production remains essential for protecting public health and sustaining rural livelihoods, especially in developing countries where smallholder farmers play a dominant role in food supply. Yet there is limited field-based evidence on the level of food safety awareness and the practical challenges faced by garden egg (Solanum spp.) farmers in Enugu State, Nigeria. This study examined farmers’ socio-economic characteristics, awareness, knowledge, and constraints related to implementing food safety practices in the Nsukka Agricultural Zone. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted to select 60 respondents. Data were gathered using structured questionnaires, complemented by direct field observations, and analysed using descriptive statistics, including percentages, mean, and standard deviation. Findings revealed that most of the farmers were female (65.0%), with an average age of 43.56 years and a mean annual income of ₦313,075. Although most respondents (88.3%) reported no contact with extension agents, awareness of important food safety issues was notably high. Nearly all respondents recognized the dangers of using unapproved pesticides (98.3%) and the risks associated with foodborne illnesses (96.7%). Knowledge of preventive practices such as wearing protective clothing (98.3%) and properly sorting harvested produce (95.0%) was also widespread. Despite this encouraging level of awareness, farmers faced serious obstacles, including limited access to safe agricultural inputs, weak institutional support, difficulties with pest control, and the high cost of complying with recommended practices. The study highlights the urgent need to strengthen extension services and provide policy support to translate awareness into consistent and effective food safety practices.
Elias Rubenstein
Recent psychedelic research has shown that compounds such as psilocybin, DMT, ayahuasca, and 5-MeO-DMT can induce acute altered states involving self-dissolution, altered reality-status, and heightened meaning attribution. Historical and cross-cultural evidence likewise suggests that nonordinary states have often been embedded within ritual, initiation, contemplative discipline, and structured interpretive systems rather than treated as isolated pharmacological events. This article develops a theoretical framework for understanding how acute altered states may, or may not, become durable psychological, behavioral, and existential change. It argues that acute intensity alone is insufficient and that contextual framing, post-acute integration, and pre-existing integrative capacities jointly shape long-term outcomes. The framework compares DMT, ayahuasca, 5-MeO-DMT, psilocybin, LSD/lysergamides, contemplative practice, fasting, breathwork, and near-death experiences without claiming causal identity among them. It concludes with testable hypotheses concerning contextual framing, recall, integration, individual differences, and durable transformation.
Gilbert B. Mansueto, MSCJ, Karen Abegail Cuizon, MSCJ, LTC Ramil R Esparagoza PA, Paulino V. Pioquinto Ph.D., Rey Q. Aranzado, Ph.D.
This study explored the lifeworld of former Agila Troopers from 10th Infantry Division, Philippine Army, who transitioned into private protection agents. It examined their lived experiences in the performance of their duties, the challenges they encountered, the strategies they employed to address it, and their aspirations to improve their professional services. The research aimed to generate insights that may inform reintegration frameworks for discharged military personnel, particularly those not covered by formal transition assistance programs. A qualitative research design anchored on Edmund Husserl’s Transcendental Phenomenology was utilized to capture the essence of the informants’ lived experiences. Ten former Agila Troopers served as informants of the study. Four participated in Individual In-Depth Interviews (IDI), while six joined the Focus Group Discussion (FGD). The research was conducted in Tagum City and Davao City, where many discharged soldiers are employed in private security. Data were gathered through validated interview guides, audio recordings, and field notes, and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step descriptive phenomenological method. The findings revealed themes reflecting continuity and transition: persistence of military identity, adaptation to civilian work culture, struggles with stigma and financial instability, reliance on resilience and peer networks, and aspirations for professional growth and stability. While private security provided employment, it also exposed gaps in institutional support and career development. The study recommends structured reintegration programs, targeted employment assistance, mental health support systems, and stronger regulatory mechanisms for discharged personnel entering the private security sector.
Hafiz Zaini, Nurhazreen Kadir
This study examines how AI competency and training are associated with teachers’ interest in using artificial intelligence among Library and Media Teachers within school digital ecosystems. A cross-sectional survey was conducted among secondary school teachers in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, using multi-item Likert scales to measure AI competency, AI training, and interest in AI usage, with all constructs demonstrating strong reliability. The findings reveal that teachers exhibit high levels of interest in AI usage alongside relatively strong competency, despite experiencing lower and more varied levels of training. Further analysis indicates that AI competency serves as a significant positive predictor of teachers’ interest, whereas AI training does not demonstrate a significant direct association when considered alongside competency. This pattern suggests that the influence of training on teachers’ interest may depend on the extent to which it contributes to competency development. The study therefore highlights a misalignment between teachers’ strong interest in AI and the current effectiveness of training approaches. By positioning competency as a key mechanism linking policy to practice, the findings underscore the strategic role of Library and Media Teachers as facilitators of AI integration within school digital ecosystems. Collectively, these findings highlight the need for more practice-oriented and competency-focused professional development to support the effective implementation of the National Digital Education Policy.
Afroza Haq Daizy
Pattern making has traditionally been regarded as a technical component of garment manufacturing, primarily focused on translating design ideas into wearable garments. This view, however, is beginning to be redefined in the modern practice of fashion design, with experimental and practice-based approaches positioning pattern making as a participatory and generative component of the design process. This paper explores how creative pattern making works as a dynamic design approach in contemporary fashion practice. The study is based on a qualitative, practice-oriented approach that combines a review of existing literature, selected case studies of contemporary designers, and exploratory pattern development processes. The study examines how design ideas evolve into physical forms through methods like draping, zero-waste practices, and three-dimensional exploration. In doing so, these approaches challenge traditional flat-pattern systems and encourage new creative possibilities. The results reveal that creative pattern making is a site of experimentation, wherein design concepts are worked out by means of iterative interaction with materials, construction, and the human body. Rather than being a purely technical phase, it turns out to be a key element of design thinking that has an impact on both aesthetic and functional outcomes. This study repositions pattern making as one of the fundamental design practices, and challenges the conventional division between design and construction in fashion discourse today. It also indicates that a more integrated understanding of pattern making has significant implications for fashion education and for the development of innovative and sustainable design practices.
Shaniah A. Halliday
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) such as Barbados face a structural economic paradox: their strive for economic growth whilst facing the constant underdevelopment threat of climate induced events. SIDS economies are acutely exposed to climate-driven shocks, yet their fiscal frameworks have historically been designed to respond to those shocks rather than to anticipate and absorb them. This article examines Barbados's transition from a reactive disaster response model towards a proactive climate-fiscal integration strategy, applying the Vulnerability and Resilience Framework (VRF) as its primary analytical lens. Drawing on secondary sources, including national economic strategies, international programme assessments, IPCC reports, and comparative SIDS policy analyses, the article proceeds in three stages.
John Dave M. Alejandro, Mary Grace O. Gumpal
The study explored the differences and relationship between climate change anxiety and pro-environmental behaviors of Filipino Generation Z, particularly individuals from farming households in Jones and San Agustin, Isabela. Using a sequential-explanatory mixed-methods design, the study first gathered quantitative data from a large sample of 830 Gen Z participants aged 12–27 years, then followed with in-depth interviews among 10 selected respondents identified as being at risk of high climate change anxiety. The quantitative results showed that participants generally experienced low to moderate climate change anxiety, with a smaller but important group at high risk, and demonstrated a moderate level of pro-environmental behavior. Significant differences were observed across socio-demographic factors, especially age, while climate change anxiety showed a positive relationship with pro-environmental behavior. The qualitative findings further revealed that participants used varied coping strategies, including avoidance, seeking emotional support, reflecting on their feelings, and engaging in environmental actions. These results suggest that climate anxiety can function both as a psychological burden and as a motivation for constructive environmental behavior, depending on the individual’s coping resources, social support, and opportunities for action. Overall, the study highlights the need for a balanced and multi-level response that addresses both the psychological and behavioral dimensions of climate change anxiety among young people.
Ackim Lungu, Anthony Sinyangwe, Natasha Nanyangwe, Zacks Yuma
This study investigates the economic impact of the Trade Marks Act No. 11 of 2023 on the growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) within Zambia’s mining support sector. For 67 years, the previous 1958 legislative framework excluded service marks, creating an institutional void that hindered local firms from formalizing brand equity. Grounded in Institutional Theory and the Resource-Based View (RBV), the research employed a mixed-methods approach, analyzing primary data from 160 SMEs across the Copperbelt and North-Western provinces. Quantitative results from OLS regression analysis (R^2 = 0.986) reveal that Service Mark Registration is a highly significant predictor of turnover growth (beta = 5.288, p < 0.001), effectively transforming "vulnerable intangibles" into protected VRIN assets. The study identifies a potent "North-Western Effect," where regional institutional maturity significantly moderates growth (beta = 4.614, p < 0.001), suggesting that modern multinational mining environments accelerate the benefits of IP formalization. Furthermore, a strong correlation between Local Content Compliance and turnover (r = 0.960) indicates a synergistic relationship between brand protection and legislative local participation. Qualitative findings highlight an "Institutional Literacy Gap," where despite the new legal machinery, many SMEs remain unaware of the Madrid Protocol’s domestication. The study concludes that the 2023 Act has effectively "unlocked" the growth potential of service-based SMEs by providing a standardized signaling mechanism for quality and legitimacy. It recommends that the Patents and Companies Registration Agency (PACRA) and the Ministry of SME Development integrate IP registration into local content certification to sustain this growth trajectory through 2030.
Warren Bualoy Sayago
This study examines the error patterns of struggling Grade 9 students when solving quadratic-equation word problems using the Newman Error Analysis (NEA) model. A mixed-methods descriptive study using the NEA model, in which data were collected from 101 learners who completed a four-item diagnostic assessment requiring the use of algebraic methods and showing their full solutions. The triangulation method through a semi-structured interview process was employed to further analyze and extract themes behind algebra difficulties. Student responses were coded across four NEA stages - comprehension, transformation, process skills, and encoding with inter-rater validation by two mathematics teachers. Findings reveal persistently high error rates across all stages, with process skills and encoding errors emerging as the most critical. Substantial proportions of students demonstrated difficulties in interpreting problem statements, constructing appropriate equations, executing algebraic procedures accurately, and expressing final answers. Notably, non-attempt rates increased with task complexity, indicating issues related to cognitive load and learner confidence. The study contributes a detailed diagnostic profile of algebraic errors and highlights the interdependence of conceptual understanding and procedural fluency. It underscores the value of NEA as a classroom-based diagnostic tool and proposes targeted instructional strategies focused on mathematical language, modelling, and solution verification.
Asep Nurjaman, Bulkani, Harry Meilantara, Vina Salviana D. Soedarwo
47 agrarian disputes were recorded in Kotawaringin Timur alone between 2020–2024, yet the district police responded not with arrests, but with Huma Hapakat (House of Agreement), a culturally grounded dialogue mechanism a response that inverts the historically repressive role attributed to Indonesian security forces in land conflicts. While existing literature documents police mediation in urban settings, their role as institutional mediators in structural agrarian disputes involving corporate actors and indigenous communities remains empirically unexamined. This study addresses that gap by examining how POLRI and civil society organizations operationalize restorative justice in oil palm plasma disputes in Kotawaringin Timur District, Central Kalimantan. Using Moustakas's transcendental phenomenology, this study draws on in-depth interviews with police officers, civil society representatives, and affected community members in Kecamatan Cempaga and Kota Besi. Findings reveal that POLRI has developed Huma Hapakat, a culturally adapted restorative mechanism integrating Dayak deliberative traditions with a graduated green-yellow-red intervention zone system. Yet its effectiveness is fundamentally undermined by a single critical asymmetry: while community members and police officers engaged consistently, the company the party whose compliance is essential repeatedly absented itself from mediation forums without consequence. Village cooperative representatives further reported that sustained advocacy over multiple years had eroded member commitment, and that targeted payments to individual members had fractured internal solidarity a dynamic that exposes how restorative processes can be systematically hollowed out by the more powerful party. The study concludes that restorative justice in agrarian contexts requires not only cultural legitimacy but also coercive institutional backing proposing "embedded restoration," in which restorative processes are anchored within enforceable regulatory frameworks such as conditioning concession renewal on demonstrated mediation compliance as a theoretical response to this paradox.
Irni Eliana Khairuddin, Nora’ayu Ahmad Uzir, Nurul Auni Safian
The growing demand for a skills-based economy in Malaysia has highlighted the limitations of traditional academic record-keeping, which often overlooks experiential learning, co-curricular involvement, and professional achievements. This study addresses these challenges by proposing a Comprehensive Learning and Employment Record (CLER) framework tailored for Malaysian university graduates. Using a qualitative research design, semi-structured interviews were conducted with five recent graduates and five professionals in information and records management to explore existing issues and expectations surrounding credential management. Thematic analysis revealed recurring challenges, including vulnerability of physical documents, difficulties in retrieving records, inefficiencies in verification, and the lack of interoperability across institutions. Findings also highlighted the potential of emerging technologies such as blockchain, digital credentialing platforms, and cloud-based solutions to enhance security, accessibility, and self-sovereignty in record management. Drawing from these insights, the study presents a conceptual CLER framework that integrates academic, co-curricular, and professional records into a centralized, verifiable, and learner-owned platform. The proposed framework not only improves graduates’ ability to demonstrate holistic competencies but also streamlines institutional processes and supports employer decision-making. Overall, this research contributes a contextualized solution to enhance graduate employability, institutional efficiency, and Malaysia’s transition to a digital, skills-driven economy.
Emmanuel, D.S., Felix T., Homoweto T., Mashegu, K. M., Simon, S.Y., Tame, V.T.
Crosses were made between the six parental lines of cowpea using the full diallel-crossing design to generate 15 crosses, 15 reciprocals and 6 parents were evaluated during the cropping season of 2024 and 2025 at Yola and Wukari, Nigeria in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) and replicated three times. Substantial variance existed among the genotypes, parental lines, crosses, and reciprocals for most of the agronomic traits. Both additive genetic effect and non-addictive gene effects controlled most traits, but non-addictive gene effects were significant and predominant as indicated by the predictability ratio of δ2GCA/δ2SCA which were less than one for all the traits. This work also identified Bossop, Bakwa and Sampea 18 as the best general combiner in term of GCA effects. Sampea 18 x Bossop, Sampea 19 x Bakwa, Bossop x Achishiru recorded the highest SCA effects for the crosses and the reciprocals Achishiru x Bossop and Bossop x Sampea 19 were found the best cross-combination. It was observed that most of crosses and reciprocals involved in this work with high SCA effect of crosses and reciprocal involve at least one of three high general combiners. The preponderance of non-additive genetic effect observed among the traits in the parents, the crosses and reciprocals studied is great tools in choosing the cowpea lines for biparental mating or reciprocal recurrent selection for developing superior genotypes with high yield.
Angelito L. Poquiz III, RPm, LPT, Shirley A. Layona, EdD
This study explores the future of guidance counseling in the Tarlac Province, examining the perspectives of 100 guidance practitioners on emerging trends and their implications. Driven by technological advancements, legislative changes (R.A. 11927, R.A. 11899, R.A. 12080), and increasing mental health awareness, the field is undergoing significant transformation. The research employed a mixed-methods approach, combining structured interviews with five experienced counselors and a survey of 100 practitioners. Qualitative data revealed key themes regarding anticipated scenarios, threats (e.g., increasing case complexity, resource limitations, ethical dilemmas with technology integration, counselor burnout), and opportunities (e.g., decreasing stigma, enhanced recognition of counseling’s role, expanded access via technology). Quantitative analysis using exploratory factor analysis (EFA) confirmed these themes, identifying factors such as "Technology-Driven Counseling Innovation," "Systemic and Ethical Constraints," and "Evolving Social Perceptions and Client Empowerment." The study proposes strategies for managing threats (e.g., enhancing digital literacy, developing policies, securing funding, establishing support networks) and maximizing opportunities (e.g., continuous professional development, strategic technology integration, promoting inclusivity). The findings highlight the need for a multifaceted approach to navigate the evolving landscape of guidance counseling, ensuring that services remain accessible, ethical, and effective in meeting the diverse needs of Filipino students and communities.
Dr. Bindu Thakral, Usha Tanwar
Robotic Process Automation (RPA) is rapidly transforming the healthcare industry, with UiPath emerging as a leading platform for intelligent automation. As healthcare systems strive to improve operational efficiency, reduce costs, and deliver patient-centric services, RPA offers a compelling solution by automating repetitive, rule-based tasks across administrative and clinical domains. This paper explores the evolving role of UiPath RPA in healthcare, drawing on recent literature and real-world case studies from 2024 to 2025. UiPath bots are now widely deployed in areas such as insurance claims processing, electronic health record (EHR) management, laboratory information systems, pharmacy operations, and telemedicine workflows. These implementations have demonstrated measurable improvements in turnaround time, error reduction, compliance monitoring, and staff productivity. The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) with RPA further enhances its capabilities, enabling predictive analytics, intelligent decision-making, and proactive resource allocation. Despite its promise, RPA adoption in healthcare faces several challenges. Data security and privacy risks, interoperability with legacy IT systems, organizational resistance, and ethical concerns remain significant barriers. Addressing these issues requires robust governance frameworks, strategic change management, and transparent deployment practices. Looking ahead, the concept of agentic orchestration—where autonomous bots collaborate across departments to manage end-to-end healthcare processes—represents the next frontier in digital transformation. UiPath RPA is no longer just a tool for task automation; it is evolving into a strategic enabler of intelligent, scalable, and resilient healthcare ecosystems. This paper provides a comprehensive analysis of UiPath RPA’s current applications, challenges, and future directions, positioning it as a cornerstone of modern healthcare strategy. Through a blend of literature review, problem analysis, proposed solutions, and real-world examples, we highlight how UiPath RPA can drive both short-term efficiency and long-term innovation in healthcare delivery.
Alicia G. Amper, Aprell L. Abellana, Ehlrich Ray J. Magday
As the world becomes more digital, gamification has emerged as a promising approach to enhancing students' learning experiences. Still, many senior high school students in the Philippines face challenges with their academic performance and maintaining interest in Physics. This study examined the effectiveness of a Gamified Strategic Intervention Material (GSIM) on the academic achievement and interest of Grade 12 Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) students at Bukidnon National School of Home Industries. It contributes to the limited research on the use of gamified methods in Philippine Physics education. The main goals were to assess students' academic achievement and interest across three areas: Feelings, Value, and Re-engagement, and to identify differences between students using GSIM and those who did not. Using a quasi-experimental pretest-posttest non-equivalent groups design with 93 Grade 12 STEM students divided into experimental and control groups, the study found that the GSIM group scored significantly higher on posttests than the non-GSIM group. The GSIM group also showed greater interest across all three dimensions, with large-to-very-large effect sizes in Value and Re-engagement. While these improvements are evident, the GSIM group's overall interest reached High Interest, and many students still fall short of expected achievement levels. These findings show that adding gamified features to Strategic Intervention Materials can successfully boost both understanding and interest. By consistently applying gamification in teaching approaches, educators can support students' learning experience and foster a deeper, more enduring interest in Physics.
Wangai Kiama, MMed
Alcohol consumption is a major contributor to global injury-related mortality and is strongly associated with accidental deaths. Gender differences play a key role in alcohol-related injury risk, with males disproportionately affected due to higher levels of alcohol use and engagement in risk-taking behaviors. However, forensic evidence from low-resource settings remains limited.
Jennifer F. Tabligan
This study determined the level of gender sensitivity and the extent of its integration in teaching English among public secondary school teachers in Northern Negros Occidental. Using a descriptive-correlational research design, the study involved 200 English teachers selected from public secondary schools. Data were gathered through a structured questionnaire and analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and Spearman’s rho. Findings revealed that teachers demonstrated a very high level of gender sensitivity and a high extent of integration of gender-sensitive practices in English instruction. No significant difference was found in gender sensitivity when respondents were grouped according to sex. However, a significant difference was found in the extent of integration when grouped according to educational attainment. A moderate positive and significant relationship was also found between gender sensitivity and integration, indicating that teachers with stronger gender-sensitive awareness are more likely to apply gender-responsive practices in the classroom. The study concludes that gender sensitivity is both an ethical and pedagogical necessity in English language teaching and recommends sustained professional development, inclusive instructional design, and stronger institutional support for gender-responsive education.
Wangai Kiama, MMed
Background: Alcohol consumption is a well-established risk factor for suicide, acting through acute disinhibition, impaired judgment, and reduced impulse control. Gender differences are strongly associated with both alcohol use patterns and suicide mortality, with males disproportionately affected by heavy drinking and completed suicide. However, forensic evidence from low-resource settings remains limited. Objective: To determine the prevalence and patterns of alcohol intoxication among suicide fatalities in Nairobi, with a specific focus on gender differences and intoxication severity.
Dr. Davin Persaud
This quantitative correlational-comparative study examined gendered school leadership and student academic outcomes across four administrative regions of Guyana. The study responded to the need for empirical evidence on whether schools led by male and female leaders differ in dominant leadership styles and whether those styles are associated with student performance. A total of 623 participants from 17 schools participated in the study, comprising 17 school leaders, 136 teachers, and 470 students. Data were collected through an online five-point Likert-scale leadership questionnaire, teacher ratings of leadership practices, and aggregated school-level academic performance records. The leadership dimensions examined were transformational, transactional, democratic, autocratic, and instructional leadership. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent-samples t-tests, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression. The findings indicated that female-led schools recorded slightly higher mean academic outcome scores than male-led schools, although the effect size was modest. Transformational, democratic, and instructional leadership were positively associated with student academic outcomes, while autocratic leadership showed a weak negative association. Instructional leadership produced the strongest positive relationship with academic outcomes and remained a significant predictor in the regression model. The overall model explained 34% of the variance in students' academic outcomes, with leadership-style variables demonstrating greater explanatory power than leader gender alone. The study concludes that academic performance in the selected Guyanese schools should not be interpreted solely in terms of gender. Rather, student outcomes appear to be more closely linked to observable leadership practices that prioritize instructional supervision, shared vision, teacher support, data-informed planning, accountability, and learner-centered decision-making. The paper recommends leadership development programs that strengthen transformational and instructional leadership competencies among both male and female school leaders in Guyana.
Calicdan, John Paul D, Villanueva, Leo Gabriel V.
This study investigates the opportunities and challenges associated with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in research writing among graduate students and instructors. Employing a descriptive research design utilizing exploratory factor analysis (EFA), the study examines the underlying dimensions of GenAI utilization in academic writing within selected state universities. Quantitative data were collected through survey questionnaires administered to graduate students and faculty members to determine patterns of GenAI use, perceived benefits, and existing concerns. Findings reveal that both students and instructors widely utilize GenAI for cognitive and compositional support, including idea generation, content organization, language refinement, grammar correction, and formatting assistance. Exploratory factor analysis identified multiple dimensions underlying GenAI utilization, highlighting its role in enhancing writing efficiency, research development, and higher-order thinking skills. The results further indicate that GenAI functions as both a cognitive and technical support tool that contributes to improved productivity and the overall quality of academic writing. However, the findings also reveal significant concerns related to ethical issues, academic integrity, unreliable AI-generated outputs, and the lack of clear institutional policies governing AI use in academic contexts. Respondents emphasized the importance of accountability, transparency, and critical evaluation of AI-generated content to maintain scholarly standards. Despite these challenges, the study concludes that GenAI presents substantial opportunities to support research writing when used responsibly and ethically. The study recommends the development of institutional guidelines, AI literacy initiatives, and ethical frameworks to ensure that GenAI complements rather than replaces human critical thinking and academic integrity in academic research and writing.
Kate Ashley A. Macasaet, Mia V. Villarica, Tracy SJ. Torres
Fire response in urbanizing areas like Sta. Cruz, Laguna, in particular, wrestles with challenges like delayed response times, suboptimal routing, and limited access to fire hydrant points which have all been largely caused by manual dispatching and static navigation. This article reports the title “Geospatial Predictive Analytics for Enhancing Fire Response in Sta. Cruz, Laguna," a web-based intelligent system that integrates machine learning with Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to optimize fire emergency operations. Using a developmental and experimental research approach, the investigators trained an ensemble of models - XGBoost, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting - on 2,180 historical fire incident records, incorporating engineered features like casualty indices, false alarm indicators, and environmental factors (temperature, precipitation, road conditions). The system runs on a Flask backend with SQLAlchemy for data persistence, housing geospatial datasets such as fire hydrant coordinates and hazardous road segments. The ensemble model delivered a mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.573 minutes (about 34 seconds) and an R² score of 0.877, surpassing the target accuracy threshold. Its integrated GIS component offers dynamic visualization of optimized routes and nearest hydrant recommendations. The interactive dashboard provides real-time estimated time of arrival (ETA) predictions, automated performance comparisons, and actionable feedback to drive operational improvements. In the end, this innovation shifts manual, intuition-driven dispatching to a data-backed decision-support system, delivering measurable gains in response efficiency for fire protection agencies.
Dr. Olukemi Olubukola Alabi, Dr. Yusuf Aina Soyebo
This study examines the effect of governance quality on economic performance in Sub-Saharan Africa using panel data for 23 countries over the period 2004–2024. The study employs panel estimation techniques, including pooled ordinary least squares, fixed effects, and random effects models. The Hausman specification test indicates that the fixed effects model is the most appropriate for the analysis. To ensure robust statistical inference and control for both country-specific and time-specific effects, the study further employs a two-way fixed effects model with White cross-section robust standard errors. The findings reveal that voice and accountability, trade openness, and government effectiveness exert positive effects on economic performance, with voice and accountability and trade openness remaining statistically significant, while government effectiveness is weakly significant. Other governance indicators were not statistically significant. The results suggest that governance influences economic performance in a dimension-specific manner, with accountability and institutional effectiveness playing more prominent roles in promoting economic performance within the region. The study concludes that strengthening institutional accountability, improving governance effectiveness, and promoting trade openness are essential for enhancing economic performance in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Mary Jane Q. Paraiso
Inclusive education has gained significant attention as a means to foster equitable and accessible learning environments for students with diverse backgrounds abilities. This study adopted a descriptive-correlational approach to assessed the perceived competence of the Graduate Students’ and the advantages of inclusion for Learners with and without Special Educational Needs to provide equal opportunities for all regardless of their abilities or disabilities. There were 102 respondents in the Graduate Students’ Education for Masters in Special Education responded to the survey questionnaires that evaluated their perceptions of their own competency and the advantages of inclusive education. The results aim to explore graduate students' perceptions regarding their competence in inclusive education and the perceived advantages associated with this educational approach. It can be concluded that the both Graduate Students’ Competence and Benefits of Inclusion to Learners without Special Educational Needs, and Graduate Students’ Competence and Benefits of Inclusion to Learners with Special Educational Needs (LSENs) is highly beneficial to both type of learners. They believed they were very competent and asserted in handling both Learners with Special Educational Needs and Learners without Special Educational Needs. Additionally, the advantages of inclusive education for Learners with Special Educational Needs and Learners without Special Educational Needs are strongly correlated with their perceived competence.
Dr. Muralidhara S V
The rapid globalisation of remote work, accelerated markedly by the COVID-19 pandemic, has compelled organisations to revisit foundational assumptions about how human resource strategies shape employee outcomes. This study investigates the extent to which Green Human Resource Management (Green HRM) practices influence employee productivity and work-life balance (WLB) among full-time remote workers in India. Anchored in Conservation of Resources Theory, Social Exchange Theory and Clark's Border Theory, the study proposes and empirically tests a structural model in which WLB serves as a partial mediating variable. Primary data were gathered from 350 validated survey responses drawn from remote employees across the information technology, banking, education and healthcare sectors in Karnataka and Telangana. A two-stage analytical approach — Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) followed by Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) in AMOS 24 — was employed to evaluate the measurement and structural models. Results indicate that Green HRM exerts a significant positive direct effect on both productivity (β = 0.53, p < 0.001) and WLB (β = 0.62, p < 0.001). The indirect pathway from Green HRM to productivity through WLB was likewise significant (β = 0.28, 95% CI [0.19, 0.38]), confirming partial mediation. Demographic sub-group analyses revealed stronger effect magnitudes among female employees and workers in the educational sector. The study contributes to an emerging body of scholarship at the nexus of sustainable HRM and remote work, offering both theoretical extensions and actionable guidance for practitioners and policymakers.
Aliki, T. J., Egbewole, I. K (PhD), Professor Afolabi, B., Professor Aribaba, F. O. (FCA)
This study investigated the influence of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices on organisational sustainability in Nigerian Oil Producing Areas Development Commissions (NOPADCs). Employing a descriptive survey research design, data were collected from a sample of 380 employees drawn from a population of approximately 2,500 using a multi-stage sampling technique to ensure representation across leadership and operational cadres. A structured questionnaire adapted from established scales was administered, and responses were measured on a five-point Likert scale. Instrument validity was confirmed through expert review, while reliability testing yielded Cronbach’s alpha values exceeding 0.70. Data analysis utilized linear regression to examine the effects of green recruitment, green training, and green reward processes on organisational sustainability. Results indicate a strong positive relationship between GHRM practices and organisational sustainability, with the regression model explaining 59% of the variance in outcomes (R² = 0.590, Adjusted R² = 0.583, R = 0.768). Among the predictors, green training exerted the most substantial influence (B = 0.241, β = 0.213, p < 0.001), followed by green recruitment (B = 0.182, β = 0.164, p < 0.001), while green reward processes demonstrated a positive but comparatively weaker effect (B = 0.109, β = 0.102, p = 0.021). These findings suggest that capacity development and strategic recruitment are critical drivers of sustainability outcomes. It was concluded that green training and recruitment serving as the most impactful dimensions. The study recommends that commissions formally institutionalize GHRM practices across HR functions within Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.
Mohd Fariduddin Mukhtar, Nor Azizah Binti Mohd Yusoff, Nurul Anisah Mohd Jamaludin, Sayed Kushairi Sayed Nordin
Road transport is one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in modern supply chains, yet surprisingly little is known about why individual logistics workers respond to their carbon footprint the way they do especially in Malaysia. This study explores how three factors which are awareness of carbon footprint, transportation habits, and perception and acceptance of green transportation in shaping the transportation-related carbon footprint among road transport users in Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Drawing on the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), the study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional design. Data were gathered from 108 respondents using a structured five-point Likert-scale questionnaire and analysed through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple linear regression in IBM SPSS Statistics. All constructs showed good internal reliability (Cronbach’s α = 0.773–0.864). Correlation results showed that awareness of carbon footprint (r = 0.565, p < 0.001) and transportation habits (r = 0.516, p < 0.001) had moderate positive relationships with carbon footprint, while green transportation acceptance showed a weaker but significant link (r = 0.229, p = 0.015). Regression analysis identified awareness (β = 0.413, p < 0.001) and transportation habits (β = 0.300, p = 0.003) as the two significant predictors, together explaining 37.2% of the variance (R² = 0.372, F(3, 104) = 21.565, p < 0.001). Green transportation acceptance did not independently predict carbon footprint (β = −0.047, p = 0.598) once the other variables were accounted for. These results highlight how deeply awareness and ingrained travel behaviour influence the carbon footprint of logistics workers, and point to practical steps — including targeted education campaigns and infrastructure investment — that policymakers and logistics managers can take to reduce supply chain emissions in Malaysia.
Irish N. Villanueva, Mpm (Car), Jayson S. Toralba, Rcrim, Lpt, Crs, Mat (Car), Lorenil L. Castillon, Menche P. Bacornay
This study explored the self-knowledge, proficiency level in Gregg Shorthand Writing, and academic performance among 35 third-year Bachelor of Science in Office Administration (BSOA) students at South Central Mindanao College of Science and Technology, Inc. Utilizing descriptive and correlational methods, the research assessed dictation and transcription skills through self-evaluation and actual proficiency, while analyzing academic performance based on General Weighted Averages (GWA) in both Foundation and Advanced Shorthand courses. The results indicated that students' self-knowledge in shorthand writing was moderate, with a grand mean of 3.10, interpreted as "Sometimes." Dictation skills yielded a higher mean of 3.26 compared to transcription skills, which had a mean of 2.93. In terms of proficiency, 71% of students were categorized as poor or below proficient in dictation, while 60% fell within the approaching proficient to proficient range in transcription. The average GWA was 83.56% (numerical equivalent: 2.25, interpreted as "Average"). A Pearson correlation analysis revealed a moderate positive relationship (r = 0.347, p = 0.041) between self-knowledge and academic performance, suggesting that students with higher self-perceived shorthand skills tended to achieve better academic results. These findings underscore the necessity for targeted instructional interventions, particularly in dictation, to improve both proficiency and academic outcomes in Gregg Shorthand Writing.
Khac-Nghia Nguyen
Since the implementation of the Đổi Mới reforms in 1986, Vietnam has frequently been portrayed as one of the most successful developmental cases among transition economies. Rapid GDP growth, substantial poverty reduction, expanding foreign direct investment, and deeper global economic integration have contributed to the image of a “development miracle.” However, much of the existing literature and policy discourse has primarily evaluated Vietnam’s achievements through quantitative macroeconomic indicators, often overlooking the structural, institutional, and social limitations underlying this growth model. This paper critically reassesses Vietnam’s development trajectory by examining the relationship between government economic policies, institutional governance, and people’s actual living conditions. Drawing upon official statistics, policy reports, and political economy analyses, the study argues that Vietnam’s developmental outcomes remain constrained by inefficient state-owned enterprises (SOEs), weak public investment management, corruption, vested interest groups, and limited institutional accountability. The paper further demonstrates that macroeconomic instability, inflation, unemployment, inefficient resource allocation, and unequal distribution of development benefits have directly affected the living standards and welfare of ordinary citizens. In addition, the study highlights the limitations of a growth model heavily dependent on low-cost labor and low value-added foreign investment, which raises concerns regarding long-term sustainability and the possibility of a middle-income trap. The findings suggest that future development in Vietnam requires not only economic expansion but also deeper institutional reform, improved governance transparency, equitable resource distribution, and a more human-centered development approach. Ultimately, sustainable development should be evaluated not solely by economic growth rates but by the extent to which it enhances social justice, human capabilities, and overall quality of life.
Simon Namwandi INDONGO
The 2026 conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran represents a contemporary manifestation of gunboat diplomacy, characterized by the strategic use of military force, naval power, and economic coercion to achieve political objectives. This paper critically examines the evolution of gunboat diplomacy in the context of modern international relations, with particular focus on the interplay between coercion and diplomacy in the 2026 war. Using a qualitative research design and a case study approach, the study analyses the dynamics of military engagement, diplomatic negotiations, and economic sanctions. It argues that while gunboat diplomacy remains a central instrument of statecraft, its application has become increasingly complex due to technological advancements, global interdependence, and evolving legal norms. The findings highlight the risks of escalation, the erosion of multilateralism, and the need for balanced approaches to conflict resolution
Augustine Lumwanga, Henry Kamocha, Lubbungu Jive, Owen Mulima
Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) play a vital role in fostering sustainable development in African rural communities, yet they remain underrepresented in formal policy and academic discourse. This study examines the Lala people of Serenje District, Zambia, with a focus on Mushitu sacred forests, to explore how traditional knowledge, belief systems, and governance structures contribute to environmental conservation and community well-being. Employing a qualitative ethnographic approach, data were collected through semi-structured interviews with elders, focus group discussions with youth, and participant observation. Findings reveal that taboos, customary laws, and community-led resource management practices effectively regulate the use of natural resources, preserve biodiversity, and sustain livelihoods. These practices also strengthen social cohesion, cultural identity, and intergenerational knowledge transfer, highlighting the multifaceted role of IKS in promoting sustainability. However, the study identifies challenges to the preservation of these practices, including modernisation, formal education, and socio-economic changes, which have led to a gradual erosion of traditional knowledge. The study underscores the importance of integrating IKS into national development frameworks, including educational curricula, environmental policies, and community-based conservation programmes. Drawing on the concept of epistemic plurality, the paper argues that sustainable development cannot be achieved through Western scientific paradigms alone, but requires the recognition of diverse knowledge traditions as equal partners in development planning. By acknowledging and institutionalising indigenous practices alongside scientific approaches, policymakers and development practitioners can enhance sustainable development outcomes while preserving cultural heritage. The findings provide empirical evidence supporting the strategic inclusion of indigenous knowledge in national and regional development planning, offering insights relevant to similar contexts across Africa.
Salmiza Binti Mohd Sahid, Shahabuddin Bin Hashim, Suhaida Binti Mohd Sahid
The use of digital learning applications in the teaching and learning process is a pedagogical approach that should be mastered by History teachers today, especially in training Historical Thinking Skills. Technological advances have encouraged teachers and students to utilize various digital learning applications to improve teaching and learning. Failure to integrate the latest digital learning applications can cause students' interest in the subject of History to decrease. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the knowledge of History teachers in applying digital learning technology to the implementation of Historical Thinking Skills in the teaching and learning of History. Historical Thinking Skills are one of the historical disciplines that need to be implemented by History teachers in the teaching and learning of History. There are five elements, namely understanding chronology, exploring evidence, making interpretations, creating imagination and making rationalizations contained in Historical Thinking Skills. This study used a qualitative method involving three study participants, consisting of secondary school History teachers in the Seberang Perai Tengah district, Penang state. Data was obtained through interviews. The results of this study show that History teachers have good knowledge in applying digital learning technology to the implementation of Historical Thinking Skills in the teaching and learning of History. This shows that History teachers have applied digital learning technology effectively, especially in the implementation of Historical Thinking Skills. This study also has the potential to be used as a reference for further research that examines the same issue from the perspective of teachers in primary schools in an effort to strengthen the use of information and communication technology in line with the development of the 4.0 Industrial Revolution. It is hoped that these findings can be used as a guide especially for History teachers, schools, policymakers, the Ministry of Education Malaysia, State Education Departments, Malaysian Teacher Education Institutions and universities.
Januarius J. Asongu, PhD
The contemporary expansion of holy entrepreneurship—the strategic conversion of religious authority, sacred symbols, and communal trust into economic value—has become a salient feature of global religious life. This phenomenon cuts across religious traditions and geographical contexts, encompassing Christian, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, and New Religious Movement settings. Drawing on sociology of religion, migration studies, and theological ethics, this article examines the mechanisms, ethical tensions, and structural consequences of holy entrepreneurship. Employing Critical Synthetic Realism (CSR) as a normative epistemic framework, the study argues that while some forms of religious entrepreneurship function as survival-oriented community mobilization, others constitute exploitative commodification of the sacred. Empirical evidence from Western legal systems demonstrates that religious authority—across traditions—has at times been weaponized for financial fraud, coercion, and abuse, underscoring the necessity of moral evaluation beyond confessional boundaries. Through a comparative Global South–Global North analysis, the paper distinguishes between entrepreneurship as extraction and entrepreneurship as survival, and demonstrates how neoliberal market logic, migration, and digital platforms intensify religious commodification. The article concludes that exploiting human vulnerability through the instrumentalization of God or the sacred is ethically impermissible and theologically corrupt, calling for renewed normative discernment and the recovery of de-commodified sacred spaces.
Elton Noti, Emira Spahaj
The circular economy (CE) has evolved into a transformative concept challenging the traditional linear model of production and consumption. In the last few years, marketing researchers and practitioners have widely recognized the need to adjust marketing strategies to align with the principles of a circular economy; however, the discipline as a whole remains fragmented and under-researched. The paper provides a systematic literature review of the intersection between the circular economy and marketing with a view to synthesizing the extant knowledge base and identifying potential research fields. The review highlights three streams of research: (1) the effects of circular value propositions on branding, product development, and positioning; (2) The value of consumers with favourable attitudes, together with awareness and trust, as key means of stimulating the adoption of a circular approach in practice; and (3) the integration of digital technologies, including blockchain and big data, as means of enhancing the level of transparency and consumer involvement. Although current studies introduce valuable information, significant gaps exist with respect to cross-cultural customer behavior, marketing performance evaluation for CE settings, and the eventual consequences of extended circular branding for customer loyalty. The paper concludes with a conceptual framework integrating these learnings and outlining opportunities for further developing theory and practice. Also, it contributes to the extension of the respective literature on sustainable marketing and reflects the critical importance of integrating the principles of a circular economy into marketing theory and practice.
Jan Horas Veryady Purba
Economic growth in emerging markets is often shaped by the interplay between fiscal and monetary policies, yet the relative contributions of each remain debated. This study addresses the problem of identifying which policy instruments most significantly explain fluctuations in Indonesia’s GDP growth. The objective is to evaluate the dynamic effects of fiscal and monetary shocks and to quantify their structural importance over different horizons. Using a Vector Autoregression (VAR) framework, the research employs impulse response functions (IRF) and variance decomposition (VD) to capture both short run dynamics and long run contributions. The dataset includes key fiscal variables—government expenditure and household consumption—and monetary indicators such as policy interest rate (BI7DRR), exchange rate, and inflation. The findings reveal that in the short run, GDP growth is largely self driven, while monetary shocks exert limited influence. Over longer horizons, government expenditure emerges as the dominant driver, explaining nearly 40% of GDP variance, whereas monetary variables remain marginal contributors. Household consumption plays a stabilizing role but does not structurally dominate GDP variance. These results highlight the asymmetry between fiscal and monetary policy: fiscal expansion provides sustained growth momentum, while monetary stability ensures that such expansion remains viable. The study contributes to the literature by offering empirical evidence that coordinated fiscal and monetary strategies are essential for sustainable economic development.
Salami Abdul Mohammed
This study examines how organizations in the U.S. car rental industry publicly frame and narrate artificial intelligence (AI)-enabled service innovation and what these narratives reveal about dynamic capabilities in asset-intensive service settings. The objective is to analyze how innovation is communicated, justified, and contested across multiple public arenas, and to develop a theoretically grounded understanding of the relationship between public narrative and organizational capability. The study employs a qualitative thematic analysis of multi-source public media data, including newspaper reports, trade publications, corporate investor communications, social media, and business television transcripts published between 2019 and 2026. Applying Dynamic Capabilities Theory as an interpretive lens, the analysis identifies four higher-order themes: sensing, seizing, transforming, and capability tensions. The results show that firms develop divergent sensing and seizing orientations under shared technological and competitive pressures, with some organizations prioritizing operational efficiency and others foregrounding customer experience. Persistent misalignment between seizing and transforming activities, combined with the erosion of feedback mechanisms under increasing automation, creates conditions of algorithmic insulation in which error-correction capacity is progressively diminished. The paper concludes that public innovation discourse operates as an observable signal of capability enactment, extending Dynamic Capabilities Theory beyond its traditional focus on internal routines. These findings contribute to research on AI-enabled service innovation in consumer-facing industries and highlight interpretive framing, organizational redesign, and feedback architecture as determinants of adaptability in AI-mediated service systems. Practical implications address how industry operators and regulators can use discourse patterns to identify capability development trajectories and governance failures before they materialize as operational crises.
IDA Sofea Natallea Badrul Hizal, NOR Fatin Abdul Jabar
This study examines humble-bragging as a form of indirect self-presentation in digital discourse through a lexical-pragmatic analysis of 1,001 social media posts. Drawing on corpus linguistics, sentiment analysis, and pragmatic interpretation, the study investigates the linguistic patterns, collocational tendencies, and communicative functions that characterise humble-bragging on social media platforms. Guided by Speech Act Theory, Grice’s Cooperative Principle, and politeness theory, the analysis demonstrates how humble-bragging operates through strategic violations of conversational maxims, particularly those of Quality and Quantity, to generate implicatures that subtly foreground personal achievements while maintaining an appearance of modesty. The findings identify two dominant forms of humble-bragging: complaint-based variants, which frame success as burden or inconvenience through negative affect language, and humility-based variants, which employ gratitude and modesty markers to present achievements as undeserved or externally attributed. Nevertheless, many posts display hybrid pragmatic features that blur the distinction between these categories, suggesting that humble-bragging functions along a broader continuum of indirect self-promotion. The study further highlights the interpretive ambiguity of humble-bragging, as its meaning relies heavily on audience inference and contextual understanding. These findings contribute to research on digital discourse, speech acts, politeness, and online self-presentation by offering a nuanced account of how users negotiate modesty and visibility in contemporary social media communication.
Ira Rozana Mohd Asri, Mohammad Hidir Baharudin, Rahmawati Mohd Yusoff, Wan Amir Azlan Wan Haniff
The post-pandemic development of legal education has strengthened the need to evaluate hybrid learning models that combine online flexibility with face-to-face legal reasoning, discussion, and advocacy training. This article presents a concise qualitative evaluation of hybrid learning in Malaysian legal education, focusing on student performance, engagement, and satisfaction. It argues that hybrid learning is most effective when asynchronous foundational learning is intentionally linked with synchronous interactive activities, rather than when online and physical components are combined passively. The study adopts a descriptive qualitative and cross-sectional design based on student and faculty feedback from Malaysian law schools, supported by selected literature on blended learning, online learning, flipped classrooms, and research design. The findings indicate that a well-designed hybrid model may support student preparation, active participation, and professional readiness; however, the study does not claim causal or long-term effects because of its qualitative and cross-sectional scope. Future research should therefore incorporate mixed-method, longitudinal, and comparative designs to strengthen generalisability and measure sustained impact on academic performance and legal skills.
Harris Kamal Kamaruddin, Mohd Syrinaz Azli, Nur Irsha Fajwah Fauzi, Siti Azilah Atan
Hydration plays a crucial role in athletic performance and overall health, yet there is a dearth of research specifically focusing on hydration status especially among female athletes in Malaysia. The primary aim of this study was to examine the pre-training hydration status and to investigate the relationship between the urine specific gravity (USG) with urine color (UC) and thirst scale (TS) in female athletes (age 21.6 ± 1.1 years). Thirty varsity athletes from various sports (n = 30, Height: 1.61 ± 6.4 m; Weight: 56.3 ± 8.5 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. Measurements of hydration biomarkers were taken prior to the training session. Urine samples were collected, and a handheld refractometer was used to assess the USG. The thirst level was measured using a 7-point TS and the UC was determined using a Urine Color Chart. The USG assessment indicates the athletes were already in dehydrated condition prior to the training session (1.028 ± 0.2). There was also a significant relationship between USG and UC (r = 0.81, P ≤ 0.05) and UC and TS (r = 0.77, P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of monitoring pre-training hydration in female athletes using practical tools applicable in sports settings. The findings strongly recommend implementing hydration strategies for female athletes to prevent dehydration and enhance athletic performance.
Gonap Elisha Gobin, Ishaku James Iko, Tsenfwa Musa Bitrus
This study was carried out in central zone of Taraba State. The Zone consist of Sardauna, Kumi, Gashaka Gassol and Bali local government areas. The data was obtained through oral interview, map out discussions and narrative in the field investigation. The study mapped out potentials and existing tourist sites. These were Donga Valley, Donga River, Barrup Water Falls, Tunga Dam, River Taraba, River Kam, River Gashaka, River Gamgam, River Yim, River Gazabu, River Suntai, River Benue, River Ndaforo, River Bele and River Bissaula. The study further identified potential rock out crops resources on the Mambilla Plateau which included Chappai Waddi, Maihula Rock Peakiv, Kungana, Fali and Bali Hills, Ngombo Hills, Mambilla Hill respectively. Also, Potential forest resources tourism sites identified were Ngel-Nyaki Forest Reserve, Kurim Forest Reserve (Ngombo). Man-made purpose-built to attract visitors/special events identified were Geograta Mini Museum, The Mambilla Highland Tea Plantation Kakara and Rural Settlements respectively. The study recommend that Government should develop sufficient political will for the development of tourism sites and concluded that tourism potentials can be developed and sustained through organization of periodic events.
Oyunbayar Garamdorj, Tumendari Sereeter
In recent years, crimes related to narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances have been escalating sharply in Mongolia, reaching a level that poses serious threats to public health, social stability, and national security. The purpose of this study is to examine the current state of drug-related crime, the factors influencing it, prevention possibilities, and international experiences. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative analysis, drawing on statistical data from 2018–2026, legal documents, government agency reports, and international research sources. The findings indicate that young people aged 18–34 are the most frequently implicated in drug-related crimes, with socioeconomic, family, and psychological factors playing a dominant role. The growing use of synthetic narcotic substances and the increase in cross-border illicit supply are also of significant concern. Accordingly, the study concludes that addressing this issue requires not only criminal sanctions but also the implementation of policies grounded in preventive education, psychological support, healthcare services, and inter-agency cooperation.
Dr. Haruna Daddau, Dr. Saifullah Aldullahi Mazadu, Hassan Alhaji Tanko, Prof. Nuraddeen Usman Miko
This study examines the impact of corporate governance mechanism on earnings management of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. The study uses quantitative research design as well as panel data for the period of seventeen years spanning from 2008 to 2024. The study utilized all fourteen listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Panel regression analysis was used and the results revealed that board independence has a negative significant effect on earnings management of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Ownership concentration has a positive significant effect on earnings management of listed deposit money banks in Nigeria. Thus, the study concluded that income smoothing in listed deposit money banks in Nigeria decreases with increase in the number of non-executive directors on the board. The study also concluded that the presentation of falsified financial reports increases when the number of shares owned by controlling shareholders increases. In line with these findings, the study recommended that regulators should review the criteria for identifying independent directors, introduce tenure limits to prevent familiarity threats, and continuously evaluate director performance, while banks should prioritize the appointment of independent directors with proven ethical standards and industry experience. The study also recommended that regulators should enforce stricter disclosure requirements, strengthen safeguards against related-party transactions, and enhance minority shareholder protection to reduce undue influence on financial reporting processes.
Abdulkabir N. Adedeji, Alhaji Bukar Mustapha, Mohammed Dahiru Madawaki
The role of entrepreneurship in creating social value beyond profit motive has been widely explored, and its potential for peace restoration in post-conflict settings has gained increasing attention in recent years. This study examines the impact of entrepreneurial opportunity and participation on peace restoration in Northeast Nigeria. The study utilizes primary data collected from 3,768 respondents across nine major markets in Borno, Adamawa, and Yobe states, with 3,526 valid responses used for analysis, representing 93.6% response rate. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was applied for the analysis. The findings revealed that entrepreneurship has a positive and statistically significant effect on peace restoration, although the magnitude of direct effect is relatively weak. The results further show that entrepreneurial necessity, entrepreneurial opportunity, and demographic characteristics significantly influence entrepreneurial participation, with demographic factors exerting the highest direct effect (0.734). The study recommends integrated interventions that combine entrepreneurship development, peacebuilding, psychosocial support, anti-indoctrination strategies, and institutional strengthening to achieve sustainable recovery and stability in the region.
Cristhine Joy B. Mondido, Felinita III R. Doronio, PhD
This study investigated the relationship of parental involvement, teachers’ pedagogical practices, and the academic performance of Grade 6 learners in Singanan Elementary School, San Andres Elementary School, and San Marcos Elementary School in Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. A descriptive correlational research design was employed, and data were gathered through adapted survey questionnaires administered to the selected 127 Grade 6 students using a universal sampling approach. Results showed that parental involvement was generally high, with very high parental expectations, while school-based involvement had a lower mean among the indicators. Teachers’ pedagogical practices got the highest mean and were perceived as very high in terms of teaching quality and clear lesson delivery. Students’ academic performance indicators were likewise rated very high, with the highest mean for teaching methods and attendance. Correlational analysis revealed a small but significant relationship between parental involvement and academic performance, whereas the relationship between pedagogical practices and academic performance was not significant. The R-squared values from the regression analyses indicate that parental involvement explains approximately 7.3% of the variance in academic performance, while pedagogical practice variables account for about 13.5%, suggesting that although these factors are meaningful contributors, a substantial proportion of learners’ achievement is influenced by other factors not captured in the model. These results suggested that students’ achievement was most positively associated with parents’ clear academic expectations and with teachers’ timely, responsive feedback, indicating the complementary roles of home expectations and classroom feedback in supporting learner performance.
Miriam Gathoni Mwangi
Parents can have an impact on their children's emotional health through established patterns of parental control known as parenting styles. Parents' actions shape their children's personalities in this emotional environment, which in turn affects how well they succeed academically in school. The study's overall goal was to determine the impact of parenting styles on emotional well-being among undergraduate students in selected Universities in Nairobi, Kenya. The specific objectives were; to identify the parenting styles among parents of undergraduate students in selected universities in Kenya, to determine the level of emotional well-being among undergraduate students in selected universities in Kenya, to establish the relationship between parenting styles and emotional well-being among undergraduate students in selected universities in Kenya, and to determine the intervention. The Attachment Theory and Baumrind's Pillar Theory served as guides for the investigation. This study employed a correlation research design. The target population was 100,060 undergraduate students of three selected public universities in Nairobi County. These are: University of Nairobi, Kenyatta University, and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT). The sample size was 156 respondents. The Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ) was used to gather main data on parenting styles, while the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale was used to obtain data on emotional wellbeing. SPSS version 29 was used to analyze the quantitative data and determine the mean, standard deviation, and percentages of the dataset. The results were presented as tables, frequencies, and percentages. Regression analysis was applied to determine the relationship between parenting styles and emotional wellbeing. Results showed that authoritative parenting was the most dominant parenting style (M=4.21), followed by permissive parenting style (M=4.16), while authoritarian parenting (M=1.91) and neglectful parenting (M=1.89) were the least practiced. Majority (77%) of respondents reported high levels of mental wellbeing, while 23% fell within the moderate mental wellbeing range. The overall regression model was statistically significant, F (4, 129) = 2.919, p = .024. Neglectful parenting style emerged as a statistically significant predictor of emotional wellbeing (=-1.616, t = -2.743, p <.05). Only neglectful parenting style adversely affected the mental wellbeing of the students, while the other parental styles had no significant effect. Interventions to enhance the emotional wellbeing of university students should focus on promoting sustained parental engagement characterized by warmth, guidance, and emotional availability, even as students transition into adulthood. Programs that encourage parents to maintain supportive communication without being intrusive can help reinforce students' sense of security and self-worth. Family therapists working with university students should integrate parenting style assessments into their sessions, especially for clients struggling with emotional issues. From a policy perspective, education stakeholders should implement structured mental health initiatives at the university level that recognize the shifting parental roles in young adulthood. Another study should be conducted among students of private universities in order to confirm or refute the findings.
