Poverty has and will continue to precipitate enormous suffering for countless children in Zimbabwe. This study examines how the psychosocial effects of poverty affect the academic performance of the girl child. At the same time it identifies various policies and programmes designed to attenuate the negative effects of poverty on children. It is estimated that about seven out of ten families in Zimbabwe live in dire poverty because of political unrest, socioeconomic instability, economic and political sanctions, drought, environmental degradation, and HIV/AIDS. This study is informed by Urie Bronfenbrenner’s ecological theory, and the humanistic perspective. A qualitative phenomenological design was used with focus group discussions, interviews and observations as data-collection instruments, with fifteen (15) Form 2 girls, six (6) teachers, and three (3) headmasters in three secondary schools in Masvingo Province. The use of the phenomenological design helped to bring to the surface deep issues, and to make the voices of the girl children heard. The Tesch’s open coding method of data analysis was used to identify themes and categories. Findings from this study revealed that the majority of the families in Zimbabwe cannot afford even the basic human needs (food and non-food items) which are necessary to sustain life, thus adversely affecting the children’s health, and their emotional, physical, moral, social and academic achievements. This study also established that the girls’ academic performance is affected by household chores/child labour, financial constraints, a lack of motivation, early marriages, and the lack of food, as well as health issues and sanitation, delinquent behaviour, child abuse, prostitution, the long distances to and from school, stigmatisation and marginalisation. This study recommends early intervention programmes for children, and the sustainable development of mining, rural and urban communities. The government, and the families, should make basic education affordable to all children, irrespective of their gender. This study also recommends that the problems be addressed by the microsystems of the school, and of the families, and the neighbourhood mesosystems (linkages) and exosystems, as well as by the macro-systems (political, ideology). Collaborative work is also needed among Zimbabweans and all stakeholders to revisit the root causes of poverty. / Psychology of Education / D. Ed. (Psychology of Education)

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the need parents who are home schooling may have for knowledge and assistance to enhance the social development of their children. Findings from an initial investigation into the literature indicated that peer relations and extra-curricular activities may provide opportunities for socialization in children. Informal rating scales measuring social developmental trends and relationships with others were used to obtain data from parents and children regarding the social development of the children. Furthermore, data were obtained during focus group and individual interviews, from questionnaires and children's drawings. Results from the literature study and empirical investigation resulted in a body of knowledge that would assist home schooling parents to provide opportunities for the adequate social development of their children. It can be concluded that home schooled children would find interaction with peers and participation in extra-curricular activities beneficial for their social development. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)

This thesis examines the role and relationship of standardization and advocacy in humanitarian aid planning processes within the emergent field of education and instability. Standardization refers to the aid industry’s increasing emphasis on establishing ‘universal’ principles and normative frameworks. Advocacy refers to transnational-policy-network activities that move forward the global standardization agenda. The study focuses on the purposes and practices of knowledge creation by an education-and-instability ‘epistemic community’: the Inter-Agency Network for Education in Emergencies (INEE). Drawing on global-level interviews with key figures, participant observations, and documentary analysis, the research explores how this epistemic community promotes its core tenets: that education is an inherent human right and that educational provision should be a frontline humanitarian response on par with food distribution and shelter construction. The thesis analyzes the consensus-making process that resulted in the publication of the 2004 INEE Minimum Standards handbook, the then-epitome of the epistemic community’s knowledge. Next, the thesis examines the local application and adaptation of such global standardization processes in post-conflict Uganda. The case study presents the relationships among international and local ‘development partner’ institutions concerned with educational planning as a complex and contradictory story of power dynamics and knowledge circulation. These ‘partnerships’ are characterized by a shared quest for adherence to the knowledge encapsulated within standardized global frameworks and their normative principles. For Ugandan institutions, fluency in this discourse is a powerful tool to appropriate for their own ends. For international institutions, the knowledge is at once a technical resource and a means to bring ever more stakeholders into the wider epistemic community concerned with humanitarian aid. I argue that, through judicious use of standardization and advocacy mechanisms, INEE seeks to legitimize the education sector’s existence within the humanitarian aid industry and expand support for (or ‘conversion’ to) the education-and-instability epistemic community’s core beliefs.

My diploma thesis focuses on the approach to family related curriculum at primary school. The theoretical part includes analysis of contemporary view of family in terms of psychology and sociology, summary of possible problems connected with the family related curriculum, some recommendations how to approach the family related curriculum and analysis of approach to this curriculum in FEP EE, three school education programmes and three sets of textbooks from primary education. The practical part examines the approach to family related curriculum from students' of teaching point of view.