Mercy W. Munene
Modern higher education curricula place a strong emphasis on digital innovation and creative risk-taking to prepare students for the demands of the global media industry. However, evaluating student output based solely on intrinsic capability often overlooks the critical variable of institutional infrastructure. The study counters the existing pedagogical deficit model, which often blames the lower fidelity of student media output in developing institutional settings on the absence of intrinsic motivation or underlying competence. This study uses a parallel mixed-methods design, triangulating self-assessment measures of quantitative data with environmental realities of qualitative data on digital media students (N = 31) at Kabarak University, Kenya. Quantitative data indicates the strong background of creative self-efficacy, as 71.0% of students mentioned that they had the necessary skills to develop professional content, and 67.7% of students are engaged in the exploration of new methods of storytelling. Nevertheless, qualitative thematic analysis shows that harsh realities in the environment, namely acute shortages of hardware and network instability (mentioned by 63.6% of participants), systematically undermine these intentions. As a result, this paper presents the notion of theoretical creativity: a phenomenon where students have the cognitive imagination to be creative but do not have the physical affordances to implement, and are forced to routinely demote the complex projects. The findings indicate that navigating this second-level digital divide reduces the educational experience from creative problem-solving to logistical survival. The study concludes that relying on student "forced resilience" is pedagogically unsustainable; institutions must reclassify high-performance digital infrastructure from peripheral administrative overhead to a mandatory core pedagogical requirement.
Dr. Thulasi B V
Salary transparency has emerged as a critical dimension of modern human resource management, with organisations increasingly adopting open pay practices to foster fairness, trust, and employee engagement. This study examines the impact of salary transparency on employee job satisfaction and organisational retention in private sector organisations in India. A mixed-methods research design was employed, combining a structured survey of 320 employees across IT, banking, and manufacturing sectors with in-depth interviews of 18 HR managers. Findings reveal a statistically significant positive relationship between perceived pay transparency and employee satisfaction (r = 0.67, p < 0.01). Regression analysis indicates that salary transparency accounts for 44.9% of variance in job satisfaction scores. Furthermore, organisations with formal pay transparency policies reported a 23% lower voluntary turnover rate compared to those without. The study also identifies trust in management, perceived pay equity, and organisational communication quality as key mediating variables. Recommendations for HR practitioners include the phased adoption of pay band disclosure, structured communication frameworks, and equity audits. This paper contributes to the growing body of HRM literature on compensation justice and provides actionable insights for private sector organisations seeking to improve workforce retention through transparent remuneration practices.
Azraf Hossain Afif, Md. A Aim, Sheikh Anwar Hossain
This article explains the impacts of science, technology, and innovation on the national sovereignty of underdeveloped & developing countries. Science, technology and innovation are the root of informed decision-making in digital sovereignty matters. Technology and innovation have been changing rapidly in all industrial sectors. Economic productivity depends on technology, implying that a country needs an up-to-date, technologically skilled workforce to keep pace with other countries' productivity rates. In this digitalized era, economic and political power depends upon technological skills, especially on digital technology. Nowadays, sovereignty means maintaining control over technologies crucial to industrial transformation and competitiveness in the international market. Modern national sovereignty depends primarily on technological power and intellectual capacity, as well as on interdependence with other nations, while maintaining the phenomenon of independence. The loss of data sovereignty implies significant risks to national security and autonomy. The findings of this research are that education is a strategic instrument for a country's sovereignty to motivate intellectuals and human resources. Emphasise should be given on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education for increasing innovation capability, building a skilled workforce, reducing foreign dependency, and strengthening national sovereignty. Curriculum policy at every level of education should be updated to adjust the changing technology. Science, technology, and innovation are shaping the economic and political power of nations.
Lawrence O. Odeh, Ph.D., Maria Oyedeji, Ph.D.
The trend of electoral contests in Nigeria is characterized by moneybags and godfatherism syndrome; influencing the electoral victory of their favoured candidates, through acts that circumvent due process of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). Illicit acts, such as vote buying, bribery, and other financial inducements by politicians, including inducement of security agents, electoral officers, and civil society groups have become major features of most elections conducted in Nigeria, since the commencement of democratic rule in 1999. It is in this regard that this article examined as its main objective the implementations, issues and opportunities of electoral laws in Nigeria. While its specific objectives are to: examine the relationship between Nigeria’s Constitutional provisions and electoral integrity; determine the relationship between Electoral Act 2022 and credible elections in Nigeria; and assess the effect of the Nigeria Police Act of 2020 on peaceful conduct of elections in Nigeria, among others. The study utilises qualitative research design, and adopted the secondary method of data collection, which relies on the use of text books, government documents and publications, academic journal articles, internet sources, and so on. The obtained data were analyzed through the adoption of textual and thematic analysis. Findings from the study showed that the poor implementation of Nigeria’s Electoral laws is the bane of credible elections and good governance in the country. Several policy recommendations were advanced towards mitigating the challenges of electoral democracy in Nigeria, such as enactment of a new legislation that would no longer make the President of Nigeria the appointing authority of the Chairman of INEC and other officials, rather, a competitive process that would be piloted by the National Judicial Commission, and the National Assembly should be put in place for the emergence of the countries’ electoral umpire, among others.
Soo Kum Yoke, Tuan Sarifah Aini Syed Ahmad, Zhang Yaqiu
Pronunciation is an important component of communication and plays a crucial part in learners’ intelligibility, confidence, and willingness to speak in English. However, many English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learners continue to face challenges in pronunciation despite having adequate knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of a face-to-face Pronunciation Enhancement Program conducted for English major students in a university in China. The study employed a mixed-methods research design by integrating quantitative and qualitative data to obtain a comprehensive understanding of participants’ perceptions of the program. The participants consisted of undergraduate English majors from different semesters. The intervention was implemented in a special English pronunciation program involving interactive pronunciation activities, guided speaking tasks, instructor modeling, and corrective feedback. Quantitative data were collected using a Likert-scale questionnaire, while qualitative data were obtained through open-ended written responses. The findings revealed that participants responded positively to the program. The quantitative results showed high levels of satisfaction, perceived usefulness, increased confidence, and motivation to continue improving pronunciation. The qualitative results further supported these findings, with students frequently reporting improved pronunciation accuracy, clearer speech, enhanced confidence in speaking English, enjoyable learning experiences, helpful feedback, and vocabulary gains. Thus, even though the pronunciation program was short, it was found to provide meaningful, immediate benefits when delivered through structured, engaging face-to-face instruction. The findings suggest that supplementary pronunciation-enhancement initiatives may be valuable in higher education settings to support the development of oral communication among EFL learners. The study contributes to the growing body of research on pronunciation pedagogy and offers practical implications for language educators seeking to strengthen students’ speaking competence.
Gladys S. Escarlos, Jona Jane S. Tañajura
This systematic review examines the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Program established under Republic Act No. 12028 as the Philippines’ flagship response to severe post‑pandemic learning losses in foundational literacy and numeracy. Guided by sociocultural and social constructivist perspectives, the review interrogates ARAL’s theoretical foundations, formulation rationale, implementation strategies, monitoring mechanisms, and contextual influences across geographic, socio‑economic, and governance settings. A PRISMA‑ScR‑informed search of 2019–2026 peer‑reviewed and grey literature, Department of Education (DepEd) issuances, and EDCOM II reports identified studies and policy documents on ARAL’s school‑level tracking tools, hybrid delivery models, and adaptive leadership practices.
Andrews Agbesi Gadzekpo, Ebenezer Afrane, Francis Kwesi Bondinuba, Naana Amakie Boakye-Agyeman, Oti Amankwah
In Ghana, Corporate Real Estate Management has not been aligned with organizational strategy, resulting in missed opportunities to create value and competitive advantage, even though it has significant potential to enhance performance. This paper seeks to explore the alignment between Corporate Real Estate Management and organizational strategy in Ghana, and to evaluate the impact of strategic integration on performance, competitiveness, and value creation across sectors. The semi-structured interviews with twelve (12) senior managers and professionals in the banking, telecommunications, manufacturing, higher education, and public institutions were conducted using an interpretivist paradigm and a qualitative design. NVivo was used to thematically analyze data to investigate cognitive, cultural, and institutional issues that influence the practice of Corporate Real Estate Management. Corporate Real Estate Management is becoming a strategic enabler and not a cost center in Ghanaian organizations. Results indicate an increasing incorporation of Corporate Real Estate Management into corporate strategy through governance, data-driven performance systems, and life-cycle planning. Nevertheless, institutional barriers, procurement inertia, fragmented governance, and skill gaps inhibit full strategic alignment, particularly in government institutions. It is interesting to note that this research situates the global theories of Corporate Real Estate Management, namely the Resource-Based View, Contingency Theory, and Transaction Cost Economics, in a developing-economy context, thereby extending the strategic management discourse to the specifics of African institutions.
Dr. Aprell L. Abellana, Rica G. Nuñez
This study examined how organizational climate and leadership style influence the efficacy of public-school teachers in Pangantucan, Bukidnon during School Year 2025–2026. Employing a quantitative descriptive-correlational design, data were collected through a validated survey instrument and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. Findings revealed that teachers perceive their schools as highly supportive environments. The organizational climate was rated very high in both organizational (M = 4.57) and academic (M = 4.52) dimensions, while collaborative (M = 4.40) and rational (M = 4.38) aspects were rated high. Leadership style was also viewed positively, with transformational leadership (M = 4.55) emerging as the most effective, transactional leadership (M = 3.73) moderately valued, and laissez-faire leadership (M = 2.89) considered weak. Teacher efficacy was rated very high overall (M = 4.55), particularly in classroom management, instructional strategies, and student engagement, though family engagement was slightly lower. Correlation analysis highlighted that collaborative climate had a significant positive relationship with teacher efficacy (r = 1.000, p = .000), underscoring the importance of teamwork and collegial support. Regression analysis further identified transformational leadership as the strongest positive predictor of teacher efficacy, while organizational and collaborative climates showed weaker or negative coefficients when considered independently. Overall, the results emphasize that teacher efficacy thrives when inspirational leadership is paired with a supportive and collaborative environment. Grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, the study underscores the importance of visionary leadership and participative governance in sustaining teacher motivation and performance. These findings carry particular weight in the Philippine public-school context, were limited resources and heavy workloads challenge teachers daily. By fostering strong leadership and supportive climates, schools can empower teachers to remain confident, resilient, and effective in shaping student success.
Gladys S. Escarlos, Noralyn P. Ronolo
Bullying persists as a critical challenge in Philippine public schools, undermining student well-being and learning, particularly in regions like Malaybalay City Division where localized data shows high incidence rates. This study examines how parental involvement, school policies, and teacher interventions can reduce these incidents while advancing lifelong learning and under DepEd's MATATAG agenda.
Abubakar Musa Tafida, Nalah Augustine Bala, Ogazi Alphonsius Chukwudi
The involvement of youth in acts of criminality is without doubt a source of serious concern and worry among parents, would be parents, government, educational institutions, law enforcement agencies and indeed society at large who are the major victims of criminal attacks. The study aims to investigate the influence of personality traits and parenting styles on perceived criminal behaviour among youths in Abuja, Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 384 youth aged 18–45 years selected through purposive sampling techniques. Three standardized instruments include the Big Five Personality Inventory (BFFI), Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ), and Criminal Behaviour Scale (CBS) were used to measure personality traits, parenting styles and criminal behaviour among youth in Abuja, Nigeria. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and multiple regression analysis at a 0.05 level of significance. Findings revealed that the authoritarian (r = .14) and permissive parenting styles (r = .22) were positively significantly related to criminal behaviour (r = .15). However, the authoritative parenting style establishes no significant relationship with criminal behaviour (r = -.12). Also, neuroticism (β = -.038, t= -2.523) and agreeableness (β=-.203; t=-4.052) personality traits made significant positive contribution to the influence of criminal behaviour among youth in Abuja. However, openness (β = .793, t = 14.822), conscientiousness (β=.276, t=5.645), and extraversion (β = .285, t = 6.445) personality traits have demonstrated statistically significant negative influence on criminal behaviour. It indicated that conscientiousness and extraversion personality trait had less chances of engaging in criminal behaviour. The study concludes that these insights are essential for developing targeted interventions and policies to mitigate the influence of personality traits and parenting styles on criminal behaviour among youth in Abuja, Nigeria. It recommends that the government should establish psychology departments and employ the services of trained and certified Psychologists across local, state and federal parastatals especially ministries of education, youth and development, and social welfare. They will provide psychological therapy and guidance to both parents, adults, and children.
Belleza, Saramie S., Niñal, Cleofe D.
This study investigated the effect of physical literacy and motivation on physical activity involvement of Physical Activity Towards Health and Fitness (PATHFIT) students in Davao de Oro, Philippines, in college students. The study used a quantitative, non-experimental correlational design, anchored on Self-Determination Theory (Deci & Ryan, 2002) and the student engagement framework of Fredricks et al. (2003). A total of 363 students in 3 higher education institutions were randomly selected for the study across the 2 PATHFIT courses (PATHFIT 2 and PATHFIT 4). Validated and adapted questionnaires were used to gather data regarding physical literacy, physical activity motivation and engagement. The data was analyzed by the mean, Pearson product-moment correlation and multiple regression analysis. Students had a high level of physical literacy (M = 4.14), very high level of motivation (M = 4.27) and high level of engagement in physical activities (M = 4.11). Physical literacy and physical motivation were both significantly related to engagement. Physical literacy accounted for 52.8% of the variance in engagement, with understanding being the strongest domain (β = 0.432). The variance explained by motivation was 64.9%, which was more than the variance explained by the other factors. In terms of all dimensions, intrinsic motivation proved to be the most significant factor for engagement in physical activities (β = 0.427, p < .001). Results indicated that enjoyment, interest, and internal satisfaction were the most important factors that maintained students' active involvement with PATHFIT and encouraged lifelong health and fitness.
Beverly B. Vitualla, Felinita III R. Doronio
This study aimed to determine the influence of multicultural awareness and competence on culturally responsive teaching readiness of teachers at Bunawan District Elementary Schools, Bunawan, Agusan del Sur. The research employed a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design, utilizing a survey questionnaire as the primary data-gathering tool. The respondents were the 121 teachers from the five responding schools. They were chosen using universal sample technique. The data collected were analyzed using statistical methods such as mean, Pearson r, and multiple regression analysis. The results showed that teachers consistently exhibited multicultural awareness, both in terms of self-awareness and cultural awareness. Moreover, the multicultural competence in terms of knowledge was always demonstrated, while the dimensions, skills, and recognition were often demonstrated. Likewise, the culturally responsive teaching readiness in terms of personal readiness was always practiced, while professional readiness was often practiced. Furthermore, both multicultural awareness and competence have a significant relationship with culturally responsive teaching readiness. Moreover, the dimension of multicultural awareness, namely cultural awareness, significantly predicts culturally responsive teaching readiness. Meanwhile, the dimensions of multicultural competence, skill, and recognition were the significant predictors of culturally responsive teaching. These results highlight the essential role of teachers' awareness and competence in fostering a high level of readiness to integrate culturally responsive teaching strategies with the students.
Christopher Asuncion L. Arcay, MS, Danica Alesna Jamilo
This study examined the influence of teachers’ teaching and human skills on the research writing interest of fourth-year college students at Trinidad Municipal College in research writing for the 2024–2025 academic year. Underpinned by Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory, Vygotsky's Zone of Proximal Development, and Krashen's Affective Filter Hypothesis, it investigated how teaching approaches, command of strategies, and teacher-student relations influence students' interest in research writing. It used the cross-sectional explanatory design by a researcher-developed questionnaire and the standardized Academic Writing Motivation Questionnaire (AWMQ) to collect student data via purposive sampling. Descriptive statistics and Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that facilitative teaching style was the most frequently applied among research teachers, even though the teaching styles had little impact on the students' interest in research writing. Teachers' ability to master teaching techniques and the teacher-student relationship positively influenced students' interest levels. Students who rated their teachers highly competent and full exhibited higher motivation and engagement in research writing. These results highlighted the value of pedagogic knowledge and interpersonal relationships in inspiring students to advance their research competencies. The research confirmed that teaching style does not tend to affect interest directly. Still, mastering effective strategies and developing teacher-student relationships are central to generating academic interest, especially in research. Findings of this research can help educational institutions, administrators, and instructors design better instructional and relational strategies for enhancing research writing motivation. Additionally, it encouraged future researchers to explore further variables affecting student interest and performance in academic writing.
Lizzanne Kate B. Padilla
This study explored how innovative instructional practices and leadership initiatives contribute to improving learners’ reading comprehension. It focused on the experiences and perspectives of Junior High School English teachers in a school within the Division of Bukidnon, particularly in implementing reading strategies and programs aligned with institutional goals. The research employed a qualitative design using a hermeneutical approach, which emphasizes interpreting the deeper meanings behind participants’ experiences and interactions. A purposive sampling technique was used to select key informants, specifically Junior High School English teachers. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and insights. Findings revealed three major themes: Strategic Prioritization of Reading, Systematic Instructional Governance, and Enabling and Supportive Leadership Culture. These themes highlight the importance of structured planning, coordinated instructional support, and a positive leadership environment in promoting effective reading instruction. Despite challenges such as limited resources, time constraints, and diverse learner needs, the study found that the collaborative efforts of teachers and school leaders significantly enhance reading comprehension outcomes. The use of innovative teaching strategies, contextualized learning materials, and collaborative practices was shown to improve learner engagement and deepen understanding. In conclusion, fostering reading success requires a strong partnership between teacher innovation and supportive school leadership. The study recommends strengthening instructional supervision, promoting continuous professional development, and ensuring adequate resource provision to sustain effective reading programs and improve overall literacy outcomes among learners.
Fadhiri Ayubu Zumba, Patrick Joyfrey simkoko, Salumu Athumani Ally, Theophil Lucius Kayombo
Monitoring and Evaluation systems play a critical role in measuring the performance of government projects in Tanzania. This study assesses the institutional factors influencing the performance of M&E systems in government projects, a case of honey projects in Kongwa District, Tanzania. This research includes key institutional factors such as organisational support, technical expertise, communication, budget allocation, management commitment, financial availability, and stakeholder involvement in shaping the performance of M&E systems. A mixed-methods approach was adopted qualitative and quantitative data collection tools were conducted through structured interviews by using a questionnaire with respondents including 67 respondents. The findings reveal that organisational support, technical expertise, communication, budget allocation, management commitment, financial availability, and stakeholder involvement were significantly (p>0.05) impacted by M&E system efficiency. The study concludes that strengthening M&E capacity through targeted training, increased resource allocation, and enhanced stakeholder collaboration is essential for improving M&E effectiveness. This study Recommended that adopting technology-driven solutions, fostering a culture of learning within NGOs, and ensuring alignment between M&E practices and organisational objectives. NGO leaders and development practitioners are seeking to enhance the role of M&E in project implementation and impact assessment.
Hanzel C. Salva
This study examined the relationship between instructional practices and self-efficacy among elementary school teachers in Marilog District. It aimed to determine how everyday classroom practices influence teachers’ professional confidence, particularly in remote and geographically challenged contexts, and to identify which instructional domains most strongly support teachers’ belief in their capability to plan lessons, engage learners, and manage inclusive classrooms. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed, focusing on instructional practices in planning and preparation, instructional delivery and strategies, assessment for learning and feedback, and learning environment and classroom management. Self-efficacy was measured in instructional design and differentiation, delivery and learner engagement, and classroom management and inclusive climate. Data analysis revealed that both instructional practices and self-efficacy were generally manifested at moderate levels, indicating that teachers demonstrated essential classroom competencies but required sustained support in selected areas. A meaningful positive relationship between instructional practices and self-efficacy was identified, suggesting that stronger classroom practices were associated with higher teacher confidence. The findings highlight the importance of data-driven technical assistance, targeted coaching, and responsive Learning Action Cell sessions to enhance instructional quality and teacher efficacy in Marilog District, Davao City.
Hannah T. Talabucon
This study explores the influence of instrumental and integrative motivation on student engagement, drawing from the lived experiences of Grade Five teachers recognized for teaching excellence, to address the gap in understanding how these orientations shape classroom dynamics in elementary education. The primary objective is to identify how instrumental motivation such as goal-oriented rewards like academic achievement and integrative motivation fostering cultural and personal connections impact engagement levels. Grounded in a qualitative phenomenological approach, the research examined teachers’ perspectives on the challenges, strategies, and perceived impacts of fostering different motivational orientations in the classroom. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis to identify key patterns related to behavioral, emotional, and cognitive engagement. Findings revealed that instrumental motivation, driven by practical goals such as academic achievement and future opportunities, promotes consistent behavioral engagement, including task completion and participation in structured activities. In contrast, integrative motivation, characterized by learners’ desire to connect with cultures and communicate meaningfully, fosters deeper cognitive and emotional engagement, enhancing curiosity, intrinsic interest, and sustained involvement in learning tasks. Teachers addressed these challenges through adaptive and learner-centered approaches such as culturally relevant activities, collaborative group work, goal-oriented tasks, and personalized feedback. The findings highlight that the integration of both instrumental and integrative motivation creates a more balanced and meaningful learning experience, leading to improved participation, persistence, and learning outcomes. The study concludes that fostering dual motivational orientations, supported by responsive instructional practices and conducive learning environments.
Prathana Patgiri
Teacher education is considered as an important aspect as it plays a vital role in the improvement of the quality of education and for preparing competent teachers for addressing the changing needs and demands of the learners and the society. As the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has introduced the Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) as one of the major reform in teacher education, that aims in integration of pedagogy, subject knowledge, and professional training through a four-year integrated programme. NEP 2020 therefore emphasizes on the need for high-quality teacher education in order to improve educational outcomes and advocating for a more holistic and integrated approach. The present study focuses mainly on understanding the perceptions of B.Ed student-teachers towards the implementation of the ITEP programme. The study specifically explores awareness of student-teachers’ towards ITEP programme, perceived benefits of the programme, and challenges faced during its implementation. The study also highlights that student-teachers perceive this programme as a progressive initiative which promotes professional competence, critical thinking, and holistic teacher preparation. However, challenges related to inadequate infrastructure, heavy workload, lack of institutional support, limited practical exposure, and challenges in adapting to the multidisciplinary curriculum were also examined. Therefore, it is important in understanding these perceptions for evaluation of the effectiveness of the programme. The findings of the study can help the policymakers, teacher educators, and institutions in strengthening the implementation of ITEP.
Kanagarajan a/l Pandiyan, Nadarajan Thambu Ph.D
The effective inculcation of moral values remains a persistent challenge in Malaysian secondary schools, as Moral Education instruction often textbook centred and teacher directed approaches that limit students’ engagement and internalisation of values. In line with national aspirations for holistic and values-driven education, there is a growing need to explore creative pedagogical practices that meaningfully connect moral concepts with students lived experiences. This qualitative study examines the use of Shadow Puppetry as a creative and interactive pedagogical approach to impart values embedded in the Moral Education textbook. Drawing on semi-structured interviews, classroom observations, and teachers’ journal writings, the study employs thematic analysis to explore participants’ experiences. This article reports findings from a larger qualitative inquiry, focusing specifically on one overarching theme creative interactive pedagogy, with emphasis on the subtheme Shadow Puppetry as a medium for value internalisation. The findings indicate that Shadow Puppetry promotes active participation, emotional engagement, collaborative learning, and contextual understanding of moral values. The study highlights the pedagogical potential of culturally grounded creative arts in strengthening Moral Education practices and contributes to ongoing discussions on innovative, student centred approaches to values education in Malaysia.
Dr. Acheseinimie Gloria Tamunopekerebia, Dr. Idoh Famous Mda-Asira, Dr. Otto Dorcas Ilode
Nigeria is one of the most religiously diverse countries in Africa, characterized by the presence of Christianity, Islam, and African Traditional Religion. While this diversity has enriched the cultural and spiritual life of the nation, it has also contributed to recurring tensions and conflicts arising from intolerance, political manipulation of religion, and socio-economic disparities. In recent decades, religious conflicts have threatened national unity, social stability, and sustainable development. This study examines interfaith dialogue as a viable pathway for fostering peaceful coexistence in Nigeria. Using a philosophical and analytical approach, the paper explores the meaning and significance of interfaith dialogue and its potential role in promoting mutual understanding, tolerance, and cooperation among adherents of different religious traditions. The study argues that dialogue encourages openness, respect for religious differences, and recognition of shared human values such as dignity, justice, and compassion. It further highlights the contributions of faith-based organizations, community leaders, and national platforms in promoting interreligious engagement and peacebuilding initiatives. However, the paper also identifies several challenges that hinder effective dialogue, including religious extremism, mistrust among religious communities, political interference, and inadequate institutional support. To address these challenges, the study recommends strengthening interfaith education, promoting grassroots dialogue initiatives, and encouraging collaborative efforts between religious leaders, civil society organizations, and government institutions. The paper concludes that sustained interfaith dialogue remains an essential instrument for mitigating religious conflicts and building a culture of tolerance, social harmony, and national integration in Nigeria.
Jubril Abdulahi Salaudeen Ph.D
This study has investigated the deployment of takaful for farmers in flood- and drought-prone regions in Nigeria. The study used a quantitative research design with cross-sectional survey data from smallholder farmers in some climate-prone zones. The results of agricultural losses were modelled as a dependent variable, with participation in Takaful and farm and farmer characteristics as independent variables, using descriptive statistics, tests of means, and multiple regression. It was found that farmers with Takaful schemes experienced a much lower proportion of crop loss than those who were not insured. Regression estimates revealed that Takaful insurance minimised the severity of agricultural losses, holding constant farm size, farming experience, access to extension services, and the region’s climatic exposure. The results provided empirical evidence that Takaful insurance increased farmers’ ability to absorb climate shocks and stabilise their outcomes after disasters. The research found that Takaful insurance is a suitable risk management instrument for agricultural flood and drought losses in Nigeria. The policy initiatives to enhance climate resilience should thus incorporate agricultural Takaful within the broader adaptive and rural finance policies.
Alina Shamsuddin, Nurhayati Kamarudin, Wirda Syaheera Mohd Sulaiman
The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) technology has emerged as a transformative approach to enhancing sustainability, efficiency, and value creation across agricultural supply chains. Growing global food demand, increasing environmental concerns, climate variability, and resource constraints have intensified the need for innovative technologies that can support sustainable agricultural practices from production to distribution. IoT technologies, including sensors, RFID systems, wireless communication networks, and real-time monitoring platforms, enable seamless data collection, analysis, and information sharing throughout the agricultural supply chain. These capabilities contribute to improved traceability, operational efficiency, resource optimization, and decision-making, ultimately creating value from seed to shelf. This study investigates the critical success factors influencing IoT integration in sustainable agricultural supply chains and examines their contribution to end-to-end value creation. Specifically, the research aims to identify the key factors that facilitate successful IoT implementation and evaluate the relationships between these factors and IoT integration outcomes. A quantitative research approach was adopted using a structured questionnaire distributed to stakeholders involved in agricultural supply chain activities. Data were collected from 196 randomly selected respondents and analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Descriptive analysis, Pearson’s correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis were employed to assess the significance and impact of the identified success factors. The findings reveal that operational efficiency is the most influential factor supporting successful IoT integration within sustainable agricultural supply chains. Furthermore, product maximization and accurate data analytics demonstrate significant positive relationships with IoT integration and end-to-end value creation. In contrast, cost reduction and waste minimization were found to have limited direct influence on IoT integration outcomes. The study highlights the importance of data-driven decision-making, supply chain visibility, and operational effectiveness in maximizing the benefits of IoT technologies across agricultural supply networks. In conclusion, IoT integration plays a pivotal role in fostering sustainable agricultural supply chains by enhancing productivity, traceability, and value creation throughout the entire supply chain. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers, agricultural practitioners, supply chain managers, and researchers seeking to leverage IoT technologies to achieve sustainable agricultural development and improve food security in an increasingly complex global environment.
Azahari Salleh, Maizatul Alice Meor Said, Mohamad Harris Misran, Najmiah Radiah Mohamad, Nik Mohd Zarifie Hashim, Nor Asikin Shaharuddin
Pediatric vehicular safety is a significant public health and social welfare issue, involving the appropriate use of child restraint systems, the prevention of vehicular asphyxiation and entrapment, and the societal integration of intelligent monitoring technology. This analysis examines problems related to child safety restraint compliance, new detection methods based on the Internet of Things (IoT), and their wider legislative implications and societal effects. Notwithstanding extensive legislative initiatives and public health campaigns over the decades, adherence to child restraint systems is strikingly inadequate, with alarmingly high misuse rates across multiple studies indicative of entrenched social, behavioral, and educational obstacles. Simultaneously, pediatric vehicular asphyxiation continues to claim young lives annually across tropical and high-temperature regions worldwide, with respiratory failure due to oxygen deprivation and carbon dioxide buildup recognized as the principal cause of death, contrary to the prevalent assumption of heat stroke.
Dheen Muhammedh Subaideen
Contemporary global humanitarian crises characterized by armed conflict, forced displacement, pandemics, environmental degradation, and structural poverty have renewed scholarly attention to the ethical foundations of humanitarian action. While modern humanitarianism is often articulated through secular and universal frameworks, the role of religion remains both significant and insufficiently theorized within dominant academic and policy discourses. This article offers a normative–conceptual analysis of Islamic humanitarian ethics, examining how Islamic moral philosophy conceptualizes humanitarian obligation and institutionalizes responses to human vulnerability. Drawing upon Qur’anic ethics, Prophetic traditions, and classical Islamic jurisprudence, the study argues that Islam provides a morally structured framework of humanitarian responsibility, grounded in accountability (ḥisāb), intention (niyyah), human dignity (karāmah), and collective obligation (farḍ kifāyah). Using qualitative content analysis of primary Islamic sources and contemporary humanitarian scholarship, the article explores how ethical imperatives are operationalized through institutional mechanisms such as zakāt, waqf, and ṣadaqah. Rather than claiming exclusivity, the study situates Islamic humanitarian ethics alongside broader humanitarian traditions, demonstrating both areas of convergence such as dignity and impartiality and distinctive contributions, particularly in linking moral intention with institutional sustainability. The article also critically examines contemporary challenges faced by Islamic humanitarian actors, including politicization of aid, regulatory constraints, professionalization pressures, and persistent misperceptions. It argues that these challenges are not inherent to Islamic humanitarianism but emerge from broader structural dynamics within global humanitarian governance. By integrating ethical theory with institutional analysis, this study contributes to interdisciplinary scholarship on religion and humanitarianism and highlights the relevance of Islamic ethical frameworks for navigating complex humanitarian crises in pluralistic global contexts.
Ahmad Faris Naqiyuddin Mohd Ghazi, Harliana Halim, Nazreena Mohammed Yasin, Norhaslinda Jamaluddin, Nur Afieqah Mamud
The global halal industry has expanded from food into pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, tourism, finance and logistics, creating significant opportunities for inclusive development and regional cooperation. Yet its growth remains constrained by institutional fragmentation and perception-based barriers that affect certification credibility, cross-border market access and consumer trust. Responding to reviewer concerns on methodological clarity, uneven geographic coverage and insufficient evidence in the earlier manuscript, this revised qualitative study repositions the paper as a documentary and contemporary historical analysis with comparative case logic. Malaysia and Indonesia are treated as core Muslim-majority regulatory contexts, while Brunei, Thailand and Singapore are used as ASEAN comparators and Australia, France and South Korea as illustrative Muslim-minority or external market contexts. The study differentiates Islamophobia into three analytical forms: state-level legislative restrictions in non-Muslim-majority settings, corporate or market-level bias in global trade, and intra-Muslim or post-colonial identity contestation in Muslim-majority settings. Thematic analysis of secondary sources generated five themes: certification and supply-chain fragmentation, regulatory inconsistency, limited mutual recognition, differentiated Islamophobia and trust deficits, and constrained inclusive development. The findings show that institutional weaknesses and negative perceptions operate in a mutually reinforcing cycle. Weak harmonization increases cost and uncertainty, while Islamophobic narratives or identity-based resistance can delegitimize halal certification and reduce political will for reform. The article proposes a concrete ASEAN-OIC halal interoperability roadmap based on equivalence mapping, risk-based mutual recognition, joint accreditation, digital traceability and culturally competent public communication. It concludes that the halal industry should not be framed only as a religious or commercial sector, but as a strategic space where standards, trust and cooperation must be aligned to support equitable regional growth.
Leonard M. Simushi
This study examines the association between household economic conditions and children’s educational outcomes in the Otjiwarongo District of Namibia, with particular emphasis on grade progression. The study employed a convergent mixed-methods design involving a quantitative survey of 159 mothers, complemented by semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Spearman’s rank-order correlations, and ordinal logistic regression, while qualitative data were analysed through thematic analysis. Findings indicate that household income, maternal educational attainment, household composition, and mothers’ economic empowerment are significantly associated with children’s grade progression. Children from high-income households showed greater odds of being in advanced grade categories relative to children from low-income households (OR = 3.12, p = 0.008), while maternal tertiary education was positively associated with higher grade placement (OR = 2.12, p = 0.029). Conversely, an increase in the number of school-age children within households was associated with reduced odds of higher grade progression (OR = 0.74, p = 0.044). The Mothers’ Economic Empowerment (MEE) Index remained independently associated with grade progression after adjusting for socioeconomic covariates (OR = 1.42, p = 0.040). Regression diagnostic tests indicated acceptable model adequacy, including satisfactory multicollinearity thresholds and no significant violation of the proportional odds assumption. Qualitative findings further contextualised the statistical associations by illustrating how income insecurity, informal employment, debt burdens, and economic shocks shape educational participation and continuity. Rather than demonstrating direct causal effects, the findings highlight important socioeconomic associations that contribute to educational inequalities within the Namibian context. The study situates these findings within broader African debates on educational inequality, poverty, gendered economic vulnerability, and household resource distribution.
Luu Van Nghi, Thach Thi Sa Phia, Tran Thi Thanh Nghiep
This paper investigates the syntactic architecture of Khmer Noun Phrases (NPs) within high registers, specifically focusing on administrative texts (rɪɜc kriːt - Royal Decrees) and academic discourse (at tʰaː bɔt β̞i tʰjɪɛ kaː - Scientific Articles). Utilizing the X-bar Theory framework and the Determiner Phrase (DP) Hypothesis, this study addresses the typological challenges posed by Khmer's strict head-initial nature versus its distinctive surface linear word order: [Noun - Adjective - Numeral - Classifier - Demonstrative]. Through a quantitative analysis of 240 complex DPs, the study found that this surface complexity does not violate the head-initial principle; rather, it is the result of systematic NP-movement mechanisms within the DP. The core NP undergoes leftward movement across functional heads, consistently displacing the Demonstrative (nih) to the absolute final position in 100% of the sampled cases, serving as a critical syntactic boundary marker. Furthermore, the research elucidates the phenomenon of structural compression and extreme recursion characteristic of high-register Khmer. Empirical data reveals a significant register-specific divergence: academic prose exhibits a higher density of nominalization via ka: (43.6%) to maximize information density, while administrative texts rely on unprecedented right-branching adjunct chains, reaching depths of up to 23 layers to ensure legal precision. These findings provide significant typological insights into Austroasiatic syntax, demonstrating how massive recursive structures—heavily reliant on Pali-Sanskrit loanwords—are densely packed into a single DP [1] without disrupting the language’s fundamental head-initial principles.
Dr. Cynthia S. Superable, Dr. Imelda O. Reyes, Mary Lord V. Mernelo
ISO 21001:2018 is an international standard that helps academic institutions improve the quality of their educational services and management systems. This study examined how middle-level managers’ leadership support and staff competence influence the implementation of ISO 21001:2018. It employed a descriptive-correlational design and was conducted in a private higher education institution in Ozamiz City, Philippines. The respondents were 121 non-teaching personnel identified through census sampling. Leadership Support, Staff Competence, and ISO 21001:2018 Implementation. Questionnaires were used in gathering the data. Weighted mean, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient (Pearson r), and multiple regression analysis were used in analyzing the data. Middle-level managers provide very adequate support, and staff demonstrate very high competence in implementing ISO 21001:2018. The standard is implemented to a great extent within the institution. Leadership support is associated with implementation effectiveness, and staff competence is likewise associated with it. Furthermore, attitudes and work values, knowledge and understanding of ISO standards, and communication and engagement emerged as key predictors of effective implementation. The study concludes that effective ISO 21001:2018 implementation is driven by strong leadership support, high staff competence, and these key factors. It is recommended that the institution sustain leadership support and enhance staff competence through continuous leadership development, targeted training, and strengthened quality assurance practices.
Jonathan V. Oludin, Josefino V. Bongato, Jr.
The Department of Education of the Philippines introduced the Mathematics Spiral Curriculum to enhance learners’ understanding by revisiting concepts with increasing complexity across grade levels. This study aimed to determine the mediating effect of parental involvement on the relationship between learners’ participation in the Mathematics Spiral Curriculum and their academic grit among Grade 10 students in Inabanga North District during the first semester of School Year 2025–2026. It assessed participation in terms of discussion, peer collaboration, and problem-solving activities; parental involvement as motivator, resource provider, monitor, Mathematics content advisor, and learning counselor; and the level of academic grit, including the relationship among variables and the mediating role of parental involvement. A quantitative, non-experimental mediation design was employed using a structured survey questionnaire adapted from validated instruments. A total of 141 Grade 10 students from three secondary schools participated using purposive sampling Data were analyzed using weighted mean, standard deviation, Pearson Product-Moment Correlation, and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). Findings revealed that learners’ participation, parental involvement, and academic grit were at high levels. Moreover, parental involvement significantly mediated the relationship between participation and academic grit. The study concludes that active participation in Mathematics, supported by meaningful parental involvement, plays a vital role in strengthening learners’ academic grit. However, lower engagement in problem-solving and the limited instructional role of parents indicate the need to enhance classroom strategies and home support. Future researchers may conduct similar studies across other grade levels and explore emotional resilience as a related variable to better understand how learners cope with academic challenges and sustain their learning efforts.
Cathrine L. Tomas, Hazel T. Basing-a
Retirement is a significant life transition that reshapes an individual’s identity, social roles, and daily routines. For teachers, whose profession is often regarded as a lifelong vocation rather than merely an occupation, this transition becomes particularly complex and emotionally demanding. The shift from a structured, socially engaging environment to a less structured post-career life requires substantial psychosocial adjustment, including the redefinition of purpose, identity, and daily engagement (Lanada & Ballaret, 2021). Thus, retirement is increasingly viewed not only as an economic or biological milestone but as a critical developmental phase that necessitates meaning-making, identity reconstruction, and sustained well-being.
Dr. Wambua Pius Muasa Ph. D, Rose Isabella Ikaal
Family functioning plays a critical role in shaping students’ psychological wellbeing and their ability to cope with academic demands. University students who experience inadequate family support, poor communication, or ineffective family relationships may be more vulnerable to academic burnout. The study sought to determine the levels of family functioning among University students in Langata Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The Yamane formula (1967) was applied to determine the sample size of 244 participants from the study's target population of 1007. Data was collected using a combined questionnaire incorporating the Family APGAR Scale and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) with SPSS version 25. Results showed that 199 participants (81.6%) demonstrated moderate levels of family functioning, representing the largest proportion. Additionally, 23 participants (13.9%) exhibited low levels of family functioning, while 22 participants (9.4%) recorded high levels of family functioning. The study recommends to the institutions of higher learning to strengthen counseling and peer support programs in order to help the university students.
Precious Hepzibah Ph.D
The Nigerian population explosion, currently at 236 million and projected to reach 400 million by 2050, makes the nation one of the three most populous countries in the world, behind only India and China. The counteractive impacts, however, have led to resource depletion, high crime rates, unemployment, and poverty in different corners of the nation, particularly among Nigerian youths. With the spread of the internet, some of these youths are using the system to achieve positive educational gains and social connections. The internet, however, has not been fully explored as a viable tool for driving and implementing Nigeria's Sustainable Development Goal 1 (SDG 1), particularly in poverty alleviation. Therefore, this study attempts a critical evaluation of the possibility of exploring internet-based opportunities as a vehicle for poverty alleviation and the fulfillment of SDG 1 among unemployed Nigerian youths. The study bridges the gap between technology and economic empowerment for youths in Nigeria and poses key questions. It evaluates the extent to which internet-based opportunities can be explored for youth employment and poverty alleviation, the significant challenges involved, and the support system for connection and sustainability. Findings show that over 75% of respondents already use the internet daily, but only a small proportion engage productively for income generation. This paper concludes that accessing internet-based opportunities requires the coordinated efforts of the government, corporate bodies, and individuals. Only through this can Nigeria economically realize the vision of translating the youths' efforts into reality.
Dr Elizabeth Jumwa Munyaya
This paper examines the relationship between language, culture, and social justice among the Agiryama community of Kenya, with particular emphasis on how pragmatic features of the Kigiryama language encode cultural values and mediate issues of equity. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork, semi-structured interviews, and discourse data from everyday conversations, rituals, proverbs, and media use, the study demonstrates that Kigiryama pragmatics functions as a key cultural resource for social cohesion, advocacy, and identity construction. The analysis is grounded in Speech Act Theory and supported by insights from politeness theory and linguistic anthropology. Findings reveal that pragmatic strategies such as indirectness, metaphor, euphemism, proverbs, plural self-reference, and code-switching reflect deeply embedded values of respect, communal solidarity, hierarchy, and harmony. At the same time, the study shows how these linguistic resources are mobilized to address social justice concerns, including land rights, education, political representation, and access to legal and economic opportunities. However, linguistic marginalization, language shift, and restrictive language policies continue to limit the effectiveness of Kigiryama in formal domains. The paper argues that strengthening indigenous language use is essential not only for cultural preservation but also for advancing social justice and equitable participation among marginalized communities.
Ivy Marie Paulete, Sarah Jane Licawan
This study explored the lived experiences of Special Education teachers in communicating with families of learners with special educational needs, focusing on strategies, challenges, and relational processes that influence trust-building. Grounded in the Two-Way Communication Model, a descriptive-phenomenological design was employed to understand how teachers perceive and manage communication in inclusive education settings. Data were collected from thirteen Special Education lead teachers using semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, questionnaires, and document analysis during the school year 2025-2026. The data were analyzed using the simplified Stevick-Colaizzi-Keen (SCK) method, encompassing bracketing, horizontalizing, clustering, textural/structural descriptions, composite description, and verification to ensure rigor and depth. Findings revealed four key themes in effective communication practices: consistent and transparent communication, active listening and empathy, cultural sensitivity and adaptation, and family involvement and collaboration. Teachers emphasized the importance of regular updates, emotional responsiveness, and culturally responsive strategies in building trust and sustaining engagement with families. They also described their roles as communicators, cultural mediators, and collaborative partners. However, challenges such as language barriers, emotional sensitivity in interactions, and differing parental expectations were identified, requiring adaptive and reflective communication approaches. The study concludes that communication in special education is fundamentally relational and reciprocal, aligning strongly with the Two-Way Communication Model. Strengthening teacher competencies in emotional intelligence, cultural responsiveness, and collaborative practices is recommended to enhance family engagement and improve outcomes for learners with special educational needs.
Bejie B. Banac, Dr. Junvil A. Insong, Jasmine Kaye B. Calope, Jayson R. Gicale, Shiela Mae V. Cabico
The increasing demand for licensure examination success has intensified the need for effective preparatory support systems among criminology students. This study examined the lived experiences of criminology graduates in relation to review center programs and their perceived contribution to academic preparedness for the Criminologist Licensure Examination. A qualitative phenomenological research design was employed to capture in-depth accounts of participants who had undergone structured review training. Twelve (12) criminology graduates from Ozamiz City, Philippines, who successfully passed the CLE, were purposively selected as participants. The study acknowledges that focusing solely on successful passers may limit the breadth of perspectives regarding review center effectiveness. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 30–60 minutes per participant and analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological approach through bracketing, horizontalization, clustering of meanings, and synthesis of textual and structural descriptions to identify significant statements and essential meanings. The findings of the study generated the following cluster themes: Experiencing the Review Center as a Supportive and Challenging Learning Environment; Experiencing the Impact of Review Center Programs and Learning Resources; Experiencing the Process of Confronting and Overcoming Academic Weaknesses; Experiencing Instructor Influence and the Development of Test-Taking Competence; Experiencing the Review Center as a Complement to Formal Education; and Experiencing Peer Support, Confidence Development, and Exam Readiness. Verbatim participant quotations were used to support each theme, strengthening the credibility and authenticity of the findings. The study concludes that review centers significantly enhance criminology students’ academic preparedness by providing structured learning, targeted remediation, instructional support, and collaborative learning opportunities that collectively improve confidence and examination readiness. It is recommended that review programs further strengthen learner-centered instruction, improve learning environments, integrate diagnostic and individualized support mechanisms, and enhance collaboration among instructors, peers, and institutions to optimize licensure examination outcomes.
Roxanne Valencia Acuña
This study explores the lived experiences, challenges, and comparative insights of Filipino teachers working in two different contexts, the Philippines and Thailand. In this pure qualitative research utilizing comparative phenomenological design, data were gathered from teachers across both settings to understand how they experience teaching the learner-centered approach which are enacted within diverse cultural, linguistic, and institutional environments. Findings revealed that teachers in both contexts experienced a clear role shift from content deliverers to facilitators of learning, resulting in more interactive, participatory, and flexible classroom environments. However, teachers encountered significant challenges, including classroom management and noise during active learning, heavy time and preparation demands, limited instructional resources, language barriers, and diverse levels of student readiness. Comparative perspective analysis showed that while both countries share strong policy support for learner-centered pedagogy implementation varies, as actual experienced by the participants. Thai schools were described as more resource-rich, enabling smoother facilitation of interactive lessons, whereas Philippine teachers often faced limited materials and larger class sizes, requiring adaptive, low-cost strategies. Cultural and linguistic factors also shaped classroom participation, particularly in Thailand where English proficiency posed barriers. The study recommended an enhanced cross-country adaptable action plan as support program to strengthening learner-centered pedagogy.
James L. Paglinawan, Jeorlyn Joy T. Redosendo
This phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of non-IP LSA teachers in IPEd-implementing school in Bonacao, San Fernando, Bukidnon, Philippines. Specifically, the study examined non-IP LSA teachers’ motivations, challenges, adaptive strategies, and professional growth within culturally diverse and resource-constrained educational settings. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, fifteen (15) non-IP LSA teachers participated, selected through purposive sampling. Data were gathered though face-to-face semi-structured interview and analyzed using the six-phase framework for thematic analysis as proposed by Clarke and Braun (2006). Findings revealed four major themes: altruistic and growth-oriented service for IP education access, highlighting dual motivations of compassion and professional development; multi-dimensional struggles, encompassing logistical, cultural, socio-economic, and environmental barriers in remote learning contexts; strategies for resilience through pedagogical adaptation and community integration; and professional maturity through advocacy and the preservation of identity. These imply that non-IP LSAs develop a deepened sense of purpose shaped by both challenges and meaningful engagement with Indigenous communities, leading to personal and professional growth. Their experiences emphasize that effective teaching in IPEd contexts requires cultural responsiveness, adaptability, and strong community engagement. The findings suggest the need for strengthened institutional support, including adequate resources, targeted training, and sustained professional development programs to further enhance LSAs’ effectiveness in Indigenous education contexts.
Alberta M. Quilab, Haydee D. Villanueva
School heads take the responsibility of ensuring that schools remain proactive amid disruptive events, to ensure the welfare of the academic community and the continuity of instruction. This study explored the school heads’ experiences in navigating disruptive events. It was conducted in the Division of Oroquieta City, during School Year 2025-2026. The phenomenological research design was used in the study, with twelve school heads as participants selected through purposive sampling. An Interview Guide was used in gathering the data that were analyzed using van Manen’s method of data analysis. The study yielded the following themes: experiencing school spaces as sites of vulnerability, safety, and adaptive transformation during disruptions; embodying leadership through physical exhaustion, emotional strain, and emerging resilience; reconstructing leadership through reflection and preparedness; strengthening collaborative relationships and shared responsibility in times of crisis, and; utilizing technology and resources as essential tools for continuity and crisis response. School heads face varied, challenging experiences when confronted with crisis in the school setting; however, they prove themselves capable of responding proactively with the support received from those inside and outside the school communities. It is recommended for academic authorities to develop comprehensive disaster preparedness program so that school heads and other stakeholders can demonstrate resilience when faced with crisis situations.
Ahmad Zamri bin Khairani, Yunhui Xie
Teaching adaptation is a common challenge for returnee teachers in Chinese higher education, particularly in practice-oriented disciplines such as art and design. Existing research has primarily focused on policy contexts and teaching outcomes, with limited attention to how teachers respond to changes in actual classroom practice. This study adopts a qualitative phenomenological approach to examine how returnee art and design teachers adjust their teaching after returning to China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 teachers, and the data were analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings show that teaching adaptation is a gradual process. In the initial stage, teachers experience a clear mismatch between their prior learning experiences and the local classroom environment, particularly in terms of student participation, classroom interaction, and expectations for teaching. As they continue teaching, they adjust their practices in response to student needs and institutional requirements, including curriculum structures and assessment methods. Over time, they develop context-appropriate practices characterized by greater flexibility, closer teacher–student relationships, and ongoing reflection. These findings indicate that teaching adaptation is shaped by everyday classroom interactions and institutional conditions. Universities should provide context-sensitive support, including instructional guidance, opportunities for peer exchange, and flexible assessment arrangements, to better support the teaching development of returnee teachers.
Bianca Nicole U. Custodio, Chester M. Derequito, PhD, Tricia Angellyn C. Sulibet, Trixia Mae C. Salazar
Linguistic insecurity and accent-based stigma persist as significant challenges for basilectal speakers of Philippine English in Philippine classrooms. Despite the growing recognition of Philippine English (PhE) as a legitimate localized variety, basilectal senior high school students who exhibit strong phonological influences from their native languages often navigate feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, and marginalization when using their natural variety of English in academic settings. This study explores the lived experiences, perspectives, and attitudes of basilectal Grade 11 senior high school students toward their Philippine English, particularly focusing on how they perceive their own accents, differences from "standard" forms, and the role of classroom practices in shaping their linguistic identity and confidence. The study used a hermeneutic phenomenological approach with eight purposively selected basilectal speakers from Felix Amante Senior High School. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews and analyzed via thematic analysis. The study underscores that while basilectal features represent natural outcomes of language contact rather than deficiencies, dominant language ideologies in schools often privilege acrolectal or exonormative norms, affecting students’ confidence and participation. These insights point to the need for more inclusive classroom practices that affirm Philippine English varieties and reduce accent-based stigma.
Achmad Herman, Ananda Ainun, Ani Susanti, Dwi Triansyah, Ina Kharisma Pertiwi, Stepanus Bo’do
Economic growth in Central Sulawesi driven by the nickel and mining industries has raised concerns about the negative impacts on the environment and society. This study highlights the challenges of local media and journalists in reporting environmental issues amidst corporate pressure. The focus is on the dynamics of media resilience in providing information about the environmental impacts of industries, such as mining, while they are in a dilemma between corporate interest pressures and journalistic independence. By utilizing the perspective of Media Political Economy theory, this study analyzes the power between local media and companies in the context of environmental reporting. Qualitative methods are used to explore the strategies implemented by local media in maintaining their independence amidst corporate pressures. This study aims to understand the complex relationship between local media and corporate interests in environmental journalism practices in Central Sulawesi. The results are expected to provide an in-depth understanding of how local media maintain their independence in reporting environmental issues in the context of economic growth that impacts the environment and society.
Dr Arjun Singh Patidar, Dr Hemant Kumar Nagar, Dr Rajendra Kumar Soni, Prof. Gulab Chand Pamnani
Background: Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease of the retina. While typically a geriatric condition, early-onset ARMD (before age 50) is an emerging clinical concern with limited therapeutic interventions in conventional medicine for the non-exudative (dry) form. Methods: A 43-year-old male diagnosed with dry ARMD presented with painless, gradual diminution of vision in both eyes. The condition was diagnosed as Pitta Vidagdha Drishti based on Ayurvedic clinical features. Management followed an integrated Ayurvedic protocol comprising Shodhana (systemic purification via Nasya and Matra Basti), Shamana (internal medicine), and Kriyakalpa (targeted ocular therapies including Akshi Tarpana and Anjana). Results: Post-treatment Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) demonstrated a significant reduction in drusen count (from 4 to 1 in the left eye) and stabilized retinal thickness. Best Corrected Visual Acuity (BCVA) improved from 6/24 to 6/12 in the left eye. Conclusion: Ayurvedic management effectively addresses both the functional and structural aspects of early-onset dry ARMD, providing a promising non-invasive strategy for retinal preservation.
Lu Xin, Poh-Chuin Teo
Small digital study-abroad consultancies can now receive enquiries from short-video platforms without opening branch offices, but the commercial result is often uneven. This article discusses that problem through Neo Sing-Trend Pte. Ltd. (NST), a Singapore-based digital education consultancy for Chinese students considering universities in Singapore and Malaysia. NST's enquiry volume rose from 397 in 2021 to 1,317 in 2025. Over the same period, its best conversion year remained 2022, when the enquiry-to-contract rate was 12.03 percent; by 2025 the rate had fallen to 4.10 percent. The diagnosis uses internal performance records, one structured focus group, content and workflow review notes, SWOT interpretation, fishbone analysis, and a likelihood-consequence risk matrix. The strongest bottlenecks were not the lack of traffic, but weak credibility signals in short-video content and delayed follow-up once families entered private consultation channels. Platform adaptation, client filtering, knowledge resources, and adviser workload also mattered, but they were less immediate intervention priorities. The article provides a practical diagnostic framework for small adviser-led education service firms that need to connect digital trust-building with disciplined enquiry management.
Maria Luisa Miccoli, Wambua Pius Muasa Ph.D
Comboni Missionary Sisters serving in fragile mission contexts are frequently exposed to complex and cumulative adversities that impact their psychological, emotional, and spiritual well-being. While research in Sub-Saharan Africa has documented high trauma prevalence, there is a lack of data regarding the specific "vocational landscape" of adversity faced by women religious. This study aimed to identify the types and prevalence of Adverse Life Events (ALEs) among Sisters serving in the East Africa Province (Uganda and South Sudan). Using an embedded mixed-methods design, the study surveyed 63 Sisters (N=63) using an adapted Traumatic Life Events Questionnaire (TLEQ) and conducted in-depth semi-structured interviews with a purposive subsample (n=10). Quantitative results revealed a multidimensional trauma landscape, with high prevalence rates for linguistic and cultural barriers (88.9%), witnessing extreme human suffering (85.7%), and exposure to armed conflict (81.0%). Qualitative findings expanded these results, uncovering "communal wounds" caused by institutional pressures and intercultural friction.The study concludes that adversity for the Comboni Sisters is a chronic, cumulative, environmental rather than a series of episodic events. These findings highlight the need for trauma-informed support and specialized formation modules that address both external mission crises and internal relational stressors.
MFA Yaziz@Mohamad, Tajul Farhan Tamimuddin, WANW Mohamed
This study examines the adoption of fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) in Malaysia in line with the National Energy Transition Roadmap (NETR) and Hydrogen Economy and Technology Roadmap (HETR). Despite strong policy direction, FCV adoption remains low due to high costs, limited hydrogen infrastructure, and low market readiness. Forecasting FCV growth is also challenging due to limited and incomplete local data. To address this, this study develops a forecasting framework combining regression analysis and logistic growth modelling. Data from 2019 to 2023, including electric vehicle (EV) sales, EV charging infrastructure, gross domestic product (GDP) per capita, and sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) are used as proxy indicators. Missing data are handled using imputation techniques to improve reliability. Two scenarios are analysed: a market-driven model and a policy-driven model. The market-driven scenario shows slow adoption, reaching only 288 FCVs by 2070. In contrast, the policy-driven scenario, which includes government support such as infrastructure expansion, incentives, and fleet conversion, shows a significant increase to 4,259 FCVs over the same period. The results show that infrastructure availability and cost are the main factors influencing FCV adoption, while economic indicators and investment trends have a smaller impact. Overall, the findings suggest that without strong policy intervention, FCV adoption in Malaysia will remain limited. This study provides a practical framework to support policy and investment decisions for hydrogen mobility development.
Michael Nyasimi Manyange (PhD), Nabimanya Rhina, Tom Ongesa Nyamboga (PhD)
This study examined the effect of time management on employee performance at Igara Tea Factory in Uganda. The purpose was to determine whether time management practices significantly influence employee performance in a structured tea processing environment. The study was anchored on Goal-Setting Theory, which emphasizes that clear goals and effective use of time enhance performance by improving focus, effort, and task completion efficiency. A correlational research design under a quantitative approach was adopted to establish the relationship between time management and employee performance. The target population was 489 employees, from which a sample size of 220 respondents was determined using Yamane’s formula, with 199 questionnaires successfully returned and analysed. Data were collected using structured questionnaires measured on a five-point Likert scale and analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. Findings revealed that employees generally reported high levels of time management practices and performance outcomes; however, inferential results indicated that time management had a positive but statistically insignificant effect on employee performance (r = 0.029, p = 0.682; t = 1.238, p = 0.217), with the regression coefficient (B = 0.051) confirming a weak influence. The study concludes that time management alone does not significantly predict employee performance in this context due to the dominance of structured operational systems and workload allocation mechanisms. The study contributes to existing literature by providing empirical evidence from a tea factory setting, an area with limited prior research, and suggests that policy and practice should focus on integrated performance strategies that combine workload management, supervision, and organisational support systems rather than relying solely on individual time management practices to enhance employee productivity.
Jenyliza T. Ucang, Rollyn P. Gillang
The Reflective Practice Learning Approach (RPLA) was a learner-centered teaching approach that enhances students’ mathematical fluency and problem-solving skills, as well as reflective and meaningful learning experiences that encourage them to examined and improved their thinking. This study employed a quasi-experimental research design to determine the effect of the Reflective Practice Learning Approach (RPLA) on the mathematical fluency and problem-solving skills of Grade 11 students at Kiburiao National High School during the third quarter of School Year 2025–2026, and to identify significant differences between the RPLA and non-RPLA groups in terms of posttest and retention test results. A total of 61 students participated, with 30 in the RPLA group and 31 in the non-RPLA group. Both groups initially demonstrated low to very low levels of mathematical fluency and problem-solving skills in the pretest. After the intervention, both groups improved in the posttest and retention test, with the RPLA group showing greater gains than the non-RPLA group. The RPLA group achieved a high level of mathematical fluency and demonstrated better retention of skills over time, while the non-RPLA group remained at an average level. In problem-solving skills, both groups improved, but the RPLA group performed better and showed stronger retention. Thus, posttest and retention results indicated that the RPLA group outperformed the non-RPLA group in both domains. Reflective practice learning activities should be integrated into mathematics instruction to enhance and sustain learners’ mathematical fluency and problem-solving skills.
Liezel M. Revil
This embedded mixed-methods study assessed the readiness levels and implementation challenges of Grade 7 and 8 Mathematics teachers regarding the MATATAG Curriculum in a selected district within the Division of Valencia City, Bukidnon, for School Year 2025-2026. The study sought to answer three questions: (1) How ready are the teachers? (2) What challenges do they face? and (3) Is there a significant relationship between readiness and challenges? The study was anchored on Fullan's Theory of Educational Change, the Readiness for Change Model, and Bandura's Social Cognitive Theory 9,15,1. Using an embedded mixed-methods design, data were collected from 30 teachers through a survey with quantitative items and open-ended prompts. Quantitative data were analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and Pearson correlation. Qualitative responses were examined through a targeted explanatory review. The findings revealed that teachers demonstrated high overall readiness (Mean = 3.62) but also experienced high overall challenges (Mean = 3.67). The highest readiness indicator was motivation (Mean = 4.57), while the lowest were designing problem-solving lessons within class time (Mean = 2.90) and access to instructional materials (Mean = 2.83). The most critical challenge was fast lesson pacing (Mean = 4.40), followed by increased workload (Mean = 4.20) and insufficient materials (Mean = 4.03). A significant, strong negative correlation was found between readiness and challenges (r = -0.721, p = .000). Teachers are generally ready but need systemic support in time management and resources. Recommendations include adjusting lesson pacing, reducing non-teaching tasks, providing practical training, and ensuring the timely delivery of instructional materials.
Mite Setiansah, Nuryanti, Raisah, Shinta Prastyanti, Wiwik Novianti
The development of social media, particularly TikTok, has changed the way culture and social values are represented in digital spaces. This study aims to analyze the representation of sexist humor in bride price cultural content on the TikTok platform using Stuart Hall's representation theory. The method used is a qualitative approach with media analysis of video content depicting humorous narratives related to the practice of bride price in Bugis society. The results of the study show that humor content on TikTok represents women as objects of economic transactions through the “unboxing” format that resembles consumer culture. Humor in this content functions as a normalization mechanism that makes messages with sexist and patriarchal nuances more acceptable to audiences. Furthermore, this representation also reflects the reproduction of patriarchal ideology in digital spaces, where men are portrayed as holders of economic power while women are positioned as objects to be 'acquired.' Nevertheless, the meaning formed is dynamic because the audience plays an active role in the process of meaning-making through interaction on social media. This study asserts that social media is not only a space for entertainment but also an arena for the construction of meaning that influences the formation of gender perceptions and culture in society.
Mercy Nana Akua Otsin
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Frank Kingsley Mensah
The penetration of mobile money services into everyday financial transactions has rapidly restructured Ghana's financial landscape. Despite the remarkable growth of mobile payment platforms such as MTN Mobile Money, Vodafone Cash, and AirtelTigo Money, sustained consumer adoption remains uneven, particularly within peri-urban university communities where digital literacy, institutional trust, and perceived risk interact in complex ways. This study examines the determinants of mobile money adoption among consumers within the Valley View University community in Kumasi, Ghana, using an extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) framework. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed. Structured questionnaires were administered to a stratified random sample of 300 respondents comprising students, academic staff, and administrative personnel. Data were analysed using SPSS Version 26 through descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, multiple regression, and structural equation modelling (SEM). Construct reliability and validity were assessed via Cronbach's Alpha, composite reliability (CR), and average variance extracted (AVE). All five hypothesised determinants significantly and positively influence behavioural intention to adopt mobile money services. Perceived usefulness emerges as the strongest predictor (Beta = 0.41, p < 0.001), followed by consumer trust (Beta = 0.33, p < 0.001), perceived ease of use (Beta = 0.29, p < 0.001), social influence (Beta = 0.24, p = 0.001), and perceived security (Beta = 0.21, p = 0.002). The extended TAM model explains 67% of the variance in adoption intention (R2 = 0.67) and demonstrates excellent structural fit (CFI = 0.94; RMSEA = 0.056). The study is geographically delimited to one university campus in Kumasi. Future studies should employ multi-campus, multi-regional designs and longitudinal approaches to strengthen external validity. The exclusion of perceived financial risk as a standalone construct and the absence of actual behavioural usage data represent further delimitations. Including additional constructs such as perceived financial risks, digital literacy levels and infrastructural accessibility would provide a more holistic understanding of adoption behavior. Financial institutions, FinTech operators, and the Bank of Ghana should invest in user-centric platform design, robust cybersecurity infrastructure, transparent consumer protection frameworks, and targeted digital financial literacy programmes to accelerate inclusive mobile money adoption across university communities and beyond. This study makes an original contribution by contextualising an extended TAM within a peri-urban Ghanaian university setting. By simultaneously testing the roles of perceived usefulness, ease of use, consumer trust, perceived security, and social influence within a single SEM framework, it offers a more holistic model of mobile money adoption than prior single-construct studies.
Muhammad Afif Firdaus, Mustafar Manaf, Norazlina Abd Razak, Shahrudin Zakaria, Sulaiman Sabikan
The double role of gravity (DRG) presents a known conceptual challenge when using the Rubber Sheet Analogy (RSA) to teach General Relativity (GR), as described by many scholars. This challenge may lead to difficulty for students to accept GR as a meaningful theory and may affect their confidence. Since attitude is considered crucial for conceptual change (as proposed in the DMCC framework), such confusion may also influence students’ motivation and engagement with the subject. The DRG can be resolved if the curvature in the RSA is removed; however, this would make it difficult to demonstrate how a planet moves - similar to the motion of a planet orbiting the Sun. To support the RSA and reduce this issue, we propose introducing the Smz-Table Model (Model S2) earlier in the learning process. Model S2 is proposed to support the development of Awareness 1 (A1) and Awareness 2 (A2), which may better prepare students for interpreting both the RSA and GR. By introducing Model S2 before the RSA, students may build a clearer conceptual foundation, and the combination of A1 and A2 may help reduce misconceptions and support understanding when the RSA is later demonstrated. Note that the RSA is already used internationally and is likely to become a standard tool for illustrating GR concepts. Previous studies suggest that many students find GR interesting. Reducing RSA-related learning difficulties may improve its acceptance.
Aronokhale, Ikwegiode Isaiah, Jacob Ojobo Ame, PhD, Orbunde Bemshima, PhD
The financial sustainability of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria is crucial for economic growth, industrial development, and job creation in the country. However, these firms face challenges such as fluctuating exchange rates, rising production costs, and limited access to finance, which threaten their long-term viability. This study therefore examines the moderating effect of ownership concentration on liquidity and dividend payout on financial sustainability of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study’s population consists of fifty-five (55) listed manufacturing firms from which fourty four (44) was selected for the period of thirteen (13) years (2012 to 2024) using purposive sampling technique. The study adopted the ex-post facto research design with longitudinal panel, and secondary data were collected from the firms’ annual accounts for the period under review. Ownership concentration, liquidity, dividend payout, firm age, and financial sustainability were proxied by substantial shareholding (5% and above), current ratio, dividend payout ratio, years since incorporation, and return on equity respectively. Using Eviews 12 version for the analysis, the results of the study revealed that current ratio had negative and insignificant effect on return on equity of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria, however, when moderated by ownership concentration, it had positive but insignificant effect on return on equity. Dividend payout ratio on the other hand, had positive but insignificant effect on return on equity, likewise when moderated by ownership concentration of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The study, therefore, concludes that when liquidity and dividend payout are moderated by ownership concentration, it has a positive but insignificant effect on financial sustainability of listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. Based on the findings, the study recommends that listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria should strengthen ownership engagement for better liquidity oversight and adopts independent, performance-based dividend polices to enhance financial sustainability.
Amy Azuan Abdullah, Ismail Ali, Lai Yew Meng
This study aimed to assess the extent to which outrigger boats developed and cultivated by coastal communities in Sabah can be used to enhance safety by various maritime enforcement agencies in Malaysia. Maritime security issues, especially cross-border threats, smuggling and encroachment in shallow waters not only demand fast assets but also have suitability in terms of functionality and adaptability to marine and coastal geographical characteristics. A paddle boat is an iconic water phrase of the coastal community that is proven to have aerodynamics, balance and can adapt to any physical condition of the waters, especially in the printed water area. To this end, this article was written to assess the extent to which this traditional design can be upgraded and modified using modern technology for the use of security forces such as ESSCOM, Marine Police (Royal Malaysian Police), Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency (MMEA) and so on. This study will use a qualitative approach based on Technology Adaptation Theory and Principles of Marine Engineering to assess the feasibility of integrating modern composite materials into traditional frameworks. The results of this study found that the use of these winged boats is able to improve preparedness and contribute to the success of operations to combat various maritime crimes because they are able to operate in reef areas and shallow waters that are difficult to access by large patrol boats and thus offer lower maintenance costs. Ultimately, this tactical boat innovation based on local wisdom has great potential to be developed to strengthen the country's maritime sovereignty.
Enongene Rex Nkumbe
Political parties play a significant and indispensable role in democratic systems by facilitating political competition, representation, and governance. However, the mechanisms that sustain their activities, particularly election campaign financing, remain insufficiently scrutinized in many developing democracies. This study examines election campaign financing in Cameroon, with a specific focus on the 2018 Presidential election, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of the existing legal and institutional framework and assessing its implications for transparency and accountability. The study adopts a mixed research approach, employing questionnaires, interviews, and focus group discussions as primary data collection tools. Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and Microsoft Excel, and the results were presented using tables, graphs, and percentages. The analysis evaluates the effectiveness of the legal framework governing campaign financing, focusing on its ability to regulate funding sources and ensure fair electoral competition. Findings reveal that election campaign financing in Cameroon is derived from multiple sources, including private donations, public subsidies, and, in some cases, potentially illicit financial flows. Despite the existence of legal provisions requiring disclosure, the study identifies significant challenges, particularly weak enforcement mechanisms and limited transparency. These weaknesses create opportunities for corruption, distort electoral competitiveness, and contribute to an uneven political playing field that disproportionately favors incumbents and financially dominant parties. The study concludes that the current campaign finance regulatory framework is inadequate to ensure accountability and democratic integrity. It recommends strengthening transparency measures, enhancing enforcement mechanisms, and establishing independent oversight systems to improve the credibility of elections and promote sustainable democratic development in Cameroon.
Rio S. Consigna, Waren T. Rodilla
Teacher turnover is a crucial issue in schools worldwide. It has been a continuing concern for teachers and school administrators in recent years. High teacher turnover negatively affects not only schools but also the communities they serve (Flowers, 2019). Teacher turnover and retention have long been topics of discussion among school leaders, educational advocates, and researchers (Farinola, 2021). The problem of teacher turnover extends across multiple countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, the Philippines, Nepal, and African nations like Kenya and Tanzania. Studies by Garcia and Weiss (2019) and Shrestha (2022) indicate that teachers frequently leave their institutions due to factors such as low pay, limited career advancement, and inadequate support. The Federation of Associations of Private Schools and Administrators (FAPSA) has also noted that many private schools struggle to maintain their workforce, as teachers are drawn to state-funded schools offering better compensation packages. In the Philippines, teacher turnover has been a growing concern among school administrators, particularly in the private and basic education sectors. The country continues to experience a high rate of teacher turnover due to poor retention, especially at the basic education level (Sumipo, 2020). Private school teachers frequently leave and transfer to public schools because of higher salaries and additional benefits (Hernando-Malipot, 2018). National education policymakers and local school leaders in the Philippines have long faced the challenge of designing sustainable strategies to address the persistent problem of teacher turnover (Zarate, 2023). A high teacher turnover rate can have a tremendous impact on the culture and climate of a school, student achievement, and institutional stability, as it strains school budgets to recruit, train, and replace teachers (Flowers, 2019). Teacher turnover is a significant concern in education because of its adverse impact on student learning outcomes and overall educational quality (Grant et al., 2019). In the case of private schools, a high rate of academic staff turnover can diminish school performance and continuity in instruction. The problem of turnover has long been associated with negative consequences on instructional quality and student achievement (Sorensen & Ladd, 2020). Dela Cruz (2016) similarly emphasized that the effectiveness of education depends on the stability and continuity of its teaching force. Excessive teacher turnover leads to the loss of experienced educators, disrupts classroom learning, and hampers daily operations if not properly managed (Shrestha, 2022). Existing research reveals a critical gap in understanding the dynamics of teacher turnover, particularly in private and public basic education schools. Most studies generalize findings without exploring the unique contextual factors that influence teachers’ decisions to leave or remain in their institutions. Recent literature emphasizes that turnover intention—teachers’ conscious and deliberate willingness to leave an organization—is strongly linked to leadership behavior, recognition systems, and organizational support (Nguyen, 2021; Yin et al., 2022). However, few local studies have empirically examined how motivational leadership and recognition and reward practices affect teacher turnover in Philippine public schools. Scholars such as Khasawneh (2020), Asghar and Oino (2018), and Owusu (2022) highlighted that leadership styles fostering motivation and meaningful recognition significantly reduce turnover intention, yet contextual validation within the Philippine educational setting remains limited. This study aims to address this limitation by investigating how motivational leadership and recognition and reward systems may influence teachers’ intentions to leave their schools.
Dr. Junvil A. Insong, Jan Ian A. Acuram, John Daryl N. Acas, Joshua B. Porposa, Joshua V. Tupas
Motorcycle riders remain among the most vulnerable road users, particularly in environments where stray animals frequently enter public roadways. This study explored the lived experiences of motorcycle riders involved in accidents caused by stray dogs in Ozamiz City, Misamis Occidental, Philippines. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to capture in-depth personal accounts of the phenomenon grounded in Moustakas’ transcendental phenomenological framework. Twelve motorcycle riders who had experienced stray dog–related accidents within the past two years were selected through purposive sampling. Data were gathered through semi-structured interviews lasting approximately 30–45 minutes and analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological method, including bracketing, horizonalization, thematic clustering, and textural-structural synthesis, ensuring adherence to credibility, dependability, and confirmability criteria.
Swarnika
This paper deals with the various forms of concealment operating within Agatha Christie’s The Seven Dials Mystery. It particularly focuses on psychological performance, symbolic deception, and narrative misdirection. Although the novel is generally read within the framework of Golden Age detective fiction, this study argues that Christie’s narrative extends beyond the conventional mechanics of solving crime and develops into a layered exploration of secrecy, performance, and unstable perception. The paper examines how characters within the novel consciously perform identities, manipulate appearances, and negotiate social spaces through concealment, wit, and strategic behaviour. In this context, deception emerges not merely as a criminal device but as a psychological and social process embedded within everyday interaction. The study further explores how Christie constructs suspense through fragmented revelation, coded dialogue, symbolic spaces, and carefully controlled narrative ambiguity. Particular attention is given to the role of humour and aristocratic social performance in masking danger and redirecting suspicion. This allows the narrative to conceal violence beneath conversational ease and performative civility. The paper also investigates the gothic undertones present within the novel through its secretive environments, nocturnal settings, hidden networks, and atmosphere of psychological uncertainty. By combining narratological, psychological, and symbolic approaches, this research attempts to demonstrate that The Seven Dials Mystery transforms detective fiction into a theatre of concealment where language, identity, and perception remain continuously unstable. In doing so, the novel reveals how mystery is constructed not only through hidden crimes, but through the performance of secrecy itself. Through this reading, the paper attempts to reposition The Seven Dials Mystery beyond the limits of a conventional detective narrative by emphasizing its psychological, symbolic, and performative complexity. By examining concealment as a structural and interpretative principle rather than merely a narrative device, the study highlights Christie’s ability to transform mystery into a layered exploration of identity, perception, and social performance. The research, therefore, contributes to broader discussions surrounding detective fiction by demonstrating how suspense within Christie’s work emerges not only through crime and revelation, but through the unstable and deeply human processes of concealment itself.
Dr. Aparnaa Upadhyaya, Dr. Jacqueline Brown
Community Health Centers (CHCs) serve as a cornerstone of oral healthcare delivery for underserved populations. This retrospective service delivery analysis examines the nature and volume of dental services provided at a community health center from January 2018 through March 2026, spanning four distinct phases: pre COVID 19, peak pandemic emergency only care, declining pandemic recovery, and post pandemic normalization. Aggregate encounter and billing data were extracted from the electronic health record and billing systems with assistance from the institutional information technology department. Despite stable clinic infrastructure, service utilization and procedure mix shifted substantially across pandemic phases, reflecting both public health restrictions and workforce variability. These findings underscore the resilience of CHC dental programs and their essential role in maintaining oral healthcare access during prolonged public health crises.
Maria Luisa Miccoli, Wambua Pius Muasa Ph.D
Comboni Missionary Sisters in East Africa’s fragile contexts face cumulative adversities that challenge their psychological and spiritual well-being. However, struggling with these experiences can lead to post-traumatic growth (PTG): a constructive psychological and spiritual evolution. This study investigated the lived experiences of PTG among Sisters in Uganda and South Sudan, identifying the internal, external, and structural strategies that facilitate personal and vocational transformation. Grounded in an interpretive (hermeneutic) phenomenological design, in-depth semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 purposively selected participants. Narratives were analyzed using hermeneutic thematic analysis to map growth mechanisms. Findings indicate that PTG is a deliberate developmental shift rather than an automatic outcome. Transformation is facilitated through an ecological framework consisting of five interconnected major themes: Spiritual Anchoring, Cognitive Reframing, Expressive and Embodied Processing, Relational and Cultural Solidarity, and Institutional Pathways toward a Culture of Care. Growth was evidenced by increased fortitude, deeper spiritual maturity, and reinforced missionary commitment. Ultimately, PTG in this context is an interdependent and structurally supported process.
Abdul Rahim Ridzuan, Afzan Sahilla Mohd Amir Hamzah, Maizatul Saadiah Mohamad, Norlinda Tendot Abu Bakar, Rosfadzimi Mat Saad, Syahbudin Senin
With the integration of the world economy, variations in the value of the dollar are becoming a huge challenge for multinational corporations (MNCs). These changes affect their overall financial performance, operating costs and their competitiveness in exports. The purpose of the present study is to examine the impact of currency depreciation on economy and the strategic response of multinational firms in Malaysia, US and China. Secondary data obtained from World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF), Bank Negara Malaysia, and international economic and finance reports for the period 2021-2025 were utilized. A qualitative descriptive approach was employed. We reviewed the literature, exchange rate movements and economic data to see the impact of currency changes on the functioning and decisions of multinational businesses. The long-term fluctuations in the exchange rate have a huge effect on how successful enterprises are, how they trade with other nations, how they plan their investments and how efficiently they run their businesses. It is becoming increasingly difficult for multinational corporations to do business and manage their finances internationally, which could make them less competitive in global markets. To address these issues, firms are increasingly adopting various foreign exchange risk management strategies such as hedging, price adjustments, employing multiple currencies, and restructuring their supply chains. These measures generally increase the resilience of companies to economic unpredictability and reduce their exposure to exchange rate risks. In conclusion, currency volatility is one of the important factors influencing the performance and competitiveness of international organizations. The study points to the importance of strategic adaptation and effective foreign currency risk management in maintaining a strong economy in the long run and remaining ahead of the competition in an increasingly uncertain economic environment.
Evangeline V. Postrano, Julieta B. Chavez., Leonel M. Mabaquiao., Lilibeth P. Braza., May Anne V. Delara., Romeo E. Castillano III., Sharlene F. Altea.
This study explores the financial challenges faced by teachers with low monthly take-home pay and examines the strategies they employ to manage their constrained financial resources. Using a case-study approach, the research delves into the experiences of teachers in public schools, focusing on their financial struggles and coping mechanisms. It adopted a narrative inquiry approach and utilized open-ended and discovery-oriented questions for data collection. The rigors of findings were addressed using member checking, coding, recoding strategy, thick description, data saturation, and data checking. The data explication process applied the six-phase analysis introduced by Braun and Clarke. The themes that emerged from the study are Financial Insufficiency, Institutional Gaps, Emotional Impact, Coping Strategies, and Policy Recommendations. Data was collected through detailed case analyses, including interviews. The findings reveal that many teachers grapple with difficulties in meeting basic living expenses, managing family obligations, and handling unforeseen financial demands due to insufficient income. Despite these challenges, teachers exhibit resilience by employing various strategies such as stringent budgeting, seeking supplementary income, and relying on financial assistance from family or loans. This case-study approach highlights the complexity of their financial situations and the adaptive strategies they use. The research emphasizes the need for systemic reforms in teacher compensation and the implementation of targeted financial literacy programs to improve teachers' economic well-being. The insights gained from this study contribute to a better understanding of the socio-economic challenges faced by educators and offer a basis for policies aimed at supporting their financial security.
Blas, March Rainell, H., Gabriel, Vanessa I., Garcia, Patrick Jerrel T., Guerrero, Patrick, Jean Rose, T., Joseline M. Santos, PhD
This study examined the influence of socioeconomic status and social relationships on the career decision-making of Grade 9 students in a secondary school in District V, Bocaue, Bulacan. The research aimed to determine how family income, parents’ occupation, educational resources, and social influences from peers, teachers, family, and community affect students’ career choices. A quantitative correlational research design was used, involving 149 Grade 9 students selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected using a structured survey questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and regression analysis. The findings revealed that most students come from low-income households and that socioeconomic status significantly affects their access to career information and opportunities. Social relationships were also found to have a high influence on students’ career decision-making. Despite these conditions, students demonstrated a high level of self-awareness, information-seeking behavior, and decision-making confidence. The study recommends the implementation of a Career Assessment and Counseling Program to help students make informed career decisions despite socioeconomic challenges.
Acheseinimie Gloria Tamunopekerebia, Idoh Famous Mda-Asira, Otto Dorcas Illode
Party politics in Nigeria often reflects the broader tensions inherent in democratic governance, and Rivers State presents a particularly compelling case of the complexities associated with intra-party rivalry, elite competition, and political realignments. As one of the most politically strategic and economically significant states in the Niger Delta region, Rivers State has experienced persistent political tensions that reveal the challenges of sustaining democratic stability within a multi-party system. This study examines the dynamics, causes, and implications of party politics in Rivers State with particular attention to the struggles for political control, factional divisions within dominant parties, and the influence of political elites in shaping party structures. The paper adopts a qualitative and analytical approach, drawing on historical analysis, political reports, and scholarly literature to explore the evolution of party politics in the state. It highlights how conflicts within major political parties such as the People's Democratic Party and the All Progressives Congress have contributed to political instability, governance challenges, and disruptions in policy implementation. The study further examines the role of political actors, institutions, and electoral processes in either intensifying or mediating political conflicts. Findings suggest that the persistence of elite dominance, weak internal party democracy, and personal political interests have significantly shaped the trajectory of party politics in the state. The paper concludes that strengthening institutional frameworks, promoting internal party democracy, and encouraging political tolerance are essential for enhancing democratic governance and stability in Rivers State and Nigeria at large.
Charlie Albert Lasuin, Debbra Toria Nipo, Izaan Azyan Abdul Jamil, Jaratin Lily, Mori Kogid, Noor Fzlinda Fabeil, Pei Sung Toh, Sidah Idris
Despite the growing emphasis on digital transformation in national development agendas, rural micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in Malaysia continue to lag in adopting digital innovations. This study investigates the multifaceted barriers to digital innovation adoption among rural MSMEs in Sabah, using a quantitative exploratory approach. Drawing on responses from 103 firms across various rural districts, the study evaluates six key categories of barriers: socio-cultural, technical, economic, regulatory-institutional, policy-related, and innovation environment. Descriptive analysis reveals uniformly high barrier perceptions, with innovation environment (M = 4.79) and economic constraints (M = 4.79) rated as the most significant. Comparative analysis across firm age groups highlights that startup firms experience the highest innovation-related constraints, while growth-stage firms encounter intensified economic and policy-related barriers. Contrary to earlier infrastructure-centric literature, findings suggest that behavioral inertia, institutional misalignment, and capability deficits are now the dominant inhibitors of digital adoption. Grounded in the Diffusion of Innovations and Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) frameworks, the study underscores the need for policy interventions that are context-sensitive, age-specific, and ecosystem-oriented. It concludes that bridging the rural digital divide requires not only technological provisioning but also robust strategies to cultivate innovation mindsets, restructure financing mechanisms, and align multi-level policies.
Nabihah Alia Abd Rahman
The increasing reliance on online learning in higher education has transformed how language instruction is delivered, how learner participation is monitored, and how assessment is conducted in digital classrooms. For teachers of Chinese as a Foreign Language (CFL), this shift is particularly demanding because effective language teaching depends heavily on communicative participation, visible learner response, and immediate instructional feedback. This study examines the teaching and learning practices employed by CFL teachers, the pedagogical beliefs that inform these practices, and the challenges that shape their implementation in online higher education contexts. A qualitative exploratory approach was adopted using semi-structured interviews and short reflective notes involving six CFL teachers from higher education institutions in Malaysia. The data were analyzed through inductive thematic analysis. The findings reveal that teachers employ blended learning structures, interactive reinforcement activities, and multiple digital communication channels as adaptive strategies to sustain participation and language practice. Their instructional decisions are strongly informed by beliefs concerning learner accountability, assessment authenticity, visible response, and the teacher’s facilitative role. However, these pedagogical intentions are consistently mediated by contextual pressures such as increased workload, technological instability, and reduced classroom immediacy. The study demonstrates that online CFL teaching is best understood as a process of negotiated pedagogical adaptation in which teachers continuously reconcile instructional ideals with practical digital constraints. By offering an integrated account of teaching practices, teacher beliefs, and contextual challenges, the study contributes a more context-sensitive understanding of online language teaching and highlights the need for sustained pedagogical and institutional support in digital learning environments.
Emeka E. Ene, Patrick Ebenuwa
This study examines the relationship between domestic savings, capital market development, and economic growth in Nigeria over the period 1990 to 2023 using the quantile regression technique. Unlike conventional mean based estimation methods, the quantile regression framework allows the assessment of the effects of savings and capital market indicators across different points of the conditional distribution of economic growth, specifically the lower, median, and upper quantiles. This approach provides additional insight into how the influence of financial variables varies under different growth conditions. The empirical results indicate clear differences across growth regimes. The gross domestic savings rate exhibits a positive coefficient across all quantiles of economic growth but remains statistically insignificant, suggesting that while domestic savings are potentially supportive of growth, their impact has been weak and inconsistent over the study period. Total savings also show a negative but statistically insignificant relationship with economic growth across the distribution, pointing to possible inefficiencies in the allocation of accumulated savings to productive investment. Capital market performance and size indicators, namely the All Share Index and equity market capitalisation, do not display statistically significant effects at any quantile, indicating limited transmission from market valuation and market size to real sector growth during the period under review. In contrast, financial deepening measured by the number of listed equities is positively associated with economic growth across all quantiles and is statistically significant at the upper quantile. This finding highlights the relevance of capital market breadth and market participation, particularly during periods of relatively strong economic performance. The exchange rate does not exert a significant influence at the lower and median quantiles but becomes marginally significant at the upper quantile, suggesting that exchange rate movements may matter primarily during expansionary growth phases. Overall, the findings indicate that the relationship between savings, capital market development, and economic growth in Nigeria is nonlinear and varies across growth conditions. While savings mobilisation and capital market size have not exerted strong independent growth effects, market inclusiveness, as reflected in the number of listed firms, appears to be a more relevant channel through which the capital market supports economic growth. The study underscores the need for policies that strengthen market participation, improve intermediation efficiency, and enhance the linkage between savings mobilisation and productive investment.
Abdelmajid Soulaymani, Hayate Koubri, Hind Hami, Nazih El Kouartey
Migration is a crosscutting issue that exposes migrants to significant health risks, while host countries’ health and social systems are often unprepared to address their specific needs. In this context, healthcare costs pose a major financial barrier to accessing necessary services. Consequently, migrant health coverage has become a key concern for the international community, national authorities, and civil society, the latter playing a crucial role in improving access. However, migrants still face major challenges in obtaining secondary and tertiary care, due both to limited resources for their healthcare and to complex administrative procedures. The aim of our study is to analyze these obstacles, particularly financial ones, which hinder migrants’ access to healthcare in Morocco, and the role-played in this area by NGOs and associations working on behalf of migrants. Exploratory descriptive study, based on documentary analyses, questionnaires, interviews and focus groups with migrants, conducted among 25 NGOs and associations working in the migration’s health field in the Rabat-Salé-Kénitra Region, selected by purposive sampling. All the associations surveyed have difficulties meeting migrants’ requests for medicines, hospitalization, biological or radiological investigations. For this purpose, the associations’ internal funding, made up of membership fees and private donations, is the most widely used method (46%), followed by financial support from foreign partners (31%), then donations (19%). 72% of surveyed associations call for more financial support and social protection resources to better meet the healthcare needs of migrants.
Marnie Joy E. Jala, Sammy B. Taghoy
Nurse fatigue among operating room (OR) nurses may influence decision-making accuracy and work performance by affecting cognitive functioning, efficiency, and the delivery of safe patient care in high-pressure clinical environments. This study examined the levels of nurse fatigue, decision-making accuracy, and work performance, as well as their relationships among 120 OR nurses from two government hospitals in Misamis Occidental, Philippines, using a descriptive-correlational research design. Data were gathered through a researcher-developed questionnaire and analyzed using mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s r. Findings revealed that OR nurses experienced severe nurse fatigue, very high decision-making accuracy, and excellent work performance. Results further showed that nurse fatigue had generally no significant relationship with decision-making accuracy, except for a significant relationship between physical fatigue and clinical judgment accuracy. In terms of work performance, nurse fatigue showed selective significant relationships, particularly between physical and mental fatigue and efficiency and productivity, while most other relationships were not significant. It is concluded that despite high levels of fatigue, nurses maintained strong decision-making accuracy and overall performance, although fatigue had some influence on efficiency-related outcomes. Therefore, it is recommended that hospital administrators and nursing managers implement targeted fatigue management strategies, such as adequate staffing, regulated workloads, and structured rest periods, while continuing professional development initiatives to sustain and enhance nurses’ performance and the quality of patient care.
Olalekan Samuel Fatokun, Olaleye I. Oluseyi, Prof Ademola Azeez
This study interrogates the complex relationship between oil subsidy policies, poverty dynamics, and economic development in Nigeria within the broader context of resource governance and social welfare. For decades, fuel subsidies have been positioned as a redistributive mechanism intended to cushion the effects of energy price volatility on citizens, particularly the poor. However, recent policy shifts, most notably the removal of fuel subsidies in 2023, have exposed underlying structural contradictions in the Nigerian economy. Drawing on secondary data from national and international sources, as well as contemporary empirical literature (2022-2025), this study adopts a descriptive and analytical approach to examine how subsidy regimes influence poverty levels, inflation, and household welfare. The analysis reveals that while subsidies historically provided short-term relief through reduced transportation and energy costs, their long-term impact has been limited by inefficiency, fiscal leakage, and regressive benefit distribution. Conversely, subsidy removal has generated immediate macroeconomic adjustments, including sharp increases in fuel prices, rising inflation, and declining real incomes, thereby intensifying poverty and economic vulnerability, particularly among urban and informal sector populations. The findings suggest that neither subsidy retention nor abrupt removal, in isolation, offers a sustainable pathway to poverty reduction. Rather, the effectiveness of subsidy reform depends on the presence of strong institutional frameworks, targeted social protection mechanisms, and transparent reinvestment of public savings. The study concludes by advocating for a balanced policy approach that prioritizes human development, equity, and long-term economic resilience.
Dr. Wing Cheung TANG
The dense urban fabric of Hong Kong, with narrow streets, high-rise buildings and concentration of food and beverage establishments at street level, creates a unique microenvironment in which pedestrians are frequently exposed to oily vapour emissions from restaurant exhaust systems. This article systematically analyses the sources, dispersion mechanisms, health implications and regulatory landscape of exposure to oily vapour from restaurants in Hong Kong. Existing literature and government data suggest poor exhaust filtration, incorrectly located outlets (often at pedestrian breathing height) and the use of wok cooking (which produces high levels of aerosolised oil particles) as key factors in creating localised air pollution hotspots. Health effects include respiratory irritation, potential carcinogenic risk from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) associated with cooking fumes, and decreased quality of life for pedestrians and nearby residents. The article acknowledges major gaps in the research: no Hong Epidemiological study on long-term health effects of exposure to oily vapour at the pavement level in Hong Kong Real-time monitoring data at the pedestrian breathing height is insufficient No standardised metrics for enforcement of 'nuisance' under the Air Pollution Control Ordinance Limited evaluation of existing mitigation technologies (electrostatic precipitators, wet scrubbers, activated carbon filters) in the local context We have done a regulatory analysis and found that the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) regulates chimney emissions but ground-level exhaust from ground floor restaurants is often in a regulatory grey area. The article ends with a research agenda that includes personal exposure monitoring, cost-benefit analysis of retrofit requirements, and urban planning interventions such as relocating exhaust outlets and improving street canyon ventilation.
Andy James D. Wong, Monsour A. Pelmin
The hybrid seed industry operates under extreme seasonality, where fixed biological planting and harvesting windows contrast with the need for consistent industrial processing. In a CI (Continuous Improvement) culture, this creates a unique tension: how do you maintain "continuous" progress when the plant oscillates between 0% and 200% capacity? This article examines related literatures that emphasizes and studied Continuous improvement (Kaizen) in the agricultural manufacturing industry Continuous Improvement (CI) has been extensively studied in manufacturing and is widely recognized for enhancing productivity, profitability, and operational performance (Turovski, 2024). However, its application within the agricultural sector remains limited, with existing studies often focusing on isolated stages rather than the entire value chain. This study aims to bridge this gap by examining how CI can be integrated from field operations to plant processing within the hybrid seed industry. This will try to integrate established discipline in Continuous Improvement and create/propose a framework that might be adopted by various organizations in these industries. Based on the review of related literature, it was concluded that there are 4 major principles of Continuous Improvement that can be implemented to addressed the seasonality of this industry. These include: (1) leveling the biological load (Heijunka), (2) managing seasonal workforce through standardized work, (3) shifting focus from production to maintenance using Total Productive Maintenance (TPM), and (4) managing quality variability through Six Sigma. It is also found out that no specific Continuous Improvement principle can singlehandedly resolve the issue but rather it was discovered the Elasticity logic of the proposed framework. The unique contribution of the framework is the concept of Continuous Improvement elasticity. Specifically, during high-load periods (100–200%), CI becomes rigid, emphasizing strict adherence to standard work and implementation are rapid and continuous to avoid delays and downtime, especially on the single line’s operations. In contrast, during low-load periods (0–20%), CI becomes more flexible, encouraging innovation and process redesign. Having in place the Continuous improvement principles in the industry, this will increase profitability, efficiency, reduce cost, achieve optimum quality, retained skilled personnel and others. The proposed framework moves the hybrid seed industry from a Crisis-Response model to a Proactive-Sync model, where the off-season builds the capability that the peak season implements.
Dr. Josphat Kwasira, Dr. Rael Mandago, Dr. Samson Nyang’au Paul, Kenneth Kipruto Chelimo
This study aimed at establishing the influence of onboarding practice on employee performance in County Governments in Kenya. It was anchored on Communication Accommodation Theory. It employed a descriptive design. The target population for this study was 4631 employees in 9 selected counties. Using statistical formulae, a sample of 369 employees was obtained which was allocated proportionately. Thereafter, simple random sampling was used on the sample obtained across county departments. Self-administered questionnaires were used to collect primary data from the respondents. Prior to data collection, the data collection instrument was piloted on 37 respondents (10% of sample size) from Nyandarua, Kericho and Nyamira Counties who did not participate in the actual study. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, supported by the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results of the survey were presented in tables. The study established that onboarding practice had weak and positive correlation with employee performance. The study concluded that onboarding practice was found to be significant predictors of employee performance. The study recommends the need for County Governments to benchmark with industry best practices, thereby aligning their staff needs to changing industry needs. In addition, they need to restructure their communication mechanism to enhance onboarding process and continuously encourage use of onboarding teams for easier, quicker employee-focused onboarding process.
Ira Rozana Mohd Asri, Mohammad Hidir Baharudin, Rahmawati Mohd Yusoff, Wan Amir Azlan Wan Haniff
The rapid expansion of Online and Distance Learning (ODL) and hybrid learning after COVID-19 has changed the delivery of higher education, including legal education. This article provides a concise qualitative exploration of the effects and challenges of ODL and hybrid learning among undergraduate law students in Malaysia. Using the Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework, the discussion focuses on cognitive presence, social presence, and teaching presence as key elements for sustaining legal reasoning, engagement, and academic resilience in digital and blended environments. The article adopts a descriptive qualitative and cross-sectional approach based on student-oriented reflections and selected pedagogical literature. The revision clarifies that the findings should be interpreted as contextual insights rather than causal or statistically generalisable results. It further acknowledges the need to include faculty members, administrators, and legal practitioners in future studies, and recommends mixed-method, longitudinal, and comparative research to measure outcomes such as performance, retention, advocacy skills, and professional readiness.
Agus Taryana, Mochammad Rifky Pamungkas, Ria Arifianti
This study aims to analyse the implementation of postharvest warehousing operations in maintaining orange quality and supporting the distribution of horticultural products to consumers. The research employed a qualitative descriptive approach through field observations and interviews with warehouse owners and workers directly involved in operational activities. The findings reveal that the warehousing system has implemented integrated operational stages consisting of put away, storage, receiving, picking, ancillary activities, packing, and shipping. The storage stage emerged as the most critical process due to its role in maintaining product quality through controlled air ventilation and fruit ripening during the storage period. In addition, the application of grading based on fruit quality contributed to market segmentation and helped preserve the commercial value of the products before distribution. The study also found that most warehouse activities were still conducted manually, potentially increasing the risk of distribution delays and inventory management errors when demand volume rises. Therefore, the development of simple digital inventory recording systems and more modern storage management practices may serve as alternative strategies to improve the operational effectiveness of horticultural warehousing in the future.
Andrew Kipkebut, Lucy Abuodha, Moses Thiga
Dyslexia is a prevalent learning disability that affects reading, writing, and comprehension skills. Traditional interventions often rely on single-modality approaches, which may not fully address the diverse cognitive needs of dyslexic learners. This research explores the integration of multimodal machine learning as an optimized strategy for dyslexia interventions. By integrating visual, auditory, and textual inputs, multimodal AI systems can personalize learning experiences, enhance engagement, improve comprehension, and facilitate real-time adaptation of educational materials to match individual cognitive patterns. This research highlights the potential of AI-driven educational strategies in enhancing accessibility and inclusivity, paving the way for more effective dyslexia interventions in modern learning environments. It also shows how to optimize educational Strategies for Dyslexia through multimodal machine learning. A narrative synthesis and systematic literature review conducted under PRISMA guidelines, the research evaluates adaptive systems that personalize content in real time. Findings indicate that MML enhances reading fluency, knowledge retention, and learner engagement. These results highlight the potential of AI-driven multimodal frameworks to improve accessibility and inclusivity in dyslexia education.
Hafini Suhana Ithnin, Muhammad Adidinizar Zia Ahmad Kusairee, Noormahayu Mohd Nasir, Nor Zarina Mohd Salim, Siti Nur'amalina Syeddin, Zarul Azhar Nasir
This study ranks five educational techniques (Constructivist, Collaborative, Inquiry-based, Integrative, and Reflective) for part-time degree programme students enrolled in the ECO415 (Economics) course at the UiTM Perak Branch Sri Iskandar Campus using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). We apply the given pairwise geometric-mean ratios to construct the full 5×5 reciprocal matrix. We compute final weights to four decimal places and display all calculation processes, including row averages, column sums, normalisation, and the geometric mean approach. A consistency check (λmax, CI, CR using RI=1.12) confirms acceptable consistency (CR ≈4.79%). The resulting ranking is: Constructivist > Collaborative > Inquiry-based > Integrative > Reflective. Lastly, we provide ECO415 lecturers with practical teaching suggestions. The favoured approaches are constructivist and collaborative, which is consistent with research showing that adult and part-time learners favour hands-on, active learning. Group work, real-world projects, and flexible delivery to meet the needs of part-time economics students are among the recommendations.
Mariam Mahmudah Binti Abd Aziz, Mohd Ruzaimi Bin Mohd Ariffin, Muhammad Abdul Adib Bin Abdul Aziz, Muhammad Farhan Bin Hj Azmir
As the smart building paradigm establishes a global standard, ensuring occupant well-being has transitioned from a secondary utility to a fundamental safety requirement. Despite the widespread acquisition of environmental data through the Internet of Things (IoT), contemporary systems often suffer from "data overload" and fragmented silos, which obscure the longitudinal value of historical trends and result in reactive safety management. This research addresses these systemic gaps by developing a descriptive analytics dashboard using Microsoft Power BI to synthesize multi-source IoT data specifically CO2 levels, humidity, temperature, light intensity, and motion into actionable intelligence. Adopting a project-based methodology grounded in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), the study operationalizes safety thresholds derived from ASHRAE and World Health Organization (WHO) standards through an "action-driven" traffic-light categorization system. Empirical results demonstrate that monitored environmental conditions remained within "Safe" thresholds for 99.7% of the observation periods. While CO2 (mean: 453.86 ppm) and temperature (mean: 23.52°C) remained stable within recommended ranges, light intensity was consistently observed below indoor standards. Furthermore, correlational analysis identified a direct relationship between occupant density and CO2 fluctuations, emphasizing the necessity of integrated sensing for strategic ventilation planning. By bridging the gap between raw sensing and strategic visualization, this research provides a robust framework for transitioning smart building management from reactive maintenance to a data-driven proactive model.
Queenie D. Los Baňos, Raul C. Orongan
This study examined the influence of organizational support and teaching effectiveness on the technical competence of Technology and Livelihood Education (TLE) teachers amid demands for industry-standard vocational instruction. A quantitative descriptive-correlational design was employed among 245 TLE teachers from public secondary schools in Don Carlos, Maramag, and Quezon Districts, in the Division of Bukidnon, Philippines, during School Year 2025–2026, selected via total enumeration sampling. Findings revealed high organizational support, very high teaching effectiveness, and high technical competence across all TLE strands (ICT, AFA, FCS, Industrial Arts). Significant positive correlations existed among technical competence, organizational support, and teaching effectiveness. Regression analysis identified assessment strategies, instructional delivery, professional development, partnerships, and curriculum management as key predictors of technical competence, with assessment strategies showing the strongest influence. Schools may prioritize targeted professional development, hands-on training, and refined assessment practices to enhance TLE teachers' technical proficiency and instructional quality.
Joy Marie C. Lapiz, Maria Eliza A. Deang, Randy C. Mangubat, Raymond C. Espina, Veronica C. Calasang
This study determined the level of basic competency acquisition and work readiness of Bachelor of Technical-Vocational Teacher Education (BTVTED) fourth-year pre-service teachers at Cebu Technological University Main Campus for School Year 2025–2026. Specifically, it examined the relationship between competency acquisition and work readiness to serve as a basis for a Technical-Vocational Skills Enhancement Plan. The study utilized a descriptive–correlational quantitative research design conducted within the university setting. Respondents consisted of BTVTED fourth-year pre-service teachers from day session, selected through total enumeration sampling. Data were gathered using an adapted survey questionnaire. The collected data were analyzed using frequency, percentage, weighted mean, and Pearson product–moment correlation. Findings revealed that the respondents were predominantly 21–22 years old and mostly female, with many possessing TESDA National Certificates and having short to moderate training exposure. Results further showed that the respondents demonstrated very high acquisition of basic competencies across all domains and were very ready for work. Moreover, the analysis revealed a moderate, positive, and statistically significant relationship between basic competency acquisition and work readiness. The study concludes that stronger competency acquisition significantly contributes to higher levels of work readiness among BTVTED pre-service teachers. It is therefore recommended that the institution sustain competency-based and experiential learning approaches and implement a Technical-Vocational Skills Enhancement Plan to strengthen practicum exposure, industry alignment, and professional preparation.
Christian Paul O. Cruz, Erick Sevidal Tabua, Katrina Carbon Margallo, Ryan Jacob Jimenez Rodriguez, Wynchester Jam Ysit Viernes
For a long time, Civil Service Examination (CSE) candidates in Alaminos City have encountered major obstacles, largely due to the absence of affordable study aids and reliable professional mentorship. Many applicants have had to depend on obsolete materials that do not match current testing standards, resulting in historically low passing rates and stalled career growth in the public sector. To solve these persistent issues, this study introduces the Pangasinan State University Alaminos City Campus Civil Service Exam Reviewer (PSU-ACCCSER). Developed collaboratively by faculty, experts, and students, this mobile application provides a comprehensive, university-supported resource that strictly follows Professional and Sub-Professional exam guidelines while addressing local needs. The system was built using the Agile development framework and features three core learning components: curated modules for clerical and general skills, guided quizzes with instant feedback, and mock exams that replicate real testing scenarios. After deployment, the system was evaluated against the ISO/IEC 25010 quality model. Stakeholders gave it an "Excellent" rating with a weighted mean of 4.32, praising its usability and relevance. Early data suggests a significant positive effect on student outcomes, linked to a 38% increase in first-time passing rates and a 72% improvement in candidate confidence. PSU-ACCCSER serves as a scalable, community-oriented tool that democratizes access to professional opportunities and supports the university's mission of regional development.
Nur Muneerah Binti Kasim, Siti Aminah Binti Harun, Siti Quyume Azira Binti Aziz
Parental involvement is widely recognized as a critical factor influencing the academic success of students, particularly those with special educational needs (SEN). This qualitative study explored the experiences, perceptions, and practices of 10 parents and 5 teachers in inclusive school settings to understand how parental engagement supports learning outcomes. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis, resulting in four major themes: home-based engagement, school-based collaboration, barriers and contextual factors, and advocacy and informed engagement. Findings indicate that effective parental involvement is multidimensional and context-dependent, combining structured support at home, active participation in school-based planning, and informed advocacy to align home and school practices. Socio-economic constraints, time pressures, and limited knowledge of special education processes were identified as challenges that may influence the quality of engagement. The study underscores the importance of structured programs, accessible resources, and collaborative policies to strengthen family–school partnerships and enhance academic and socio-emotional outcomes for students with SEN.
Allan Jay S. Cajandig, Allen Jane M. Ocho
This study investigated the extent to which parenting practices, student engagement, and motivation predict academic performance among students and examined whether parenting practices mediate the relationship between student engagement and motivation, and academic performance. A total of 182 Grade 10 students participated in the study, completing validated instruments that measured parenting practices, engagement, motivation, and academic performance indicators. Using survey data and regression-based mediation analysis, the study tested whether student engagement and motivation mediate the relationship between parenting practices and academic performance. Results showed that student engagement significantly predicted academic performance, indicating a direct positive effect on Mathematics achievement. However, parenting practices did not significantly mediate the relationships between engagement and academic performance or between motivation and academic performance. Although students reported generally high engagement and motivation and moderate parenting support, no significant indirect effects were found in the mediation model. Overall, the findings suggest that academic performance in Mathematics is more strongly influenced by direct student engagement than by parenting-mediated pathways. The study highlights the importance of instructional strategies that promote active participation and sustained engagement in improving academic outcomes.
Stiphen Artigas
Low participation in learning social studies remains a challenge. To forecast student participation using teacher modeling and student interest as predictors was aimed. Data from randomly selected 200 junior high school students were collected through a survey. Using multiple linear regression analysis, the study concluded that the model for student participation in social studies discussions, with teacher modeling and student interest as predictors, is statistically significant and supports Social Cognitive Theory, demonstrating that learning is influenced by the interaction of personal and environmental factors. Further studies may explore factors affecting participation, while teachers and administrators may focus on clear communication, teaching strategies, and professional development to enhance student engagement in learning social studies.
Edwin B. Arzoaquoi, Isaac Gbadeh Jolokleh
Despite the growing integration of social media into students’ daily lives, there remains a paucity of empirical research on its academic implications within the Liberian educational sector. This study examined the relationship between social media use and students’ academic performance among secondary school students in Liberia. The study was grounded in Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Theory and employed a descriptive survey research design. The target population comprised secondary school students, from which a sample of 229 respondents was selected using simple random sampling. Data were collected through a self-constructed questionnaire and analyzed using both descriptive statistics and inferential techniques, specifically the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, with the aid of SPSS. The findings revealed that students extensively use social media platforms for communication and learning-related activities; however, excessive usage was associated with adverse academic outcomes. The analysis established a statistically significant moderate negative relationship between time spent on social media and academic performance (r = – 0.36, p < 0.05), indicating that increased engagement with social media corresponds with reduced academic effectiveness. The study is significant as it provides empirical evidence to guide educational policy and practice in Liberia. It emphasizes the need for structured integration of digital technologies into teaching and learning, alongside strategies to regulate and optimize students’ use of social media for academic purposes.
Angelica M. Porcadilla, Emma C. Ventura
This study examined the alignment of Social Studies instruction with 21st-century skills and the Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) of teachers in private junior high schools in Olongapo City, Zambales. Using a quantitative-descriptive design, data were gathered from 201 Grade 8 students and 30 Social Studies teachers across eight private schools through validated survey instruments. Descriptive statistics and non-parametric tests, including the Shapiro-Wilk Test, Mann-Whitney U Test, Kruskal-Wallis H Test, and Dunn’s post hoc analysis with Bonferroni adjustment, were utilized to analyze the data. Findings revealed that teachers demonstrated a very high level of Pedagogical Content Knowledge, particularly in pedagogical strategies and curriculum design. Students also perceived Social Studies instruction as aligned with 21st-century skills, especially in critical thinking and collaboration. However, relatively lower ratings were observed in creativity, leadership, and collaborative innovation. Significant differences emerged in selected student demographic variables, while most teacher demographic variables showed no significant differences in PCK. Despite these positive findings, the study acknowledges limitations related to self-reported measures, the absence of classroom observations, and the limited scope of private schools within one city. In response to the findings, the study proposed the SS21 Program: Bridging Pedagogy and Practice, a structured intervention framework designed to strengthen Social Studies pedagogy, enhance curriculum alignment, and cultivate critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and civic leadership among learners. The program includes targeted professional development sessions, collaborative learning initiatives, civic engagement activities, and assessment enhancement strategies for private junior high schools.
Hussein Hanibah, Nik Norziehana Che Isa, Nor Zakiah Nor Hashim
Electrochemistry is often considered as amongst the conceptually most challenging subjects in introductory chemistry since students are required to bridge the redox concepts, symbolic representations, particulate reasoning, and quantitative problem solving. This paper is a journal-like assessment of this collaborative teaching project, which seeks to reinforce the learning process of electrochemistry in CHM096 Foundation Chemistry II. The sources that were analysed are documentary, evaluative, and assessment related sources that are pertinent to implementation and effects of the programme. It was a lecture-based programme about redox reactions, galvanic cells and standard electrode potential in a cooperative learning session between course lecturers and a guest lecturer. The response of students was extremely positive: 87 responses were obtained, 86 of 87 students stated that they completed the session, the mean score rating was approximately 4.70 out of 5, and around 95.9% of all the ratings were 4 or 5. The most impressive dimensions were meeting programme goals, mastery of the speaker, good presentation, and clarity of explanation. Nonetheless, confidence in responding to electrochemistry questions, final-exam preparation, galvanic cells, and standard electrode potential, was found to have relatively lower ratings. Examining charting revealed that electrochemistry provided 20 marks to the CHM096 final paper, with most of the requirements being within the structured section. An analysis of 99 valid 2025 scripts revealed moderate but encouraging post-programme performance, the mean score in Question 4 was 4.41/8, in Question 5 was 3.48/8 and in electrochemistry structured score was 7.90/16 (49.4%). Notably, electrochemistry structured section performance was higher as compared to performance on the remainder of the structured questions in general. The results indicate that the collaborative teaching was positively accepted and linked to the promoting post-programme attainment of electrochemistry, and also indicated that galvanic-cell reasoning, standard electrode potential and examination-type problem solving requires further reinforcement.
Juvy Queen L. Aranas
Low teacher competencies are disconcerting. The significance of the model for teacher competencies using instructional supervision and teachers continuing professional development as predictors, was verified. Through predictive research design and regression analysis used in analyzing the data from 150 teachers selected through total enumeration, it was found that teacher competencies are strongly and significantly predicted by instructional supervision and continuing professional development. Hence, the Self-Determination Theory was fully supported. Future research may identify other predictors of teacher competencies, while school leaders may improve supervision and professional development based on teacher needs.
Bienvenu Mokili Lilala, Dieudonné Kabongo Kabongo, Georges Matabishi Kandadhu, Platini Bilongo Ngama
This study follows a survey conducted with 100 women agricultural entrepreneurs in Bunia who received funding from the NGO CEMADEF. The objective was to determine these women's perceptions and expectations after accessing financing granted by this microfinance institution to develop their businesses. At the end of the study, 91% of the women agripreneurs were satisfied with the agricultural microcredit they received from CEMADEF, demonstrating their positive perception after accessing the microcredit. Consequently, they expressed a desire to continue their partnership with this organization for the development of their businesses. The research indicates that they have, on average, 6 to 10 years of experience in agripreneurship; this, combined with their 1 to 10 years of involvement with microcredit, justifies the fact that these women surveyed have a partnership that demonstrates the sustainability of their relationship with the organization's microfinance products/services, which is a guarantee of the economic stability of their entrepreneurial activities. The vast majority of funds received are allocated to the trade of agricultural products. Women agricultural entrepreneurs, who rely on their long-standing experience with the microfinance products and services offered by CEMADEF, report being completely satisfied and having no further expectations of their funder. They are concerned that the funds will make their businesses more difficult to operate. While the program is inclusive and accessible, improvements are needed to ensure broader and more substantial coverage.
Agnes Achieng Amollo, Dr. Mathew Karia
Tele practice has become a vital method of offering speech and language therapy, this method is especially more popular in low-income households where there are challenges such as limited financial resources, distance barriers, which makes it difficult to access in person therapy sessions. This study investigated the level at which different stakeholders such as parents; caregivers and speech and language pathologists rated the use of tele practice as an alternative in helping children with communication difficulties at the Kenya institute of Special Education (KISE). This study was anchored on Giddens's theory of Modernity. The study made use of the mixed methods approach which amalgamated different numbers from records of attendance, satisfaction ratings and results of therapy given with the views collected by the use of interviews. The study findings noted that majority of the participants had a positive view of tele practice, highlighting that it offers convenience, is cheaper as compared to in person sessions and is accessible from anywhere. Some of the disadvantages were noted which included unstable network connectivity in some areas, the attention span of children is limited during the online sessions and the lack of the personal touch that can only be afforded by physical interaction during therapy. Those involved noted that it was satisfactory with a 40% mark, 20% were not satisfied, while 13% remained neutral, and 27% were very satisfied. The regression analysis done pointed out that articulation improvement, quality as highlighted by participants and the need to recommend teletherapy were the greatest indicators of tele practice success (F-2.871, P- 0.042). The study concluded that Tele practice is practical and a very effective method of helping address communication difficulties but the challenges highlighted should be addressed.
Jhona C. Campani, Virgilio P. Rapada Jr
The universal primary education is one of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) established by the United Nations (UN), to which the Philippines, as a member state, has pledged its support. The Philippines, similar to many other nations, acknowledges that a well-educated populace can yield substantial long-term economic and social benefits, such as enhanced productivity, innovation, and increased civic engagement and participation in governmental programs (Albert et al., 2023). Consequently, the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan emphasizes the importance of improving education and promoting lifelong learning as a crucial component of the country’s medium-term strategy for human and social development (NEDA PDP, n.d.). This plan aspires to create a society where Filipinos are intelligent and innovative, with significantly reduced learning poverty and widespread access to high-quality lifelong learning opportunities. With this growing awareness of the need for Early Childhood Education and Development, the Philippines has put a lot of importance to basic education and developed comprehensive reforms in the country’s educational system. Among these is the institutionalization of kindergarten through RA 10157 which is known as the Kindergarten Education Act of 2012, wherein Kindergarten was made as the compulsory and mandatory entry stage to education. This, as the country’s Department of Education believed that the age of five (5) was the transition period from informal to formal literacy (Grades 1-12) considering that such age was within the critical years where positive experiences must be nurtured to ensure school readiness (DepEd, n.d.). This opened up the opportunity for the Filipino kindergarten learner and teacher to be put up front and centre.
June Grace Casaje-Pacunayen, Maricar S. Prudente, Socorro E. Aguja
This phenomenological study examined how school principals in the Schools Division of Navotas interpreted and integrated the four pillars of the Basic Education Development Plan (BEDP) 2030—Access, Equity, Quality, and Resilience—with the principles of Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education. This phenomenological study used a qualitative 3Es approach involving enquiry, document examination, and experiential observation. The researcher explored the lived experiences of eight (8) principals, alongside focus group discussions with thirty-eight (38) teachers and forty (40) students. The findings revealed a paradigm shift in school leadership, with principals evolving from traditional administrative compliers into strategic adaptation leaders. BEDP 2030 was conceptualized not merely as a mandate but as a "North Star" or roadmap that guides long-term institutional direction through data-driven School Improvement Plans (SIP) and Annual Implementation Plans (AIP). Specific localized interventions identified included active seeking strategies like Oplan Galugad for access, feeding programs for equity, teacher upskilling for quality, and disaster preparedness for resilience. However, implementation faced significant lived tensions, including chronic underfunding, environmental vulnerability from frequent flooding, and a disconnect between rigid national targets and grassroots realities. A critical "Humanware vs. Hardware" gap persisted, where staff readiness was often hindered by infrastructure deficits. The study concluded that successful integration required compassionate stewardship and the flexibility to adapt national policies to local contexts. It recommended re-evaluating performance metrics and establishing climate-responsive funding to support disaster-prone divisions.
Mohamad Shafiei Ayub, Muaz Mohd Noor, Muhammad Taufik Md Sharipp, Salahudin Suyurno
Effective da'wah communication is the cornerstone of successful Islamic propagation in Malaysia's diverse society. However, weaknesses in the communication approaches of local preachers remain an ongoing concern. This study evaluates the persuasive communication practices of preachers in Malaysia based on six persuasive communication principles of Badiuzzaman Said Nursi, namely reciprocation, commitment and consistency, authority, scarcity, social proof, and liking, as framed by Robert B. Cialdini's (2009) theory of persuasive communication. This qualitative study employed semi-structured in-depth interviews with 13 informants comprising tullāb an-Nūr members and Said Nursi researchers in Malaysia. Data were analysed through deductive and inductive thematic analysis using ATLAS.ti, yielding 162 codes grouped into 40 categories. The findings reveal that these principles, when embedded within an Islamic epistemological framework, undergo a fundamental transformation that calls into question their universality and exposes the secular assumptions of mainstream persuasion theory. Specifically, the study demonstrates that Islamic da'wah reconfigures reciprocation as spiritually-disinterested giving, consistency as theological steadfastness (istiqāmah), and liking as communal-spiritual proximity (sohbah). On the basis of these findings, the study proposes an Islamic Persuasive Communication (IPC) Framework as a preliminary theoretical contribution towards an indigenised theory of Islamic communicative influence.
Lai See May, Norafefah Mohd Sobri, Norhafizan Awang, Rohazlyn Rosly, Wan Nazihah Wan Mohamed, Wan Nur Mardhiah Nik Mohamed
The growing use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications among students has dramatically changed several elements of education, including academic writing. This study analyses the factors that influence students' intentions to use AI-powered writing tools, such as ChatGPT and Perplexity, in their academic writing. The Value-Based Adoption Model (VAM) was applied as a theoretical framework to explore the perceptions of 281 university students regarding the perceived usefulness, enjoyment, technicality, and cost. Data collected through questionnaires were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), and the findings concluded that perceived usefulness and enjoyment significantly influence students' intentions to use AI applications, while perceived technicality and cost have no significant influence on the use of AI applications in students’ academic writing. In addition, the study confirms that PLS-SEM model provides better predictive accuracy than a simple linear regression approach. These findings suggest that universities should establish guidelines for appropriate AI use while capitalizing on its benefits for academic progress.
Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed Al-Haddar, Dr. Mohammad Ishaque Husain, Dr. Mostafa Hassan Mohamed El Khayat
This study examines the structural relationship between political despotism and the rising phenomenon of suicide in contemporary Arab societies, offering a novel interdisciplinary framework that reconciles political sociology with the Higher Objectives of Sharia (Maqasid al-Sharia). Moving away from traditional, isolated psychological and clinical explanations, the paper adopts a dual approach combining a Critical Analytical Approach with a Maqasid Projective Approach to investigate how authoritarian governance functions as a macro-sociological determinant of self-destruction. To ensure conceptual clarity and scientific rigor, the study operationalizes highly qualitative terms such as "Existential Suffocation" and "Moral Killing" into measurable sociological indicators of extreme psychological alienation and systemic blockage of human agency.
Ashley Timean, Oluchi Jane Maduka
The removal of fuel subsidies in Nigeria in May 2023 triggered widespread economic disruption, with particularly severe consequences for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that depend heavily on affordable energy and transportation. In contrast, Ghana has operated a deregulated petroleum pricing system since 2015 under the supervision of the National Petroleum Authority, resulting in a market-based fuel pricing regime without direct consumer subsidies. This study provides a comparative analysis of SME adaptation to post-subsidy and energy price shocks in both countries, examining how differences in policy timing and institutional structures shape enterprise resilience. Using a comparative, convergent mixed-methods design based on secondary data, the study integrates macroeconomic indicators from national and international institutions with qualitative evidence from SME surveys, policy reports, and peer-reviewed literature. Data sources were selected using a purposive document strategy that emphasized relevance, credibility, and direct linkage to SME performance under energy price changes. Findings reveal that Nigerian SMEs experienced acute cost shocks following the removal of subsidies, while Ghanaian SMEs have faced more gradual but persistent cost pressures. Across both contexts, SMEs demonstrate adaptive strategies such as digital transformation, energy substitution, and supply chain localization, although adaptive capacity remains uneven and shaped by access to finance, infrastructure, and institutional support. The study highlights that energy price reform affects SMEs differently depending on policy design and structural conditions, offering insights for managing enterprise resilience in energy-constrained environments.
Brinica L. Bo-oan, Cathrine L. Tomas
Socio-emotional learning (SEL) is increasingly recognized as essential in early childhood education; however, there remains a gap in contextualized, practice-based resources that reflect teachers’ lived experiences in resource-limited settings. This study explored the practices, challenges, and coping mechanisms of thirteen Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) teachers in the Cervantes District as a basis for developing a teaching primer for SEL. Using a qualitative research design, data were gathered through in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically. Findings revealed that teachers implement SEL through embedded practices such as emotional grounding routines, play-based interactions, teacher modeling, and environmental scaffolding. Despite challenges including diverse learner behaviors, limited resources, large class sizes, and insufficient training, teachers demonstrated resilience through adaptive strategies such as flexible instruction, improvisation, reflective practice, and collaboration. These findings highlight that effective SEL implementation is both teacher-driven and context-dependent. Based on the findings, a contextualized teaching primer entitled The Nurturing Compass was developed, integrating research-based strategies aligned with established theories of emotional intelligence, sociocultural learning, psychosocial development, and social learning. The study underscores the importance of aligning classroom practices, teacher preparation, and institutional support to ensure meaningful and sustainable SEL implementation in early childhood education.
Cyril Abioye Charles Olowoyeye
Communication frequently breaks down not because speakers lack linguistic competence, but because hearers misinterpret what is implied rather than explicitly stated. This paper advances the position that misconstrued implicature constitutes a central and systematic source of communicative failure, particularly in multilingual and second-language contexts such as Nigeria. Drawing on Gricean pragmatics, relevance theory, and recent Nigerian empirical studies, the paper argues that implicature is inherently unstable due to contextual variability, sociocultural divergence, and uneven pragmatic competence. Through extensive analysis of classroom discourse, digital communication, and Nigerian sociopolitical rhetoric, the study demonstrates that pragmatic misfire is not accidental but predictable and patterned. It proposes a refined typology of misconstrued implicature and advocates a pedagogical shift toward explicit instruction in pragmatic inferencing. The paper concludes that successful communication depends not on linguistic accuracy alone but on shared interpretation, making pragmatic competence central to language education and social interaction.
Andrea Mae G. Arcamo, Charry Jo P. Lian, Cynthia S. Superable, Maebil Marie B. Go, Merasol O. Duyag, Sammy B. Taghoy
Surgical procedures often elicit significant psychological responses among patients, which can influence their overall recovery experience and outcomes. This study examined the relationship between pre-operative anxiety, coping strategies, and post-operative recovery management among surgical patients, emphasizing how psychological responses prior to surgery and coping behaviors influence recovery outcomes such as pain management, physiological stability, complication prevention, and functional recovery. The study employed a descriptive-correlational research design and was conducted in a tertiary government hospital in Ozamiz City, Philippines. A total of 100 surgical patients undergoing elective procedures were purposively included in the study. Data were gathered through a researcher-made questionnaire and analyzed using the weighted mean, standard deviation, and Pearson’s Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient. Patients demonstrated extremely elevated pre-operative anxiety, highly utilized coping strategies, and excellent post-operative recovery management. Pre-operative anxiety does not directly influence post-operative recovery management, whereas coping strategies such as emotion-focused coping and cognitive reframing contribute in limited and specific ways, indicating that recovery outcomes are largely shaped by other clinical and supportive factors. Healthcare providers may integrate structured anxiety screening, coping interventions, and continuous clinical management to enhance both psychological support and post-operative recovery outcomes among surgical patients.
Billy Joe M. Nicolas
This quantitative study investigated the predictive relationship between transformational leadership practices and curriculum fidelity among all public secondary school heads and teachers within the Guimba District, Nueva Ecija. Methodology: Employing a descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from a sample of 9 school heads and 90 teachers. Transformational leadership was evaluated across four dimensions (Idealized Influence, Inspirational Motivation, Intellectual Stimulation, and Individualized Consideration), while curriculum fidelity was measured through five components (Adherence, Exposure, Quality of Delivery, Participant Responsiveness, and Program Differentiation). Data were analyzed using ANOVA and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Key Findings: Descriptive results revealed that Idealized Influence achieved the highest mean score among leadership dimensions, indicating that school heads are widely perceived as trusted role models. Within curriculum fidelity, Adherence ranked highest, reflecting a strong organizational emphasis on aligning school operations with national standards. While demographic variations in curriculum fidelity were initially observed based on civil status and experience, ANOVA confirmed that the most significant difference emerged when respondents were categorized by their organizational position (p = 0.001). Regression Results and Conclusion: The overall regression model was statistically robust, explaining 80.4% of the variance in curriculum fidelity (R2 = 0.804, p = 0.032). At a 95% confidence level, stepwise multiple regression identified Individualized Consideration as the singular, statistically significant predictor of curriculum fidelity (β = 0.895, p = 0.009). These findings demonstrate that personalized support, coaching, and mentoring provided by school heads are the most critical drivers of faithful curriculum implementation. Consequently, targeted professional development focusing on individualized consideration is highly recommended to sustain high-quality curriculum execution across the district's public secondary schools.
Ivie Tang Chui Wen, Zulezwan Bin Ab Malik
Background: Migrant workers are exposed to various socio-economic and occupational challenges that may adversely affect their health and quality of life (QoL). In Malaysia, particularly in Northern Sabah, limited evidence exists on the determinants influencing well-being among this population. This study aimed to identify predictors of health and quality of life among migrant workers in Northern Sabah. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 392 migrant workers using a structured questionnaire. Quality of life was assessed using the WHOQOL-BREF instrument. As data were not normally distributed, median and interquartile range (IQR) were reported, and non-parametric tests (Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis) were used for group comparisons. Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of overall quality of life. Results: The median scores indicated moderate levels of quality of life across domains, with psychological health showing the highest median (69.00; IQR = 25), followed by physical health (63.00; IQR = 19), while lower scores were observed in social relationships (56.00; IQR = 32) and working management (56.00; IQR = 25). Multiple regression analysis revealed that social relationships (β = 0.495, p < 0.001) and working management (β = 0.455, p < 0.001) were the strongest predictors of overall quality of life. Physical health (β = 0.324, p < 0.001) and psychological health (β = 0.309, p < 0.001) were also significant predictors. Gender and country of origin were not significantly associated with quality of life. Conclusion: Quality of life among migrant workers in Northern Sabah is primarily influenced by social and workplace-related factors. Interventions aimed at strengthening social support and improving management practices may significantly enhance well-being in this population.
Arzizul Antin, Connie Shin@Cassy Ompok, Lee Bih Ni, Nur Farha Binti Shaafi
This study explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can empower rural learners in Sabah through an AI-enhanced history education intervention grounded in community-based practices. Rural schools in Sabah continue to face disparities in digital access, instructional quality, and engagement compared to urban counterparts, particularly in subjects like history that rely on contextual understanding and narrative depth. Drawing on recent empirical work in Sabah and broader AI-in-education research, this study proposes an intervention that integrates offline-capable AI tools, localized historical content, and community knowledge to enhance student learning outcomes and cultural relevance. Using a synthesis of credible online sources, the study examines how AI-supported instruction can improve engagement, critical thinking, and academic performance among rural learners. The findings aim to contribute to sustainable, inclusive educational innovation aligned with regional needs, highlighting the transformative potential of AI when adapted to low-resource environments and culturally responsive pedagogies.
Abdifatah Dakane, Dr. Dennis Gichobi Magu (PhD), Dr. Joseph Mutai (PhD, Dr. Mwiti Peter Kirimi (PhD)
People living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHIV) are increasingly experiencing a growing burden of non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension and diabetes, alongside chronic HIV infection. However, evidence on the prevalence and associated factors of these conditions among PLWHIV in arid and semi-arid regions of Kenya remains limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes and examine their socio-demographic and anthropometric correlates among PLWHIV attending the Comprehensive Care Clinic at Isiolo County Referral Hospital, Kenya. A hospital-based cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 231 HIV-positive adults receiving antiretroviral therapy. Data were collected using a structured interviewer-administered questionnaire and standardized clinical measurements, including blood pressure, fasting blood glucose, weight, and height. Data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics version 25.0 through descriptive statistics and chi-square tests of association. The findings revealed that 42.4% of respondents had previously been diagnosed with hypertension, while 23.4% had previously been diagnosed with diabetes. Clinical assessment further showed that 39.4% of respondents were classified within Stage 1 hypertension and 16.0% within Stage 2 hypertension, while 39.4% were diabetic and 24.2% were pre-diabetic based on fasting blood glucose measurements. Hypertension prevalence was significantly associated with age group, gender, education level, occupation, BMI category, and blood pressure classification (p < 0.05). Similarly, diabetes prevalence demonstrated significant associations with age, gender, education level, occupation, income status, and BMI category (p < 0.05). Older respondents, females, and underweight participants generally exhibited higher prevalence of both conditions. The study concludes that hypertension and diabetes represent a significant cardiometabolic burden among PLWHIV in Isiolo County and highlights the need for integrated HIV-NCD screening and management within Comprehensive Care Clinics in resource-limited settings.
Itumeleng Thabang Silungwe
This study examined the supervisory strategies employed by principals to improve teachers’ job performance in primary schools within the Kweneng region of Botswana. The study was motivated by persistent concerns regarding low learner academic performance in the region, as reflected in national examination results. Grounded in McGregor’s Theory X and Theory Y, the study explored how principals’ supervisory practices influence teachers’ professional performance and instructional effectiveness. A convergent mixed-methods design guided the study. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently using questionnaires and structured interviews. The study involved 60 participants, including teachers, principals, deputy principals, and heads of departments selected from three primary schools representing rural, peri-urban, and urban contexts. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative data were analyzed thematically.*98/*////////// The findings revealed that principals commonly employed supervisory strategies such as classroom observation, delegation of responsibilities, review of professional records, inclusive decision-making, and professional development initiatives to improve teachers’ job performance. The study further established that supportive and collaborative supervisory approaches contributed positively to teacher motivation, instructional delivery, and professional accountability. However, challenges such as inadequate resources, limited professional development opportunities, excessive administrative workload, and negative teacher perceptions toward supervision constrained effective supervisory practices. The study concludes that effective supervision plays a critical role in enhancing teachers’ job performance and improving educational outcomes in primary schools. It recommends that the Ministry of Basic Education strengthen capacity-building initiatives for school leaders, provide adequate instructional resources, and promote supportive supervisory environments that encourage teacher professional growth. The study contributes to educational leadership literature by providing empirical evidence on supervisory practices within the Botswana primary school context.
Angelique L. Bergonio
This study obtained information regarding the level of procurement and financial performance among selected National Government Agencies (NGA’s) in Camarines Norte. Specifically, the following objectives were addressed: 1) What is the profile of the respondents in terms of: position, years of experience in procurement, and trainings attended on procurement?; 2) What is the perceived level of procurement performance of the National Government Agencies (NGAs) on RA 9184 or Government Procurement Reform Act in terms of legislative and regulatory framework based on RA 9184, institutional framework and management capacity, procurement operations and management practices, and integrity and transparency of the management procurement system?; 3) Is there a significant relationship between the respondents’ profile and their perceived level of procurement performance of NGAs under RA 9184?; 4) What is the financial performance of the selected NGAs in terms of their budget utilization rate?; 5) What are the internal and external factors affecting the procurement performance of the selected NGAs as perceived by the respondents?; and 6) What intervention plan may be recommended to enhance the procurement performance of the selected National Government Agencies in Camarines Norte? The study used quantitative with descriptive-correlational research design wherein primary data were gathered through a structured survey while secondary data from the NGAs Financial Accountability Reports were also obtained. The statistical tools were utilized in analyzing the data collected; Frequency, percentage and ranking technique to answer the profile of the respondents (SOP 1-2), weighted mean to answer the level of significance (SOP 3), finally, to test the relationship of variables, Somer’s Delta (d), and p-values were applied. There were a total of 45 respondents from three (3) National Government Agencies who participated in the study. Based on the data gathered, the following are the findings of the study: 1) Out of the 45 respondents, the highest number are BAC Members and procurement staff with 11 & 12 respondents respectively, while only two (2) BAC Chairman participated. While majority of the respondents have 1-5 years of experience in procurement, one respondent has 16-20 years of experience. Further, 38 respondents have already attended trainings on RA 9184. 2) The level of procurement performance of the selected National Government Agencies across all four major indicators — (A) Legislative and Regulatory Framework based on RA 9184 (4.77), (B) Institutional Capacity (4.55), (C) Procurement Operations and Management Practices (4.37), and (D) Integrity & Transparency (4.37), obtained a rating of Very Satisfactory to Outstanding level of procurement performance. Indicator A achieving the highest performance rating, while Indicator C and D as the lowest; 3) The relationship between the respondents’ profile and their perceived level of procurement performance of NGAs under RA 9184 across all four indicators (A to D) of procurement performance, obtained no significant relationship. The corresponding p-values, all above 0.05 (0.623–0.831), revealed no significant relationship between training exposure and perceived procurement performance; 4) Only two out of the three selected NGA respondents were able to provide the necessary financial data for the study, with reported Budget Utilization Rates (BUR) of 95% and 60%, respectively. 5) The external factors received sum of ranks 162, slightly higher than that of the internal factors which is 161. This indicates that procurement is more significantly influenced and affected by external issues such as limited suppliers’ competition, price fluctuation and supply shortages. 6) The proposed intervention plan was formulated to address the areas that need improvement based from the results of the study. Considering the findings of the study, the following conclusions were drawn: 1) The respondents occupied various procurement-related roles, indicating that procurement performance was assessed from a broad cross-section of agency functions. Most respondents had 1–5 years of procurement experience, reflecting frequent reassignment and role rotation within NGAs. Respondents generally attended at least one procurement-related training, but the frequency and depth varied; 2) NGAs in Camarines Norte exhibit outstanding compliance with RA 9184 requirements. However, Green Public Procurement remains the weakest aspect due to limited awareness and the absence of practical tools to guide agencies. Further, operations were rated very satisfactory, showing that procurement records, evaluations, and contract management are generally well-executed. However, the complaints mechanism and anti-corruption safeguards are not maximized, indicating areas for enhancement to fully strengthen procurement accountability; 3) There is no significant relationship between respondents’ position, years of experience, and number of trainings attended, and their perceived level of procurement performance across all indicators. This means procurement performance perceptions are consistent regardless of personal or professional background, reflecting the standardized and procedural nature of RA 9184 implementation in NGAs; 4) Only two out of three NGAs provided complete FY 2024 financial data, showing a reasonable BUR; however, the absence of the third NGA data, despite formal requests, demonstrates existing challenges in financial transparency and responsiveness. This aligns with respondents’ perception that certain transparency mechanisms require strengthening. 5) The factors affecting procurement performance dwells on both external and internal. Overall, while internal conditions matter, procurement challenges arise more strongly from external factors; and, 6) Based on the identified gaps, the study concludes that NGAs would benefit from practical and implementable interventions so that the level of procurement and financial performance will be enhanced. Based on the conclusions, the following recommendations were made: 1) The NGAs may also integrate Green Public Procurement (GPP) into agency processes, ensuring that sustainability requirements are systematically incorporated in PPMPs and technical specifications; 2) NGAs may establish a Procurement Complaints and Feedback Quick-Response Desk with clear procedures for handling inquiries, concerns, and complaints from suppliers, observers, and internal stakeholders. This will ensure that procurement practice and implementation are at highest compliance and effectiveness among all its end-users; 3) The NGAs may formulate a Financial Catch-up Plan to monitor financial performance monitoring as well to accomplish high BUR; 4) The NGAs may conduct Suppliers’ conference or forum to formulate a Suppliers’ Directory for easier communication and access to the market ensuring competition among the available service and goods providers in the locality of Camarines Norte; 5) The NGAs may adopt the Intervention Program formulated by the Researcher so that the level of procurement and financial performance may be enhanced; and 6) For the future researchers, it is recommended to study the factors affecting the procurement performance of NGAs which are not covered in the study
Jinevie M. Langres
This study examined the relationship between professional development and teaching effectiveness of teachers at an elementary school in Cordova, Cebu, during the School Year 2025-2026 as a basis for a teacher enhancement plan using a descriptive-correlational research design. Data were gathered from 34 teachers through a validated questionnaire with the utilization of a simple random sampling technique. The data were assessed using descriptive statistics and Pearson's r. The results revealed a high level of professional development practices and a high level of teaching effectiveness across identified domains. Statistical analysis showed a significant relationship between professional development and teaching effectiveness, indicating that teachers who actively engage in continuous professional learning tend to exhibit more effective instructional practices. The findings highlight that professional development is significantly associated with teacher effectiveness across several instructional domains. The study concluded that professional development plays a meaningful and measurable role in improving teacher effectiveness, especially in the areas of curriculum planning, learning environment management, and instructional delivery. Based on the findings of the study, it is recommended to implement an enhancement plan for teachers that integrates curriculum-aligned lesson planning with classroom environment strategies and subject-matter deepening.
Dr. Raul C. Orongan, Marissa M. Abuel
This study examined the relationship between professional learning community (PLC) practices and organizational culture in relation to teacher attrition in Catholic schools. A total of 287 teachers from Bukidnon participated during the school year 2025–2026 through a structured survey questionnaire. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and multiple regression. Results indicated that Catholic school teachers reported high levels of PLC practices, as reflected in the overall mean, and demonstrated a strong organizational culture characterized by a mission-oriented environment that fosters teamwork and institutional effectiveness. Despite the presence of a supportive and spiritually grounded culture, teachers exhibited moderate to high levels of attrition, influenced by factors such as working conditions, salary, opportunities for professional growth, and job satisfaction. Correlation analysis confirmed a significant relationship between PLC practices and organizational culture with attrition. Regression analysis further revealed that shared personal practices within PLCs and coordinated teamwork within organizational culture were significant predictors of teacher attrition, highlighting their critical role in shaping teachers’ decisions to remain in or leave their institutions. The study concludes that strengthening PLC practices and cultivating a supportive, collaborative organizational culture are essential strategies for enhancing teacher retention and reducing attrition in Catholic schools.
Ahmad Zamri Khairani, Yao Wang
Academic burnout has become increasingly prevalent among university students in the post-pandemic era, yet limited research has examined how burnout manifests heterogeneously within the Chinese higher-education context. This study investigates burnout profiles among 5,197 undergraduates and compares subjective well-being (SWB) across the identified profiles. Using K-means clustering on the three dimensions of the Maslach Burnout Inventory–Student Survey (exhaustion, cynicism, and efficacy), three distinct profiles emerged: Low Burnout / Low Efficacy, Moderate Burnout / Moderate Efficacy, and High Burnout / High Efficacy. ANOVA results revealed significant differences in SWB across profiles, with a clear downward trend as burnout increased. Students in the Low Burnout profile reported the highest SWB, while those in the high-burnout profile exhibited severe emotional strain despite strong Professional Efficacy. These findings highlight culturally shaped burnout patterns among Chinese students and underscore the importance of differentiated, profile-based mental-health interventions. The study contributes to a more nuanced understanding of burnout heterogeneity and offers practical implications for supporting student SWB in Chinese universities.
Alvez, Claire P., Manalo, Lara Dhanna M., Mendoza, Joana C.
This chapter is an overview of the study which was focused on the analysis of the project-based Strategy in Teaching Social Studies and its influence in the Creativity of Junior High School in Tanauan. This chapter presents a brief discussion of the introduction, statement of the problem, hypothesis, and significance of the study, scope and delimitation, and definition of terms.
Amosu Aminat Toyin
This study examined the influence of project management approaches on educational outcomes in public secondary schools in Lagos State, Nigeria. Specifically, it investigated the effect of effective academic schedule management systems on students’ tertiary readiness and the influence of risk management practices on students’ academic performance in core subjects. A descriptive research design survey was adopted, and data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 177 teachers across selected public secondary schools. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics and simple linear regression analysis. The findings revealed that effective academic schedule management systems have a significant positive relationship with students’ tertiary readiness (R = 0.246, p < 0.05), indicating that structured scheduling enhances students’ preparedness for higher education. In addition, risk management practices were found to have a stronger and statistically significant positive influence on students’ academic performance in core subjects (R = 0.402, p < 0.05), suggesting that proactive identification and mitigation of academic risks improve learning outcomes. The study concludes that project management approaches are critical for enhancing both immediate and long-term educational outcomes in public schools. It recommends the adoption of integrated management strategies that combine effective scheduling with proactive risk management practices to achieve sustainable improvements in students’ academic performance and tertiary readiness in Lagos State.
Bupe Getrude Mutono-Mwanza, Natasha Rita Musonda
The escalating urgency of environmental challenges has led many organizations to adopt Green Marketing practices as a strategic framework to promote environmental sustainability. This study aimed to assess the use and effectiveness of green marketing practices among companies that use plastic material to package their beverages in Lusaka, Zambia, within the context of existing environmental policies and regulations. The research employed a positivist approach, utilizing a descriptive research design and quantitative methodology. The sampling frame consisted of selected major players in the beverage industry who use plastic material for packaging and stratified random sampling was used to select participants. Data was collected through structured 196 questionnaires administered to marketers and employees of companies in Lusaka that package their beverages in plastics. Primary data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). The findings reveal a significant lack of robust green marketing practices, with a heavy reliance on corporate social responsibility initiatives rather than operational-level eco-friendly practices. Factors such as corporate social responsibility commitments and competitive pressures were identified as key drivers, while regulatory influences and consumer awareness appeared to have limited impact. The inferential statistics indicate that all predictors significantly contribute to environmental sustainability. To enhance the effectiveness of green marketing in the plastic beverage sector, the study recommends that companies develop formal green marketing strategies, improve communication of their sustainability efforts, invest in employee training and stakeholder collaboration, and advocate for stronger regulatory support. Increased consumer education and investment in sustainable technologies were also identified as crucial measures. The research provides valuable insights for plastic beverage companies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to promote environmental sustainability through effective green marketing practices.
Khairunnisa Azmar
One of the important and required skills for students at the tertiary level is their ability to write academically. Proficiency in academic writing is deemed important as it is the main medium of communication in the academia. As such, students are expected to have certain skills and knowledge, particularly the academic literacies where they should possess certain levels of writing proficiency, knowledge in their field of studies, and the skills needed in writing. Nevertheless, the teaching of academic writing has been acknowledged as one of the most daunting aspects for many ESL lecturers and students in the tertiary field.
Thach Thi Omnara
This study examines the applicability of Dowty’s (1991) Proto-role theory to Khmer, a morphologically impoverished and under-resourced language, with the aim of exploring its potential contribution to semantic role labeling (SRL) in languages lacking overt case marking and agreement. Based on a manually annotated dataset of 81 Khmer sentences drawn from literary sources, the study analyzes how Proto-Agent and Proto-Patient entailments are distributed across diverse constructions, including serial verb constructions, passive clauses, psychological predicates, and pro-drop structures. The findings suggest that Proto-role entailments can provide a flexible and empirically useful framework for argument classification in Khmer, even in the absence of explicit morphosyntactic cues. The study aims to make three limited but targeted contributions: (i) it presents the first systematic Proto-role analysis for Khmer, (ii) it offers empirical observations indicating that Proto-role mappings remain largely stable across complex predicate structures, and (iii) it proposes a pilot annotation strategy that may inform the future development of Khmer semantic role resources for computational applications. While exploratory in scope, these results point to the potential of Proto-role-based SRL as a foundation for semantic annotation in under-resourced languages.
Abu Yousuf Md. Abdullah, Ashiquzzaman Sohan, Laboni Khatun, Md. Munjur E. Moula, Mesbaul Islam Anindo, Papia Basu
Public perception is among the driving forces in the implementation of circular economy within Bangladesh, but there is yet to be any research on this topic. The study was conducted in different areas of Dhaka city in 2020 and 2023. This exploratory survey-based study took 247 respondents in the (both phases) to investigate the public perception of circular economy in terms of public awareness and knowledge of the implementation. This study is conducted in two phase, first phase was conducted in (February-March), 2020 and second phase in (October-December) 2023. The second survey took three years’ interval for the to know the change of awareness level after corona pandemic. Both study utilized same set of multiple- choice questionnaire with same number of people and gender at the same areas of the city. The respondents were not the same person participated at the first survey. The questions were divided at the three segments: background information, environmental awareness in terms of circular economy implementation, and willingness to share information about the importance of circular economy. Quantitative and content analysis is then applied to evaluate the robustness of survey results. Results indicate that 98% of the respondents had no idea of the concept of circular economy in 2020 but number increased from 2% to 20% in between three years. However, 35% participant believe in caring for green environment, 83.7% (2020) wanted to reuse second-hand product at their home and in 2023 number increases up to 89%. Moreover, 80% respondents from both study years want to share information about the importance of circular economy with their family members, neighbors’ and alike, which could potentially support the implementation of circular economy in Bangladesh. Together, this study provides an initial step towards a better understanding about why public perception is required to support the process of circular economy implementation in Bangladesh.
Marjeliza Lagasi Palomo, Rodilyn C. Angligen
Cursive handwriting is a style of writing in which letters are connected in a continuous and flowing manner to improve writing speed, efficiency, and fluency. This skill plays an important role in early education by helping develop fine motor skills, cognitive abilities, and memory retention (Marano et al., 2025). When learners practice the continuous strokes of cursive writing, they improve hand–eye coordination, spatial awareness, and neural connections in the brain (Askvik et al., 2020). Regular practice of cursive writing also enhances spelling accuracy and reading fluency (Downing & Caravolas, 2023). Brain studies further reveal that handwriting activates areas of the brain responsible for thinking, language, and working memory more effectively than typing (Van der Weel & van der Meer, 2023). Because of these benefits, cursive handwriting remains an important foundational skill that supports literacy development, discipline, and creativity among learners (Graham & Harris, 2024). The importance of cursive handwriting is further reflected in global educational priorities, particularly Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4: Quality Education, which emphasizes ensuring that all children complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education with relevant and effective learning outcomes (United Nations, 2015). As a foundational literacy skill, cursive handwriting contributes to these learning outcomes by strengthening neural pathways, improving reading fluency, and supporting written expression—capabilities essential for quality education. According to UNESCO (2020), foundational literacy skills such as handwriting remain crucial for inclusive and equitable education. Moreover, in communities where access to digital technology is limited, handwriting continues to serve as a practical and inclusive form of communication (World Bank, 2022). Wiley and Rapp (2021) also noted that handwriting often represents a child's first meaningful interaction with literacy, beginning with writing their name and gradually developing into a tool for academic learning and personal expression.
Opoka Kenneth Jimmy
This study investigated the interconnections between quality management practices and competitiveness in manufacturing industries with particular reference to Mukwano Industries Uganda Limited. The study is grounded in the Total Quality Management (TQM) Theory, with it being established that continuous improvement, customer focus, and systematic process control are the key enablers of sustainable competitive advantage. The study was inspired by rising competitive forces from dominant companies in the East and Central African Common Market. The research has, in particular, been motivated to establish the correlation between quality planning and competitiveness, analyse the relevance of quality control to competitiveness, and analyse the contribution of quality improvement to organizational competitiveness. To ensure a holistic analysis, the case study research design was used in combination with a mixed-methods design. Data was collected from 66 respondents randomly selected from a target population of 80 employees. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, with descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations) and inferential statistics, particularly Pearson correlation analysis, used for determining the strength and significance of relationships among variables. Qualitative data included semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaire responses that were analyzed for thematic content using systematic coding, categorization, and the interpretation of emerging themes. Quality planning and quality improvement have statistically significant and positive relationships with organizational competitiveness, whilst quality control exhibited a positive but weak relationship with organizational competitiveness. It aligns with the TQM and shows the major aspects of proactive planning and continual improvement to improve firm performance. As per the research study, the successful implementation of quality management practices, and in particular quality planning and continuous improvement, is key to competitiveness and sustainability among the manufacturing firms. It is recommended that management institutionalize strategic quality planning, enhance its internal quality control system with effective monitoring and timely enforcement of corrective actions, and always improve quality improvement initiatives in order to reduce waste, reduce risks, and ensure long-term competitive advantage.
Shiela B. Caburatan
Mothers of children with Autism Spectrum behavior (ASD) exhibit poor behavior. Guided by Family Stress Theory and descriptive research design, I explored the behaviors of mothers in raising children with ASD. I interviewed 12 mothers whom I selected using purposive sampling technique. Through thematic analysis, I found that mothers encountered tantrums and physical outbursts, difficulty communicating with non-verbal children, and high cost of therapy and school. They interpret these stressful events as emotional gateway and safe space, requiring patience, and heavy financial weight. They cope by calming strategy, consistent communication, and seeking financial help resulting to a sense of relief, deepened functional connection, and partial relief of financial burden. Mothers need education and financial assistance to improve well-being. Future research may apply regression, mediation, and exploratory factor analyses to examine mothers’ interpretations, copings, and resource use relate to transformed behavior in raising children with ASD.
Hafatin Natrah Md Noh, Mohd Basir Suleiman, Saslina Kamaruddin, Zaiton Hamin
The Rukun Tetangga (Amendment) Act 2026 (Act A1789) advances Malaysia's legal framework for grassroots community administration and neighbourhood-based governance. Rukun Tetangga began as a security-focused community project in 1975 during national instability, but it has since expanded to include social cohesion, community welfare, mediation, voluntary patrols, and local coordination. This article examines the principal reforms introduced by the 2026 Amendment Act, including the statutory definition of "person who has an interest" in an area, revised eligibility rules for committee membership, changes to tenure and reappointment, and the imposition of citizenship requirements for participation in the Voluntary Patrolling Scheme. Using community governance as an analytical framework, the article argues that the Amendment strengthens legal certainty, institutional continuity, and administrative coherence within the Rukun Tetangga system. At the same time, it narrows inclusion by restricting future participation by non-citizens and permanent residents, while preserving strong administrative oversight of community institutions. This article concludes that the Amendment strengthens community governance in a limited and qualified sense, primarily through managerial and institutional consolidation rather than democratic or participatory deepening.
Abu, Adam, Andrews Cobbinah
Background. Fewer research examines how assessment perceptions shape learning approaches in teacher education, particularly the perceptual alignment between lecturers and pre-service teachers in developing contexts. This study tested the Assessment Perception Scale (APS) dimensions as predictors of deep learning approaches across Ghana's Colleges of Education. Aims. Three aims: (1) examine lecturer-trainee perceptual divergence across five APS dimensions; (2) test APS predictive power for deep learning approaches; (3) explore group interactions. Sample. Nationally representative N = 3,874 (354 lecturers, 3,520 pre-service teachers) across 24 public Ghanaian Colleges of Education; 92.3% response rate. Methods. Multistage sampling followed Krejcie & Morgan (1970). One-way MANOVA tested group differences; hierarchical multiple regression (demographics, APS, and interactions) predicted deep learning. APS α = .92-.96. Results. Table 2 reveals significant perceptual divergence across all APS dimensions, Pillai's Trace = .988, F(5, 3,514) = 57,428.64, and p < .001; task authenticity showed the largest effect (ηp² = .145). Table 3 demonstrated that APS explained 62% of the variance (R² = .62) vs. demographics 8% (R² = .08); transparency was strongest (β = .42). Group against Task Authenticity interaction was significant (ΔR² = .02, p = .032). Conclusions. APS dimensions powerfully predict deep learning, substantially outperforming demographics. Trainees' task authenticity perceptions drive deep approaches more than lecturers. National coverage across 46 institutions mandated CoE reform prioritizing transparency/authenticity training, informing GTEC policy on Colleges of Education in Ghana.
Marjo, Siti Malikhatun Badriyah
Fiduciary guarantee execution is a crucial instrument in the national financing system because it facilitates creditors' ability to obtain repayment of receivables through a parate execution mechanism. However, the enactment of Constitutional Court Decisions No. 18/PUU-XVII/2019 and No. 2/PUU-XIX/2021 has changed the paradigm of fiduciary guarantee execution in Indonesia. These decisions stipulated a default agreement and voluntary surrender of the collateral as prerequisites for execution without going through the courts. Consequently, there has been disharmony in norms, legal uncertainty, and a degradation of the executorial title of fiduciary guarantee certificates. This study aims to analyze the problematic regulation of fiduciary security execution following the Constitutional Court decision and to formulate an ideal legal reconstruction to achieve a balance of legal protection between creditors and debtors. The research method used is empirical juridical legal research, namely research by examining legal principles, legal regulations, concepts and theories related to the execution of fiduciary guarantees before and after the Constitutional Court's decision and its implementation in the practice of executing fiduciary guarantees. The results indicate that the current regulation of fiduciary security execution does not provide legal certainty due to unclear norms regarding default, execution mechanisms, and the limits of creditor authority. Therefore, legal reconstruction is needed through harmonization of the Fiduciary Guarantee Law, the establishment of a simplified court-based execution mechanism, strengthening pre-execution mediation, and establishing standards for fair execution.
Dr. Rowena M. Libo-on, Seanna Mae D. Detoyato
Farm tourism is promoted as a rural livelihood diversification pathway, yet COVID 19 restrictions disrupted on site experiences and threatened enterprise continuity in Iloilo, Philippines. This study examined recovery and sustainability strategies of farm tourism sites in Iloilo’s Third Congressional District as basis for a crisis management plan. A qualitative multiple case study covered eight (8) operating, recognized or DOT accredited farm tourism sites. Data came from in depth semi structured interviews with owners/primary decision makers (December 2021–January 2022), supported by document review and field observation. Data were analyzed through reflexive thematic analysis using an input–process–output (IPO) framework informed by systems and resilience perspectives. Operators reported linked challenges: (1) operational/regulatory disruption (closures, reduced hours/capacity, evolving compliance); (2) human resource constraints (manpower shortages, multitasking, reduced workdays, pay adjustments); and (3) financial/market pressures (income loss, delayed payments, demand shifts, buyer loss). Recovery focused on strict health protocol implementation, facility and visitor flow redesign, cost control, intensified digital promotion, and repositioning toward local/domestic markets. Sustainability measures included strengthening farm production and direct sales, diversifying products and revenues, improving resource efficiency and waste management, and leveraging LGU and partner programs for training and promotion. Farm tourism resilience depended on compliance driven reopening and agriculture anchored, incremental diversification. Findings provide empirical inputs for a site level crisis plan and for strengthening local preparedness and coordinated support for future disruptions.
Buthiena Kharabsheh, Fatin Nur Aliyah, Intan Maizura Abd Rashid, Mohd Rasdi Zaini, Noorazeela Zainol Abidin
This paper introduces PEDAGOGYFUSION5, an AI-driven pedagogical framework designed to transform financial derivatives education, particularly in the teaching of futures and options. Traditional finance education often faces challenges in bridging theoretical constructs with real-world financial decision-making, resulting in limited student engagement and conceptual understanding. PEDAGOGYFUSION5 addresses this gap by integrating artificial intelligence, simulation-based learning, experiential pedagogy, and ethical finance reasoning into a unified instructional model. The framework is structured around five core dimensions: conceptual mastery, AI-assisted visualization, real-time market simulation, applied problem-solving, and ethical financial reasoning. Methodologically, this study adopts a conceptual design science approach, drawing on an extensive synthesis of literature in finance education, experiential learning theory, and AI-enhanced pedagogy to develop and refine the framework. The findings suggest that PEDAGOGYFUSION5 enhances cognitive comprehension of complex derivative concepts, improves applied decision-making skills through immersive simulation, increases learner engagement, and strengthens the integration of ethical considerations in financial practice. Overall, the study contributes to finance education literature by proposing a scalable, technology-enhanced pedagogical model aligned with Industry 4.0 and the evolving digital finance ecosystem.
Kofi A. Boateng, Nadia Ahmadou Karim
Healthcare organizations face critical challenges in meeting the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Article 33 mandatory breach notification requirement, specifically the obligation to notify supervisory authorities within 72 hours of becoming aware of a personal data breach. Despite considerable advances in security incident detection technology, many healthcare providers experience persistent post-detection compliance failures attributable primarily to procedural bottlenecks in classification, risk assessment, legal review, and report generation, particularly when processing sensitive Article 9 special category data. This study proposes and evaluates a healthcare-specific automation framework designed to minimize reporting latency, improve classification accuracy, and reduce manual compliance workload. A modular technical architecture integrates Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), a fine-tuned Clinical BERT-based data classification engine, a weighted multi-factor risk scoring module, GDPR threshold testing logic, automated report generation, and tamper-resistant blockchain-anchored audit logging. The framework was evaluated through controlled simulation experiments (N = 40, n = 10 iterations per scenario) across four healthcare breach typologies: insider access, ransomware attack, cloud misconfiguration, and vendor sub-processor data leak. Manual workflows served as the experimental baseline. The automation framework achieved a mean MTTR reduction of 83.3% (manual M = 54.0 ± 7.2 hours; automated M = 9.0 ± 1.4 hours), with all automated iterations completing well within the 72-hour statutory window. All MTTR differences were statistically significant (p < 0.001, paired t-test; confirmed by non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank test). Classification accuracy reached 95% overall (38/40), with two false negatives in the cloud misconfiguration scenario attributed to incomplete metadata. The zero false-positive rate was maintained across all 40 runs. The automated report generator populated 92% of mandatory Article 33 fields at the field level, with the remaining 8% legal narrative justification, deliberately reserved for Data Protection Officer (DPO) review under GDPR Article 5(2). Manual compliance workload was reduced by 60%. This study provides preliminary simulation-based evidence supporting the feasibility of automating GDPR breach notification workflows in healthcare environments. These results should be interpreted as proof-of-concept findings requiring subsequent validation through prospective real-world pilot deployments before adoption in production healthcare systems. Future research should prioritize real-world piloting, AI-assisted legal narrative generation, and cross-jurisdictional adaptation to address global healthcare privacy mandates.
Olusegun A. Obasun
Infrastructure investment is widely viewed as a catalyst for economic transformation, yet many large-scale projects fail to generate sustained value. This paper examines this paradox through Nigeria’s inland waterways, focusing on the 2009–2012 Warri–Baro dredging project. Despite substantial public investment and technical completion, the project failed to deliver commercial navigation or economic impact. The paper advances a system alignment framework, arguing that infrastructure performance is a multiplicative function of three conditions: institutional coordination, demand anchoring, and technical sustainability (P = I × D × T). Using a qualitative case study and comparative analysis with China, USA, Netherlands, Europe, and Brazil, the study shows that the Warri–Baro project suffered from mis-sequenced investment, fragmented governance, the absence of binding cargo commitments, and a technically inadequate design in a dynamic hydrological environment. Political economy factors—corruption, policy discontinuity, elite capture—are specified as moderating conditions rather than core dimensions. These misalignments produced infrastructure that existed in form but not in function. Comparative analysis demonstrates that successful inland waterways operate as integrated economic and institutional ecosystems. Evidence suggests that reengineering Nigeria's Niger–Benue system through coordinated governance, engineered infrastructure (locks and canalization rather than dredging), and industrial integration could reduce freight costs by 60–70% and generate US$1.08 billion in annual transport cost savings. The framework may be generalizable to rail, energy, and logistics networks, though this requires empirical testing beyond the waterways focus of the present study.
Farahanis Ariff, Nurul Khairani Ismail
This study reconceptualises the concept of ta’dib in the educational thought of Syed Muhammad Naquib Al-Attas and examines its relevance to contemporary early childhood education, particularly within the framework of inclusive education. While current early childhood paradigms are largely shaped by developmental and child-centred approaches, they often underemphasise moral formation and the philosophical foundations of education.Using a qualitative methodology based on textual and thematic analysis of primary and secondary sources, this study explores ta’dib as a comprehensive framework that integrates knowledge, moral values and the formation of the human person through the cultivation of adab.The findings indicate that ta’dib extends beyond pedagogical practice and offers a value-based orientation that recognises the dignity, diversity and developmental uniqueness (fitrah) of every child. From this perspective, inclusive education is not merely a technical or policy-driven approach but a moral responsibility grounded in the recognition of human dignity and the proper place of individuals within the order of existence.This study contributes to the field by bridging Islamic educational philosophy with contemporary inclusive education discourse, proposing ta’dib as a holistic framework for nurturing equitable, meaningful and morally grounded early childhood education.
Dr. Wambua Pius Muasa, Ph.D, Rose Isabella Ikaal
Academic burnout has emerged as a significant concern among university students due to its adverse effects on academic performance and psychological well-being. Although family functioning plays a critical role in shaping students’ emotional regulation and coping capacities, limited empirical research has examined its association with academic burnout among university populations. Therefore, the aim of this study was to examine the relationship between academic burnout and family functioning among university students. The study was grounded on Maslach's burnout theory and Murray Bowen's family systems theory.The study adopted a correlational research design to examine the relationship between the two variables.The Yamane formula (1967) was applied to determine the sample size of 244 participants from the study target population of 1007.Data was collected using the Oldenburg Burnout Inventory – Student Version (OLBI-S) and a combined questionnaire incorporating the Family APGAR Scale and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages) and Pearson correlation analysis with SPSS version 25. Results from Pearson correlation analysis showed there was a relationship between academic burnout and family functioning among university students in Langata Constituency, Nairobi County, Kenya (r=.229).The study recommends to the institutions of higher learning to strengthen counseling and peer support programs in order to help the university students.
ALABO-Bulus, Gloria Boma
Partner violence (PV) is globally recognised as a social and public menace concern, with a wide range of mental health and social consequence such as post- traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for women, impairing their functioning at home and work. The study aims to investigate the relationship between partner violence, post- traumatic stress disorder and job performance among female lecturers in state-owned tertiary institutions in Niger State, Nigeria. The study is guided by a research question: What is the relationship between partner violence and the job performance of female lecturers at tertiary institutions in Niger State? An objective: Relationship between partner violence and job performance of female lecturers at tertiary institutions in Niger State. A correlational research design was adopted. A population of 272 female lecturers was drawn from ten (10) state-owned tertiary institutions, and a sample size of 152 female lecturers was determined using Research Advisor 2006. A multistage sampling technique was used. Three instruments, titled Partner Violence Assessment Scale Instrument (PVASI), Female Lecturer's Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Instrument (FLPTSDI), and Female Lecturers' Job Performance Inventory Assessment Scale Instrument (FLJPIASI), were validated for content validity by experts in the Faculty of Education and Extension Services, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto. The split-half reliability method was adopted using the Spearman–Brown prophecy formula. The reliability for PVASI is 0.83, for FLPTSDI is 0.86, and for FLJPIASI is 0.93, and all are considered acceptable. The data was collected using a research-administered instrument. The null hypotheses were analysed using the Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient at 0.05 level of significance. The findings of the study revealed that exposure to PV significantly predicts the development of PTSD symptoms among female lecturers, with consequent adverse effects on their job performance. The study, therefore, concludes that partner violence PV and PTSD constitute significant psychosocial stressors that not only compromise the mental health of affected female lecturers but also diminish their effectiveness and productivity within the academic work environment. The study recommended, among other measures, that administrators and managers of tertiary institutions establish a functional institutional guidance and counselling centre and institutionalise a secure digital mental health platform to provide trauma-informed counselling services and therapeutic coping mechanisms for female lecturers.
Cheng Jiawei, Mohd Zulfabli Hasan
In today's ride-hailing industry, customer satisfaction is a very important indicator. It can reflect the quality of service provided by ride-hailing software. In recent years, there have been frequent news reports indicating that the quality of ride-hailing is not good, which has led to many customers being dissatisfied with the services of ride-hailing software. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between the quality of service of ride-hailing software and customer satisfaction. This study mainly explores the quality of service of ride-hailing software from five aspects: tangibility, assurance, reliability, empathy, and responsiveness. The investigation is conducted through deductive investigation and questionnaire survey. The research method adopted is convenience sampling. Underpinning theory is expectation confirmation theory. The population is selected from Johor Bahru, a total of 1.7 million people. The sample size is 385. In this study, SPSS software was used to analyze the data descriptively, reliability-validity analysis, correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis. The response rate of the questionnaire was 96.25%. This study proves that for Grab, the five dimensions of service quality (tangibility, assurance, reliability, empathy and responsiveness) are significantly positively correlated with customer satisfaction.
Fahdah Mansour Alzeer, Prof. Madya Dr. Adibah Binti Abdul Latif
The increasing use of artificial intelligence (AI) in educational assessment has intensified the need to understand the factors that shape lecturers’ willingness to adopt AI-supported assessment practices. While prior studies have widely examined technology acceptance in education, fewer studies have focused specifically on the relationship between technology acceptance and behavioural intention toward AI-based educational assessment among lecturers in Saudi higher education. This study examined the extent to which technology acceptance constructs predict lecturers’ behavioural intention to use, continue using, and recommend AI-based educational assessment tools. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed using an extended UTAUT-based questionnaire administered to lecturers in Saudi higher education institutions. The result was based on 412 usable responses. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical multiple regression were used to examine the relationships among performance expectancy, effort expectancy, social influence, facilitating conditions, perceived trust in AI, perceived threat to professional autonomy, job security concern, and behavioural intention. The results indicated that performance expectancy, perceived trust in AI, facilitating conditions, effort expectancy, and social influence were positively associated with behavioural intention, while perceived threat to professional autonomy and job security concern were negatively associated with behavioural intention. The hierarchical regression model explained 65.2% of the variance in behavioural intention, with performance expectancy and perceived trust in AI emerging as the strongest positive predictors. The findings suggest that lecturers’ intention to adopt AI-based assessment is shaped not only by perceived usefulness and institutional support, but also by trust and professional concerns related to academic judgment and job relevance. The study contributes to technology acceptance research by offering a relationship-focused explanation of AI-based assessment adoption in Saudi higher education.
Anis Nadya Che Ahmad, Maisarah Noorezam, Mohd Hasren Yusuf, Nadzrah Sa’adan, Siti Aishah Taib
This study examines undergraduate students’ perceptions of teaching, social, and cognitive presence in online learning environments, grounded in the Community of Inquiry framework (Randy Garrison & Jennifer Arbaugh, 2007). Despite extensive research on these constructs, limited attention has been given to how learners perceive their interrelationships within online contexts.A quantitative design was employed with a purposive sample of 239 undergraduates. Data were collected through an online questionnaire comprising four sections: demographic information, and measures of teaching presence (13 items), social presence (9 items), and cognitive presence (12 items). Responses were recorded using a five-point Likert scale ranging from “Never” to “Always.” Descriptive statistics were used to determine perceived levels of each presence, while Pearson correlation analysis examined relationships among the constructs. Findings indicate that all three presences were perceived at moderate to high levels. Strong positive correlations were found between social and teaching presence (r = .754, p < .001), teaching and cognitive presence (r = .779, p < .001), and social and cognitive presence (r = .804, p < .001), indicating a high degree of interdependence. These results support the view that teaching, social, and cognitive presence function as an integrated system in online learning. The study provides empirical support for the CoI framework and offers practical implications for designing online environments that enhance interaction, instructional effectiveness, and cognitive engagement.
Akinwande, Adeyoola Eunice
This study examines the relevance of peace education programmes in enhancing students’ conflict-resolution skills. The study adopted the survey research design. Four public junior secondary schools were randomly selected from public junior secondary schools in Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State. Simple random sampling technique was used to select ten JSS II students from each school making a total of 40 students. One research instrument was used for data collection: Questionnaire on Relevance of Peace Education Programmes (r=0.78). Data collected were analysed using descriptive statistics of percentage, frequency count, mean, standard deviation and t- test. Findings of the study revealed that the weighted mean of 3.31 against the threshold of 2.50. It implies that the level of relevance of peace education programmes on students’ conflict-resolution skill was high. There was no significant difference between male and female students’ perception of level of relevance of peace education programmes on students’ conflict-resolution skill (t = -0.96; df = 38; P>0.05). Based on the finding of this study, it was recommended that peace education should be systematically integrated into the secondary school curriculum as a core component rather than being treated as a peripheral topic. Teachers should be adequately trained through workshops, seminars, and professional development programmes to effectively deliver peace education content and facilitate conflict-resolution activities.
Abu Bakar Jaafar, Mohd Ashrof Zaki Yaakob
This review paper explores the intricate ways in which religious and cultural influences shape corporate social responsibility (CSR) and philanthropy, particularly within Islamic finance. It examines the role of Islamic financial principles such as zakat, waqf, and sharia-compliance, alongside cultural factors like religiosity, community values, and gender differences, in guiding CSR practices and philanthropic behaviors. The paper also investigates how digital transformation, including Islamic fintech and crowdfunding platforms, is revolutionizing CSR and charitable activities, presenting new opportunities and challenges. Leadership, governance, and stakeholder perspectives are analyzed to understand their impact on CSR outcomes, with attention to institutional, cultural, and regulatory contexts across regions such as UAE, Malaysia, and Indonesia. The synthesis reveals that religiosity and cultural heritage significantly influence CSR engagement, reporting practices, and philanthropic motivations, fostering trust and community participation. Notably, gaps remain in cross-national comparisons and technological integration, indicating avenues for future research. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of aligning CSR efforts with Islamic ethics and cultural values to enhance social welfare and sustainable development, suggesting that future efforts should focus on digital innovations, interdisciplinary approaches, and broader geographic studies to deepen understanding and efficacy in Islamic CSR and philanthropy.
Karen M. Caole
This study examined the research culture and engagement in action research among public elementary teachers in Western Region III, specifically in Zambales, Bataan, Olongapo, and Balanga. Employing a convergent parallel mixed-methods design, data were collected from 312 participants, including 300 teachers and 12 school research coordinators. Respondents were purposively sampled to ensure representation across divisions. Quantitative data from survey questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics (means, frequencies, percentages, ANOVA, t-tests, and Chi Square), while Spearman Rho’s correlation measured relationships between teacher-related factors and trainings attended. Qualitative data from interviews and document analysis were examined through thematic analysis using MAXQDA. Findings revealed diverse demographic profiles and generally low engagement in action research, with limited training, research conduct, and publications. Significant differences in engagement were observed by age, experience, educational attainment, and position, but not by sex. Mid-career teachers and those with advanced degrees showed greater involvement in training, research, and publication. Correlation analysis indicated weak but significant relationships between contextual factors and research activities, though institutional opportunities largely determined training levels. Challenges included lack of mentoring, insufficient resources, compliance-driven attitudes, and limited ICT facilities. The qualitative strand highlighted five themes: structural time constraints, compliance-driven mindset, limited skills and training, insufficient institutional support, and weak collaboration. Triangulation provided a holistic view of practices and barriers. The study proposed an evidence-based developmental plan to strengthen teacher participation and foster a sustainable research culture in elementary schools.
Amelia Binti Alias, Khairul Azhar Bin Jamaludin, Tan Meiting
With the rapid expansion of China's sports industry in recent years, more enterprises are paying attention to the emerging directions of esports finance, sponsorship valuation and digital rights management. However, the current "sports accounting" curriculum in Chinese higher education institutions is relatively conservative and fails to address the financial practices of the emerging industry. This study focuses on analyzing the dissonance between the renewal of the existing sports accounting curriculum and the evolving skill needs of the sports industry, and proposes evidence-based curriculum reform strategies. This study conducted semi-structured interviews with 30 stakeholders, including educators, industry practitioners, and students, during 2025 from selected universities at different levels of economic development in two regions of Guangdong Province, supplemented by thematic assessments of five existing teaching cases. The study found three problems: (1) there is a significant content lag in addressing contemporary financial phenomena such as esports monetization and digital assets; (2) continued reliance on lecture-based instruction with limited integration of experience or blended pedagogy; (3) Regional resource asymmetry is obvious, which restricts the implementation of curriculum and intensifies educational inequality. In order to address them, this study proposes a targeted curriculum revision framework based on Taylor's curriculum development model, which can increase the proportion of virtual simulation teaching and the depth of school-enterprise cooperation, strengthen the industry-university-research cooperation, improve the employability of graduates to a certain extent, and promote the consistency of education content with actual needs.
Leo C. Naparota, Red Jay C. Betache
Structured training programs such as the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) play an important role in developing leadership competencies and discipline among students, particularly those preparing for careers in law enforcement and public safety. This study aimed to determine the influence of ROTC training on the leadership skills and discipline of criminology students in a private higher education institution in Misamis Occidental. The study employed a descriptive–correlational research design. Data were collected from 141 criminology students using a researcher-made questionnaire to measure ROTC training, leadership skills, and discipline. Data were analyzed using Mean, Standard Deviation, and Pearson Product–Moment Correlation Coefficient. Findings revealed that students experienced ROTC training to a very great extent, while leadership skills were rated very good, and discipline was very high. Results showed a statistically significant relationship between ROTC training, leadership skills, and discipline. The study concludes that ROTC training strengthens leadership competencies and disciplined behavior, highlighting its importance in criminology education. Educational institutions offering criminology programs may continuously support ROTC activities and integrate leadership-enhancing experiences that will help students apply leadership principles in both academic and real-life situations.
Mary Kris C. Layson
Public utility drivers are succumbed to poverty. I explored the sustainability of the livelihood of single motorcycle drivers. Using qualitative descriptive research design, I interviewed my eight participants selected through purposive sampling. My thematic analysis informed me that single motorcycle drivers face rising competition, and fuel hike. Yet, they sustain their livelihood through adaptive practices despite economic and educational constraints. School heads and government leaders may collaborate in implementing programs to equip motorcycle drivers with enabling skills like financial literacy, and alternative livelihoods. Future studies may apply multiple linear regression and mediation analysis, along with Exploratory Facto Analysis-based questionnaire development using the themes and sub-themes of my study as variables and indicators.
Dr. Edward Musebe, Dr. Gabriel Okello, Mercy Njura Njeru
Donor funded HIV programmes remain central to HIV prevention, treatment, laboratory monitoring, and continuity of care within Kenya’s health system. Despite substantial investments by global financing mechanisms, programme performance remains uneven due to persistent workforce, financial, infrastructural, and digital coordination challenges. Existing studies have examined these organizational dimensions independently, with limited empirical evidence regarding their integrated influence on programme performance within donor dependent HIV systems. This study examined the combined effect of resource management strategies on organizational performance of donor funded HIV programmes in Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive correlational research design. Quantitative data were collected from 404 senior programme managers drawn from implementing partner organizations, donor supported counties, and HIV service delivery facilities across Kenya. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation analysis, and multiple regression analysis in SPSS Version 29. The findings established that strategic resource management systems jointly exerted a statistically significant influence on organizational performance (R = 0.6364, R² = 0.405, F = 37.979, p < 0.001). Human resource management strategies (B = 0.332, p < 0.001), financial resource management strategies (B = 0.351, p < 0.001), and information technology resource management strategies (B = 0.351, p < 0.001) emerged as significant predictors of organizational performance. The study concludes that sustainable organizational performance within donor funded HIV programmes is primarily driven by institutional capacity to integrate workforce systems, financial accountability mechanisms, and digital health infrastructure into coordinated and adaptive programme management systems capable of sustaining service continuity, operational efficiency, and healthcare responsiveness.
Shaibu Abdullateef Topa
Generative AI tools are increasingly used by students for writing support, including English essay preparation. In Nigeria, this raises important questions for WAEC/NECO-style examinations, where essay writing remains a major component of assessment. While AI can support learning through outlining, grammar feedback, and vocabulary development, it also creates academic-integrity concerns. At the same time, AI-text detection approaches may be unreliable or unfair, especially for non-native English writers and hybrid human-AI writing. This paper proposes a responsible AI-use framework for Nigerian secondary-school essay preparation and presents a preliminary baseline study of AI-detection risks using WAEC/NECO-style essay prompts.
Daniel Quainoo, Elizabeth Okyerewa Obuobi Obese
This paper examines the limitations of relying solely on traditional written audit reports in modern organizations and argues for a more strategic and audience-focused approach to internal audit communication. Although audit reports remain important for accountability and compliance with professional standards, lengthy and technical reports often fail to engage stakeholders or encourage timely corrective action. Drawing on professional standards, communication theory, and practical evidence, the paper highlights the need for internal audit communication to focus on influence, clarity, and organizational improvement rather than mere documentation. It proposes a flexible communication framework that incorporates tools such as executive presentations, dashboards, workshops, digital platforms, and continuous engagement to improve stakeholder understanding and responsiveness. The paper further argues that the profession must undergo a cultural shift in how audit communication is conceptualized, from a terminal compliance exercise to an ongoing strategic function embedded within the governance fabric of the organization. The paper concludes that internal audit functions must adopt agile and impact-driven communication strategies to strengthen governance, accelerate remediation, and enhance their role as trusted organizational advisors.
Ndlovu Wellingtone
Africa’s development aspirations are undermined by the persistent marginalisation of retirees, who represent a vast reservoir of skills, experience, and wisdom. This paper examines the myths and realities surrounding retirees’ roles in community integration and progressive development across Africa, with reference to global comparative contexts. Drawing on the social, economic, political, technological, and cultural dimensions of retirement, the study argues that Africa cannot fully realise its development potential, including goals articulated in Agenda 2063 and the AfCFTA framework, without meaningfully engaging older citizens. The study employed a systematic integrative review methodology based on Whittermore and Knafl’s framework, drawing on diverse qualitative and quantitative evidence. Five hundred reviews from 2000–2024 were screened, of which twelve met the inclusion criteria and were critically examined across five integrative review stages: problem identification, literature review, data evaluation, data analysis, and data presentation. The paper finds that Africa can meet its development aspirations only when all citizens, regardless of age, social, political, or economic standing, are empowered to participate through inclusive economic, political, social, and technological frameworks. Strengthening integration programmes for retirees is therefore essential for sustainable and progressive community development across the continent.
Dr. Brahim Khartite
It is stating the obvious to note that easy access to open AI and the quality of any new curriculum cannot exceed the quality of its teachers and classroom practitioners. Educational reform initiatives often place strong emphasis on textbook design and curriculum innovation at the expense of teacher training and teacher continuous professional development. While textbooks are still relevant as they provide roadmaps and structure, AI has accentuated the ease and the swiftness of access to authentic and varied material both in terms of quantity and quality. While students oftentimes acknowledge the inspiration and lasting impact of their teachers, expressions of appreciation toward textbooks or curricula are notably rare. This highlights a critical dimension of textbooks and AI but they remain simple instruments that function as pedagogical tool rather than autonomous agents of learning and/or teaching. Drawing on the piloting and implementation of the new Spotlight textbook in middle school English as a Foreign Language (EFL) contexts in Morocco and the new wave towards adopting AI in education, this article argues that effective curriculum reform depends not only on well-designed materials and cutting age technology but also on redefining methodological practices, teachers’ pre/in-service training and continuous professional development. Although Spotlight series represents a significant step toward upgrading EFL instruction for beginner learners and AI provides promising opportunities as mediator of instruction, their success or failure hinges heavily on teachers’ capacity to mediate content, enact curriculum intentions, and align classroom practices with the reform’s pedagogical philosophy and long-term goals. This paper further contends that persistent student disengagement will not be fixed with AI alone; it will persist as a byproduct of traditional, teacher-centered implementation (this is especially true in an era that is increasingly predominant with social media and easy access to more engaging and stimulating stuff with Open AI). As a broad implication, sustainable curriculum reform, therefore, emerges from, a dynamic interaction between an optimal use of AI and a continuously innovative textbook design and reflective, engaging and stimulating learner-centered teaching pedagogy.
Cristine A. Perote, Dr. Aprell L. Abellana, Junar S. Rosalita, Mark Johnson C. Fabriga, Merry Crist C. Zapico, Reynold L. Pasco
This study examined the relationship among school climate, financial management practices, and occupational stress of public elementary school teachers in Districts 2 and 8 of the Division of Valencia City, Bukidnon, Philippines for School Year 2025–2026. Using a descriptive-correlational research design, respondents were drawn from sixteen participating schools through proportionate stratified random sampling. School climate was examined in terms of supportive principal behavior, directive principal behavior, restrictive principal behavior, collegial teacher behavior, intimate teacher behavior, and disengaged teacher behavior. Results showed that these behaviors are oftentimes observed with supportive principal behavior almost always observed. Financial management practices were assessed in terms of budget practices, savings practices, spending practices, investing practices, and credit practices. These practices were manifested oftentimes with budget practices having the highest mean. Teachers are in high agreement on experiencing occupational stress with working environment as the highest stressor followed by administrative demands and professional distress. Results showed that teachers were found to work within a supportive and collegially engaged school environment, practice financial management with moderate consistency characterized by stronger budgeting and spending behaviors but comparatively weaker saving, investing, and credit management habits, and experience occupational stress most prominently in relation to their working environment conditions. Furthermore, both school climate and financial management practices are significantly and positively related to occupational stress while restrictive principal behavior, investing practices, disengaged teacher behavior, directive principal behavior, and spending are predictors of occupational stress. The study recommends leadership development initiatives, a financial literacy and wellness program for teachers, and policy reforms to reduce stress of teachers.
Adeolu Akintunde ADELEYE, Oyinkansola ODEBUNMI (PhD), SAMAILA Hannatu, Taiwo Kolawole WAHAB
This cross-sectional descriptive survey study examined the associations between school connectedness and self-esteem and antisocial behaviour among adolescents with hearing impairment in Oyo State, Nigeria. A multi-stage sampling procedure was employed: all seven designated government special secondary schools in Oyo State were included via purposive total enumeration, and 2,342 hearing-impaired senior secondary students were then selected proportionately across schools using the Taro Yamane (Slovin) formula. Three standardised scales were used: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the School Connectedness Scale and the Bullying and Victimisation Scale. At the level of significance of 0.05, multiple regression analysis was done. It was found that school connectedness was not significantly associated with antisocial behaviours (F(1, 2233)=0.093, p=.760), but self-esteem was significantly associated with antisocial behaviours (F(1, 2233)=9.836, p=.002).The joint model was statistically significant (F(2, 2232)=4.921, p=.007); however, school connectedness contributed negligible additional variance beyond self-esteem alone (ΔR²≈0.000), indicating that the significance of the joint model was largely attributable to self-esteem. These findings suggest that self-esteem is a stronger individual predictor of antisocial behavior than school connectedness among this group. These associations may be affected by contextual factors unique to the special education system in Nigeria. Given the cross-sectional design, causal inferences cannot be drawn. Implications for counsellors, school administrators, and policymakers are discussed.
Adil Dahhan, Bilal Edderaouy, Tariq Bouqetyb
Despite growing sub-Saharan migrant enrolment in Moroccan public schools, empirical evidence on the relational dynamics between these learners and their teachers remains scarce. Using a mixed-methods, socio-ecological design, data were collected across six state primary schools in Tangier, involving migrant children aged 6–12 and their classroom teachers. Multiple instruments were employed, including a relationship scale, teacher self-assessment, classroom observation, and student focus-group interviews. Findings reveal a fragmented relational landscape in which a considerable share of students experience neutral-to-exclusionary classroom dynamics. Language barriers emerge as the dominant communicative obstacle, compounded by limited home-language support, low teacher expectations, and culturally thin pedagogy. Most teachers report feeling inadequately prepared to support sub-Saharan learners, with cultural sensitivity consistently the weakest dimension across all schools. The study concludes that inclusive schooling for this population currently depends on individual teacher disposition rather than systemic institutional support, with direct implications for teacher education policy and the integration of intercultural pedagogy in Moroccan primary schools.
Mohammed Y.M. Mai, Wang YuanYuan
This study examined self-regulated learning as a mediator of the effect of personalized learning on academic achievement among graduate students in China. A quantitative cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 450 graduate students in China through an electronic questionnaire, and 446 valid responses were retained after Mahalanobis distance screening. The research instrument consisted of 30 items measuring personalized learning, self-regulated learning, and perceived academic achievement. Data were analysed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM). The measurement model demonstrated satisfactory reliability and validity, with all outer loadings exceeding .70, Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from .930 to .937, composite reliability values ranging from .941 to .947, and AVE values ranging from .615 to .640. The structural model explained 65.4% of the variance in academic achievement and 51.6% of the variance in self-regulated learning. The results showed that personalized learning had a significant positive direct effect on academic achievement (β = .386, t = 8.101, p < .001) and self-regulated learning (β = .718, t = 25.018, p < .001). Self-regulated learning also significantly predicted academic achievement (β = .486, t = 10.138, p < .001). Mediation analysis confirmed that self-regulated learning significantly mediated the relationship between personalized learning and academic achievement (β = .349, t = 9.629, p < .001). The findings suggest that personalized learning improves graduate students’ academic achievement partly by enhancing students’ ability to regulate their learning process.
Giovanni A. Montejo, Roldan E. Eyo
Educator capacity for life skills teaching is constrained. The influence of self-determination and learning environment on life-skill education among special education teachers was examined using a diagnostic research design. After analyzing the surveyed data from 143 respondents using the simple random sampling technique, it was revealed that the determinant variables have individual and combined (80.1%) influence on the criterion, supporting the Social Cognitive Theory. Future studies may explore additional factors using mixed-methods approaches, while education authorities may enhance teacher self-determination and learning environments to strengthen life-skill education.
Abegaille A. Camero, Christine C. Baccay, Hanz Rhodrick B. Maclit, Mark Leslie D. Melendez, Rogelio T. De Florencia Jr
The Serenitech system addressed the critical challenges faced by guidance counselors and students, focusing on enhancing the accessibility, privacy, and efficiency of mental health services within educational institutions. Using the Agile development methodology, this study aimed to design and develop a robust platform that integrated essential features such as virtual counseling sessions, appointment scheduling, and a digital resource hub. The system was specifically developed to provide students with a safer and more convenient environment for seeking guidance and counseling services while improving the workflow and management processes of counselors and administrators. Through interviews, observations, and document analysis, insights were gathered regarding the limitations of the existing manual counseling processes, including delays in scheduling, difficulties in record management, limited accessibility, and the barriers caused by stigma and privacy concerns. A purposive and convenience sampling method was employed to select respondents, resulting in a total of 50 participants, including guidance counselors, staff, IT experts, and students. The developed system was evaluated using the ISO 25010 Software Quality Standards to assess its user acceptability and software quality characteristics, including functional suitability, performance efficiency, compatibility, usability, reliability, security, maintainability, and portability. Weighted mean analysis was utilized to analyze respondent evaluations and determine the overall acceptability of the system. Findings revealed that the developed system improved accessibility to counseling services, streamlined appointment management, and promoted confidentiality for students seeking assistance. By addressing the inefficiencies in documentation, scheduling, and service delivery, this study contributed to the modernization of school counseling systems and empowered students to seek help without hesitation while supporting institutions in providing more effective, accessible, and technology-driven mental health services that support accessible, confidential, and technology-driven counseling service delivery within educational institutions.
Nurul Afiqah Binti Roslee
This study examines the influence of attitude on the intention to invest in Shariah-compliant savings (Simpanan Shariah) among Muslim members of the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in Malaysia. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), attitude is conceptualised as a key determinant that shapes individuals’ behavioural intentions and decision-making processes. Drawing on prior literature, attitude reflects an individual’s evaluative judgement whether favourable or unfavourable towards a particular behaviour, influenced by both cognitive and affective components. Using a quantitative research design, data were collected from Muslim EPF members and analysed to test the proposed hypothesis, which posits a significant positive relationship between attitude and investment intention. The findings reveal that attitude significantly and positively influences the intention to invest in Simpanan Shariah, thereby supporting the hypothesis. This suggests that individuals with more favourable perceptions of Shariah-compliant savings are more likely to demonstrate stronger investment intentions. The results are consistent with previous studies indicating that positive attitudes enhance investment intentions, particularly in Islamic financial contexts where religious beliefs and ethical considerations play a central role. The findings also highlight that Muslim investors tend to perceive Shariah-compliant investments as beneficial, not only in financial terms but also in fulfilling religious obligations, thereby strengthening their behavioural intentions. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on Islamic finance by providing empirical evidence on the role of attitude in shaping investment intentions within the EPF Simpanan Shariah framework. The findings offer practical implications for policymakers and financial institutions to enhance awareness and promote positive perceptions of Shariah-compliant savings among Muslim investors.
A. O. Eberemu, J. Ochepo, M. A. Garba, M. Abubakar, T. S. Ijimdiya
The low shear strength of silty soils in arid and semi-arid regions contributes significantly to their vulnerability to wind erosion. This study evaluates the effect of Microbial-Induced Calcite Precipitation (MICP) using Bacillus thuringiensis on the shear strength parameters of silty soils from Northwestern Nigeria. Laboratory tests, including direct shear testing, were conducted on untreated and MICP-treated soil samples to assess changes in cohesion and internal friction angle. Results show that bio-treatment significantly alters the shear strength behavior of silty sand. Cohesion decreased from 38.21 kN/m² (control) to a minimum of 25.11 kN/m², indicating a transition from clay-like behavior to a more stable granular structure. Conversely, the angle of internal friction increased from 28.2° to a peak of 42.0°, while shear strength improved markedly from 26.3 kN/m² to 82.39 kN/m² at the optimum treatment condition of 1.8 × 10⁹ cells/ml and 0.75 M. The improvements are attributed to calcium carbonate precipitation via microbial-induced calcite precipitation (MICP), which enhances interparticle bonding, increases surface roughness, and reduces pore spaces. Statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA confirmed that both bacterial density and reagent concentration have significant effects (p < 0.05) on all measured parameters. Microstructural analysis (SEM) revealed a transition from a loose, porous structure to a dense, cemented matrix, while XRD analysis confirmed the presence of calcite as the dominant cementing agent. The findings demonstrate the potential of Bt-based MICP as an effective and sustainable technique for improving the mechanical properties and erosion resistance of silty sand.
Wellingtone Ndlovu
This study examines the nexus between dialogue, peace, security and stability and their role in enabling meaningful expression of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in Sub-Saharan Africa within a rapidly changing global village. Drawing on qualitative interviews with four foreign country representatives resident in Zimbabwe and an analysis of secondary sources, including policy documents, conference papers and academic literature, the study argues that sustainable AfCFTA implementation is inseparable from the continent’s capacity to foster dialogue-centred peacebuilding and political stability. The study is anchored in regional integration theory and conflict transformation frameworks, with a focused examination of selected conflict-affected sub-regions and country cases including the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Mali, Somalia and Zimbabwe. Findings indicate that political instability, armed conflict, economic sanctions and weak institutional frameworks significantly undermine AfCFTA’s prospects. It is strongly recommended that AfCFTA leverage dialogue as a structural imperative, prioritising peace, security and stability as foundational conditions for continental economic, social and political prosperity.
Chigeru Chinyere, Olorunbepelumi Anointed Oluwatumininu
Background: Adolescent mental health service utilization remains critically low in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly within primary healthcare settings, despite substantial unmet need. In Rivers State, Nigeria, significant levels of depression and psychological distress among adolescents persist alongside minimal engagement with formal mental health services at the primary care level. Objective: To examine adolescents' perceptions of individual and socio-cultural barriers, including stigma, shame, fear of judgment, family restrictions, lack of autonomy, and religious and cultural beliefs, and access- and service-related barriers, including distance, cost, facility timing, confidentiality and privacy to the utilization of mental health services in selected primary healthcare facilities in Obio-Akpor LGA, Rivers State. Methods: An exploratory qualitative cross-sectional design was adopted. Data were collected through in-depth interviews with 24 adolescents aged 13–19 years across eight purposively selected Model Primary Health Centres in Obio-Akpor LGA. Participants were recruited using purposive sampling to ensure diversity across age, sex, schooling status, and living arrangement. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using Braun and Clarke's six-step thematic analysis framework. Results: Four major thematic barriers emerged. Predisposing barriers included stigma, shame, fear of judgment, masculine gender norms, family restrictions, limited autonomy, and religious interpretations of mental distress as spiritual problems requiring prayer rather than clinical care. Enabling barriers encompassed confidentiality concerns, poor facility privacy, financial dependence on caregivers, and inconvenient clinic timing for students. Need-related barriers reflected poor mental health literacy and the normalization of emotional distress as ordinary adolescent experience. Conclusions: Adolescent mental health service underutilization in Obio-Akpor LGA is shaped by multidimensional personal, relational, and perceptual factors. Shame and confidentiality concerns emerged as particularly powerful barriers. Multidomain strategies addressing stigma, mental health literacy, and youth-friendly service delivery are essential to improve adolescent engagement with primary mental health care.
Barikiel Hhando, Beatrice Githiri, Benjamin Kamala, Catherine Massay, Estomih Mduma, Paschal Mdoe, Robert Moshiro, Ruhama Lyanga, Vickfarajaeli Daudi
Background: The SimBegin® course prepares facilitators to deliver simulation-based training, which was key in the SaferBirths Bundle of Care (SBBC) implementation program in Tanzania. Despite SBBC’s success in reducing maternal and newborn mortality, facilitators’ perspectives on SimBegin® and its scalability remain underexplored Methods: The study, conducted from April to September 2025 in five regions of Tanzania, used a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. Quantitative data were collected via a validated questionnaire, and qualitative data through key informant interviews. Participants were SimBegin®-trained doctors and nurses. Quantitative data were analyzed in Excel, while qualitative data followed Braun and Clarke’s six-phase thematic approach. Results: A total of 71 Respondents completed the survey and 16 participated in interview. The median age was 35 years, with most being diploma-level nurses. Face-to-face training was perceived as most effective. Nearly all respondents (99%) considered SimBegin® course essential for facilitator preparation and scaling simulation-based learning. Effective facilitator preparation and repeated training were considered critical for strengthening competence. Conclusion: The findings suggest that SimBegin® course is key to enhance facilitators skills and confidence to facilitate simulation-based learning. SimBegin® course is critical for scale up of simulation-based lerning.
Kenvyne Quides, RN, MAN, Maria Irene A. Dayon Ph.D, RN, MAN, Nancy Sarmiento, RN, MAN
This study examined the skills, knowledge, and attitudes (SKA) of Filipino household caregivers providing home-based care to elderly individuals in selected cities in Region XII, Philippines. It aimed to identify caregivers’ strengths and gaps to inform the development of the KinCare brochure, a culturally appropriate educational resource. A quantitative descriptive research design was employed, involving 145 caregivers selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire covering demographic profile and five domains of caregiving: functional status, physical health, cognitive function, social status, and spiritual condition. Descriptive statistics, including frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation, were used to analyze the data. The findings revealed that the majority of caregivers were aged 31–50 years, married, and part of nuclear families, with most belonging to low- to middle-income households. In terms of educational attainment, most respondents were college and high school graduates, indicating the capacity to understand structured educational materials. Financial support was primarily derived from pension and assistance from children. In terms of SKA, caregivers demonstrated proficiency in functional status (9.90), physical health (8.64), and social status (8.90), indicating strong capability in performing daily caregiving tasks and maintaining interpersonal relationships. However, lower mean scores were observed in cognitive function (7.51) and spiritual condition (4.79), highlighting gaps in managing cognitive decline, dementia, and providing emotional and spiritual care. The study concludes that while Filipino caregivers are competent in routine caregiving and are strongly influenced by cultural and familial values, they require additional support in more complex caregiving domains. These findings underscore the need for a practical, accessible, and culturally responsive educational intervention, such as the KinCare brochure, with emphasis on cognitive and spiritual care, low-cost strategies, and home-based applications.
Dr. Vibha Kalaiya, Pritam Saha
Aari embroidery is a prominent textile craft, integral to Indian apparel, and sustained through the consistent practice of a nationwide community of specialized embroiderers. The craft's significance has expanded substantially, driven by the escalating market demand for embroidered occasion wear, which has consequently prompted skilled artisans to migrate from their traditional locations to urban centers to establish their small businesses. These artisan-led business units are critical components of the local fashion ecosystem, operating as entrepreneurial ventures. However, despite the substantial expansion of the fashion industry, these businesses, which primarily rely on job-work orders, have not achieved corresponding economic growth. This paper presents case studies of a select sample of Aari embroidery small businesses in Ahmedabad, India. The research undertakes an in-depth analysis of these enterprises to evaluate the sustainability of their current business model, product offerings and infrastructure, alongside a comparative analysis of the craft with similar artisan led communities. The main aim was to identify the key factors contributing to their restricted economic advancement. Primary data was generated through structured interviews, and the subsequent analysis provided insights into their current operational practices.
Balandra, Hoppee B., Escarlos, Gladys S., Flor, Steffanie A., Florencio, Jonah Belle M., Parilla, Trixie Joy S., Tuyor, Anthonette S
This study explored the perspectives of Special Needs Education (SNED) teachers and the support systems available to them within inclusive classroom environments. Using a transcendental phenomenological approach, the research examined how SNED teachers understand inclusion and how support systems influence their professional practice. Findings revealed that SNED teachers view inclusive classrooms as learner-centered and equitable spaces that promote belonging, safety, and individualized learning. However, support systems are unevenly implemented. Strong support is mainly derived from parents and external professionals, while administrative support remains limited and inconsistent. These conditions affect the effective implementation of inclusive education. The study further showed that support systems enhance SNED teachers’ instructional adaptability, confidence, and competence, while also expanding their roles to include mentoring general education teachers. However, challenges such as fragmented collaboration, increased workload, and overreliance on SNED teachers persist, indicating unequal distribution of responsibilities. Overall, the study concludes that while support systems contribute to inclusive education, their effectiveness is limited by weak coordination and lack of shared responsibility. Inclusive education remains largely dependent on SNED teachers rather than a fully collaborative institutional system.
Azwan Sayed, Jema Kiazolu
Background: Dental caries remains the most prevalent non-communicable disease worldwide, yet its burden is disproportionately borne by socially and economically vulnerable populations. Untreated dental caries continues to represent a critical public health challenge that reflects deeper patterns of structural inequality embedded within health systems globally. Objectives: This scoping review systematically examines the social determinants of untreated dental caries in vulnerable populations, including children, racial and ethnic minorities, immigrants, indigenous communities, homeless individuals, and incarcerated persons, with the aim of synthesizing evidence on how structural, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors intersect to perpetuate oral health inequalities.
Kenneth Oduma Chiabuotu Odanwu
Nigeria's democratic experiment has been persistently challenged by entrenched social inequalities and ethnic tensions. Among the most affected groups are the Ndiigbo, whose historical experiences of marginalizationfrom colonial legacies to post-civil war reconstructioncontinue to shape their position within the Nigerian polity. This study aims to critically examine the intersection between social inequality, democratic governance, and Ndiigbo identity, with a view to proposing a more inclusive and justice-oriented framework for national integration. The problem addressed in this paper lies in the persistent contradiction between the normative ideals of democracysuch as equality, fairness, and inclusive representationand the lived realities of exclusion, underrepresentation, and structural disadvantage experienced by the Ndiigbo. This disconnect raises fundamental philosophical concerns regarding the legitimacy and moral foundation of Nigeria's democratic system. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative and analytical approach, employing philosophical reflection and critical analysis of recent literatures. It draws on Rawlsian theory of justice, communitarian ethics, and democratic theory to interrogate the structures and practices that perpetuate inequality. The findings reveal that democratic governance in Nigeria often functions as a mechanism of exclusion, reinforcing disparities in political participation, economic opportunities, and cultural recognition. The paper argues that justice and democracy must be re-envisioned beyond formal structures toward substantive inclusion and equitable participation. The study concludes that the recognition and fair integration of the Ndiigbo into Nigeria's democratic framework is both a moral imperative and a practical necessity for achieving national unity, political stability, and sustainable development.
Afzan Sahilla Mohd Amir Hamzah, Lina Mazwein Ibrahim, Maizatul Saadiah Mohamad, Nor Halawah Ahmad, Norida Abu Bakar, Norraeffa Md Taib
Social media influencer marketing now plays a major role in shaping online consumer behaviour and digital business activities within today’s competitive online marketplace. The increasing popularity of social media platforms such as TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube has a significant impact on Generation Z consumers' online engagement, brand perception, and digital purchasing habits. This study investigates the effects of social media influencer marketing on Generation Z consumer behaviour and its implications for digital economic value. The study uses a qualitative descriptive technique, with secondary data sourced from digital marketing reports, journal articles, and social media industry publications released between 2020 and 2025. The data show that influencer marketing has a considerable impact on customer trust, online engagement, brand interaction, and digital purchasing behaviours. The study also shows that influencer marketing promotes digital business growth and economic sustainability in today's online business environments.
Augustine Uche Emela
The Victorian novels are encapsulations of human activities in the Victorian era characterized by, among other things, the social roles of women and the manner in which they were perceived by the men of the era. Women were seen and treated as second class citizens. They were meant to play the role of a second fiddle in the affairs of the society. They were seen as being disposable and their fates attached to the whims and caprices of men. This study appraises the demeaning social roles of women as captured in Thomas Hardy’s The Mayor of Casterbridge and Charles Dickens’Great Expectations. It illuminates the pejorative and contemptuous dispositions of men towards their women counterparts in the aforementioned works of the Victorians. In doing that, it attempts to uncover for us, the negative perception of women by men of the era as mere tools for men’s happiness and satisfaction. The study ends not only with the advocacy that these obnoxious notions be banished. It contends equally, that women should be emancipated from the private world of domesticity and be given equal rights and recognition in the public world dominated by men.
Haina Fe S. Madalino, Rodilyn C. Angligen
Social skills refer to a complex set of interpersonal competencies that enable individuals to communicate effectively, collaborate with others, and build meaningful relationships across diverse social contexts (Pereira, 2023; Hou, 2022). In the context of educational leadership, these skills include active listening, empathy, conflict resolution, effective communication, and the ability to establish trust among stakeholders such as teachers, learners, parents, and community members (Sorbet & Notar, 2020). School heads who possess well-developed social skills are better positioned to create inclusive learning environments, strengthen school-community partnerships, and effectively advocate for the needs of their institutions (Wang & Zhang, 2024). In addition, the importance of social skills in leadership is further explained through the socio-emotional competence framework, which includes five core domains: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making (Sorbet & Notar, 2020). These competencies are essential for school leaders as they influence their ability to manage complex school environments, build collaborative cultures, and promote positive school climates (Kubota & Koike, 2022). The development of social skills among school leaders also aligns with global educational priorities, particularly the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG 4 (Quality Education) and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) (United Nations, 2022). Educational leaders with strong interpersonal competencies are more capable of establishing partnerships with stakeholders, including parents, local government units, and community organizations, which are essential in promoting inclusive and equitable education (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization [UNESCO], 2021; Darling-Hammond et al., 2020). These partnerships contribute to resource mobilization, shared decision-making, and the implementation of innovative educational programs that improve student outcomes. Moreover, socially competent school leaders contribute to the development of supportive and inclusive school environments that address diverse learner needs and promote well-being. According to the World Bank (2021) and UNICEF (2020), effective leadership that emphasizes collaboration and communication fosters stronger community engagement and sustainable educational development. Similarly, Leithwood et al. (2020) emphasized that leadership practices grounded in strong social relationships significantly influence school improvement and student achievement. Globally, there is increasing recognition of the role of school leadership in improving educational quality, leading to initiatives aimed at strengthening leadership competencies, including social skills. Studies by the European Commission (2022) and Darling-Hammond et al. (2020) highlight that school leaders who demonstrate strong interpersonal and communication skills are more effective in managing change, resolving conflicts, and building collaborative school cultures. Additionally, Hallinger (2020) emphasized that leadership effectiveness is closely linked to the ability of school heads to engage stakeholders and foster trust within the school community.
Chinyere Chigeru, Olaniyi Abimifoluwa Itunuoluwa
Background: Infertility in Nigeria transcends biological impairment, constituting a profound social and psychological crisis, particularly within the pronatalist Yoruba context of Ibadan. While biomedical factors are well documented, the interplay between social determinants and their impact on health-seeking trajectories remains underexplored. Objective: This study explores the lived experiences of women receiving infertility care and examines how social stigma shapes their health-seeking behaviour, while critically evaluating the applicability of Andersen's Behavioural Model in this context. Methods: A qualitative design was employed, utilizing in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 24 women seeking fertility care at public and private clinics in Ibadan. Data were analyzed thematically, guided by an integrated framework combining Andersen's Behavioural Model, Goffman's Stigma Theory, and the Health Stigma and Discrimination Framework. Results: Findings reveal infertility as a "crisis of identity" marked by the "naming burden" and emotional distress. Social stigma operates as a dynamic "triple threat" (enacted, anticipated, and internalised), creating a "seclusion barrier" that drives concealment and treatment discontinuation. Crucially, the study identifies deviations from Andersen's model: healthcare facilities are often perceived as "predatory" rather than neutral resources, and prolonged infertility triggers "treatment fatigue" rather than linear urgency, leading to care withdrawal. Conclusions: Effective interventions must move beyond biomedical access to address the predatory nature of care markets and the cyclical dynamics of stigma. Policymakers are urged to integrate psychosocial support and foster culturally sensitive, stigma-free environments to improve fertility care utilization in Nigeria.
Saurav Mitra, Lecturer
This systematic literature review examines the evolution of definitions of sustainability since its inception and the theoretical constructs underlying these definitions. It then discusses and analyses the three types of sustainability, the tripartite, namely Environmental, Economic and Social, and establishes that Economic and Environmental sustainability have dominated the sustainability debate since its beginning. Social Sustainability still lags behind in research activities and is the most neglected among the tripartite. The study then relates sustainability to high-rise apartments and again finds that both environmental sustainability, in terms of energy use, and economic sustainability, in terms of the cost implications of high-rise apartments, have been sought-after research topics. The paper further investigates Sustainability and Social Sustainability in detail, examining various aspects of a social system, such as Trust, Diversity, Capacity for Learning, Self-Organisation, and Common Meaning. It reviews the various types of social sustainability from the literature. It then establishes a link between Social Sustainability and the Built Environment. This literature review also strikingly finds that certain factors, called the Moderating Factors, are associated with differences in social outcomes, but not in a causal sense, such as residents’ personal circumstances, like income, religion, life-cycle stage and neighbourhood. The research eventually integrates existing research on social sustainability and postulates a definition of social sustainability for high-rise living. It also highlights gaps in the existing literature for future research.
Edidiong Isidore NYOYOKO., Imoh Bernard EKOTT., Inemesit Edem EMANA., Kingsley Effiong JIMMY
The study investigated how socio-cultural variables influence externalizing behaviour in secondary schools in Akwa Ibom North-West senatorial District. Two specific purposes and two null hypotheses were stated to guide the study. The Ex-post facto research design was used in carrying out the study, which had a population of 19,227 senior secondary II students in Akwa Ibom North-West Senatorial District. The sample of the study was 755 Senior Secondary II students selected using stratified random sampling technique. A researcher-developed questionnaire titled Socio-Cultural Variables and Externalizing Behaviour of Secondary School Students Questionnaire was used for data collection. The reliability was established using Cronbach’s Alpha with a coefficient of .882. A total of 755 copies of questionnaires were sent out and 753 copies were correctly filled and returned. Data were analyzed using independent t-test. All the hypotheses were tested at 0.05 level of significance. Results of the study revealed that parent-child interaction, religious orientation and peer group association significantly influence students’ externalizing behaviour. It was concluded that socio-cultural variables are strong predictors of externalizing behaviour among secondary school students. The study recommended among others that, non-governmental organizations, churches and schools should make use of social media platforms for sensitization and reorientation for parents to encourage them to be good role models to their children, teach them effective communication, building healthy relationships with others and ways to navigate different social situations.
Bedie Mae Belandres Dela Peña
Anxiety for English language, which is predominant to students' reluctance in speaking in EFL and bilingual classrooms, is still an important concern. The focus of this research was to explore how the English language anxiety affects the willingness and ability of 12 senior high school students, who were attending in a bilingual high school called Shiuh-Kuang Senior High School in Taiwan, to speak in class. Using descriptive phenomenological approach, a wide variety of data sources were used such as some semi-structured face to face interviews, observation notes taken during the classes and researcher's reflective journal. The data was transcribed, translated (where necessary), coded and analysed thematically utilising Moustakas' phenomenological procedures. Results revealed that English language anxiety was emotional, cognitive, physical and social. Students indicated that they felt nervous, afraid, embarrassed, self-conscious, couldn't form words, shaky, low in voice and stammering and hesitating. The events that are generally related to anxiety were found to be speaking in front of the class, being questioned by the teacher from out of the blue, being noticed by others, having not the correct words and phrases, having contact with students from other nationalities and being evaluated by the teacher. Common student responses were silence, lack of eye contact, limited answers or relying on scripts or slides, and only being able to engage in discussions with the help of other students, teachers or during classroom activities. The feedback from the teacher, the feedback from the peers, the group activity, the prize/penalty mechanism, the error correction and the norm of participation in classroom discourse could be a factor to decide either increasing or decreasing anxiety of the students' comfort level in speaking. Learners experienced a range of coping strategies for the learners including preparation, rehearsal, memorisation, emotion, peer support, teacher/or academic support, technology support and in some cases avoidance. As a result of this study, the following framework of anxiety-sensitive oral participation (ASOP) was created: (1) Anxiety Awareness, (2) Supported Preparation, (3) Safe Classroom Interaction, (4) Constructive Error Treatment, and an implemented (5) Self-Regulated Oral Participation. This research highlights the importance of classroom experiences that repeatedly expose students to authentic experiences to speak and which are emotionally safe, socially supportive and pedagogically guided.
Cecile C. Aca-ac., Cynthia S. Superable, Elsa B. Buenavidez, Grace G. Tizon, Rochelan A. Lumasag
This study examined the relationships among teachers’ preparedness, instructional strategy implementation, and the academic engagement of learners with special needs in the Misamis Occidental Division during SY 2025–2026 using a descriptive-correlational design. A total of 120 purposively selected SPED teachers participated, and data were gathered using validated, researcher-made questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and Multiple Regression Analysis. Findings showed that teachers’ preparedness and instructional strategy implementation were both very high, while learners’ academic engagement was generally high. Results revealed no significant relationships between teachers’ preparedness and learners’ engagement, except for a weakly significant link between competence and emotional engagement. Likewise, instructional strategies showed no significant relationships with engagement, except for a weak significant link between inclusive teaching methods and task completion. The study concludes that although SPED teachers are highly prepared and consistently implement instructional strategies, these do not strongly translate into learners’ academic engagement. It is recommended that SPED teachers and curriculum implementers sustain current strengths while strengthening the alignment of teacher competence and inclusive teaching methods with learner engagement outcomes. Future studies are encouraged to include broader variables and contexts to further explain learner engagement in special education settings.
Jose F. Cuevas, Jr.,PhD., Mae Ann Q. Olloves
Spiritual development programs and skills training have been recognized as essential components of rehabilitation for Persons Deprived of Liberty (PDL), as they aim to promote moral renewal, personal growth, and positive behavioral change. This study determined the level of participation in spiritual development programs and skills training, and their relationship to the behavioral transformation of PDL. Employing a descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from 170 Persons Deprived of Liberty at the Bureau of Jail Management and Penology (BJMP) Region 10 using a random sampling technique. A researcher-made survey questionnaire was used to gather the necessary data from the respondents. Statistical tools, including the Mean, Standard Deviation, and Pearson Product-Moment Correlation Coefficient, were used to analyze the data. The results showed that spiritual development programs and skills training were very highly implemented among PDL, with a similarly high level of behavioral transformation. A significant relationship was found between program participation and behavioral transformation. Regression analysis identified economic empowerment and employability as the strongest predictors of behavioral change (p < .001). The study concludes that the implementation and strengthening of rehabilitation programs in correctional institutions are crucial for fostering positive behavioral change and preparing Persons Deprived of Liberty for successful reintegration into society. It is recommended that correctional institutions implement systematic monitoring and evaluation to track inmate progress and provide individualized support when necessary
Kim Chanh Thon, Son Cao Thang, Thach Thi Sa Phia
This paper provides a comprehensive overview of Khmer palm-leaf manuscript heritage, encompassing its historical development, intrinsic content value, artisanal production processes, current preservation conditions, and barriers to public accessibility. It advances a heritage staging solution through the application of Khmer traditional dance and music as semiotic and performative media. This approach is designed to convey the textual content, production techniques, and cultural meanings of palm-leaf manuscripts in a vivid, intelligible, and experientially engaging manner. The study further proposes an interactive performance model, positioning it as a form of “living preservation” that facilitates sustainable engagement between heritage and community. Focusing specifically on Sastra Sleok Rit (palm-leaf manuscripts) of the Khmer people-an indigenous knowledge system currently facing the risk of erosion-the research employs a systematic and interdisciplinary methodology to synthesize their historical trajectory, epistemic value, and handcrafted production processes. Simultaneously, the paper evaluates existing preservation practices and identifies linguistic and technical barriers that constrain contemporary audiences’ access to this heritage. On this basis, it proposes a performative preservation strategy through staging, particularly through the integration of Khmer traditional dance and music to reconstruct both the textual content and production processes of the manuscripts. The proposed interactive model functions not only as a medium for cultural communication but also as a sustainable interface linking heritage with contemporary communities, thereby enhancing the preservation of intangible cultural heritage in evolving socio-cultural contexts.
Ilham Rizky Restiawan, Nuryanti, Wisnu Widjanarko
The presence of new media as part of technological development can make a significant contribution to the sustainable development communication system and the development of the local economic market in a region, especially for culinary SMEs in Banyumas Regency. Stakeholders as policymakers can encourage digital transformation for SMEs by optimizing their strategic role as facilitators through the formulation of policy or program communication strategies in digital independence. This study aims to examine and analyze the efforts of stakeholders in enhancing Go Digital independence for culinary SMEs in Banyumas Regency. Data collection was carried out using a qualitative descriptive study approach with data obtained through observation and in-depth interviews with informants. The research results explain that the economic market conditions of culinary MSMEs in Banyumas in 2026 are complex due to the influence of the economic needs of MSME actors and the challenges they face in achieving digital independence. Stakeholder synergy is formed because of the needs of MSME actors concerning digital transformation. Strengthening stakeholder synergy can be carried out through the formulation of marketing-based programs that are integrated according to the needs of MSMEs in the field. Collaborative support between MSME actors and stakeholders can be a key so that social marketing can run in accordance with the concept of sustainable development in realizing digital independence for culinary MSME actors in Banyumas Regency.
Ralph Tenido Alon-Alon
This study aims to determine the status of organizational resilience at Laguna Provincial Jail (LPJ), evaluate its contingency management practices, and analyze their relationships to propose enhancements for a contingency plan focusing on the five dimensions of organizational resilience such as the Leadership and Decision-Making, Security and Risk Control, Inmate Management Stability, Emergency Preparedness, and Psychological and Operational Resilience as well as the Contingency Planning, Staff Training, Coordination and Collaboration, and Response and Incident Management and Communication System. The research used a total enumeration sampling, conducted with the 103 personnels of Laguna Provincial Jail. The study hypothesized that there is a significant relationship between the Contingency Management and the Organizational Resilience of the LPJ. The study used a researcher-made instrument validated and tested for reliability through Cronbach Alpha to collect the data while employing a descriptive correlational design enabling quantitative assessment of resilience and contingency practices. SThe significant correlations emerged across all dimensions, strongest between inmate management stability and response/incident management. The LPJ exhibits robust resilience bolstered by effective contingency practices, though gaps persist in drills and psychological support. Thus, this research affirms strong leadership and coordination as resilience drivers while recommending urging quarterly scenario-based training, counseling programs, vulnerability mapping, and comparative jail studies.
Andrea Amor L. Dimalibot, PhD, Paola Arsenia M. Ordoño
This study examined the status of industry consolidation among Transport Service Entities (TSEs) under the Public Transport Modernization Program (PTMP) in La Union. Utilizing a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design, data were gathered from forty participants through surveys and semi-structured interviews to analyze operator profiles, identify challenges, and develop policy interventions. Findings revealed that the sector remains predominantly traditional and small-scale, with 95% of operators utilizing traditional jeepneys and earning subsistence-level incomes. Significant barriers to consolidation include a high fear of indebtedness, operational disruptions to daily earnings, and a lack of trust in cooperative governance. The study concluded that resistance is driven by structural vulnerabilities and livelihood security rather than opposition to modernization. Proposed interventions include equity-based financing, transparent cooperative management, and phased hybrid models. By aligning empirical evidence with adaptive strategies, this research provided a framework for more inclusive and sustainable transport reform at the provincial level.
Adinkra, L. K., Amoako-Agyeman, K. N., Boamah, A.
The gains of the fight against HIV/AIDS seems threatened by a third force, stigmatization. The focus of the study was to identify the scope and pattern of respondents' knowledge and their relationship with people living with HIV/AIDS. In a survey, 400 Junior High Students completed self-administered questionnaire, comprising of two measures, beliefs toward people living with HIV/AIDS and knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Based on factor analysis two factors of the Belief construct, suggest tolerance and acceptance of people infected with HIV based on factor loadings ranged between .401 and .662 on promax rotation. Positive correlation between the items and the factors were also registered. However, gaps in levels of knowledge and in misconceptions on HIV issues threaten their comfortability with the infected. There is a willingness to tolerate and accept people living with HIV without stigmatisation. However, students’ comfortability to do that willingly will depend on the quality of functional knowledge and facts about HIV/AIDS. The fight against stigmatisation may continue to linger on until misconceptions are continually addressed. Heightened awareness and knowledge of health risk are important preconditions for self-directed change.
Nor Harlina Abd Hamid, Raslan Nordin
Electric vehicle (EV) adoption in Malaysia has increased in recent years, yet market penetration remains below national transition ambitions. This study examines the strategic and behavioral drivers influencing consumer adoption of EVs in Selangor, Malaysia, using Diffusion of Innovation Theory as the guiding lens. A qualitative research design was employed to capture the lived experiences, expectations and concerns of multiple stakeholders in the EV ecosystem. Data were collected from 44 participants comprising EV owners, prospective buyers, EV dealers and charging infrastructure operators. Semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions and document analysis were analysed using thematic coding in NVivo 14. The analysis produced 171 coded references across five themes: consumer attitudes and motivation, risk perception and barriers, charging infrastructure awareness, social influence and peer effects, and policy awareness and adoption enablers. Charging infrastructure emerged as the strongest adoption determinant, accounting for 53 coded references or 31.0 percent of all references, followed by consumer attitudes, risk perception, policy awareness and social influence. The findings show that charging cost, coverage, reliability and station-user behaviour remain central concerns, especially among consumers without access to home charging. Risk perception is also influential, with resale value uncertainty becoming more prominent than traditional range anxiety. EV ownership experience appears to reduce perceived risk, while social influence remains relatively weak due to the early-stage diffusion of EVs in Malaysia. The study contributes to the EV adoption literature by showing that infrastructure readiness alone is insufficient unless supported by risk-reduction communication, dealer capability and consumer education. The paper recommends integrated policy, industry and charging-operator interventions to accelerate mainstream EV adoption in Malaysia.
Mwalozi Elizabeth Magombe, Onyango Evans Odhiambo
This study sought to explore strategies to enhance stakeholder participation in Montreal Protocol implementation in Kenya. The study was informed by the Constructivism theory of international relations in understanding how states engage with and internalize international environmental obligations such as those established under the Montreal Protocol. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a mixed approach. The target population comprised officials from the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, local environmental practitioners and NGOs. The study employed a descriptive research design with a mixed approach. This study relied on both primary and secondary sources of data. Purposive sampling was employed to select 50 respondents for field interviews. The main tools for data collection comprised structured questionnaires and interview guides. Quantitative data from questionnaires was analyzed using descriptive statistics, including frequencies, percentages, means, and standard deviations, and presented through tables, charts, and graphs. Qualitative interview data was transcribed, coded, and thematically analyzed to identify patterns, stakeholder experiences. This study observed that Kenya has strengthened stakeholder participation in Montreal Protocol implementation through multi-stakeholder collaboration led by the Ministry of Environment with UNEP and GIZ support. Capacity building, national events, and digital campaigns have improved awareness and engagement. However, participation remains uneven, with limited private sector and community involvement, and concerns persist about tokenistic engagement and weak feedback mechanisms. The study recommends strengthening institutional coordination, enhancing public awareness and education, securing sustainable financing through the Multilateral Fund and public-private partnerships, and fostering more inclusive stakeholder engagement.
Noorulhafidzah Zawawi, Saniyya Haafizah
This paper examines the inadequacy of the structure of international human rights laws and refugee laws in providing protection for climate displaced individuals, with the example of Sudan. Although climate change has been acknowledged as one of the main reasons for human movement around the world, environmental refugees are not protected under the 1951 Refugee Convention and its Protocol of 1967. Protection Gap for Four Categories of Persons Based on Conceptual Approach Using secondary data, the research seeks to identify the gap in the protection of political refugees, war refugees, economic refugees, and environmental refugees. This is especially true with the case of Sudan where climate change pressure combined with prolonged armed conflict and poor governmental capabilities results in complex forms of displacement which do not fit into the current definitions in international law. Based on human security and rights based approaches to the issue informed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (1948) and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (1966), this paper posits that the current legal framework dealing with refugees cannot cope with new mobility trends. Thus, there is a need for an alternative framework which will take into account rights of environmental migrants regardless of their refugee status.
Maimunah Sapri, Muaz Hafizuddin Ahmad Muzir, Muhammad Saufi Sumali, Shaifuddin Abdul Razak
The increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in residential property valuation has been driven largely by advances in automated valuation models and predictive analytics. However, existing research has focused predominantly on model performance and interpretability, offering limited guidance on how AI should be embedded within professional valuation practices that are judgement-intensive, regulated, and accountable. This study addresses this gap by reframing AI integration as a governance and workflow design problem rather than a purely technical challenge. Drawing on Levels of Automation (LOA) as an analytical lens, the study systematically maps human and AI roles across valuation workflows and identifies the limitations of conventional LOA frameworks in addressing professional authority and accountability. To overcome these limitations, the study introduces a Professional Governance Layer as a cross-cutting mechanism addressing decision authority, accountability ownership, override capability, and audit responsibility in AI-supported valuation. Using a systematic literature review and an expert-based Delphi approach, the study develops a Human-AI Hybrid Valuation Framework that structures human-AI collaboration while preserving non-transferable professional responsibility. The proposed framework contributes a process-oriented and professionally defensible approach to AI adoption in residential property valuation, offering practical implications for valuers, regulators, and system developers concerned with responsible and accountable AI integration.
Azahar Yusof, Che Mohd Syaharuddin Che Cob, Mariam Setapa
The rapid digitalization of higher education has increased the demand for innovative teaching approaches that can enhance students’ motivation and engagement, particularly in challenging and analytical subjects such as Strategic Management. In response to this need, the study investigates students’ perceptions of online collaborative teaching and its influence on their achievement motivation. A quantitative approach was employed, involving 100 undergraduate students enrolled in Strategic Management courses. Data were collected using an adapted questionnaire that measured students’ perceptions of online collaborative teaching and their level of achievement motivation. Descriptive statistical analysis was used to analyse the collected data. The findings revealed that students demonstrated highly positive perceptions toward online collaborative teaching. Most respondents agreed that the approach enhanced their understanding of course content, increased classroom engagement, encouraged active participation, and created a more interactive learning environment. The results also indicated that students possessed high levels of achievement motivation, reflected in their strong desire to achieve academic excellence, willingness to face learning challenges, and commitment to completing tasks effectively. The study further suggests that online collaborative teaching contributed positively to students’ motivation by promoting interactive learning experiences and diversified instructional methods. This study contributes to the growing literature on digital pedagogy and collaborative learning by providing empirical evidence that online collaborative teaching can support achievement motivation in Strategic Management courses. The findings imply that higher education institutions should continue strengthening collaborative and technology-enhanced instructional practices to improve student engagement and academic motivation. Future studies are recommended to employ inferential and longitudinal research designs to further examine the relationship between online collaborative teaching and student achievement motivation across different academic disciplines and institutions.
Azhar Abdul Aziz, Faridah Mohd Sairi, Mohd Annas Shafiq Ayob, Mohd Norazri Mohamad Zaini, Noor Syahida Md Soh
Contemporary educational discourse continues to prioritise cognitive and performance-based outcomes, often marginalising the role of faith as an active epistemological force in shaping student learning. Within this context, the educational thought of Risale-i Nur by Bediuzzaman Said Nursi offers an integrative perspective that unifies spiritual, intellectual, and moral dimensions of learning. However, existing scholarship has largely examined these contributions in isolation, without explicitly conceptualising student learning as an act of conscious faith. This study addresses this gap by examining how learning may be understood as a faith-integrated cognitive process within Nursi’s epistemological framework. It aims to (i) identify the core educational constructs underlying student learning in Nursi’s thought, (ii) analyse the role of faith as an active epistemological and cognitive element, and (iii) synthesise these constructs into a conceptual framework that functions as a guideline for faith-integrated student learning. Methodologically, the study adopts a qualitative conceptual synthesis approach, drawing on selected primary texts from Risale-i Nur and relevant scholarship. Through iterative reading, conceptual extraction, and integrative synthesis, key constructs cognition, reflective consciousness (tafakkur), faith (iman), and knowledge integration are systematically aligned. The study conceptualises learning as a process of meaning-making rooted in the integration of revelation, reason, and observation of nature, mediated through reflective cognition and culminating in the internalisation of faith. Rather than a linear acquisition of knowledge, learning is understood as a dynamic and transformative process integrating epistemological, cognitive, and spiritual dimensions. This study contributes by offering a conceptual synthesis that informs a guideline-oriented framework, providing a structured lens for understanding and guiding faith-integrated student learning beyond conventional secular paradigms.
Aqilah Arshad, Asma’ Fauzi, Suzzana Othman
This study examined students’ acceptance of a YouTube-based Arabic (Level I) learning kit using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). The YouTube videos were developed as supplementary learning materials to support the main course textbook and enhance students’ Arabic listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. A quantitative survey was administered to 134 foundation-level students enrolled in the TAC101 compulsory course. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis. The results revealed high mean scores across all TAM constructs, indicating that students perceived the YouTube learning kit as useful, simple to use, and engaging. Reliability analysis demonstrated strong internal consistency for all constructs (Cronbach’s α = 0.87–0.91). Correlation analysis showed strong positive relationships among perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward use, and behavioral intention. Regression results further indicated that both perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use significantly predicted students’ behavioral intention to continue using the YouTube learning kit. Overall, the findings indicate a high level of student acceptance of the TAC101 YouTube learning kit and support the integration of YouTube-based materials as effective digital supplements in foundation-level Arabic language courses.
Farah Saniah Mohd Zabidi, Hamidah Norman, Maryam Mohd Esa, Noor Azlin Mohd Kasim, Suhailah Ibrahim
This paper aims to develop a conceptual framework of suami budi as a culturally grounded form of husband leadership and to examine its role in shaping family well-being. While contemporary family research increasingly emphasizes relational and emotional dimensions of marriage, the literature remains largely Western-centric, with limited integration of indigenous value systems. Addressing this gap, the present study conceptualizes suami budi, rooted in Malay cultural philosophy, as a multidimensional construct comprising budi bicara (wise judgment), budi bahasa (respectful communication), and budi pekerti (moral conduct). Drawing on emotional intelligence, ethical leadership, and relational theories, the proposed framework positions relationship quality as a mediating mechanism linking husband leadership to family well-being outcomes. The key contribution of this paper lies in extending family and leadership literature by embedding culturally specific values into a theoretically grounded model. The framework offers important implications for both theory and practice and provides a foundation for future empirical validation across diverse cultural contexts.
Buthiena Kharabsheh, Fatin Nur Aliyah, Intan Maizura Abd Rashid, Irza Hanie Abu Samah, Mohd Rasdi Zaini
This study proposes and empirically validates SULAM Fusion 5.0, an integrated pedagogical framework designed to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes through the convergence of community engagement, industry collaboration, ethical integration, technological adoption, and outcome-based education. Grounded in experiential learning theory and value-based education, this research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) and thematic analysis using NVivo. Data were collected from university students participating in SULAM-based courses. The findings demonstrate that all five constructs significantly influence student engagement, which in turn mediates the relationship between pedagogical practices and learning outcomes. The qualitative findings further support the quantitative results, revealing themes of experiential relevance, ethical awareness, and digital empowerment. This study contributes to the advancement of service-learning pedagogy by offering a scalable and holistic model suitable for higher education institutions globally.
Prof. Ryan Paul Obligar, Sunny E. Madridano
The integration of digital tools into fitness coaching has become increasingly important for delivering personalized and data-informed guidance. Despite this need, many practitioners continue to rely on manual tracking or costly body composition devices that lack seamless data integration. This study developed Sunno Fitness, a web-based coaching platform that combines a custom Bluetooth-enabled digital skinfold caliper with the Isolation Forest algorithm to support data-driven performance monitoring. The project employed a Developmental Research Design guided by Agile methodology. The hardware system incorporated an ESP32 microcontroller and an AS5047P magnetic rotary sensor to digitize skinfold measurements, while the software platform automated the Jackson–Pollock 3-site method and analyzed client progress. System validation was conducted through a two-phase testing procedure involving 31 participants. Results showed that the digital skinfold caliper achieved high precision, with a negligible mean difference of –0.01 mm and a percent error of 2.15% relative to a manual caliper. Automated body fat computation demonstrated strong agreement with manual calculations, reflected by a 0.01 percentage point mean difference and a 1.21% error rate. Higher variance observed when compared to Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis (21.87% error) was attributed to inherent methodological differences rather than hardware limitations. The machine learning component, validated using four health-related proxy datasets, effectively detected anomalies and distinguished long-term trends from data noise. Additionally, the web platform demonstrated reliable performance, achieving a 100% notification delivery rate with an average latency of under 1.5 seconds. Overall, Sunno Fitness offers a validated, cost-effective solution that integrates accurate body composition assessment with intelligent, real-time monitoring to enhance modern fitness coaching.
Mainoma, Mohammed Akaro Ph.D, Naburgi, Musa Mohammed Ph.D, Weghyina Tarfa Jacob
The relationship between sustainability reporting and firm value has produced mixed empirical evidence, particularly in emerging economies like Nigeria where disclosure quality remains inconsistent. Furthermore, most existing studies treat sustainability reporting as a composite construct, masking the distinct effects of its economic, environmental, social, and governance dimensions. This study examined the effect of sustainability reporting on firm value among listed manufacturing firms in Nigeria. The population comprised 71 manufacturing firms listed on the Nigerian Exchange Group, from which a purposive sample of 44 firms with complete data from 2015 to 2024 was selected. Panel data were analyzed using fixed effects regression following a significant Hausman test result. The findings revealed that social sustainability reporting has a positive and statistically significant effect on firm value, indicating that disclosures relating to employee welfare, labor practices, community engagement, and stakeholder relations substantially enhance market valuation, while economic sustainability reporting, environmental sustainability reporting, and governance sustainability reporting exhibited insignificant effects. Based on the findings, the study recommended that manufacturing firms should prioritize and expand social sustainability disclosures relating to employee welfare, community engagement, and stakeholder relations, as these directly enhance firm value. Regulatory authorities should enforce standardized sustainability reporting frameworks to improve the quality and comparability of economic, environmental, and governance disclosures, while firms should strengthen board oversight to enhance the credibility of all sustainability reports.
Abshir Moalin Mohamed (Dhiblawe)
Drought is a natural climatic phenomenon that occurs when rainfall is less than average for an extended period of time. It can occur at any time and in any location. Droughts are extremely difficult to predict at the start and end. It happens quietly, and the consequences can last for years after the event is over. Drought is a natural occurrence with economic, environmental, and social implications. Drought is characterized by a prolonged lack of precipitation that results in significant water scarcity in a region. Drought usually begins in agriculture and then spreads to other water-dependent industries. Due to its geographical location, fragile environment, volatile climate, political instability in the country, and the potential effects of global warming, Somalia is vulnerable to drought. Reducing the negative effects of drought is possible if precautions are taken prior to the drought and proper planning is made during the drought period. As a result, the measures to be taken before the drought and the steps that can be taken during the drought should be planned separately. Although we cannot increase water supply by ensuring the continuity of precipitation, we can mitigate the negative effects of drought.
Arni Abdul Gani, Hanisabirin Baharom, Mazlina Mahdzar
This study explores stakeholders' insights on rapid response strategies aimed at revitalizing visitor arrivals on Langkawi Island, Malaysia. Despite being a top tourist destination, Langkawi has seen a persistent decline in arrivals, affecting the economy and residents. This research employed a qualitative approach, including in-depth interviews with eight key destination stakeholders and local community leaders. Thematic analysis with NVivo 14 software was performed to answer the research objectives. Results indicated challenges such as transportation accessibility, negative visitor perceptions, and service quality issues. Participants emphasized the importance of marketing diversification, collaborative stakeholder engagement, and infrastructure enhancement to restore the island’s competitiveness. The study reveals that rapid response strategies such as expanding transportation networks, targeted marketing campaigns, and product innovation are critical to reviving Langkawi's tourism sector. By fostering collaboration among stakeholders and adopting sustainable tourism practices, Langkawi can reclaim its position as a sought-after destination. This research offers valuable insights for tourism players, policymakers, and stakeholders, contributing to the development of adaptable strategies for sustaining and growing tourism in island destinations facing similar challenges. This indicates that strategic interventions, including marketing diversification, enhanced stakeholder collaboration, and infrastructural improvements, are critical for rejuvenating Langkawi's tourism industry. It is then suggested that actions such as expanding transit networks and initiating focused promotional efforts are to be considered as part of encouraging the arrival of tourists. The study emphasizes the importance of stakeholder cooperation in crisis recovery efforts, as well as practical recommendations for policymakers and tourism industry players to ensure the possibility that Langkawi can regain its standing as a top-tier tourist destination by employing adaptable strategies.
MA. Thach Thi Sa Phia, PhD. Le Thuy An, PhD. Tang Van Thon
Filial piety is not only a moral value but also an important cultural foundation in the spiritual life of the Southern Khmer community in Vietnam. This study examines how filial practices help maintain social relationships, cultural continuity, and religious identity within Khmer society. Drawing on Functionalist theory, particularly the perspectives of Bronisław Malinowski and A.R. Radcliffe-Brown, the article analyzes the social and symbolic functions of filial traditions in everyday communal life. The study employs ethnographic fieldwork and symbolic analysis, including observations at Khmer temples, participation in ritual events, and interviews with community members from different age groups. Particular attention is given to culturally distinctive practices such as temporary monastic ordination as an expression of gratitude toward parents, the Sen Dolta ancestral commemoration festival, and merit-making activities dedicated to parents and ancestors. The findings indicate that Khmer filial piety reflects a close integration between Theravāda Buddhist beliefs and indigenous traditions of ancestor veneration. Filial practices continue to function as an important cultural and moral “anchor” despite increasing pressures from migration, urbanization, and social change. At the same time, younger Khmer generations are gradually reinterpreting filial obligations in more flexible and symbolic ways, especially in urban and migrant contexts. The study argues that filial piety remains a significant source of cultural cohesion and ethnic identity while also adapting to contemporary social realities.
Benedict E. Malaguit, Gladys S. Escarlos
We conducted a systematic review of the implementation and efficacy of the Christ-centered holistic curriculum policy in Seventh-day Adventist schools. The study examined the impact of the Adventist school experience in assisting students to develop in all areas through the integration of faith, learning and character building. The review integrated theoretical and empirical studies on faith integration, holistic education, teacher roles, and policy implementation in Adventist schools. It did this through following the philosophy of Adventist education which stresses the wholesome development of the spiritual, intellectual, physical and social aspects of students. The study investigated the philosophical and theological foundations of the Christ-centered curriculum, the infusion of faith and learning in the classroom, the role of teachers as spiritual guides, and the challenges and opportunities that arise in the implementation of holistic education policies. A systematic review method was used to analyze relevant books and previous research studies on Adventist education to identify common themes, practices and outcomes. The findings showed that the Adventist educational system is still robustly rooted in a biblical perspective and the writings of Ellen G. White. The focus is on education as a way of healing and changing people. The review shows that students who combine faith and learning become smarter about right and wrong, grow spiritually, become more responsible and are better at being leaders. It was also found that well-rounded educational programs such as church activities, health education and community service are helping students grow in a healthy way. Teachers have a major role in modeling for students how to live like Christ and in creating spiritual moments that matter in the classroom. The study also revealed some issues such as faith integration not always practiced, teachers not trained properly, a lack of teaching materials and problems between religious identity and national education standards. These issues were raised, but the review found that improvements could be made through better teacher training, more help for institutions, new content and more cooperation between Adventist schools. The study concludes that the Christ-centered inclusive curriculum policy is still very important for the purpose and character of Seventh-day Adventist schools. If used properly it not only helps students to do well in school but it changes them spiritually and morally. The results can teach teachers, school managers, lawmakers and future researchers who want to improve Adventist education and maintain its Christ-centered purpose alive in modern schools.
Vaishnav Singh Khati
The Tea and Tourism industry of the Darjeeling hills in West Bengal has raked in significant fame, profits and attraction towards the State. However, the system that maintains these institutions are inherently outdated, riddled with colonial tendencies and inequality. Whether it is the lack of proper wages to Tea Garden workers or a lack of proper land administration, the system is clearly collapsing. Additionally, the lack of regional autonomy of the people of Darjeeling also adds to this problem, highlighting the importance of recognising identities within smaller regional economies. Along with this, faulty administration and haphazard constructions have also led to collapse on multiple fronts including economics, geographic and ecological. Hence, this paper will seek to critically examine the tourism industry and its cascading effects on smaller towns, with Darjeeling as the primary case of analysis, and highlight how a lack of autonomy and mismanagement can lead to collapse on multiple levels through the use of primary and secondary research.
Jennifer G. Verdejo
This study examined the integration of technology in instructional management among teachers in the Lagonoy South District, focusing on teacher attributes, school contextual factors, extent of technology use, perceived benefits, and encountered barriers. A descriptive-correlational design was used, with data gathered from teachers in mainland and coastal schools. Descriptive and correlational statistics were employed in data analysis. Findings showed that most respondents were young to middle-aged, predominantly female, and held bachelor’s degrees, with some pursuing graduate studies. Participation in technology-related training was moderate. Most teachers were assigned in large mainland schools with high student populations and had access to basic ICT resources such as laptops, computers, printers, projectors, and smart televisions, while access to advanced technologies remained limited. Results further indicated that technology was commonly used in routine tasks such as lesson planning, instructional material preparation, communication, and data management. However, its use in interactive and higher-order instructional processes was limited. Teachers perceived technology as beneficial in improving instructional efficiency, learner engagement, and teaching support, although challenges such as limited internet connectivity, insufficient digital resources, and time constraints persisted. Inferential analysis revealed no significant relationship between teacher attributes and school contextual factors and the extent of technology integration, and no significant differences in technology use across school locations. However, age and training exposure influenced the level of integration. The study concludes that technology integration among teachers is largely functional rather than transformative. It recommends continuous hands-on training, improved ICT infrastructure, stronger institutional support, and mentoring programs to enhance meaningful integration of technology in instructional management.
Apriljun D. Lamasan
Poor academic performance is a problem in education. The study aimed to determine the significance of teacher effectiveness and classroom learning environment as causes of student academic performance. Diagnostic research design was employed. Using simple random technique, 200 junior high school students were surveyed. Data were gathered and analyzed using multiple linear regression. Findings revealed that teacher effectiveness and classroom learning environment significantly causes the criterion, partially affirming Social Cognitive Theory. Further studies are recommended to explore additional variables such as student motivation, parental involvement, socio-economic status, and learning habits, and to conduct qualitative research for additional themes, while teachers and school administrators may collaborate to strengthen instructional strategies, classroom management, and assessment practices through professional development and improved learning environments.
Dr. Lolito G. Estrera, Mary Angelie L. Grecia
Low teacher job satisfaction in inclusive classrooms is alarming. Forecasting teacher job satisfaction in inclusive classrooms using collective efficacy and leadership support as predictors was determined. A predictive research design, universal sampling, survey, and multiple linear regression were used as methods. Data obtained from 220 secondary public-school teachers revealed that the predictive model was strong and significant, fully affirmed the Motivation–Hygiene Theory. Other researchers may explore additional variables and employ qualitative approaches to better explain the 36.1% remaining variance in the predictive model, while educational leaders may initiate targeted leadership development and inclusive education training to optimize teacher job satisfaction in inclusive classroom settings.
Funwell Mwape, Joseph Mukonde, Simon Phiri
This study explored teachers' knowledge of and utilization patterns with Autocrat software in school results management in selected secondary schools in Itezhi-Tezhi District, Zambia. The study focused exclusively on 40 secondary school teachers who were directly responsible for results processing and management. Data were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis procedures. The analysis revealed two primary findings corresponding to the research objectives. First, regarding teachers' knowledge level on Autocrat software, the study found that teacher knowledge was substantially fragmented and operationally limited, with understanding largely restricted to basic data entry and report generation procedures. Teachers demonstrated limited knowledge of advanced system functionalities, analytical capabilities, and data validation procedures, acquiring knowledge primarily through informal mechanisms and brief training events rather than sustained professional development. Second, regarding utilization of Autocrat in school results management, the study established that despite software availability, utilization remained compliance-focused and functionally limited, with teachers employing the system exclusively for periodic mark entry and Ministry-required reporting rather than for evidence-based decision-making, student performance monitoring, or educational quality improvement. Teachers reported significant barriers including inadequate initial training, absence of ongoing technical support, unreliable infrastructure, and severe time constraints competing with other teaching responsibilities. Multiple interconnected barriers operated at individual, school, and system levels to constrain effective and meaningful utilization. The research underscores that technology adoption in educational settings requires comprehensive systemic intervention extending far beyond software provision and isolated training events. Two critical recommendations emerged: (1) establish sustainable, differentiated professional development programs combining intensive initial training with ongoing technical support, peer mentoring communities, and explicit integration of Autocrat data analysis into regular school management processes, curriculum planning cycles, and teacher performance review mechanisms; and (2) implement explicit organizational protocols and administrative structures that position results management as a central function supporting continuous quality improvement, including regular data review meetings, professional development in analytical interpretation of system-generated reports, and deliberate linkage between Autocrat-generated insights and instructional decision making practices. These recommendations recognize that effective technology adoption requires sustained institutional commitment to both human capacity development and organizational integration of technology-enabled processes.
Gen Infinity E. Indac, James L. Paglinawan
The rapid integration of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools in education has transformed how students produce academic outputs and how teachers evaluate them. This study examines teachers’ perceptions, acceptance, tolerance, challenges, and countermeasures regarding AI-assisted student work in Philippine secondary schools. Using a qualitative descriptive design, data were collected from 20 public secondary school teachers across various subject areas through semi-structured interviews administered via Google Forms. Thematic analysis was applied to identify recurring patterns and sentiments, providing insights into how educators balance innovation with academic integrity. Findings show that teachers detect AI use through stylistic discrepancies and cognitive mismatches, such as sudden improvements in grammar, vocabulary, and coherence that do not align with a student’s typical performance. Acceptance of AI is conditional, with teachers allowing its use as a scaffold for learning—particularly for grammar checking, idea organization, and brainstorming—provided students demonstrate transparency and accountability. Tolerance is framed by clear pedagogical rules, with educators permitting AI use in low-stakes tasks under disclosure requirements and process-based evidence. However, challenges persist, particularly a crisis of authenticity and cognitive ownership, as polished AI outputs often mask diminished creativity and critical thinking. To address these issues, teachers employ countermeasures such as requiring multiple drafts, oral defenses, contextualized tasks, and process-based assessments, thereby restoring the human element in learning. This study emphasizes that teachers’ responses to AI are shaped by conditional frameworks that balance innovation with integrity. It recommends institutional policies and training programs that support ethical AI use, strengthen teacher competence, and embed accountability measures to ensure AI remains a supplementary aid rather than a replacement for authentic student effort.
Daneil B. Paulino, LPT, Ruben E. Borja II, Ed.D
The study examines the contextualization practices utilized by Social Studies Educators at higher education institutions in the Philippines. While there is an extensive enactment of contextualization practices in primary and secondary education, their practical application in higher education institutions remains unclear due to the lack of sufficient guidelines and operational frameworks. This gap highlights the need to investigate the perception, strategies, benefits, and challenges associated with contextualization. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, data were acquired from 15 Social Studies Educators affiliated with State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in Bulacan, Philippines. The thematic analysis revealed that educators consistently perceive contextualization as an educational mechanism that synergizes academic content with students lived realities and cultural backgrounds. The identified strategies encompass inquiry-based methodologies, community-responsive activities, field-based initiatives, and engagement techniques. The findings suggest that contextualization can enhance student participation, cognitive attributes, and cultural awareness among learners. Despite its transformative qualities, contextualization faces challenges encompassing diverse learners’ backgrounds, insufficient capability programs, and inadequate institutional support. To mitigate the identified adversities, the study recommends strategic educational measures, consisting of adequate contextualization seminars and workshops, the creation of guidelines and contextualized instructional materials through institutional support, and partnership with the community for efficient resource acquisition. The findings advocate holistic development and sustainable enactment of contextualization in higher education institutions.
Jonathan V. Oludin, Edd, Marigin C. Quinal
In this research, the researcher examined how learner engagement mediates the connection between teacher Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK) and the math performance of Key Stage 2 students in the Municipality of Buenavista using a descriptive correlational research design. A validated survey questionnaire was utilized to collect data from 60 math teachers and 1,977 learners included an academic record of students’ performance. The results showed that the math teachers had a "Highly Competent" level of PCK (M=3.85) and the students had an average level of "Engagement" (M=3.09) with the lowest emotional engagement. Though teachers were competent in teaching, mediation analysis via Path Analysis indicated that learner engagement had no significant mediational effect (p=0.974) on the relationship between teachers’ PCK and learner performance. The results suggest that although teacher competence and learner engagement are critical factors in influencing students’ math achievement, other systemic or external variables may play a larger role influencing mathematical outcomes. Based on these findings, an action plan has been developed to increase emotional engagement and address the performance gap between instructional quality and academic achievement.
Dr. Ronalyn T. Langam, Leah Fe T. Ordeniza, Maristhel B. Gutang, Rey Ann Mae R. Montanez
This study examined the moderating role of Honey and Mumford learning styles on the relationship between professional development (PD) needs and instructional competence among public school teachers in the Division of Tangub City. A descriptive correlational design with moderation analysis was employed, involving 200 teachers (86% female, 60% aged 35–54 years). PD needs were assessed using a PPST aligned survey (1–5 scale), instructional competence was measured through Classroom Observation Tool (COT) ratings (3–7 scale), and learning styles were determined using the Honey and Mumford Learning Styles Questionnaire. Findings revealed that the highest PD needs were in Curriculum and Planning (M=3.86, High Need) and Diversity of Learners (M=3.73, High Need), while instructional competence was consistently Satisfactory to Very Satisfactory (M range 5.05–5.55). The dominant learning style was Theorist (M=3.91). There was no significant relationship between PD needs and instructional competence (r=0.010, p=0.890). Honey and Mumford learning styles did not significantly moderate this relationship (interaction p=0.097), nor did the moderating effect differ significantly across the four styles (ANOVA p=0.312). The study concludes that matching PD to learning styles is unlikely to improve instructional competence. Therefore, the Division should implement a unified, evidence based PD program focused on Curriculum and Planning and Diversity of Learners, and complement COT ratings with multiple sources of evaluation. Investing in learning style based personalization is not supported by the data.
Nur Shahira Mohd Salim, Nur Syafiqah Yaccob
This study examines English as a Second Language (ESL) teachers’ readiness and challenges in implementing Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) in Malaysian Chinese vernacular primary schools. Guided by the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) and Substitution–Augmentation–Modification–Redefinition (SAMR) frameworks, a qualitative-driven mixed-methods exploratory design was employed. Data were collected through a questionnaire administered to 15 ESL teachers and semi-structured interviews with 5 teachers. The findings indicate a high level of teacher readiness for TELL (M = 4.47, SD = 0.39), alongside a moderate level of challenges (M = 3.86, SD = 0.34). While teachers demonstrated confidence in using digital tools, technology integration remained largely at functional levels, particularly within the substitution and augmentation stages of the SAMR model. The study highlights a gap between teachers’ readiness and the depth of implementation, shaped by infrastructural limitations, learner-related constraints, pedagogical challenges, and socio-cultural expectations. These findings underscore the need for subject-specific and flexible professional development, improved infrastructural support, and context-sensitive strategies to promote more transformative TELL practices in multilingual ESL classrooms.
Genelyn R. Baluyos, Katherine Rose G. Lopez
Teachers' use of technology in mathematics instruction strengthens students' academic motivation and self-efficacy in mathematics learning. This study examined the extent of teachers' technology use, students' academic motivation, and the mediating role of self-efficacy in a private higher education institution in Ozamiz City. Using a quantitative, explanatory, correlational design with mediation analysis, data were collected from 197 college students via stratified and simple random sampling within each stratum. Data were collected using researcher-developed questionnaires and analyzed using means, standard deviations, Spearman's rank-order correlation, regression, and general linear mediation analysis. Results revealed that teachers' technology use was practiced to a very great extent, while students demonstrated high self-efficacy and very high academic motivation. Significant relationships were found among teachers' technology use, students' academic motivation, and self-efficacy. The application of mathematics across different contexts, instructional use of technology, and perseverance in mathematics tasks significantly predicted students' academic motivation. Moreover, students' self-efficacy partially mediated the relationship between teachers' technology use and academic motivation. Purposeful technology integration in mathematics instruction strengthens students' motivation and confidence. Mathematics teachers may continue integrating interactive digital tools in their lessons. At the same time, the Human Resource Department and the Information Technology Office may support this by providing training and access to appropriate technological resources.
Aurora E. Perillo, Esther G. Domingo, Heleina Mae M. Lazaro, Jemimah Faith G. Fajardo, Joel B. Faustino, Joseline M. Santos, Kiesha Natalie Nicole Alcantara, Lianna Bless Cruz
Reading proficiency is a vital foundation in elementary education, yet many Grade 3 pupils continue to struggle with proper comprehension. It is not merely the ability to decode written symbols but encompasses a broader set of skills that enable individuals to access information, communicate effectively, and engage in lifelong learning. This study examined the effectiveness of the UNAWA reading program in addressing reading difficulty through a structured five‐day intervention. UNAWA reading program is an adopted and localized program that is composed of three components. This reading program highlights warm-up activity, stories, and the teacher’s guide. The program integrated the adopted strategy into the daily lesson plans, designed to scaffold reading skills and encourage comprehension. Six pupils found with reading difficulty engaged in pre‐ and post‐tests administered to measure whether there was significant progress in their reading skills. Findings showed that all six pupils’ frustration levels were at or below their grade level. Consequently, five out of the six pupils demonstrated marked improvements in confidence, comprehension, and fluency, actively engaging in collaborative and contextualized activities. Despite one outlier, the results confirmed the consistency and effectiveness of the utilized reading program. Additionally, an evaluation made by the Grade 3 teachers found the reading program highly effective in terms of objectives, instructional strategies, assessment techniques, and activities. The study concludes that the UNAWA reading program is an effective instructional tool and a useful additional resource that strengthens reading skills development and bridges the gap between pupils’ current skills and the necessary Grade 3 competencies.
Adekunle Adeyinka SHOYEMI, Bilikisu Oluwakemi OLAOLU, Oluwatoyin Afolake EDAFIOGHO, Omobola Oyinlade GAMBO
Teachers play a central role in determining the quality of teaching and learning in secondary schools, and their pedagogical effectiveness is increasingly influenced by their level of wellbeing. This paper examines teachers’ wellbeing as a predictor of effective pedagogical skills in senior secondary schools in Oyo State, Nigeria. Anchored on theoretical frameworks Shulman’s Pedagogical Content Knowledge Theory, Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory, and Seligman’s PERMA Model of Wellbeing. The paper conceptualizes teachers’ wellbeing as a multidimensional construct comprising emotional, cognitive, and physical dimensions, while pedagogical skills are examined in terms of classroom management, content delivery, and student engagement. Drawing extensively from existing literature and empirical studies, the paper establishes that teachers’ wellbeing significantly influences their instructional practices and professional effectiveness. Evidence from global and Nigerian studies reveals that teachers who experience high levels of wellbeing demonstrate stronger classroom control, clearer and more innovative content delivery, and higher levels of student engagement, whereas poor wellbeing is associated with stress, burnout, rigid teaching methods, and reduced instructional quality. The paper further highlights contextual challenges affecting teachers’ wellbeing in Oyo State, including workload pressure, limited resources, and inadequate welfare provisions. It concludes that improving teachers’ wellbeing is not merely a welfare concern but a strategic imperative for enhancing pedagogical effectiveness and educational quality. The paper therefore recommends policy-driven and school-based interventions aimed at promoting teachers’ wellbeing as a sustainable pathway to improving teaching and learning outcomes in secondary schools.
Blessilda Marie F. Madarang, Santi A. Magtalas
This study aimed to determine the teachers' workload efficacy and challenges associated with ChatGPT adoption among public elementary teachers in Zone III, Schools Division of Zambales, during the School Year 2025–2026. Using a descriptive-correlational research design, 163 public elementary teachers were selected through simple random sampling. Data were gathered using a validated researcher-designed questionnaire measuring ChatGPT use frequency, perceived opportunities, workload efficacy, and integration challenges. Findings revealed that teachers frequently used ChatGPT for instructional and administrative tasks, particularly for administrative work. They perceived ChatGPT as offering opportunities for professional growth, instructional innovation, learner engagement, and resource access. ChatGPT was rated as having a "Great Extent" of workload efficacy, though integration faced challenges, particularly ethical concerns. Significant differences in ChatGPT use were observed across demographic variables, and positive relationships were found among perceived opportunities, workload efficacy, and challenges. Based on these findings, a training program was developed to enhance teachers' effective and responsible use of ChatGPT. This study provides insights into how ChatGPT supports workload efficacy and offers a basis for designing training programs that strengthen responsible AI use in education.
Noor Hidayah Ab Aziz, Nor Balkish Zakaria, Nurul Azlin Azmi, Raja Adzrin Raja Ahmad
This study examines undergraduate accounting students’ perceptions of financial performance measurement in the teaching and learning context of management accounting. Specifically, it focuses on two dimensions: objectivity and sufficiency. Objectivity refers to the extent to which students perceive financial measures as neutral, factual, and fair, while sufficiency refers to the extent to which students believe financial measures alone provide enough information to evaluate managerial performance. A descriptive survey was conducted among 30 Accountancy students who had learned the topic of performance measurement systems. The questionnaire consisted of Likert-scale items measuring objectivity and sufficiency, followed by one scenario-based question requiring students to choose between a manager with higher return on investment (ROI) but weaker staff-related outcomes and a manager with lower ROI but stronger staff loyalty and innovation. The data were analysed using descriptive statistics, including mean scores, frequencies, and percentages. The findings show that students had moderate perceptions of the objectivity of financial performance measures, with a mean score of 3.11, and mixed perceptions of their sufficiency, with a mean score of 2.95. In the scenario-based question, 80% of students selected the manager with the higher ROI. These findings suggest that although students may recognise the limitations of financial measures, financial outcomes still appear influential in their evaluation preference. The study supports the need for teaching approaches that encourage students to consider both financial and non-financial information when evaluating managerial performance. Future research may include larger samples and additional scenarios to provide deeper insight into students’ decision-making processes.
Ceferina L. Rodriguez, Ernst Gerhard Lozada, Marianel A. Flores, Nova V. Katipunan
In teaching Human Anatomy, learners often experience difficulties learning the human body due to limitations and challenges, such as a lack of material, the expense of cadavers for dissection, aan nd an overwhelming amount of information. The researcher aimed to overcome the mentioned obstacles by using 3D augmented reality and an inquiry-based learning approach to support students’ learning activities. The research centers on evaluating the effectiveness of 3D augmented reality and the Inquiry-Based teaching method in teaching the muscular system in a human anatomy and physiology course to college science major students. The respondents were the entire population of Bachelor of Science in Education major in science students at Sibonga Community College - Poblacion, Sibonga, Cebu. In the study, the students strongly agreed that the chosen teaching strategy and materials were effective in helping them learn human anatomy. There is also a significant difference in the treated data, leading to the rejection of the null hypothesis. Conversely, there must be aspects to focus on to ensure great results when using the application and inquiry-based learning, such as strategically constructing the questions, orienting students, and practicing using the application before using it in the instructions. Other than that, the research can provide insight into the efficacy of the materials. Thus, it is recommended that 3D augmented reality and Inquiry-Based teaching materials for the muscular system in human anatomy and physiology courses are ideal and effective.
Maria Lady Sol A. Suazo, Nadien B. Dingal
This focused manuscript extract presents the results aligned with three selected statements of the problem from the study on technology integration in English language teaching: current classroom practices, perceived effectiveness, and the significant relationship between technology practices and perceived effectiveness. Findings showed that technology use in English language classrooms was generally highly practiced, with teachers’ proficiency and students’ engagement emerging as strong indicators. Technology integration was also perceived as highly effective, especially in supporting teachers’ workload management, student motivation, and overall classroom outcomes. Correlation results further indicated a significant positive relationship between current technology practices and perceived effectiveness, particularly when technology was used frequently, purposefully, and in ways that promoted student engagement. These findings suggest that technology integration becomes more meaningful when digital tools are applied consistently, ethically, and instructionally in English language teaching.
Revelyn V. Pimentel
This study examined the relationship among technology integration, teacher readiness, and school performance in public schools in Antique. Specifically, it determined the respondents’ profile in terms of length of service, rank and position, educational attainment, school size, and school location; assessed the extent of technology integration, level of teacher readiness, and level of school performance; identified significant differences when grouped according to profile variables; and determined the relationships among the key variables. A quantitative descriptive-correlational research design was employed involving 200 public school teachers. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire anchored on the Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory, while school performance was measured using the School-Based Management (SBM) Level of Practice Assessment Tool. Statistical tools included frequency, percentage, mean, Mann–Whitney U test, Kruskal–Wallis H test, and Spearman’s rho. Findings revealed high technology integration, very high teacher readiness, and high school performance. Significant differences were found based on school location, educational attainment, and school size, while strong positive relationships existed among the variables. The study concludes that teacher readiness and technology integration are critical determinants of school performance. Recommendations include strengthening ICT infrastructure, enhancing professional development, and promoting innovative teaching practices.
Cynthia Saineh, Nor Fatin Abdul Jabar
This study examines the construction of humour and irony in artificial intelligence-generated discourse, with particular focus on outputs produced by OpenAI ChatGPT and Google Google Bard. Drawing upon Incongruity Theory and discourse-pragmatic approaches, the research investigates how large language models simulate humorous interaction through linguistic patterning while lacking the contextual and sociocultural inferencing associated with human humour. The dataset consists of 200 AI-generated jokes and ironic statements produced through structured prompting strategies across multiple humour categories, including puns, sarcasm, hyperbole, and observational humour. Corpus-assisted analysis was employed to identify recurring linguistic markers, pragmatic strategies, and humour failure patterns within the dataset. The findings indicate that AI systems demonstrate considerable competence in generating surface-level humour structures, particularly formulaic setup-punchline sequences and lexical wordplay. However, the models encounter substantial limitations when humour relies on implicature, contextual sensitivity, cultural knowledge, or emotional nuance. Several recurrent humour failures were identified, including inadvertent literalism, cultural decontextualisation, semantic incoherence, and formal repetitiveness. Comparative observations with human-generated humour further suggest that AI discourse remains constrained by probabilistic language modelling rather than genuine pragmatic understanding. The study contributes to emerging scholarship on AI-mediated discourse by demonstrating the distinction between structural humour replication and deeper communicative competence. It also raises broader implications concerning the use of humour-capable AI systems in digital communication, entertainment, content production, and human-machine interaction.
Thomas Eric C. Paulin
Literary works as artefacts reflect the times and social context in which they are produced. Actively reading literature, questioning the texts, and identifying themes are the cornerstone of literary education and critical thinking. This study dwells into a comprehensive exploration of how verb tense and narrative perspective correlate with readers’ sense of immediacy and character identity in Contemporary Literature. Through an adapted evaluation tool, the stories’ perceptive impact and relatability will be measured under a nonexperimental descriptive research design. Selected SHS students from Colegio de San Juan de Letran were given a literary selection (transposed to multiple versions with varying verb tenses and narrative viewpoints) and an adapted rating tool administered post-reading. Since the Shapiro-Wilk test of normality revealed that the data are not normally distributed, Mann–Whitney U tests were conducted to investigate the differences in literary perceptions by tense and point of view. Findings showed that there were no significant differences in respondents’ immediacy perception and character identification between narratives written in the past tense and narratives written in the present tense since both p-values are more than 0.05 level of significance. This indicates that readers perceive the time of a selection regardless of verb tense used and relate or not to the characters regardless of the story’s narrative viewpoint. Contemporary Literature teachers and authors of literary works may then emphasize less the impact of verb tense and narrative viewpoint in both teaching and writing literature.
Mok Sew Kuen
Given the increasing presence of foreign workers in the Malaysian workforce and society, many Malaysians have voiced doubts and fear over the perceived encroachment of foreign workers into society, especially with the media reporting cases of crimes and news about them in a particularly negative stance. This research studied the five major Malay newspapers in the coverage of foreigners and identified the repeated five themes that were used to frame foreign workers, include: 1. Anti-social behaviour, 2. Sexually connotative language, 3. Labels/ slurs 4. Derogatory language and 5. Perceived threat to local resources and business opportunities. Analysis of news headlines published by Malay newspapers from January 2023 until March 2026 was conducted and analysed using discourse analytical approach. Negative themes were found to have framed the portrayal of foreign workers, enhancing out-group representations. One particular concern is the disproportionate and repetitive reportage and labels of anti-social behaviour in a manner that encourages hostility and cultivates a climate of fear by overreporting bad behaviour by a small number of people. Foreign workers are often framed as anti-social deviants, depicted as dangerous, menacing, uncivilised, and prone to engaging in criminal behaviours such as violence, fighting, rule-breaking, and posing a threat to society. Negative portrayals of foreign workers have become so commonplace in Malaysian media that stories about them are predominantly crime-related and focused on unfavourable incidents.
Cherry B. Tanamal, Joana Paula B. Binas, Joevanie E. Dequiña, Johnna B. Bagorio, Lynjie J. Belaño, Marsha B. Bacutoc
Smoking is considered a significant public health and educational concern, with tobacco use contributing to millions of deaths annually. This study aimed to examine the smoking habits and academic performance of senior high school learners at Banate National High School, Banate, Iloilo, during the school year 2022-2023. Specifically, it investigated the daily cigarette consumption of respondents based on age, sex, and family income and explored whether a significant relationship exists between smoking habits and academic performance. The study employed a purposive sampling technique, with 30 smoker learners as respondents. Data were collected through a validated researcher-made survey questionnaire, with frequency counts and assigned scales used for descriptive statistics, while the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied for inferential analysis. The findings revealed variations in smoking habits among the respondents. Ages 18-19 had the highest cigarette consumption, and all respondents were male. Smoking prevalence was most common among learners from lower-income families. However, statistical analysis indicated no significant relationship between smoking habits and academic performance. Based on these findings, the study recommends promoting extracurricular activities, conducting anti-smoking campaigns, and implementing remedial classes to support learners. The results of this study will serve as a basis for the preparation of a school policy on learners' discipline, particularly regarding smoking prevention and intervention strategies. Future research should explore comparative studies between smoker and non-smoker learners and extend the study to junior high school students.
Abegail B. Baysa, Ashley Lorraine A. Agliam, Gladys S. Escarlos, Ivy Grace A. Martinez, Karen Mae S. Fernandez, Khicy Jean G. Escultor, Sheena S. Directo
This study examined the behavioral impact of excessive technology exposure among early childhood learners aged 3–8 years in Valencia City, Bukidnon. Using a quantitative correlational design, data were collected from 30 parents through the SCREENS-Q and the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The study identified commonly used digital devices, measured average daily screen time, and assessed behavioral development across four domains: conduct difficulties, hyperactivity/inattention, peer difficulties, and prosocial behavior. Findings revealed that smartphones and televisions were the most frequently used devices, with an average screen time of 7.10 hours per day, exceeding recommended limits. Behavioral assessment indicated elevated levels of difficulties in conduct, hyperactivity, and peer interaction, while prosocial behavior was moderately developed. Correlational analysis using Spearman’s rho showed a significant and very strong positive relationship between screen time and conduct difficulties, hyperactivity, and peer difficulties, and a very strong negative relationship with prosocial behavior (p < .001). This study presents preliminary evidence into the relationship of screentime across the four domains (conduct difficulties, hyperactivity/inattention, peer difficulties, and prosocial behavior), suggesting that increased screen exposure is associated with higher behavioral difficulties and lower prosocial skills. Anchored in Social Learning Theory and Displacement Theory, the findings imply that excessive screen use may influence children’s behavior through modeling and reduced engagement in developmentally appropriate activities, highlighting the need for regulated screen use.
Josphert N. Kimatu
Merit-based public employment is widely associated with stronger bureaucratic competence, impartiality, and institutional legitimacy. Yet scholarships on anti-merit recruitment remain fragmented across separate literatures on nepotism, ethnic favoritism, religious discrimination, cronyism, and corruption. This article develops a conceptual framework that unifies these practices as rival principles of allocation operating before merit. The central argument is that merit in public employment rests on two jointly necessary foundations: competence and impartiality. Recruitment becomes anti-merit when sequentially; family ties, ethnic identity, religious affiliation, personal loyalty, or bribery become more decisive than qualification and fitness for office. The article theorizes these five distinct mechanisms through which merit is displaced: nepotism privileges kinship, tribalism privileges group identity, religion-based favoritism reshapes perceived fitness, cronyism rewards insider loyalty, and corruption commodifies access to employment. Although these mechanisms differ, they converge in weakening neutral competence, organizational trust, fairness in selection, and institutional legitimacy. The article contributes to public administration theory by integrating these barriers into a single framework of anti-merit recruitment. It distinguishes lawful inclusion from illegitimate favoritism, and clarifying the difference between religion as a basis for exclusion before appointment and religiosity as a possible source of motivation after appointment. It concludes by advancing a set of propositions for future empirical research and by outlining governance reforms that can strengthen merit-based recruitment in public institutions.
Mohd Rashan Shah Robuan, Siti Nur Hidayah Harahap
Entrepreneurship plays an important role in promoting economic growth, innovation, and graduate employability, particularly in developing economies. This study aims to examine the influence of entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control on entrepreneurial intention among university students in Malaysia and Indonesia. Grounded in the Theory of Planned Behaviour, the study employed a quantitative cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected from 103 undergraduate students using a structured questionnaire and analysed using IBM SPSS through multiple regression analysis and independent samples t-tests. The results show that entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control have positive and significant effects on entrepreneurial intention, with perceived behavioural control emerging as the strongest predictor. The comparative analysis further indicates that there are no statistically significant differences between Malaysian and Indonesian students in terms of entrepreneurial attitude, subjective norms, perceived behavioural control, and entrepreneurial intention. The study concludes that students’ entrepreneurial intention is mainly shaped by psychological and social factors rather than the national context. These findings support the applicability of the Theory of Planned Behaviour and suggest that higher education institutions should strengthen entrepreneurship education by enhancing students’ positive attitudes, social support, and perceived entrepreneurial capabilities.
Frank Barden Chirwa
This article constructs a theological-dialectic hermeneutical discourse on theodicy, navigating the acute tension between philosophical rationalism and biblical systematic theology within the specific context of the COVID-19 pandemic in Malawi. Utilizing the pandemic as a contemporary "wilderness of fate" (Dozeman, 1998), the study analyzes the traumatic affliction and systemic exploitation of vulnerable women through the hermeneutical lens of Hagar’s narrative (Gen. 16). The discourse contrasts the philosophical quest for logical consistency, specifically addressing the "trilemma" of divine omnipotence, omnibenevolence, and the existence of evil (Frame, 2011), with a systematic theological emphasis on divine solidarity and eschatological hope (Moltmann, 1974). The research employs a "Trialectic of the Wilderness" framework, synthesizing the Philosophical Pole (Ayer, 1936; Flew, 1950; Plantinga, 1974), the Systematic Pole (the Theology of the Cross), and the Sociological Pole (structural violence Galtung, 1969). By integrating the perspectives of African women theologians like Mercy Amba Oduyoye (2001) and Isabel Apawo Phiri (2021), the study explores how faith communities transitioned into "networks of survival." The study concludes that while philosophy seeks to explain the causality of evil, biblical theology offers a redemptive framework through the revelation of El Roi—the "God who sees"—providing a mandate for social justice.
Dr. Mubanga Mpundu, Hendrix Nzala Shamainda
Micro financial institutions are vital in providing consumer credit mainly to those in formal employment in Zambia. In April 2023, the public pensions law was amended permitting early partial access to pension. This study investigates the effect of the amended law on the performance of Micro Finance Zambia Limited, by examining four key performance indicators: loans applications, disbursements, repayments, and interest rates. Primary and secondary data sets for the period 2020 to 2023, were collected from the Micro Finance Zambia Limited and the Bank of Zambia official website, respectively. The study applied the qualitative research method approach. The purposive sampling method was employed in selecting the thirty participants. The mixed methods technique was applied in data collection, with the questionnaire and internet as data collection tools. The Dummy Variable Regression Model and Tabulation data analysis method were employed in analysing the data. The findings show that post April 2023, a reduction was experienced in loans applications, interest rates, disbursements, while repayments increased. The findings reveal that the change in policy affected the performance of Micro Finance Zambia Limited. The weakness and limitations of this study arose from very small data set. Future studies covering longer periods are recommended. The small data set and the short study period from this novel study may pause for its findings to be generalised. Further research in this area is required.
Juanda, Muhammad Basyir, Sulaiman
This research seeks to examine the effect of ethical behavior on e-customer loyalty, with e-customer satisfaction and e-customer trust serving as mediating variables, among customers of Bank Syariah Indonesia in Banda Aceh City. The study involved a total of 182 respondents. Data were gathered through the distribution of questionnaires, using a non-probability sampling technique. The analytical approach employed was Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) using IBM SPSS AMOS software to assess the relationships among the studied variables. The findings indicate that ethical behavior does not have a direct impact on e-customer loyalty. However, ethical behavior shows a positive and significant influence on both e-customer satisfaction and e-customer trust. Furthermore, e-customer loyalty is positively impacted by both e-customer satisfaction (not significant), and e-customer trust (significant). These results suggest that while ethical behavior alone may not directly lead to customer loyalty, it contributes indirectly by enhancing satisfaction and trust. Additionally, the study confirms that the relationship between ethical behavior and e-customer loyalty is partially mediated by e-customer trust, highlighting their critical role in shaping customer loyalty in the digital banking context.
Folasade Iyabode Jemiriye, Gideon Tayo Akinleye, Kehinde Owootomo Olupitan
Nigerian Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) face growing pressure to demonstrate sustainability commitment, yet the mechanisms driving Corporate Social Responsibility Expenditure (CSREX) remain poorly understood. Existing literature has largely examined regulatory and financial performance drivers of sustainability, while the role of internal and external financial incentives remains underexplored. This study investigates how Executive Compensation (EXCOM), Board Bonuses/Incentives (BBINC), and Government Subsidies/Incentives (GSINC) influence business sustainability performance, proxied by CSREX, among five listed Nigerian DMBs over a ten-year period (2015–2024). Using panel data and fixed effects regression validated by the Hausman test, findings reveal that EXCOM (β = 0.324, p < 0.01) and GSINC (β = 0.275, p < 0.01) significantly and positively influence CSREX, leading to rejection of their respective null hypotheses. Conversely, BBINC (β = -0.091, p = 0.173) shows no significant effect, and its null hypothesis is retained, indicating misalignment between board-level rewards and sustainability objectives. Firm size (FSIZE) positively influences CSREX (β = 0.221, p < 0.05). The model explains 69.2% of variance in CSREX (R² = 0.692). The study concludes that while executive pay structures and government incentives effectively promote sustainability investments, board-level reward systems require restructuring to incorporate ESG metrics. Policy implications include integrating sustainability indicators into executive and board compensation frameworks and strengthening regulatory CSR reporting requirements.
Marvida, Kenneth, Tawatao, Princess A., Tesorero, Hazel Marie S., Tisuela, Bel Patrice T., MaEd
This study investigates the effect of inquiry-based learning (IBL) strategies on the historical awareness of junior high school students in selected public secondary schools in Tanauan City, Batangas. Grounded in the mandates of Republic Act No. 10533 (Enhanced Basic Education Act of 2013) which promotes critical thinking and student-centric pedagogy, the research addresses a critical gap in literature regarding how IBL specifically influences the multi-dimensional aspects of historical awareness—such as internalizing historical meaning, shaping national identity, and preserving cultural legacies. While existing research acknowledges the benefits of IBL on general student engagement, limited evidence connects these student-led strategies directly to the cultivation of a deeper historical consciousness within the specific cultural context of Filipino learners. To bridge these gaps, the primary objective of this research is to evaluate how active instructional techniques—namely structured questioning, collaborative projects, and classroom debates—impact students' capacity to comprehend historical events and recognize their modern societal implications. Ultimately, the study seeks to establish a clear empirical link between the efficacy of inquiry-based methods and the development of civic duty and historical insight among junior high schoolers. The resulting data aim to provide actionable insights for educators, school administrators, and curriculum designers working to implement culturally responsive, high-impact teaching practices in social studies education.
Dr Piason Viriri, Walter Murashiki
In Zimbabwe’s hardware industry, tangibility is the cornerstone of customer loyalty, as the physical quality, durability, and reliability of products not only build trust but also transform one-time buyers into lifelong patrons. This sector is experiencing growth driven by urbanization, infrastructure development, and construction activity. Despite its potential, many retail hardware businesses struggle to retain customers, highlighting the need to understand service quality dimensions—particularly tangibility. Grounded in the SERVQUAL model and guided by a pragmatist philosophy, the research employs a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to examine the relationship between tangibility and customer loyalty. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, targeting a stratified sample of 330 respondents across various hardware outlets. The study revealed that customers in Zimbabwe’s hardware industry place strong importance on tangible factors such as product reliability, store layout, and product quality. These physical cues significantly influence customer loyalty, with elements like visually appealing facilities, organized layouts, and product demonstrations fostering trust and encouraging repeat patronage. Qualitative insights reinforced these findings, with participants emphasizing the importance of sensory experiences, brand presentation, and physical infrastructure in shaping customer perceptions. The study highlights tangibility as a critical driver of customer loyalty in Zimbabwe’s hardware industry. Product reliability, store layout, and visible service cues are shown to be strategic assets that foster trust and repeat patronage, even amid economic challenges such as inflation and currency instability. The findings emphasize that retailers should invest in tangible service elements to enhance engagement and competitiveness, while policymakers should support frameworks that strengthen consumer confidence. For scholars, the research enriches service quality literature by linking empirical evidence with theory. Overall, the study advocates for tangibility as a pathway to resilience, differentiation, and sustainable loyalty in the evolving retail landscape.
Bel Patrice Tisuela, Kiana Marcefia Loreign Limen, Llanhara D. Cuevas
The integration of technology in education has significantly transformed traditional teaching methods, offering new avenues to engage students and enhance their learning experiences. This research, titled "The Effects of Technological-Based Strategies on the Level of Learning Skills of Junior High School Students in Social Studies," seeks to explore how technology-based teaching methods influence students' learning skills, particularly in the context of Social Studies. As Social Studies encompasses critical thinking, historical analysis, and understanding of societal issues, technology can provide interactive and engaging ways to foster these skills. The need for this study arises from the increasing prevalence of digital tools in classrooms and the potential of technology to address challenges such as student disengagement and content retention in Social Studies education. While much research has focused on the general impact of technology in education, there is a gap in understanding its specific effects on learning skills in Social Studies for junior high students. This research will help bridge this gap by providing insights into how digital tools can enhance students' abilities to comprehend, analyze, and synthesize historical and social information. Studies such as Okojie et al. (2006), which highlighted the positive effects of multimedia on student engagement, and Thomas & O'Bannon (2007), who emphasized the effectiveness of interactive tools in Social Studies, support the potential benefits of technology in this subject area. Furthermore, Dooly & Sadler (2016) found that technology enhances critical thinking in the social sciences, reinforcing the need to explore how these tools can improve learning outcomes in the junior high school context.
Gul-e-Saba Chaudhry
Pakistan’s large free-roaming dog population presents significant public health, ethical, and legal challenges. Millions of stray dogs inhabit the country, contributing to frequent dog bites and thousands of rabies-related deaths annually. In response, local authorities often rely on mass culling as a population-control strategy. However, evidence suggests that culling has failed to effectively reduce dog populations or eliminate the risk of rabies transmission. Moreover, such practices raise serious concerns regarding animal cruelty, outdated legal frameworks, and the absence of effective regulatory oversight. Public killing campaigns may also generate psychosocial harm by normalizing violence, causing public distress, and undermining social compassion toward communities and animals alike. This commentary advocates for humane, science-based alternatives, particularly Catch–Neuter–Vaccinate–Return (CNVR) programs, which involve capturing stray dogs, sterilizing and vaccinating them, and subsequently returning them to their original environments. Legislative reform, strengthened public education, sustained vaccination initiatives, and improved infrastructure, alongside CNVR implementation, offer a practical and sustainable pathway for rabies control and dog population management. Collectively, these measures can help protect both public health and animal welfare in Pakistan.
Chinyere Chigeru, Osinowo Okikioluwa Oyepero
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent yet under-recognized complication of childbirth with severe implications for maternal and child well-being. Despite global recommendations advocating for routine screening, implementation in low-resource settings remains inconsistent, creating a significant gap between clinical knowledge and practical application. Objective: This study investigates the "gap between knowing and doing" regarding PPD among health workers at Babcock University Teaching Hospital, Nigeria. Specifically, it explores health workers' understanding of PPD and examines their approaches to screening and management in routine clinical practice. Methods: A qualitative exploratory design was employed. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 frontline health workers, including nurses, midwives, community health officers, and medical officers directly involved in maternal and child health services. Data were analyzed using thematic analysis and interpreted through the lens of the Social Ecological Model to understand individual, interpersonal, and institutional factors. Results: Findings reveal that while participants possess basic awareness of PPD, their clinical understanding is superficial, often normalizing symptoms as typical postnatal distress. Crucially, no routine screening protocols or standardized tools, such as the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, are utilized. Instead, detection relies on subjective observation and patient complaints, leading to inconsistent identification. Management is limited to basic counseling and referrals, hindered by a lack of formal training, absent clinical guidelines, heavy workloads, and deep-seated sociocultural stigma. The disconnect between knowledge and practice is identified as systemic, driven by organizational constraints and community-level barriers rather than individual deficits alone. Conclusion: The study concludes that bridging the gap in PPD care requires multi-level interventions. Recommendations include integrating standardized screening tools into routine maternal care, providing structured capacity-building training, developing clear clinical protocols, and addressing sociocultural barriers through community engagement. These strategies are essential for transforming PPD care from a reactive to a proactive model, ensuring timely support for affected mothers and improving long-term developmental outcomes for children.
Muhammad Hanif Abdul Gafar, Nor Amira Mohd Ali
Corporations worldwide face increasing pressure to align economic growth with environmental stewardship, yet sustainability practices remain fragmented across industries. Despite the growing prominence of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) frameworks, and sustainability-driven innovation, firms often struggle to integrate these approaches into a cohesive model that links environmental responsibility with value creation. Addressing this gap, this study explores the research landscape of corporate environmental sustainability through the lens of the Green Value Paradigm (GVP), proposing it as an integrative framework for aligning environmental values with corporate strategy. This study adopts a structured systematic literature review (SLR) guided by PRISMA principles to ensure transparency and methodological rigor. Drawing on Scopus-AI analytics (as of 25 September 2025) and supported by manual screening and critical synthesis, 184 peer-reviewed publications were analyzed using a comprehensive search string encompassing green values, corporate sustainability, and environmental performance. The analysis utilized concept mapping, thematic clustering, and expert identification to examine patterns across consistent, rising, and emerging themes. The findings indicate that CSR and ESG remain foundational pillars of sustainability research, while rising themes—such as the relationship between environmental and financial performance, Green Human Resource Management (GHRM), and sustainability-driven innovation—reflect evolving corporate priorities. Additionally, sustainability disclosure and reporting emerge as critical mechanisms for enhancing transparency, accountability, and corporate legitimacy. Importantly, the study demonstrates that the GVP extends beyond existing frameworks by positioning environmental values as the central driver of strategy, innovation, and value creation. This study contributes to the literature by offering a holistic and integrative perspective on corporate environmental sustainability. It provides practical insights for managers, policymakers, and investors seeking to embed sustainability into strategic decision-making, while also establishing a foundation for future empirical and theoretical advancement in sustainability research.
Dr. Junvil A. Insong, Iven S. Pasanting, John Daryl N. Acas, Junlee B. Espinosa, Rodolfo T. Gordove
The increasing reliance on surveillance technologies has reshaped contemporary approaches to crime prevention and public safety. This study examined the impact of Closed-Circuit Television (CCTV) installation on crime reduction and suppression, drawing on the lived experiences of individuals in selected establishments in Ozamiz City, Philippines. A qualitative phenomenological design was employed to capture participants’ perspectives on the effectiveness, implementation, and challenges of CCTV systems. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with purposively selected participants who had direct exposure to surveillance practices. To strengthen the depth of perspectives gathered, participants included business owners, employees, security personnel, and selected community representatives with direct experience in monitored environments. Colaizzi’s method guided the analysis, enabling systematic identification and organization of significant statements into coherent themes. The findings generated four major cluster themes: Observed Positive Impacts of CCTV on Crime Reduction and Behavior; Successful Strategies or Practices in CCTV Implementation; Optimization and Suggestions for CCTV Systems; and Collaboration Between Government, Businesses, and Community. The findings further revealed that while CCTV systems enhance deterrence and support investigations, concerns regarding privacy, ethical use of surveillance footage, and limitations in monitoring practices remain significant considerations among participants. The study concludes that CCTV systems contribute to crime deterrence and improved behavioral regulation when supported by strategic deployment, consistent maintenance, and multi-sectoral cooperation. However, their effectiveness is influenced by broader social and institutional factors such as public trust, policy implementation, accountability mechanisms, and responsible data management practices. It is recommended that stakeholders prioritize technological enhancements, strengthen personnel training, foster collaborative partnerships, and establish ethical guidelines on surveillance use and data protection to sustain and maximize the effectiveness of surveillance systems in promoting public safety.
Ahmad Jusoh, Alhamzah F. Abbas, Saleh F. A. Khatib, Zuraidah Sulaiman
This study investigates the impact of e-marketing on student loyalty and enrollment intentions among Malaysian university students, based on data from 268 respondents. Guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Expectancy-Value Theory (EVT), the research examines both direct and indirect effects of e-marketing on loyalty. Data were analyzed using SmartPLS 4, a variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) tool, to test the measurement and structural models. The findings reveal that e-marketing positively influences student loyalty, demonstrating that effective digital engagement strategies foster stronger emotional and behavioral commitment to universities. The intention to enroll was also found to mediate the e-marketing–loyalty relationship, indicating that students’ behavioral intentions are key drivers of long-term institutional commitment. The study highlights the strategic importance of integrating digital marketing to strengthen recruitment, retention, and brand trust. It contributes to the literature by providing a validated, theory-based model of how digital marketing and peer influence shape student loyalty in higher education.
Amiruddin Ab Aziz, Hanith Iskandar, Helmisyah Ahmad Jalaludin, Mohamad Ridzuan Mohamed Rashid, Mohd Azahari Johan
English communication skills have become increasingly important in engineering education due to globalization, industrial collaboration, and technological advancement. Mechanical engineering students are required not only to master technical competencies but also to communicate effectively in academic and industrial settings. This study investigates the impact of English communication skills on engineering activity performance among Mechanical Engineering students at Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM) Bukit Besi, Terengganu, Malaysia. A quantitative research approach was employed using questionnaire surveys distributed among diploma students in the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering. The study examines the relationship between English speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills with students’ performance in engineering-related activities such as presentations, laboratory work, technical report writing, teamwork, and project development. Findings indicate that English communication proficiency significantly influences students’ confidence, teamwork efficiency, technical understanding, and academic performance. Students with higher English proficiency demonstrated better engagement in engineering activities and greater readiness for industrial training and employment. The study concludes that strengthening English communication skills among engineering students is essential to improve engineering education quality and graduate employability.
Ifeoluwa Kosemani, Olamiposi Adeniyi
This study investigates the effects of exchange rate fluctuations on remittance inflows in Nigeria from 1990–2023, using annual time-series data obtained from the World Bank Development Indicators (2023). Remittances was specified as the dependent variable, while exchange rate is the main explanatory variable, with GDP per capita, inflation and foreign direct investment as control variables. Fully Modified Ordinary Least Squares technique was applied to obtain long-run coefficients while Dynamic Ordinary Least Squares and Canonical Cointegrating Regression were used as robustness checks. Pairwise Granger causality test was used to assess predictive linkages. FMOLS result reveals that exchange rate depreciation exerts a negative and significant effect on remittances, while GDP per capita has a positive and highly significant effect. Granger causality results show no short-run causal relationship between exchange rate and remittances; however, remittances was found to Granger-cause GDP, while exchange rate shocks Granger-cause GDP. The findings highlight the importance of exchange rate stability for sustaining remittance inflows, and underscore the need for credible and transparent exchange rate management, narrowing of the official–parallel market gap, and the strengthening of low-cost formal remittance channels to enhance development outcomes in Nigeria.
Cui Tiankuo, Liu Quanjie, Ning Zhiyuan
Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries are common among basketball players and have a significant impact on athletic performance; consequently, the extent to which athletes can return to competitive level following reconstruction surgery has become a key focus of sports rehabilitation research. Basketball involves frequent jumping, rapid changes of direction and physical contact, placing high demands on lower limb strength and dynamic stability. The degree of functional recovery following surgery directly influences an athlete’s ability to participate in training and competition, and is closely linked to the risk of re-injury. Previous studies have shown that determining the timing of return to sport based solely on postoperative time does not accurately reflect actual functional status. Functional performance has gradually become the core basis for assessment, primarily encompassing muscle strength, jumping ability, dynamic balance, neuromuscular control and sport-specific performance, whilst also involving functional symmetry and subjective perceptions of recovery. These indicators influence one another and collectively determine athletic performance. Current evidence suggests that multidimensional functional assessments hold greater value than single-parameter measures, and sport-specific functional testing is increasingly being prioritised. However, issues such as discrepancies in assessment criteria and a lack of sport-specific tests persist in the research literature. The development of a comprehensive assessment system that integrates basic functional abilities with sport-specific skills will help enhance the safety and effectiveness of postoperative return to sport for basketball players.
Nguyen Thi Lan Huong
This study investigated the impact of gamified learning activities on Grade 12 students’ participation and speaking confidence in English speaking lessons. Using an action research design, the study was conducted over 12 weeks with 40 students from Class 12A1 at a high school in Hai Phong city. The intervention was implemented in two cycles: the first cycle used competitive gamified activities to stimulate initial engagement, while the second cycle applied collaborative tasks to promote peer support and reduce speaking anxiety. Data were collected through pre- and post-questionnaires, classroom observations, participation rubrics, and semi-structured interviews. The findings showed that gamified learning activities significantly improved students’ engagement and speaking confidence. Quantitative results revealed statistically significant increases in both participation and confidence scores after the intervention. Qualitative data further indicated that competitive games created an energetic learning atmosphere, whereas collaborative activities provided psychological safety and peer scaffolding, helping students become more willing to speak English. Overall, the study suggests that gamification can be an effective pedagogical strategy for enhancing participation, confidence, and positive attitudes in high school English speaking classrooms.
Rinbeth S. Riva, Teresa Baitan Obunan
Despite the recognized importance of concept acquisition in elementary education, many learners continue to struggle with abstract concepts due to the persistent use of rote memorization and the limited integration of visual learning strategies. This gap highlights the need for more effective instructional tools to support meaningful and active learning. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of graphic organizers in enhancing conceptual understanding among elementary learners and to identify trends in their pedagogical application, particularly within the context of local and international educational settings relevant to the Philippine basic education system. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, a systematic review of 23 studies published between 2020 and 2025 was conducted. Data were collected from various academic databases and analyzed using thematic synthesis and “cool and warm” analysis to examine the impact of both print and digital graphic organizers. Results revealed that graphic organizers significantly improve student performance across core subjects such as Science, Mathematics, and Language. Specifically, 69.5% of the studies supported the effectiveness of print-based tools, while 30.4% highlighted the growing impact of digital graphic organizers. These tools were found to reduce cognitive load and enhance both individual understanding and collaborative learning. The study concludes that graphic organizers are essential tools for promoting higher-order thinking skills in 21st-century classrooms. However, gaps in teacher training and access to digital resources remain. It is recommended that schools integrate graphic organizers into the MATATAG curriculum and utilize the proposed Teaching Primer to guide educators in effectively implementing visual-spatial strategies.
Agness Ntapisha
This research report explores the influence of Green Human Resource Management (GHRM) practices on employee retention and engagement within the Lusaka Provincial Administration. In an era where sustainable development and environmental stewardship are paramount, organizations must seamlessly integrate eco-friendly practices into their human resource frameworks. GHRM encompasses a range of initiatives designed to foster environmental sustainability while enhancing organizational culture, thereby promoting higher levels of employee retention and engagement. A mixed method approach was employed to achieve a comprehensive understanding of GHRM’s impact. The study used purposive sampling to select a representative group of employees and key HR stakeholders within the Lusaka Provincial administration. Quantitative data were collected through structured questionnaires designed to assess current GHRM practices and their perceived effectiveness on retention and engagement .Qualitative data were gathered via in depth interviews with HR managers and employees to explore the practical challenges experiences of implementing GHRM initiatives. Data analysis combined statistical techniques for survey responses, including descriptive and inferential statics, with thematic analysis for interpreting qualitative data. This integrate analysis enabled the identification of prevailing GHRM practices, their effects on employee outcomes, and the barriers that hinder their successful adoption. Findings aim to provide actionable insights for policymakers and HR practitioners to enhance environmental sustainability in workforce management, contributing to national sustainability goals while improving employee retention and engagement. This research highlights the critical role of GHRM n aligning organizational objectives with broader societal environmental commitments, demonstrating that sustainable HR practices can cultivate a motivated and environmentally conscious workforce.
Arabella Bueno Pamplona
This research aims to determine the impact of local tax policies on budget performance and public service provision in the municipalities of Nagcarlan and Rizal, Laguna, during the 2025 fiscal year. The fiscal federalism theory has been the basis and foundation of the study on public choice, budget incrementalism and aiming to assess how do tax rate structures, taxpayers' compliance and the collection efficiency influence revenue adequacy, budget utilization, and fiscal discipline. This study hypothesized that the budget utilization efficiency, revenue adequacy, and fiscal discipline have significant relationship to tax policy implementation and the quality of public services provided. A researcher made instrument was used to collect the data. It utilized a quantitative research design consists of 152 respondents comprising the local government officials, employees and taxpayers from Nagcarlan and Rizal Municipalities and a descriptive correlational research methodology to analyze the status of variables, and inferential statistics. The research findings show that both municipalities have moderately high local tax policies and budget performance with positive correlations observed between tax administration and public service outcomes. The LGU's tax policies effectively drive budget utilization and the delivery of essential services. It is also recommended for the LGUs to include adopting digital tax collection platforms and enhancing transparency and participatory budgeting to further optimize revenue generation and service delivery.
Thuraiya Said Al Farsi
This study has focused on the impact of quality assurance practices in higher education institutions on graduates’ alignment with labor market needs in Oman. The main objectives of this study are identifying the quality assurance practices dimensions in higher education institutions that affect the graduate alignment with labor market needs in Oman. Also to assess the relationship between quality assurance practices in higher education institutions dimensions and the graduate alignment with labor market needs in Oman. And then to analyze the impact of the quality assurance practices in higher education institutions dimensions on the graduate alignment with labor market needs in Oman. The research methodology is depending on using the qualitative secondary data. The research focus on analysis step on existing journal articles which has given the attention to systematic review on policies, institutional report which are related to quality assurance practices and the graduate’s employability, the data collected were international conferences, peer review journal articles, government policies documents and institutional publication and accreditation reports. At the time of analysis, analytical approach and descriptive methods used in this study. There were many empirical studies collected, theories and formal reports. The evidences collected all covering the international, regional and along with contextualization with Oman to derive the findings. The analysis part was coming out with the following findings, dimensions of quality assurance practices: Leadership & Strategic Planning, continuous improvement, stakeholder focus, data driven decision making, teaching & learning quality, and teaching & awareness. All those dimensions of quality assurance practices in higher education institution have appositive impact on graduate alignment with labor market need in Oman.
Md. Imran Hossen, Tania Akter
The aim of this study is to provide empirical evidence regarding the influence of Islamic bank performance on economic growth. As per the research, the effects of selected 9 Islamic bank performances on economic development of Bangladesh between 2016 and 2022 using panel data were both significant and considerable. This paper uses random-effects GLS regression for panel data analysis following the model used in the research paper of Badri et al. (2016) and Rashid et al. (2017). The present analysis incorporates the following variables: performance measurement variables (ROA, ROE, BOPO, and CAR); ethical measurement variables (RPR, RPZ); and macroeconomic variables (IPI, CPI, and TMM) comprise the three categories of dependent variables. As an independent variable, GDP is utilized. Islamic banks' financial performance has a substantial impact on the economic development of Bangladesh, according to the findings of this study. Regarding the performance variables, however, the coefficients are negative because Islamic banks of Bangladesh have not performed well, with many blaming low investment prospects, liquidity crisis, inefficient cost structures, non-performing loans, etc.
Dr. Muhd Fairos b Mohd Shah, Ibtisam Ahmed Sheikh Madobe
This study examines the impact of time management practices on project success in organizations. The research aims to investigate how effective time management contributes to improved project performance and outcomes. A quantitative research approach was adopted, and data were collected from 100 respondents using a structured questionnaire. The study analyzed the relationship between time management practices (independent variable) and project success (dependent variable) using descriptive, correlation, and regression analyses. The findings reveal a strong and statistically significant positive relationship between time management practices and project success. Practices such as planning, scheduling, prioritization, and time monitoring were found to enhance efficiency and support the timely completion of projects. Regression results further confirm that time management is a key predictor of project success. The study provides practical insights for organizations aiming to improve performance through effective time management. It emphasizes the importance of structured planning and efficient use of time in achieving successful project outcomes.
Intan Liana binti Suhaime, Najihah binti Rahim, Nani Shuhada binti Sehat, Norraeffa binti Md. Taib, Siti Rohana binti Daud
Purpose: This study investigates the effect of two elements; new technology (HTSA) and business environment (HIEF) on the trust of Malaysians towards the meat and frozen food that they purchase. The main interest is not the technology or the standards per se, but how they come together through what I call Perceived Halal Integrity (PHI). What I'm trying to say is that fancy technologies and government rules don't immediately build trust suddenly. “They work by creating the feeling that the product is really “halal” in the heart of the customer and that leads to real confidence in the entire supply chain. Methodology: The research plan that deals with the collection and analysis of numbers to discover if the ideas’ function. Information will come directly from Malaysian shoppers in a survey with pre-tested and successfully utilized questions from other researchers. To understand all the data, study will utilize a method called Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM). This tool is great for the project since it doesn’t simply look at simple links but allows the study to precisely assess how technology and the business environment interact through PHI to develop true trust. Findings: The study shows that the presence of a Halal Traceability System or Environmental Factors will not immediately create trust in the product. Or rather, these things only function if they first make the buyer feel that the Halal Integrity is being safeguarded. “What I found is that basically shoppers don’t trust a brand because of the technology or the rules, they trust it because those things make them believe that the halal promise is kept throughout the supply chain.” Originality: Research suggests that HTSA and HIEF do not by themselves create consumer trust. Their impact is quite mediated through PHI as one of the mediating mechanisms. The framework indicates that consumer trust is significantly improved only when the perception of uncompromised halal integrity across the entire supply chain is clear.
Duduzile Nkomo, Nozizwe Nkomo
Career education has emerged as a critical dimension of contemporary schooling as education systems increasingly seek to respond to labour market uncertainty, technological disruption, and demands for inclusive socio-economic participation. This paper critically examines the relevance of integrating career education into the secondary school curriculum for learners with learning disabilities in Botswana. Drawing on recent scholarship and policy discourse, the paper conceptualises career education as a holistic, developmental, and cross-curricular process that extends beyond narrow vocational preparation to encompass self-awareness, occupational exploration, career adaptability, and lifelong learning competencies. Anchored in key theoretical frameworks from vocational psychology including Super’s Life-Span, Life-Space Theory, Holland’s theory of vocational personalities, as well as the Social Cognitive Career Theory, the paper underscores the psychological foundations that justify systematic career education interventions, particularly for learners with learning disabilities. Using a multidimensional analytical lens, the discussion interrogates the relevance of career education from legal, psychological, socio-cultural, economic, and educational perspectives within Botswana. The analysis reveals that career education aligns strongly with national visions of human and social development, supports learner wellbeing and self-determination, challenges stigma and exclusion, enhances economic participation, and enriches curriculum relevance. However, the paper also identifies significant structural and implementation challenges that include limited teacher capacity, resource disparities, and poor school-to-work linkages. This discourse concludes that embedding career education as a core curricular component is essential for advancing inclusive education outcomes in Botswana and calls for sustained systemic commitment to realise its transformative potential.
Christine Esther B. Castro, Helaria B. Carmona, John Mark B. Lazaro
Internship performance demonstrates how well students can apply knowledge, skills, and professional competencies in actual workplace settings. It serves as an important indicator of how well students are prepared for professional responsibilities. The primary objective of this study was to examine the correlation between digital literacy and internship performance. This study utilized a quantitative research approach through a non-experimental, descriptive correlational design. One set of adapted, modified survey questionnaires was administered to 191 office administration students at a local college in Santo Tomas, Davao del Norte. The statistical tools used in the study were Mean and Pearson r to determine the significant relationship between digital literacy and internship performance. The results revealed a strong positive relationship between digital literacy and internship performance, with an r-value of 0.623 and a p-value < 0.001. This indicates that higher levels of digital literacy are associated with better internship performance among students. The findings suggest that digital literacy plays an important role in enhancing students' ability to perform effectively in real workplace settings. Strengthening digital literacy skills may therefore help improve students’ internship outcomes and better prepare them for future employment in office administration roles.
Carrene Joy A. Ancero, Jeffrey G. Estillore, Lpt, Mba., Kleib Kristian L. Gamboa, Millisa E. Saramosing-Equit, Mba, Raven Cesar John B. Somodio.
Korean instant noodles have evolved beyond simple convenience food and have become a powerful cultural and social phenomenon among Filipino youth. Influenced by the rapid spread of Korean popular culture through TikTok, YouTube, K-dramas, and social media trends, senior high school students are increasingly drawn to Korean noodle brands as symbols of modern lifestyle, identity, and social belonging. This study examined the influence of product attributes—price, quality, taste, and brand image—on the consumer buying behavior of selected senior high school students in Poblacion, Valencia City. Anchored on Rational Choice Theory and supported by Means–End Chain Theory and Social Influence Theory, the study explored how rational thinking, emotional value, and peer influence shape students’ purchasing decisions. Using a quantitative descriptive-correlational research design, data were collected from 353 senior high school students through a structured survey questionnaire. Statistical tools such as weighted mean, Independent Samples t-test, One-Way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression analysis were utilized to determine significant relationships, differences, and predictors of consumer buying behavior. The findings revealed that respondents generally exhibited a high level of consumer buying behavior and positively perceived Korean instant noodle product attributes. Among the variables, price and brand image significantly influenced consumer buying behavior, indicating that affordability and social appeal strongly shape students’ purchasing decisions. Although quality and taste received favorable evaluations, they did not emerge as significant independent predictors when analyzed alongside other variables. This suggests that students already consider good taste and quality as expected standards rather than deciding factors in product selection. The study further revealed that today’s student consumers are highly influenced by social media exposure, peer recommendations, and brand popularity. Korean instant noodles are no longer viewed merely as food products but as trendy lifestyle items associated with Korean culture and online identity. The findings highlight the importance of balancing affordability, branding, and cultural relevance in attracting young consumers. The study provides valuable insights for marketers, retailers, and future researchers in understanding modern youth consumer behavior in the Philippines.
Mohd Fazli Mohd Sam, Nadia Nila Sari, Nik Mohd Zarifie Hashim, Noor Shahida Mohd Kasim, Nurul Hasyimah Mohamed, Siti Nur Aisyah Alias
This empirical study examines the influence of firm size on the financial performance of Malaysia Information and Communication Technology (ICT) listed companies. The study utilised a sample of 53 of ICT listed companies derived from the Osiris database for the period covering 2020 – 2024. The independent variable is firm size, which is measured by proxies such as total assets, market capitalisation and total sales, while the dependent variables, is measured by profitability ratios (return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE), profit margin). The conceptual framework was proposed and the hypotheses of this study were developed. Besides, the multiple regression analysis was used in analysing the data collected in this study. The finding of the study showed that firm size, total asset, market capitalisation and total sales, has a significant effect on firm financial performance in terms of ROE. On the other hand, there is no significant effect in the result between firm size and firm performance in terms of ROA and profit margin. The study concluded that it provides a useful insight to different users, who can benefit from the financial information and assist them in their decision making processes by understanding the nature of the firms’ size and financial information in evaluating the firms’ performance.
Dr. Harold L. Fernandez, Dr. Ronald G. Mamaril, CPA, Paula Loren E. Panganiban
Previous studies on marketing strategies and sales performance have largely focused on large brands, urban markets, and e-commerce platforms, creating a gap in research on small, local fashion retailers in smaller cities such as Cotabato City. This study examines the influence of marketing strategies on the sales performance of fashion stores in Cotabato City. Specifically, it assesses the extent of implementation of the seven marketing mix elements (product, price, place, promotion, people, process, and physical evidence) and their relationship to sales growth, customer retention, and profitability. Using purposive sampling, respondents were selected from fashion stores operating for at least three years with valid business permits and licenses. Data were collected through a survey questionnaire. This study utilized multiple linear regression analysis to determine the influence of the 7Ps marketing strategies (independent variables) on sales performance (dependent variable). Results indicate that all marketing strategies are extensively implemented and that sales performance indicators are positively experienced. Furthermore, product, place, and people strategies significantly influence sales performance, with people strategy having the strongest effect. The findings highlight the importance of customer- and employee-related factors in improving sales performance among small fashion retailers. From the researcher's perspective, it is evident that fashion businesses in Cotabato City must focus on strategies to improve sales performance. Specifically, store managers, owners, and supervisors should prioritize the development of employee skills, particularly in communication, enhance product offerings through innovation, and increase the accessibility and effectiveness of distribution channels. By implementing these strategies, fashion stores can strengthen their market position and better meet the evolving demands of consumers.
Eng. Dr. Atonga, J. O
This study aimed to determine the influence of organizational characteristics on the performance of seaports in Africa. The study replicates previous studies carried out in the European context by Caldeirinha et al. (2011) and Felicio et al. (2013; 2015). This study adopted a positivist research philosophy with a descriptive cross-sectional survey design. Structured questionnaires were used to collect primary data from executives at 54 container-handling seaport terminals in Africa. Of these, only 46 seaport terminals responded, with a response rate of 83.6%. The questionnaires conceptualized six port characteristics: location, size, infrastructure, information and communications technology, hinterland connectivity, and maritime connectivity. Model fitness was confirmed by the use of the Standardized Mean Root Square Residual (SRMR) and Normed Fit Index (NFI). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) using Smart PLS 4.1.1 was used for both the measurement model and structural analyses. The findings established a positive and significant influence of port characteristics on the operational performance of seaports in Africa. The study also found that the strongest seaport characteristics for operational performance, in order of importance, are infrastructure, information and communications technology, strategic location, maritime services, hinterland connectivity, and size. The findings imply that for African seaports to improve their operational performance, they need to focus on developing port infrastructure, ICT, and an excellent strategic location.
Lukman, Z. M., Norashida, S. R.
This study used linear regression analysis to examine the influence of four main psychological components, namely awareness, willingness, perseverance, and self-control on treatment readiness among drug users. This study involved 217 male drug users who were undergoing rehabilitation treatment at private rehabilitation centers between July and September 2025. In the sampling procedure, the census sampling method was used by including all individuals who met the participation criteria to ensure maximum coverage of the target population. This sample size is sufficient for the statistical analysis conducted. The results of the study indicate that the reliability analysis demonstrated excellent internal consistency, with three components achieving Cronbach’s alpha values exceeding 0.90 and one component exceeding 0.80. The level of treatment readiness was high, with the majority of drug users in the rehabilitation centers in the very ready category (83.40%), followed by the ready category (12.00%), less ready (3.70%), and not ready (0.90%). In addition, regression analysis showed that all four psychological components had a significant influence on the level of treatment readiness. Overall, this study concludes that internal psychological components play an important role in influencing drug users’ readiness to receive rehabilitation treatment. The ReDATT instrument, which was developed based on the conceptual framework of the study and supported by previous researchers, was found to be suitable for use as a drug addiction treatment readiness assessment tool and has the potential to increase the effectiveness of recovery interventions in the context of drug addiction treatment.
Garcia, Precious Jam L., Malacaman, Shane Kian, Panganiban, Alliah Ashier C., Tisuela, Bel Patrice T. LPT. MAEd
The profound influence of social media on education is undeniable, shaping the landscape of learning in both positive and negative ways. In the digital age, social media has emerged as a powerful force that has redefined the way we communicate, share information, and connect with others. Initially designed as platforms for social interaction and networking, these digital spaces have permeated every aspect of our lives, including education. This diverse impact has led to widespread discussion and research, as educators, students, parents, and policymakers navigate the consequences of this technological shift. The integration of social media into education is not a recent development. As early as the mid-2000s, educators began to recognize the potential of platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube as supplementary tools for teaching and learning. However, over the years, the scope and depth of this integration have evolved significantly, ushering in a new era of education that is characterized by digital connectivity, collaboration, and information accessibility. As we delve into this complex relationship between social media and education, it becomes evident that it is a double-edged sword, offering both opportunities and challenges (Saini, N. et al., 2023). The education sector represents one of these areas, which has experienced a degree of change and influence on social networking sites. Moreover, not far from these effects, is the increasing use of these social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and other networks. They are deemed of the most important ways used and applied in the educational process, as they provide a flexible virtual environment and platform in which parties in the educational process communicate while providing educational models based on strategies that allow them to obtain information, knowledge, and exchange ideas. Additionally, they assist in preparing a generation of teachers and learners who own skills in dealing with modern technologies and their subsequent developments as well as helping to share these skills with the wider community and open the door for equal education. (Stewart, 2015). This study aims to provide a comprehensive examination of the impacts of social media on education, exploring the ways in which these platforms have influenced various aspects of the educational experience. It is essential to acknowledge that while social media presents tremendous potential to enhance education, it also brings forth a set of concerns and drawbacks. To understand the nuanced dynamics at play, we must delve into both the positive and negative dimensions of social media's impact on education. Social media impacts all aspects of society, transcending socio-economic status, religion, and culture (Rasheed et al., 2020). With a wide range of features, social media offers numerous networking platforms, each with distinct technological attributes (Srivastava, 2012). Some of the most widely used platforms today include Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Dailymotion, Flickr, Photo Bucket, LinkedIn, Blogger.com, and WordPress (Statista, 2020). A report by We Are Social (2020) indicates that 49% of the global population, approximately 3.8 billion people, have engaged with at least one social media platform. Moreover, from the study of Saimi, N. et al (2023), social media has permeated every aspect of modern life, transforming the way we communicate, share information, and interact with the world around us. While it is often criticized for its potential to distract and detract from meaningful pursuits, social media also holds immense potential for positive change, particularly in the realm of education. In this era of digital connectivity, social media platforms have emerged as powerful tools that can enhance the learning experience, foster collaboration, and expand access to educational resources. Furthermore, this research explores the multifaceted ways in which social media positively impacts education, from facilitating global learning communities to promoting personalized and self-directed learning. One of the most significant contributions of social media to education is its ability to connect individuals across geographic and cultural boundaries. Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram enable educators and students worldwide to connect, exchange ideas, and discuss various topics. This level of global interaction helps eliminate traditional educational barriers, providing learners with access to diverse perspectives and resources. While K-12 teachers frequently use social media for their professional development (Greenhow et al., 2020), integrating social media into formal K-12 education remains an emerging field that continues to grow in educational research and practice (Greenhow & Chapman, 2020; Greenhow et al., 2019). Social studies teachers, for instance, have used social media with their students in both beneficial and challenging ways. High school students who blogged about the 2012 presidential race for a class assignment reported increased engagement with, efficacy, and understanding of political issues, even as they reported disappointment with the lack of interaction with others over that medium (Levy et al., 2015). Krutka and Carpenter (2016) found that social studies teachers used Twitter specifically to communicate with students and parents; to offer a text-based space for discussion; to share projects and resources; and to connect students with information or activities outside of the classroom. Previous studies by Balakrishnan et al., (2016) and Khan et al., (2016) have shown that social media holds significant potential for enhancing the learning experience by fostering active interaction and collaboration. However, there are two major gaps that need to be further investigated. First, users’ (e.g. students) behavioral intention to use social media is unclear. Second, few studies have been conducted on social media and its acceptance/rejection in emerging countries such as the Philippines. The issue has grown importance in the light of the recent changes in the business environment (e.g. competitiveness) and advancement in technology in these emerging economies. For example, the Philippines has 48 million active social media users with a social media penetration of 47% in 2016 (Kemp, 2016). Therefore, to ensure successful adoption of social media, it can be argued that there is a need to investigate what drives users to accept or reject the use of social media particularly in these economies. As technological advancements have compelled changes in teacher profile and role, as well as teaching methods (Gorgoretti, 2019), the use of social media can be regarded as a relatively new but potentially significant phenomenon for twenty-first century K-12 education and teacher training (Greenhow et al., 2017). The use of social media for educational purposes enables teachers to connect with students, share knowledge and experiences, and improve their skills (Mardiana, 2016). Social media is easy to use, is in a continuous state of development, has an extremely broad reach, and has a seemingly unlimited capacity to improve itself, full appreciation to a new software innovation. Furthermore, social media can help students with their career development journeys (Wessels et al., 2017), create critical thinking and discussion environments outside of the classroom, encourage students to interact with one another, and facilitate active learning, cooperation, academic motivation, lesson interest, and participation. It falls on teachers to ensure that students effectively benefit from the educational content available on social media. Since teachers are the initiators, developers, and practitioners of education, they should be able to follow technological developments and increase their professional competencies. Indeed, the literature emphasized that experience was important for the effective use of social media tools for class-based activities (Poore, 2016), as teachers could not be expected to present information to their students when they were not fully acquainted with the technology at hand.
Belleza, Saramie S., Niñal, Gay D.
This study examined the influence of teachers’ attributes and learning interest on the engagement of Physical Education students in selected higher education institutions in Davao de Oro, Philippines. The investigation was grounded in Richard Ryan and Edward Deci’s Self-Determination Theory and the Interest-Driven Creator Theory of Ching Sing Chai and colleagues. A quantitative non-experimental descriptive-correlational design was employed. Data were collected from 357 college students enrolled in PATHFIT 2 using adopted and validated survey instruments. Statistical tools included mean, Pearson product-moment correlation, and multiple regression analysis. Results revealed that teachers’ attributes (M = 4.59), learning interest (M = 4.28), and student engagement (M = 4.39) were all rated very high. Significant positive relationships were found between teachers’ attributes and student engagement (r = 0.343, p < .001) and between learning interest and student engagement (r = 0.664, p < .001). Learning interest demonstrated the stronger association with engagement. Regression analysis further showed that teachers’ attributes and learning interest jointly explained 52.4% of the variance in student engagement (R² = 0.524, p < .001). Among all domains, Stored Attainment Value and Knowledge-Seeking Attention emerged as the strongest predictor, indicating that students who highly value academic success and actively seek knowledge are more likely to demonstrate greater behavioral, cognitive, emotional, and agentic engagement. The findings underscore the importance of nurturing meaningful learning interest and sustaining teachers’ positive professional and humanistic qualities to maximize student engagement in Physical Education.
Bel Patrice T. Tisuela, MaEd, Gasga, Gemmalyn E., Montiveros, Princess Mariell D.
In recent years, the integration of digital media into educational frameworks has transformed pedagogical approaches across disciplines and educational practices has emerged as a pivotal development in contemporary pedagogy, particularly within the realm of social studies. As digital technologies continue to evolve and permeate daily life, educators face the challenge of adapting their teaching methodologies to harness these tools effectively.
Anita Che Hassan, Nor Jaslina Nik Wil, Noraida Saidi., Suzana San, Syuhaila Razak
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play a vital role in Malaysia’s economic development, nevertheless they face expanding challenges arising from globalization, technological interference, and increased competition. Traditional Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) are often inadequate to support timely and strategic decision-making in a rapidly developing business environment. In response, the integration of digital technologies such as artificial intelligence, cloud accounting, and data analytics has been proved as a potential enabler for enhancing the effectiveness of MAPs. However, previous studies tend to study digital transformation and accounting practices in separation, with inadequate attention given to their combined impact on SME performance. This conceptual paper aims to develop a comprehensive framework that links digital technologies, management accounting practices, and SME performance in the Malaysian context. The study suggests that digital technologies function as strategic resources that improve the design and implementation of MAPs, which in turn improve both financial and non-financial performance results. This is based on the Resource-Based View and Contingency Theory. Digital capabilities are translated into organizational performance through management accounting methods, which are further conceptualized as a mediating mechanism. By combining management accounting viewpoints with digital transformation, the suggested framework adds to the body of knowledge by providing a more comprehensive understanding of SME performance determinants. Practically speaking, the report offers advice on how SME owners, professionals, and legislators can use digital tools to improve accounting operations and promote long-term company expansion. To validate the recommended relationships, further empirical research is advised.
Gerica Silades Porta, Maria Lady Sol Azarcon Suazo
Literature instruction plays a crucial role in shaping learners’ understanding of identity, diversity, and social realities. In policy, Philippine education promotes gender equality, cultural responsiveness, and inclusive pedagogy; however, a persistent mismatch remains between these policy ideals and actual classroom practices. Many literature classrooms continue to privilege dominant cultural narratives, with marginalized voices and diverse gender identities underrepresented in texts and discussions. At the same time, subtle forms of gender bias persist through traditional text selection and classroom discourse, raising concerns about the inclusivity of literature instruction. This study examined the interplay of gender, culture, and inclusivity in teaching literature in selected public secondary schools in the Tago District, Division of Surigao del Sur. Using a Slovin’s Formula with a 5% margin of error, quantitative data were collected from 378 Grade 10 learners and literature teachers through structured questionnaires. Descriptive statistics was employed, and findings were integrated during interpretation. Findings reveal that gender and cultural dimensions interact with instructional practices to shape the level of inclusivity in literature instruction. While inclusive practices are evident in text selection, classroom interaction, and instructional adaptation, inconsistencies remain in the meaningful representation of diverse identities. Based on these findings, a pedagogical framework was developed to strengthen the integration of gender-responsive and culturally inclusive practices in literature teaching.
Rusnawati Ismail
The Israeli–Palestinian conflict is one of the most protracted and consequential disputes in modern history, with implications extending far beyond the Middle East. This paper examines the conflict through the lenses of international relations, peacebuilding theory, and conflict resolution studies. By analyzing the roles of international actors, non-state actors, and civil society, it explores the multifaceted challenges impeding resolution. The paper considers historical narratives, political divisions, and structural obstacles, including settlement expansion, security concerns, and refugee rights, alongside emerging issues such as technological development, climate change, and demographic shifts. Comparative analyses with conflicts in Northern Ireland, South Africa, and Cyprus provide insights into potential pathways for conflict management and reconciliation. The study emphasizes the importance of understanding the interplay between local dynamics, regional alliances, and global diplomacy. Findings suggest that sustainable peace will require innovative, multi-level approaches, addressing political, economic, social, and environmental dimensions simultaneously. This research contributes to political science scholarship by highlighting the limitations of traditional diplomacy and the critical role of non-state actors and media in shaping conflict and peace processes. The paper concludes with policy recommendations aimed at fostering inclusive negotiations, promoting economic interdependence, and leveraging technological and generational shifts to advance peace prospects.
Ana Mayasari, Diana Sukorina, Joko Sartono, Susniwati
The evolution of the smart city paradigm over the last twenty years has prompted municipal authorities to leverage digital technologies as a mechanism for enhancing operational efficiency, transparency, and the overall quality of public service delivery. Nevertheless, empirical research indicates that the execution of smart city initiatives does not inherently augment public accountability unless it is underpinned by robust leadership and effective governance structures. This research endeavor seeks to scrutinize the pivotal role of regional leaders in fortifying public accountability through the lens of smart city governance. Employing a qualitative methodological framework alongside a case study design, this investigation aims to elucidate the intricate processes, practices, and significations of leadership within the realm of regional digital governance. Data acquisition was achieved via semi-structured, in-depth interviews with local government officials, digital system administrators, and community representatives, complemented by an analytical review of policy documents and selective observations pertaining to the implementation of digital governmental systems. The collected data were subjected to thematic analysis through a systematic approach involving open coding, categorization, and the formulation of analytical themes pertinent to leadership, smart city governance, and public accountability. The findings reveal that the leadership exercised by regional chiefs constitutes a fundamental determinant in propelling the transformation towards digital-centric governance. Regional leaders who possess a pronounced digital vision and unwavering commitment are proficient in steering the amalgamation of information systems, enhancing inter-organizational coordination among regional entities, and fostering shifts in bureaucratic operational modalities towards a more professional and performance-oriented framework. Furthermore, the deployment of digital platforms augments information transparency and civic engagement, thereby reinforcing the frameworks of public accountability and social oversight. The study substantiates the premise that smart cities ought to be conceptualized as an integrated governance structure, rather than mere technological advancements, in the pursuit of cultivating transparent, adaptive, and accountable local governance.
Jose F. Cuevas Jr., PhD, Kristen C. Agbalog
This study aimed to examine the relationship between community fire preparedness, safety policy implementation, and community resilience in selected barangays. A correlational design was used to determine whether a statistical association existed between community fire preparedness, safety policy implementation, and community resilience. A total of 450 respondents were selected proportionally from fire-affected households across the identified barangays. The result interprets high safety policy implementation as the mediator, community fire preparedness as the independent variable, and community resilience as the dependent variable. However, some factors suggest that each variable is weak. The relationship between community fire preparedness and safety policy implementation, between safety policy implementation and community resilience, and between community fire preparedness and community resilience are highly significant. In contrast, the knowledge and drills for both the relationship between community fire preparedness and safety policy implementation and the relationship between community fire preparedness and community resilience demonstrated the weakest relationship; inspection and permitting between safety policy implementation and community resilience showed the weakest relationship.
Abubakar Sani, Alhassan Abass Sagoe, Anthony Kwesi Ashun, Florence Apidina
This study investigates the nexus between financial literacy and loan repayment performance within the Ghanaian commercial banking sector. Grounded in a positivist epistemological stance and an objectivist ontology, the research utilizes a descriptive research design to examine the determinants of credit default. The study population comprised all 23 licensed commercial banks in Ghana as of 2026. Using a purposive sampling technique, 19 banks were selected, from which data were retrieved via structured questionnaires from 99 frontline banking professionals, representing an 82.5% response rate. The demographic profile reveals a mature and highly experienced workforce, with 77% of respondents possessing over a decade of institutional tenure and 87.9% holding at least a Bachelor’s degree. Preliminary results indicate a significant male majority (60.4%) in credit-related roles, with the primary workforce concentrated in the 31–40 age cohort (51.6%). Data reliability was confirmed through Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients exceeding the 0.70 threshold. The analytical strategy employed SPSS (Version 27), utilizing descriptive statistics, Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), and Pearson’s correlation coefficients to test the relationships between financial literacy dimensions (knowledge, behavior, and attitude) and loan default rates. The study findings provide empirical evidence for the role of financial literacy as a critical tool for enhancing credit management and institutional stability. The research concludes with evidence-based recommendations for policy interventions aimed at mitigating loan defaults through targeted borrower education and refined credit risk frameworks.
Jobert J. Placiente
The decline of Nokia is often simplified as a failure to respond to the smartphone revolution. While this explanation is widely repeated in business literature, it overlooks deeper organizational and behavioral mechanisms that may have shaped the company’s strategic trajectory. This study interprets Nokia’s decline as being influenced by organizational structure, internal communication patterns, emotional dynamics, and strategic identity rigidity. Rather than treating these as direct causal variables, the analysis uses them as interpretive lenses to understand how strategic decisions were formed during the smartphone transition period. The study introduces the concept of the “emotional architecture of decline,” which explains how organizational fear, uncertainty, hierarchical pressure, and defensive communication may become embedded in managerial systems and influence decision-making processes (Ashkanasy & Dorris, 2017; Barsade & Knight, 2015). In this framing, emotions are treated not as isolated causes but as interacting organizational forces that shape information flow and strategic interpretation. These constructs are used as analytical lenses for interpreting historical evidence rather than as empirically isolated variables. By 2007, Nokia controlled approximately 38% of the global mobile phone market (Gartner, 2008). However, between 2007 and 2013, the company experienced a dramatic decline, culminating in the sale of its handset division to Microsoft in 2013. Rather than treating this outcome as a simple organizational collapse, this study interprets Nokia’s decline as a strategic transition process shaped by changing technological ecosystems and evolving organizational identity (Helfat & Peteraf, 2015). The study further conceptualizes Nokia’s post-smartphone transformation as an “IP-as-a-Proxy Pivot,” where intellectual property, telecommunications infrastructure, and network systems collectively replaced consumer devices as primary sources of long-term value creation (Haskel & Westlake, 2018). In its post-divestiture phase, Nokia has increasingly shifted toward infrastructure-based value creation, particularly in 5G and emerging 6G ecosystems.
Ashwin Joy, Dr. Jacob Bose, Sajan N Thomas
Travel has become a significant activity among the youth for recreation, socialization, and adventure. Nevertheless, the youth do not choose to travel without considering safety. Recently, there has been a rise in concerns regarding accidents, health, infrastructure, and psychological stress. As a result, perceived safety and security have emerged as significant considerations that shape the intention of youth travel. Perceived safety and security comprise four broad constructs: physical safety, health safety, infrastructure safety, and psychological safety. Physical safety pertains to protection against accidents and crime. Health safety pertains to cleanliness, hygiene, and health care. Infrastructure safety pertains to safe and functional facilities and transport. Psychological safety pertains to perceptions of comfort, trust, and lack of fear associated with traveling. The four constructs are the independent variables of this research. The dependent variable of this study is youth travel intention, which indicates the young generation’s willingness to engage in travel activities. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of physical safety, health safety, infrastructure safety, and psychological safety on youth travel intention. This is significant for tourism planners to design a safe environment for youth travel. This study will also assist in determining which factor has the most significant effect on youth decisions. The results of this study can offer valuable insights into how travel safety policies can be improved. Moreover, this study can help improve the understanding of youth travel behaviour in the tourism sector.
Emmanuel Akrasi, Emmanuel Baiden-Fletcher, Marfo Bright Fosu, Tettey, Felicia Ofosuaa
Purpose: This study investigates the prevalence of smartphone addiction and its psychological impacts among students at Kumasi Technical University. Design/Methodology/Approach: A concurrent quantitative design using a structured questionnaire was employed. Stratified random sampling selected 333 students. Descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation analyses were conducted using SPSS to examine prevalence levels and relationships between smartphone addiction and psychological outcomes. Findings: Results indicate a high prevalence of smartphone addiction among students, significantly associated with anxiety, depression, stress, sleep disturbances, and reduced academic performance. Peer influence, social media culture, and societal expectations strongly shaped usage patterns. Females and younger students showed higher dependency levels. Originality: This study provides Ghana-specific empirical evidence on smartphone addiction by integrating prevalence, psychological effects, and socio-cultural drivers within a unified analytical framework, addressing a major contextual gap in African higher education research. Practical Implications: The findings support the need for digital well-being policies, counselling interventions, peer-led awareness programs, and structured smartphone-based learning strategies to promote responsible usage, improve mental health, and enhance academic productivity among university students. Research Limitations: The cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and reliance on self-reported data may introduce response bias. The study focused on a single institution, restricting generalisability. Future research should adopt longitudinal, multi-site, and mixed qualitative approaches to deepen contextual understanding.
Rico Antonio S, Mariano, PhD
Teaching major science subjects such as Earth Science, General Biology, General Chemistry and General Physics in STEM requires knowledge, mastery and skills such as the integration of an educational technology like the Technology Knowledge (TK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK) and Content Knowledge (CK) collectively known as TPACK (Koehler and Mishra, 2008). Solid educational background is indeed imperative if we want to deliver high-impact teaching. In the six districts of Manila, among STEM teachers from 12 public high schools handling major science subjects, 24 teachers are teaching according to their professional qualifications (aligned) while 12 teachers are teaching “in and out” of their field or professional qualifications (non-aligned). Most of the respondents have taken their post graduate studies and their status is either full-fledged or still in progress. About 23 respondents belong to 24-40 years old bracket. The mean composite of all respondents according to the three domains of TPACK showed High Competence. When their professional qualifications (highest educational attainment, alignment of degree programs, STEM-related training and certification received) and pedagogical competencies TK, PK and CK) when compared to their profiles (years of teaching, subjects handled and age) mostly showed no significant difference. Also, most of the relationship of both the professional qualifications and pedagogical competencies of all respondents showed no significant relationship. While the respondents recognize the effort (although not enough) being made by Department of Education to improve their well-being, there are issues and concerns related to their personal, professional and pedagogical well-being that must be addressed immediately. Thus, inputs for recommendations are forwarded that are deemed necessary for the formulation of new implementing rules and regulations as well as guidelines that will respond to the needs not only of science teachers but all teachers as well especially in the public schools nationwide.
Ismail Sesay (PhD), Kangoma Fodie Mansaray
In the international development sector, project success is often viewed through the lens of technical efficiency. However, in resource-constrained environments like Sierra Leone, project managers face a “paradox” where high internal managerial competence is often undermined by external systemic pressures. This study utilizes data from 200 stakeholders in Nongowa Chiefdom to evaluate the interplay between leadership, Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) systems, and external influences. Findings indicate that while M&E is ranked as the #1 determinant of success, its effectiveness is hampered by donor reporting burdens and elite capture. Surprisingly, the study finds that high political interference correlates with high project effectiveness, suggesting that political “buy-in” is a functional necessity in the local governance landscape.
Johnson Chingozho, Shine Nyachoto
Bullying among special needs students constitutes a pervasive psychosocial concern with far-reaching consequences for mental health and well-being. This study examined the psychosocial dynamics of bullying among special needs students at Hellenic Silver Lining School in Harare, Zimbabwe, focusing on bullying perceptions, the onset of secondary mental health challenges, and the effectiveness of mitigation strategies. Employing an interpretivism research paradigm within a qualitative case study design, data were collected through semi-structured interviews, participant observation, and document analysis. Thirteen students (6 girls, 7 boys) aged 11–16years all presenting with intellectual, emotional, and social developmental challenges, were selected through purposive sampling. Inductive thematic analysis revealed three primary themes: bullying perceptions shaped by communication barriers, impulsivity, and disability-based vulnerability; onset of secondary disorders including anxiety, low self-esteem, and emotional dysregulation; and mitigation strategies encompassing teacher counselling, parental collaboration, and peer intervention. Unique to an exclusive special needs school context, findings demonstrate that bullying dynamics in such settings are mediated by disorder specific characteristics such as autism spectrum disorder related communication difficulties. The study contributes novel insights to the existing body of literature on bullying in exclusive school environments and offers evidence-based recommendations for practitioners, educators, policymakers, and mental health professional.
Hilwa Azzahra, Kus Hanna Rahmi
This study examined the relationship between complicated grief and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in Indonesian emerging adults who experienced parental bereavement. Using a quantitative correlational design, data were collected from 102 participants aged 18 to 29 years who lost one or both parents within the preceding three years. Complicated grief was measured using a modified version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder-13 Revised (PG-13-R), while PTG was assessed using the Post-Traumatic Growth Inventory Short Form (PTGI-SF-10), both adapted into Indonesian and validated through expert judgment and pilot testing. Spearman's rho correlation analysis revealed a significant negative relationship between complicated grief and PTG (r = -0.398, p < .001), indicating that higher levels of complicated grief are associated with lower PTG. The majority of participants scored in the high range for both complicated grief (74.5%) and PTG (82.4%), reflecting the co-occurrence of maladaptive grief responses and positive growth. These findings are discussed in light of Tedeschi and Calhoun's (2004) PTG theoretical model and Zoellner and Maercker's (2006) Janus-Face Model, contributing empirical evidence from an Indonesian collectivistic cultural context.
Halimah Mohd Yusof, Huda Izzati Abd Malek, Nur Amira Syairah Zulkarnaini
This study examines the relationship of empathetic leadership and psychological safety in a hypermarket located in Selangor, Malaysia. Psychological safety is critical in the retail industry, where employees tend not to speak up and share ideas for fear of getting negative reactions from their supervisors. A quantitative method was conducted, and a sample of 120 non-managerial employees was taken by simple random sampling through a structured questionnaire. Empathetic leadership was assessed by the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI), and psychological safety was measured through the Psychological Safety Scale by Edmondson (1999). The results of descriptive and inferential analyses showed that employees perceived high levels of empathetic leadership and psychological safety at work. This indicated a strong positive correlation between these two variables. Those leaders who exhibit empathy by perceiving and responding to employees’ emotions apparently contribute to promoting a psychologically safe atmosphere at work, which makes employees feel comfortable to share ideas, make open communication and collaborate. It emphasises the need for empathic leadership to improve employees' well-being and produce better communication and workplace climate and offers valuable information for retail organisations in Malaysia that wish to create a more supportive and psychologically safe workplace.
Lee Chai Chuen, Lee Sek Yui, Li Rui, Noor Hanim Rahmat, Teo Ai Min, Wan Mohamad Iskandar bin Haji Harun
In the Malaysian higher education context, learning Mandarin as a foreign language has become an increasingly important part of students’ academic experience and future employability. Although motivation is often viewed as a key factor in successful language learning, many learners continue to experience fear and anxiety in the classroom. These emotional experiences may shape how students participate, respond, and persist in Mandarin language learning. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of motivation on fear of learning Mandarin among university students in Malaysia. In particular, the study focuses on learners’ motivation and fear, the relationship between these two variables, and whether differences exist across academic clusters. This study adopted a quantitative research design using a survey method. The research instrument consisted of two main sections. Section B measured motivation to learn a Mandarin language in terms of effort, desire, and positive affect. Section C measured fear of learning Mandarin language, focusing on communication apprehension, fear of negative evaluation, and test anxiety. A total of 234 undergraduate students from several campuses in a public university participated in the study. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and inferential tests. The findings show that learners generally demonstrate strong motivation and positive engagement in foreign language learning. However, fear remains present, particularly in situations involving speaking, understanding classroom input, and assessment. The analysis also reveals a weak but significant negative relationship between motivation and fear. While motivation does not differ significantly across academic clusters, fear shows a significant difference. Overall, the findings suggest that motivation alone may not be sufficient to reduce learners’ fear in the Mandarin classroom. The study highlights the need for greater attention to emotional factors in the classrooms and points to the importance of teaching approaches that support both motivation and emotional well-being.
Dr. Manjula M L
Pay equity, the principle that employees receive fair and commensurate remuneration relative to their contribution, qualifications, and peer comparisons, has emerged as a central concern in contemporary human resource management. The banking sector, characterised by hierarchical pay structures, performance-linked incentives, and significant gender and role-based pay differentials, presents a particularly relevant context for examining equity-satisfaction dynamics. This study investigates the relationship between perceived pay equity and employee job satisfaction among banking sector employees in Karnataka, India. Adopting a quantitative research design, structured questionnaires were administered to 280 employees across public sector, private sector, and foreign banks. Findings indicate a statistically significant positive relationship between perceived pay equity and job satisfaction (r = 0.71, p < 0.01). Regression analysis reveals that pay equity explains 50.4% of variance in job satisfaction scores (β = 0.58, p < 0.001). Public sector bank employees reported higher perceived pay equity but lower overall satisfaction compared to private sector counterparts. Distributive justice and procedural justice emerged as significant mediating variables. The study is grounded in Adams’ Equity Theory (1963) and Greenberg’s Organisational Justice Theory (1987). Findings offer practical implications for HR managers and compensation planners in the banking sector seeking to design equitable pay systems that enhance workforce satisfaction and organisational effectiveness.
Dr. G. Radhika, Dr. Venu Priya Pothuri
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has significantly transformed Human Resource Management practices by introducing AI-driven HR analytics for better workforce management, employee engagement, and strategic decision-making. Organizations are increasingly adopting AI-enabled HR systems to improve recruitment, performance management, employee satisfaction, and overall organizational efficiency. The present study aims to examine the role of AI-driven HR analytics in enhancing employee well-being and organizational performance among employees in Hyderabad. The study follows a quantitative research approach using primary data collected through a structured questionnaire from employees working in various sectors. A simple random sampling technique was adopted, and data analysis was conducted using percentage analysis and t-test. The findings of the study are expected to reveal that AI-driven HR analytics positively influences employee well-being by reducing workload, improving communication, supporting work-life balance, and enhancing employee engagement. Furthermore, the study highlights the contribution of AI-enabled HR practices toward improving organizational productivity and decision-making efficiency. The research emphasizes the growing importance of AI-based HR systems in creating a productive and employee-friendly work environment in modern organizations.
Maizatul Saadiah Mohamad, Norlinda Tendot Abu Bakar, Rosfadzimi Mat Saad, Yeap Chun Keat
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a key technical innovation impacting business strategy, long-term viability of businesses, and economic decisions in rapidly changing digital marketplaces. Multinational companies that use AI technology have a great impact on their strategy plan, on the way they interact customers, on their operational efficiency and on their capacity to compete in the global market. This study is concerned with the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on economic decision-making and strategy planning of transnational enterprises in world markets. The research utilizes secondary data analysis derived from international economic papers, AI industry publications, and global business databases released throughout 2020-2025. Qualitative descriptive methodology is used. The findings point to AI’s role in making it easier to predict the market, generate targeted marketing campaigns, run organizations more efficiently, and make data-driven decisions. The study concludes that AI increases the competitiveness of international companies, provides them with additional strategic options and allows them to survive for a long period in rapidly changing global digital markets.
Araja, Chescky R., De Guzman, Raine Celine M.
This chapter includes the introduction, theoretical framework, paradigm of the study, statement of the problem, hypothesis, scope and limitation, significance of the study, and the definition of terms used. In the modern educational landscape, the integration of digital literacy has become increasingly vital across various subjects, especially in social studies. Digital literacy is not merely the ability to use technological tools but encompasses critical thinking, evaluating online information, and utilizing digital platforms for effective communication and research. As students navigate the complexities of a digitally-driven society, it is essential to equip them with these skills. One pedagogical approach that has shown promise in fostering digital literacy is inquiry-based learning (IBL). IBL encourages students to explore questions, engage in critical thinking, and independently seek out information, making it an ideal framework for teaching digital literacy within social studies.
Dr. Soumitra Sarkar, Md. Afnan Alam
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) have emerged as important instruments of women empowerment, entrepreneurship development, and rural socio-economic transformation in India. While several studies have focused on the financial dimensions of SHGs, comparatively less attention has been given to the role of internal social dynamics such as group cohesiveness and leadership. The present study examines the impact of leadership style on group cohesiveness among SHGs in North Bengal, India. The study is descriptive in nature and is based on primary data collected from 326 SHG members across the districts of Jalpaiguri and Siliguri Mahakuma Parishad of Darjeeling district through a structured questionnaire using a 5-point Likert scale. Multiple regression analysis was employed to analyse the relationship between leadership style and group cohesiveness, along with selected control variables. The findings reveal that leadership style significantly influences group cohesiveness within SHGs. More structured and authoritative leadership styles were found to positively contribute to group unity, coordination, and discipline, whereas excessive laissez-faire leadership weakened cohesiveness. Group vintage and proper maintenance of records were also found to positively influence cohesiveness. The study highlights that effective leadership and strong social bonding are essential for the sustainability of SHGs, successful group income-generating activities, and the broader process of women empowerment and entrepreneurship development in rural India.
Dr Elsayed Makki Elbishr Ali Hassan, Dr Saipolbarin bin Ramli, Dr Taj Rijal bin Muhamad Romli, Khawla Ali Saeed alhatab alnaqbi, Muhammad Afiq Anuar, Prof. Dr Murad Hameed Abdullah
This study aims to analyze the role of four major modern critical approaches—semiotics, hermeneutics, intertextuality, and deconstruction—in understanding how poetic meanings are reproduced. The study is based on the assumption that poetic meaning is not fixed but rather emerges from a complex interaction between the text, the reader, and the cultural context. The research adopts a descriptive-analytical method through a review of modern critical literature. The findings indicate that these approaches contribute to revealing the dynamic nature of poetic meaning: semiotics analyzes signs, hermeneutics reconstructs meaning through the reader, intertextuality connects texts to one another, and deconstruction exposes the multiplicity and instability of meanings. In addition, the study demonstrates that these approaches do not function in isolation but rather complement one another in providing a more comprehensive understanding of poetic discourse. Semiotic analysis uncovers the structural and symbolic dimensions of the text, while hermeneutic inquiry situates interpretation within a continuum of historical and cultural horizons. Intertextuality expands the analytical scope by tracing the presence of other texts within the poetic fabric, and deconstruction critically interrogates the limits of coherence by revealing internal tensions and ambiguities. The study also highlights the shifting role of the reader in modern criticism, emphasizing that interpretation is an active, productive process. The reader engages with the text not only to decode meaning but also to participate in its continual reconstruction. This participatory role reinforces the idea that meaning is contingent, context-dependent, and subject to change across different interpretive communities. Furthermore, the research underscores the importance of cultural context as a dynamic framework that shapes both the production and reception of poetic texts. Cultural codes, historical references, and ideological frameworks all contribute to the plurality of meanings that a poem can generate. As such, poetic meaning becomes an open-ended process that evolves over time, adapting to new readings and perspectives. Ultimately, the study concludes that the integration of these modern critical approaches provides a richer and more nuanced model for understanding poetry. It affirms that poetic texts are not closed systems but living structures of meaning, continually renewed through interpretation, dialogue, and cultural engagement.
Francisca Arboh, Huang Ting, Selorm Yao-Say Solomon Adade
With the proliferation of social media, its role in influencing educational outcomes has become a crucial area of inquiry. This study investigates the impacts of social media usage on learning outcomes and engagement among international students in Chinese higher education institutions. A sample of 414 international students in China across various disciplines and academic levels participated. Employing a structural equation model, the study assessed the direct impact of social media usage, both academic and non-academic, on student learning outcomes and explored the mediating role of international student engagement (ISE) and the moderating effect of Self-based Identity (SBI). The results indicate that academic and non-academic social media usage significantly influence learning outcomes. ISE was also positively influenced by social media usage but did not mediate its relationship with learning outcomes, indicating a direct and substantial effect of social media usage on these outcomes. Additionally, while SBI positively impacts learning outcomes, it also moderates the effect of ISE on these outcomes, suggesting that a strong academic self-identity may enhance the benefits of engaging activities on learning outcomes. The findings provide theoretical insights and practical implications for educators, policy makers, and researchers in higher education. The results suggest the strategic integration of social media in teaching and fostering international students’ academic self-identity can help improve learning outcomes. The study’s outcomes also prompt further research on other potential mediators and moderators in the context of social media usage in higher education.
Dr.Henry Kibedi Kasawo
Guided by the Person-Environment-Fit perspective of Vancouver and Schmitt (1991) that explicates individual and external factors, this study investigated the contribution of organisational support to job commitment of teachers in Private secondary schools in Kampala capital city authority (KCCA), Uganda. Census sampling design was used to select teachers from each of the 15 secodnary schools. This action ensured equitable representation of teachers and schools. By means of a correlational survey design, data was collected using self-administered-questionnaires from 240 teachers. It was analyzed by means of descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation test and regression analytical tests. Results indicated that teacher job commitment was significantly related to organisational support (r=.54**, p<.01). However, affective commitment (r=.45**, p<.01) and normative commitment (r=.61**, p<.01) had higher correlation coefficients. Organisational support enhanced (β =0.542, p < 0.05) teacher job commitment. So in line with person-environment fit theory, for private secondary schools to enhance job commitment of their teachers, they need to provide sound care, mentorship and professional guidance that enable teachers to reciprocally adhere to their jobs and be motivated to commit effort on assessing and understanding the needs of learners. Hence, private secondary schools should have effective mechanisms to solidify affective and normative commitment, as well as improve continuance commitment, personal attributes that are relevant to teachers’ job performance. A model of teacher job commitment development appropriate for working conditions of private secondary schools in Uganda should be researched.
ABIOLA, Olufemi, AKINYEYE, Clara Olajumoke, OSUALA, Emmanuel M.I.
This study examines the African writer as a cultural custodian through a comparative analysis of Second Class Citizen and Isara : A Voyage Around “Essay”. Drawing on post colonial theory; African feminist thought – particularly Molara Ogundipe – Leslie’s STIWANISM; memory studies, and decolonial epistemology, the study interrogates how narrative functions as a site for reclaiming intellectual authority in African contexts. It argues that both texts, though differing in narrative structure and tone, engage in the reconstruction of identity and knowledge through lived experience and reflective memory. Through close textual analysis, the study demonstrates how Emecheta’s episodic, migration – centered narrative foregrounds the struggle for intellectual visibility within intersecting structures of patriarchy and racial marginalization, while Soyinka’s reflective memory-driven narrative reconstructs indigenous intellectual traditions rooted in cultural continuity and communal values. The analysis of imagery, memory, characterization, and narrative structure reveals that both writers transform personal and collective histories into epistemic tools for meaning-making. By engaging concepts such as hybridity, collective memory, epistemic injustice, and epistemic plurality, the study shows that African literature operates as a critical archive through which suppressed voices are recovered and re-centered. It concludes that the African writer is not merely a narrator of experience but an active agent in the preservation, interpretation, and transformation of knowledge. In this sense, literature becomes a vital space for asserting cultural identity and redefining intellectual authority within and beyond post-colonial contexts.
Prashanth M. C.
As the global digital footprint expands, the dichotomy between technological advancement and environmental preservation has become a critical focal point for research. This paper explores the convergence of Sustainable Computing—the practice of environmentally responsible IT—and Social Computing—the study of technology-mediated social interaction. We propose a framework that utilizes social networks to drive sustainable behaviors while optimizing the underlying infrastructure to minimize carbon output. Through a mixed-methods approach, this research evaluates the efficacy of social nudging and hardware optimization, concluding that a holistic, socio-technical strategy is essential for the next generation of "Green Society" infrastructures.
Muhammad Irfan bin Abdul Malek, Muhammad Syazwan Hakim bin Jamil
This study examines the contextual translation of the Arabic term qalb (قلب) into Malay through a denotative-connotative semantic framework. Although qalb is commonly rendered as hati in Malay, such a translation may not always capture the full semantic range of the term, particularly in contexts where qalb is associated with physical, cognitive, emotional, spiritual, and moral functions. The main issue addressed in this study is the semantic ambiguity that arises when qalb is translated through a single fixed equivalent without considering its contextual orientation. Adopting a qualitative library-based approach, this study analyses selected occurrences of qalb in the Qur’an, Prophetic hadiths, and classical Arabic poetry. The analysis is guided by a denotative-connotative framework that distinguishes between denotative-anatomical, denotative-cognitive, connotative-emotional, connotative-spiritual, and connotative-metaphorical usages. The findings suggest that jantung is more suitable when qalb is used denotatively, either in reference to the physical organ or in contexts involving cognitive functions such as reasoning, understanding, and reflection. Meanwhile, hati and kalbu are more appropriate in connotative contexts involving emotion, spirituality, faith, morality, and metaphorical expression. The study also treats modern scientific discussions on the cognitive role of the heart as supplementary perspectives rather than definitive proof. This study contributes to Arabic-Malay translation studies by proposing a systematic framework for translating qalb according to its semantic function and textual context.
Lamin Sanneh
Four years into Sudan’s civil war, global attention has faded even as the conflict itself becomes more dangerous and complex. A conflict one can describe as another forgotten conflicts of the world even though its having a devastating consequences on the lives and livelihood of ordinary Sudanese. This article explores how the growing use of armed drones by both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) is quietly transforming the war. What once involved frontlines and identifiable battle zones has shifted into something more diffuse and unpredictable, where violence can strike far from the battlefield. Drawing on data from the United Nations, ACLED, and UNICEF, the analysis shows that nearly 700 civilians were killed in drone strikes in just the first three months of 2026. Children have been especially affected, making up a striking proportion of casualties. Sudan’s war is not only a humanitarian crisis but a glimpse into the future of conflict, where cheap and accessible technologies turn war zones into testing grounds with few rules and even less accountability.
Cyrus E. Torreña, Josefina E. Dublin-Torreña
Despite the existence of juvenile justice and rehabilitation programs, Children in Conflict with the Law (CICL) continue to experience unmet needs, limited participation, and systemic disadvantages while undergoing rehabilitation. This study theorizes participation within the juvenile delinquency discourse through a critical systemic analysis of CICL in Davao City, Philippines. Using a qualitative critical ethnographic design, data were gathered from 17 CICL residents of Children’s Village Bahay Pag-asa, five parents, and one psychologist through interviews, focus group discussions, demographic profiling, and thematic analysis. Findings reveal that CICL experiences are shaped by intersecting deprivations, including gangsterism, absence of parental care, school disengagement, drug use, poverty, and adverse community environments. While rehabilitation services exist, participants reported unmet health, nutritional, psychological, educational, and skills-training needs, compounded by overcrowding, limited personnel, and weak participatory mechanisms. The study proposes a child-centered, rights-based, restorative, and multidisciplinary social planning system that strengthens case management, family engagement, education, psychosocial care, livelihood preparation, and community reintegration.
Aarya Jain, Dr. Jyoti Gaur, Dr. Neetu Yadav, Dr. Shalu Nehra
Millets, a group of small-seeded grasses, have been an essential food source across the globe for millennia, but their potential therapeutic applications have gained increasing attention in recent years. This paper explores the nutritional composition of millets, focusing on their protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds. We analyze their therapeutic roles in the prevention and management of lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and gastrointestinal disorders. Despite their numerous health benefits, millets remain underutilized in contemporary diets, primarily due to cultural biases, accessibility issues, and lack of awareness. This review aims to highlight the therapeutic potential of millets, address existing barriers, and propose future research directions.
Farai Katsande
Leadership theory faces increasing fragmentation under the combined pressures of globalization, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence, limiting its ability to explain leadership effectiveness in contemporary contexts. The purpose of this study is to develop the Global Integrative Leadership Model (GILM), which unifies ethical, cognitive, cultural, digital, and AI leadership domains into a coherent framework. The study adopts a conceptual, theory-building approach grounded in an integrative literature review, synthesizing established and emerging research across leadership, organizational studies, and socio-technical systems. Transforming Steward Leadership (TSL), comprising character, competence, and stewardship, is positioned as the foundational driver that activates four higher-order capabilities: Ethical-Cognitive Leadership, Adaptive Global Capability, Socio-Technical Transformation Capability, and Responsible AI Leadership Capability. The model proposes that leadership effectiveness and broader outcomes emerge from the alignment and interaction of these capabilities rather than isolated competencies. The key contribution lies in advancing a multidimensional, systems-based leadership framework that addresses the complexities of global and AI-enabled environments while providing a clear pathway for future empirical validation using structural equation modeling.
Dr. Le Tung Lam
The “era of national ascent” represents a major policy of the Party, the State, and the people. This policy aims to achieve a prosperous population, a strong nation, and a socialist society comparable to global powers. Ho Chi Minh City serves as the largest economic, political, cultural, and educational center in the country. The City must establish an advanced, modern, and integrated educational system to fulfill its pioneering role in this “era of national ascent.” This system should position the City as a high-quality educational hub for both the nation and the Asian region. This paper defines the conceptual framework of educational integration, analyzes empirical development indicators, and addresses core challenges including resource constraints and regional disparities. Through strategic multi-stakeholder collaboration, these efforts will transform education into a driving force to propel the City into the future era of ascent.
Ezebuike, I.R., Mbachu, M.U., Offor, I.J., Okeke, E.N., Onyewuchi, U.U., Poly-Mbah, C.P., Tim-Ashama, A.
The paper evaluating the productivity of home gardens in Ebonyi State as key towards transforming family food systems in the Ebonyi State in Southeastern Nigeria. Specific objectives were to: Identify the socio-economic characteristics of crop farmers in Ebonyi State,; Identify crop species dominant in the Ebonyi State home gardens; Determine crop densities in Ebonyi State, home gardens; Determine the costs and returns of home gardens crop production in Ebonyi State; and Determine home garden management approach in Ebonyi State. The population of the study comprised all the home gardeners in Ebonyi State. A total of 60 home gardens were used for the study. Data were collected by use of well-structured questionnaires and oral interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, frequency and percentages. Objectives i, ii and iv were achieved using descriptive statistics Objective iii was analyzed using the Cost and returns analysis model. The findings revealed that home gardening is predominantly practiced by individuals within the economically active age group, with a higher proportion of male participants. The high level of educational attainment among the farmers indicates a strong potential for the adoption of improved agricultural technologies and innovations. Farming was the primary occupation for most respondents, underscoring the importance of home gardening as a key livelihood activity in the study area. The income level of the farmers further suggests that home gardening contributes meaningfully to household welfare. In terms of production, cassava, maize, and okra were the dominant crops cultivated, largely for household consumption, highlighting the role of home gardens in enhancing food security. The cost and return analysis confirmed that home garden farming is a profitable enterprise in Ebonyi State, with positive gross margin, net income, and return on investment. Additionally, the adoption of integrated home garden management practices was relatively high, indicating that farmers are utilizing a combination of sustainable and improved techniques to enhance productivity. Overall, home gardening in Ebonyi State is a viable and profitable agricultural practice with significant potential for improving household food security, income generation, and sustainable agricultural development.
Han Songjie, Mohd Afifi bin Bahurudin Setambah
This study adopts a bibliometric perspective and focuses on the research topic of curriculum integration in language teaching. This study thoroughly investigates the present research scene and developmental patterns by methodically evaluating and analysing pertinent literature from specified data sources and using scientific knowledge mapping tools such CiteSpace and VOS viewer. The study reveals the primary academic forces and cooperative networks inside the field of educational language teaching research by concentrating on the distribution patterns of core authors, top journals, major countries, and institutions. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and clustering study help to clearly show the present research hotspots and their internal interactions, so pointing up possible development directions including multidisciplinary integration and technologically advanced language learning. Further more underlined in the study are research shortages in fields including student learning motivation and teacher professional development. Through a summary of the current knowledge structures and developmental paths, this study also tackles problems such regional inequalities and research fragmentation. It seeks to offer a methodical and all-encompassing reference for the ongoing development of the discipline, therefore fostering creativity in educational theory and practice. The work has important theoretical and pragmatic consequences.
Assoc. Prof. Lawrence Muhwezi, Assoc. Prof. Mesharch Katusiimeh, Prof. Sabiti Makara, Wesigomwe Jamil Mohammed
This research investigated the effect of technical conflict drivers on management of construction of public water works projects in Victoria, Albertine and Kyoga water management zones (WMZs) of eastern and southwestern regional centers of Uganda’s water sector. A positivist paradigm underpinned the research where a cross-sectional design was applied. The population that was involved in this research was 690 from which 468 were simple randomly selected but 448 actually participated in this research. The Advanced Analysis of covariance (ADANCO) was used to analyze data where a Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) accompanied with Bootstrapping was performed to produce results that included measurement loadings, path coefficient and coefficient of determination. Key findings were drawing interpretations were the most causal factor of technical conflicts, followed by quality and workmanship, design changes, technical experience and design errors. There was a negative path coefficient (-0.827) between technical conflict causes and management of construction of public water works projects. Drawing interpretations were the most technical conflict cause that severely undermined management of construction of public water works projects, followed by quality and workmanship, design changes, technical experience and design errors.
Aqilah Arshad, Asma’ Fauzi, Mohd Nizam bin Yusof, Suzzana Othman
This study investigates undergraduate students’ acceptance of e-Kalam: Arabic Made Easy, a YouTube-based digital learning platform designed to support Arabic listening and speaking skills, using the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM). A quantitative survey design was employed, involving 111 students enrolled in Arabic Level 1 at Universiti Teknikal Malaysia Melaka (UTeM). Data was analysed using reliability analysis, descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and multiple regression. The findings demonstrate excellent internal consistency across all TAM constructs, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.932 to 0.974. Descriptive results indicate high levels of student acceptance in terms of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, attitude toward use, behavioural intention, and actual use. Correlation analysis revealed strong positive relationships among all TAM variables, supporting the model's theoretical structure. However, multiple regression analysis showed that attitude toward use was the only significant predictor of behavioural intention, whereas perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were not significant once attitude was controlled for. These results highlight the central role of affective engagement in sustaining students’ intention to continue using YouTube-based Arabic learning platforms. The study extends the application of TAM to the underexplored context of Arabic listening and speaking instruction and offers practical insights for designing engaging, learner-centred digital language learning environments.
Aini Andria Shirin Anuarudin, Elia Md Johar, Faizah Mohamad, Muhammad Imran Fahmi Anuar, Zaemah Abdul Kadir
Technology-Enhanced Language Learning (TELL) has become increasingly common in ESL classrooms as its benefits for language learning are evident. TELL can enhance student engagement, provide access to authentic learning materials, facilitate individualized instruction, and support collaborative learning environments. Nevertheless, some students may still perceive TELL as having negative effects due to lack of exposure or familiarity with digital tools. TELL may be considered intimidating, distracting, or even unnecessary as compared to traditional classroom instruction. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to investigate the university students’ perceptions towards the effects of TELL on their learning experiences. Gender and fields of study can also be the factors that can influence students’ views of TELL. This research employed a quantitative causal-comparative research design using a questionnaire to collect data. A simple random sampling technique was employed to select 400 respondents as the participants of the study. Findings revealed that undergraduate students perceived TELL as having a positive effect on their learning experiences. Gender appeared not to influence their perceptions, but fields of study did, though no interaction between the two factors was observed. Since technology in teaching and learning advances rapidly, continuous improvement in the educational landscape is paramount in ensuring students develop their technological skills. Such efforts are encouraged to prepare students to thrive in the future, which is shaped by evolving digital tools.
Clever Marisa, Custon Ziwoni, Vincent. M. Mwange
Urban and regional planning in Zimbabwe has long grappled with the dual challenge of deteriorating building conditions and rapid urbanization, particularly in small mining towns such as Shamva. The town’s legacy of extractive industries has left behind aging infrastructure and poorly maintained public facilities, while informal housing expansion continues to strain limited resources. This study critically examines the state of building conditions in Shamva within the framework of Zimbabwe’s Transformation Agenda (Vision 2030), which seeks to modernize infrastructure and promote sustainable urban growth. Evidence suggests that weak enforcement of the Regional Town and Country Planning Act (1976, revised 2016) has contributed to unregulated development and structural decay. Furthermore, outdated building standards inherited from colonial planning systems have failed to adapt to contemporary socio-economic and environmental realities. Scholars argue that resilience and sustainability in Zimbabwe’s built environment remain undermined by financial constraints and governance gaps, leaving many towns with unsafe and non-resilient structures. This analysis calls for a strategic intervention by local authorities, emphasizing the rehabilitation of public buildings, enforcement of modern building codes, and integration of climate-resilient design. The study highlights the need for participatory planning approaches that engage communities in shaping urban renewal, while leveraging public-private partnerships to mobilize resources. Aligning Shamva’s building rehabilitation with Zimbabwe’s Transformation Agenda will not only improve safety and service delivery but also position the town as a model for rural-urban transformation. Ultimately, this research underscores that addressing building conditions is not merely a technical exercise but a strategic imperative for achieving sustainable development and inclusive growth in Zimbabwe.
Leonora M. Rodriguez, Reallyn B. Villanueva
Digital learning tools have emerged as a promising avenue for reshaping Social Science education. This study primarily aimed to examine the utilization of digital learning tools in developing the social science skills of students. Specifically, it sought to identify the types of digital learning tools used by students and determine the extent of their utilization. It also examined the significant difference between teachers’ and students’ assessments regarding the extent of digital tool utilization, assessed students’ social science skills and analyzed the significant relationship between digital learning tool utilization and these skills. A descriptive-quantitative research design was employed, utilizing a researcher-made questionnaire to gather relevant data. The findings revealed that digital learning tools were utilized to a moderate extent, and HUMSS students’ social science skills were likewise rated as moderately manifested. Statistical analysis showed a significant difference between teacher and student assessments in the utilization of digital tools for written works, but no significant difference was found in performance tasks and quarterly assessments. Moreover, a significant relationship was identified between the extent of digital learning tool utilization and students’ social science skills. Based on these findings, a digital supplementary learning package was developed to enhance Social Science instruction among HUMSS learners.
John C. Jamilo, Verna R. Belarmino, PhD
The integration of electronic policing systems in the Philippine National Police (PNP) has become central to enhancing operational efficiency, ensuring effective law enforcement, and improving public safety. This study aimed to evaluate the level of Implementation and identify the challenges encountered in the utilization of electronic policing systems, specifically the e-Rouges Gallery, e-Warrant System, e-Blotter Report, and e-Subpoena. Furthermore, it explored whether significant differences in Implementation and challenges were influenced by socio-demographic factors such as age, sex, civil status, and educational attainment. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed, utilizing a structured survey administered to 205 PNP personnel. The findings revealed high adoption across the various electronic systems, particularly the e-Rouges Gallery and e-Warrant System, while the e-Blotter Report indicated room for improvement in system functionality and accessibility. Significant differences in both the level of Implementation and the challenges encountered were observed by age and gender, highlighting the importance of targeted training and system exposure for different demographic groups. Additionally, a positive correlation was found between the implementation level and the challenges encountered, indicating that as electronic system implementation increases, the complexity and challenges associated with their management also increase.
Mohd Farid Abd Latib, Muhammad Asyraf Mohd Kassim, Muhammad Safizal Abdullah, Ridzhal Hasnan
Purpose: This article examines how technical and vocational education and training (TVET), ICT, soft skills, entrepreneurship and career literacy can be integrated into tahfiz (Qur'anic memorisation)-based Islamic schooling without displacing the core religious mission of Qur'anic memorisation. Rather than treating TVET integration as a simple employability intervention, the article theorises Tahfiz (Qur'anic memorisation) TVET as a problem of value-compatible vocationalisation in faith-based schooling. Design/methodology/approach: The article uses an exploratory conceptual-policy design informed by secondary analysis of an unpublished Kedah Tahfiz (Qur'anic memorisation) TVET survey report dated 30 April 2026. The report presents aggregate descriptive indicators for three stakeholder groups: asatizah (teachers), huffaz (Qur'an memorisers/students) and parents/guardians. Because raw response-level data, demographic variables and fieldwork verification were not available, the evidence is interpreted as aggregate descriptive case evidence rather than as a psychometrically validated population survey. Findings: The descriptive indicators show favourable but conditional acceptance of Tahfiz (Qur'anic memorisation) TVET. Reported agreement was 80.3% among asatizah (teachers), 79.7% among huffaz (Qur'an memorisers) and 78.1% among parents. However, acceptance weakens around implementation risks: timetable burden, possible disruption to memorisation, cost to families, equipment needs, teacher preparation and safety in external workshops. The evidence therefore supports a distinction between attitudinal acceptance and implementation readiness. Originality/value: The article proposes a Value-Compatible Vocationalisation Framework comprising five mechanisms: value compatibility, core-mission protection, capability expansion, implementation trust and stakeholder legitimacy. The framework explains why vocational reform in religious schooling cannot be justified through labour-market utility alone; it must be perceived as religiously legitimate, pedagogically non-disruptive, financially bearable and institutionally safe.
Gloria B. Abrazado, Julia Clarette G. Manaloto, Kenth Joshua B. Dueñas, Ryza Anne S. Luat, Sharlyn Joy P. Napili
This descriptive correlational quantitative research aimed at determining participants' level of values and citizenship engagement among intermediate pupils in relation to their demographic profile. A stratified random sampling method was used to determine 101 participants for the study. This included 32 Grade 4 pupils, 37 Grade 5 pupils, and 32 Grade 6 pupils from a public elementary school in Angeles City, Philippines, who participated in data collection via a survey questionnaire. Mean, frequency and percentage distributions were used to analyze and present the variables, while the Spearman’s rho, Mann-Whitney U test, and Kruskal-Wallis test were utilized to correlate the variables. Findings revealed that the intermediate pupils have a very high level of engagement when it comes to values and citizenship engagement. Intermediate pupils consistently show kindness, respect, honesty, love, competence, justice, responsibility, and participation to others, but there is no significant relationship to their demographic profile, such as age, sex, grade level, family structure, and household members. This implies that the development of these values is evident across different groups of learners and is not influenced by their background. It also suggests that interventions aimed at strengthening values and citizenship may be universally applied, as all learners demonstrate similarly high levels of engagement regardless of demographic profiles.
Sadjo Maïdadi
This study investigates whether the semantic structure of vernacular disorder denominations in Fulfulde — a Sahelian language spoken by over 24 million people in West Africa — constitutes a measurable psycholinguistic predictor of psychological distance from clinical diagnosis. Anchored in cognitive psycholinguistic theory of folk illness categorisation [16,17], the aetiological primacy hypothesis [18], Kleinman’s explanatory model framework [1], and a multi-component model of psychological distance integrating the Health Belief Model [21], the Theory of Planned Behaviour [22], and social stigma theory [23], the study tests four hypotheses: that Fulfulde vernacular denominations organise into semantically distinct aetiological clusters (H1); that supernatural aetiological vocabulary predicts higher diagnostic distance than social/moral or biomedical vocabulary (H2); that this relationship is further modulated by education, residence, sex, and ethnicity as structural determinants of lexical register access (H3); and that aetiological cluster membership fully mediates the effect of formal education on diagnostic distance, operationalising the causal pathway through which structural determinants shape clinical attitudes via lexical restructuring (H4). Using a convergent mixed-methods design with 400 Fulfulde-speaking adults across ten sites in the Far North Region of Cameroon — spanning five rural, three peri-urban, and two urban ecologies — lexical clustering, one-way ANOVAs, hierarchical regression, and bootstrap mediation analysis (Hayes PROCESS, Model 4, 10,000 iterations) were applied. Three aetiological clusters emerged: supernatural (CL1, 37.5%), social/moral (CL2, 35.3%), and mixed/biomedical (CL3, 27.3%). Semantic cluster membership alone explained 72% of variance in Psychological Distance from Diagnosis Scale (PDDS) scores; the full model reached adjusted R² = .82. Mediation analysis revealed that aetiological cluster membership fully mediated the effect of education on diagnostic distance: the indirect effect was large and significant (ab = −7.84, 95% Boot CI [−9.12, −6.61]), while the direct effect was non-significant after cluster entry (c’ = −0.43, p = .38), with 96% of the total effect transmitted via lexical restructuring. CL1 participants showed near-ceiling diagnostic distance (M = 83.1/90) and 0% referral to psychologists across all eight clinical vignettes including suicidal ideation. These findings establish vernacular aetiological naming as the proximal psycholinguistic mechanism linking education to care-seeking propensity, with direct implications for community mental health triage and suicide prevention in Sahelian African contexts.
James L. Paglinawan, Marie Kris V. Valero
In an era of increasing global teacher mobility, Filipino educators represent a significant portion of the international skilled workforce, yet their personal narratives of adaptation often remain unheard. This research is vital because it addresses the structural push factors of the Philippine education system while highlighting the professional contributions of Filipinos abroad. A critical research gap exists regarding the nuanced, day-to-day negotiations of identity and success, particularly in diverse host countries during the post-pandemic era. Consequently, this study sought to explore the lived experiences of Filipino teachers abroad, focusing specifically on their motivations, challenges, coping strategies, and pedagogical transformations.
Chester M. Derequito, Janelle B. Tipan, Marinella D. Javier, Princess Mae R. Rosales
This study explored the lived experiences of the Grade 10 students on Translanguaging Instruction in the English Classroom in terms of their perspectives, participation, and barriers encountered by the students in the context of translanguaging practices. The research used qualitative phenomenological research. Validated semi-structured interviews were conducted with eight informants from Alaminos Integrated National High School and two classroom observations were used to record the practice of translanguaging. The findings revealed five developing themes: (1) Translanguaging as a Pedagogical and Communicative Scaffold; (2) Translanguaging as a Cognitive, Emotional and Communicative Drive of Learning; (3) Constraints and Variations in Translanguaging Practices Affecting Classroom Comprehension; (4) Translanguaging as a Normalized Academic Practice and an Adaptive Everyday Communicative Resource; and (5) Awareness of Translanguaging as an Academic Discourse Practice. The repeating trends across the data suggest that translanguaging promotes cognitive development, vocabulary growth, inclusivity and student involvement. But the results also show that the benefits are not absolute, since they depend on the quality of training, and an over-reliance on one language could lead to problems, particularly in instances when official fluency in English is required. These findings indicate a need for a balanced approach, which forms the basis of the study’s suggestions for enhancing translanguaging in ESL classrooms.
Gladdes Laranjo-Padron, Judy Jane S. Revelo
Motherhood is an inherently complex journey shaped by emotional bonds, sacrifice, and resilience; however, raising a child with neuro-developmental disorders intensifies this journey through persistent physical, emotional, relational, and contextual challenges. This study explored the lived experiences of mothers caring for children with neuro-developmental disorders in Dipolog City, Philippines, focusing on how they make sense of caregiving through their bodies, environments, relationships, time, and material realities. Guided by the qualitative transcendental phenomenology of Moustakas, seven mothers who served as primary caregivers of children aged 2 to 5 years with medically diagnosed neuro-developmental conditions were purposively selected. Data were gathered through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and analyzed using Moustakas’ phenomenological approach. Five interconnected themes emerged: (1) caregiving as continuous bodily exhaustion marked by chronic fatigue and disrupted sleep; (2) caregiving environments as shifting spaces of safety and strain where home, healthcare settings and community simultaneously shaped support and stress; (3) caregiving as a temporal journey in which pain and uncertainty gradually coexisted with acceptance, perseverance, love and hope; (4) objects, routines, and therapeutic tools as meaningful sources of comfort, regulation and emotional support for the child; and (5) motherhood as a sacred responsibility characterized by purposeful sacrifice, lifelong commitment, identity and faith. The findings reveal caregiving as a deeply embodied, spatial, temporal, relational and meaning-laden experience that profoundly transforms mothers’ sense of self and everyday life. These insights emphasize the need for culturally responsive healthcare, strengthened community support systems, and policies that recognize mothers as central bearers of lifelong caregiving responsibility.
Rosana N. Decena
Self-doubt kills success. I used descriptive qualitative design in exploring the academic journey of Indigenous youth Sunday schoolers. Using a purposive sampling technique, I selected the participants for this study and conducted interviews with 10 Indigenous youth. I then analyzed the data gathered using thematic analysis. Guided by Self-Determination Theory, my study highlighted autonomy, competence, and relatedness as key dimensions of the academic journey of the indigenous students. Educators and school leaders may empower Indigenous leaners by adopting empathetic, culturally responsive, and inclusive practices that address their psychological, cultural, and socio-economic needs. Future research may use multiple linear regression and exploratory factor analyses to develop instruments examining autonomy, competence, and relatedness as predictors of self-determination of Indigenous youth as criterion variable.
Ajith Paul, Anitha Suseelan, Balakrishnan C, Biju Kunnumpurath
This study examined women as custodians of Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) practices in Chettinad, Tamil Nadu, India with a focus on socio-cultural reproduction and cultural continuity. From the primary survey (N=126), the study develops a Cultural Participation Index (CPI) and examined the cultural practices of heritage conservation and transmission as outcomes of the regional women's participation and contribution. The present study conceptualises cultural participation as a mediating process between structural conditions, such as family type, migration and digital access, and outcomes of cultural sustainability, focusing on the perspectives of ICH and gender-based cultural agency. which. The findings show that although the level of cultural participation is mostly moderate, there is a strong relationship with familial and social contexts, with joint-family structures supporting a higher participation and preserving traditions across generations. Contrary to the linear understanding of cultural erosion, migration does not seriously affect the continuity of cultural practices across different spatial contexts; instead, it maintains resilience and adaptability of cultural practices. The study goes further to underscore the new role of digital connectivity as an enabling mechanism in the sustenance of cultural knowledge and practices. The results of the study substantiate UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) framework, which specifically emphasises community involvement and intergenerational transmission. The study contributes to broader debates on gender, heritage and community identity by positioning women as agents of cultural reproduction, and demonstrating how cultural reproduction can be found in everyday practices that resist change in fast-transforming socio-economic contexts. The results also support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, such as SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), and SDG 4 (Quality Education).
Aprell L. Abellana, Kenethnol M. Figueroa, Raul C. Orongan
This study determined the relationship of the work engagement, organizational behavior, and occupational burnout of 250 public secondary school teachers in the Division of Valencia, Bukidnon, Philippines using a descriptive-correlational research design. Specifically, the study aimed to describe the levels of work engagement (vigor, dedication and absorption), organizational behavior (autocratic, custodial, supportive and collegial), and occupational burnout (emotional exhaustion, depersonalization and personal achievement) of teachers, examine the relationship of variables and determine the significant predictors of occupational burnout. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s product-moment correlation and stepwise regression analysis. The study showed that teachers have high level of work engagement and organizational behavior while their occupational burnout was found to be at a moderate level. The results indicated a significant positive association between work engagement (especially vigor and absorption) and occupational burnout, confirming a paradoxical “engaged-but-at-risk” profile of high-performing educators. Also, the results of regression analysis showed that vigor and custodial organizational behavior were the main predictors of occupational burnout and explained 10.5% of its variance. These results suggest that although motivation acts as a protective stabilizer, a high level of engagement without institutional support may inadvertently lead to burnout.
Armie Lhyn D. Recla, Dr. Junvil A. Insong, Nelson Parame, Prexie Jhun Precillas, Vier Anthony Putol
Security guards play a critical role in maintaining order and safety across various establishments; however, their work is often accompanied by demanding occupational conditions that may influence their well-being and performance. Anchored in the Job Demand–Resource (JD-R) model and transactional stress theory, this study examined the workplace challenges and stress management practices of security guards in Oroquieta City, Philippines. A descriptive-correlational research design was employed, utilizing a researcher-made questionnaire administered to a clearly defined sample of security guards (n = 120) selected through purposive sampling. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics reliability testing (Cronbach’s alpha), and Pearson product–moment correlation with additional diagnostic checks for multicollinearity and construct overlap. Findings revealed the following thematic areas for workplace challenges: workplace and task management, physical and mental well-being, workplace safety and security, work environment and facilities, supervisory support and leadership, and compensation and benefits. Stress management constructs were refined to include stress awareness, coping strategies, social support, job control and autonomy, and well-being, ensuring conceptual alignment with individual coping processes. Results further indicated significant relationships between most dimensions of workplace challenges and stress management, although extremely high correlations suggest possible shared variance or overlapping constructs that require cautious interpretation.
Claire R. Reginalde, Noel B. Adducul
One of the challenges in the modern infrastructure development of the Philippines under the “Build, Build, Build” program is ensuring the safety and security of its workers. The success and implementation of infrastructure projects depend on how the projects are executed, including the management of health and safety standards. Failure to comply with these standards would affect the cost, time, and quality of the project. Hence, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Department Order (D.O.) No. 13, s. 1998, was created to address issues and concerns related to safety and health management. In Nueva Vizcaya, although safety and health programs and management plans are already incorporated into project activities, there are still skill gaps that need to be addressed, with the ultimate goal of not only sustaining the existing standards but also improving them. The respondents’ sociodemographic profiles (Safety Officers, Skilled Workers, and Unskilled Workers) and the profiles of the construction firms operating in Nueva Vizcaya were analyzed and found to be compliant with D.O. No. 13, s. 1998. Likewise, the level of safety and security management practices and the workers’ level of satisfaction with safety and security were found to be high. The study also shows a significant relationship between the level of safety and management practices implemented and the level of satisfaction with safety and security among workers in construction firms. Based on the study, monitoring of compliance with safety and health activities in project implementation should be institutionalized not only within internal implementing agencies but also among external monitoring bodies, such as the Regional Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (RPMEC), Provincial Project Monitoring and Evaluation Committee (PPMEC), DOLE, and other monitoring bodies. This is aimed at assessing non-compliant contractors for possible sanctions.
Donnie Senomio, Stephanie B. Senomio
Workplace environments, particularly in manufacturing plants, are highly exposed to occupational hazards, emphasizing the need for effective and reliable safety monitoring systems. Traditional methods of enforcing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) compliance rely heavily on manual supervision, which is often affected by human fatigue, inconsistent judgment, delayed response, and limited monitoring coverage. These limitations reduce the efficiency of workplace safety enforcement and increase the possibility of occupational accidents and injuries. To address these concerns, this study developed a Workplace Safety with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Monitoring System Using Computer Vision designed to provide automated and real-time PPE compliance monitoring in industrial environments. The developed system integrates computer vision and deep learning technologies to perform visual data curation, personnel facial image registration and identity verification, PPE detection, compliance assessment, and real-time reporting. The system utilized cameras, microprocessor, facial recognition, object detection, centralized database storage, and a web-based dashboard for monitoring and analytics. Functionality testing results revealed that the visual data curation module achieved 93.33% accuracy, personnel identity verification achieved 96.67% stability, PPE detection obtained 92.11% precision with a recall score of 0.95 and an F1-score of 0.93, while the compliance assessment module achieved 90.00% effectiveness. Furthermore, the reporting module demonstrated 96.67% reliability in event logging and monitoring operations. The acceptability evaluation using the extended Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) obtained an overall mean rating of 4.68 interpreted as Highly Acceptable. The findings indicate that the developed system has strong potential to improve workplace safety management through automated PPE compliance monitoring, personnel verification, and real-time safety reporting.
Alia Nabella Fateha Zolkifli, Sharina Saad
The rapid integration of artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, Grammarly, and QuillBot reflects the growing role of digital technologies in transforming language learning and academic writing practices. In line with the broader shift toward technology-enhanced learning, this study examines how English as a Second Language (ESL) undergraduates use AI tools in academic writing and explores their perceptions of AI-assisted learning. A group of ESL undergraduate students participated in a post-task survey after using AI tools to complete academic writing assignments. The study investigates patterns of AI use across different stages of the writing process, namely pre-writing, drafting, and revision, and evaluates students’ perceptions in terms of usefulness, ease of use, writing confidence, and learner autonomy. Quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were analysed thematically. The findings indicate that AI tools are primarily used for idea generation, language support, and grammatical improvement, especially during drafting and revision. Students reported increased efficiency and confidence, although varying levels of dependence were also observed. While most participants viewed AI as a valuable learning aid, concerns regarding overdependence, reduced originality, and academic integrity were also identified. Importantly, students tended to conceptualise AI as a writing partner rather than a replacement for human effort. Grounded in the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Self-Regulated Learning (SRL) theory, the study highlights how perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use influence AI adoption, while learner autonomy mediates responsible engagement with AI tools. The findings suggest that AI-assisted writing, when pedagogically scaffolded, can enhance ESL learners’ writing development without undermining independent learning. The study offers practical implications for integrating AI tools ethically and effectively in ESL writing instruction.