This study was designed to measure the relation of education and ethnic identity to attitudes towards bilingualism in two different ethnic groups, Asian and Latinos in the United States. In order to do this, an instrument was developed to measure attitudes towards bilingualism. No significant relations were found among education or ethnic identity and attitudes towards bilingualism in either group, but analyses revealed several other significant relationships. The two subscales of ethnic identity, MEIM-R Commitment and Exploration, were related to each other both within Asian and Latino groups and in all participants combined. In the combined sample, education levels of participants' mothers was correlated with the MEIM-R subscale of Exploration. In addition, participants with a Bachelors Degree or above were found to have significantly higher ethnic identity levels of MEIM-R Commitment than participants with an Associates Degree or below. Participants with mothers who possess a Bachelors Degree or above were found to have significantly higher ethnic identity levels of MEIM-R Exploration than participants with mothers who possess an Associates Degree or below. Finally, Asian participants were found to have lower levels of MEIM-R Commitment when compared to Latino participants. / by Cuong T. Le. / Thesis (M.A.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2013. / Includes bibliography. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / System requirements: Adobe Reader.

The higher education system has undergone considerable change in the past fifty years. Increasing the number of students enrolled in university has been a focus of these changes. Despite the governments’ attempts in reducing the social class gap, there exist very large differences in those applying for r higher education. It seems despite the large socio-economic gap and the elitist image of attending university, UK government policies have not provided suitable support to reduce this gap. The level of concern over this subject has varied across different governments which could possibly have effects on young people’s transition from school across the different social classes. This thesis will address the difference between the New Labour and the Coalition governments’ level of attention to the issue of working class under-representation in universities and the policies they have developed to tackle it. It then investigates the effects of selected schemes designed to widen participation and explains how and why they are assumed to contribute to the reduction of the class gap in higher education participation. This study uses the dataset Longitudinal Study of Young People in England (LSYPE) to explore the relationship between attending widening access schemes and the likelihood of attending university during the New Labour office term. In doing so, and due to the shortage of direct measurements of state-funded widening participation programs, the analysis in this research uses school engagement activities as proxies. Additionally to provide an intergenerational comparison, given the differences in both data and policy environment, this research analyses the British Cohort Study 1970 data in order to provide further insights regarding the effectiveness of the then school engagement activities on university attendance. In other words, can the activities used to widen participation then provide greater insight into the kinds of programmes that might be effective in raising working class university participation? In turn this analysis provides the basis for an in-depth policy discussion of the issue.

Darbe atlikta teorinė bendradarbiavimo kultūros ugdymo įstaigoje tarp socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų analizė. Iškelta hipotezė, jog efektyviai pedagoginei pagalbai (savižudybių prevencijai) įgyvendinti trukdo nepakankamas socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų bendradarbiavimas. Anketinės apklausos metodu buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas - atskleisti socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų bendradarbiavimo ypatumus. Atlikta statistinė duomenų analizė. Tyrime dalyvavo 263 pedagogai. Empirinėje dalyje nagrinėjama socialinio pedagogo ir klasės auklėtojo bendradarbiavimo situacija ir galimybės užtikrinant savižudybės prevencijos programos paslaugas vaikui ir jo aplinkai. Svarbiausios empirinio tyrimo išvados: 1. Bendri socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų tikslai, padedant pagalbos reikalaujančiam mokiniui, formuoja teigiamą požiūrį į ugdymo institucijos aplinką bei tuo pačiu inicijuoja tarpusavio bendradarbiavimą. 2. Socialiniai pedagogai bei klasės auklėtojai nepakankamai aktyviai bendradarbiauja dirbdami savo darbą bei mokosi iš savo patirties: sieja teorines ir praktines žinias, apmąsto vartojamus darbo metodus bei galimus alternatyvius problemų sprendimo variantus, domisi grįžtamąja informacija, iškilusius klausimus aptaria konsultuodamiesi ir bendradarbiaudami su kolegomis. 3. Atlikus tyrimą paaiškėjo, jog hipotezė efektyviai pedagoginei pagalbai (savižudybių prevencijai) įgyvendinti trukdo nepakankamas socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Darbe atlikta teorinė bendradarbiavimo kultūros ugdymo įstaigoje tarp socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų analizė. Iškelta hipotezė, jog efektyviai pedagoginei pagalbai (savižudybių prevencijai) įgyvendinti trukdo nepakankamas socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų bendradarbiavimas. Anketinės apklausos metodu buvo atliktas tyrimas, kurio tikslas - atskleisti socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų bendradarbiavimo ypatumus. Atlikta statistinė duomenų analizė. Tyrime dalyvavo 263 pedagogai. Empirinėje dalyje nagrinėjama socialinio pedagogo ir klasės auklėtojo bendradarbiavimo situacija ir galimybės užtikrinant savižudybės prevencijos programos paslaugas vaikui ir jo aplinkai. Svarbiausios empirinio tyrimo išvados: 1. Bendri socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų tikslai, padedant pagalbos reikalaujančiam mokiniui, formuoja teigiamą požiūrį į ugdymo institucijos aplinką bei tuo pačiu inicijuoja tarpusavio bendradarbiavimą. 2. Socialiniai pedagogai bei klasės auklėtojai nepakankamai aktyviai bendradarbiauja dirbdami savo darbą bei mokosi iš savo patirties: sieja teorines ir praktines žinias, apmąsto vartojamus darbo metodus bei galimus alternatyvius problemų sprendimo variantus, domisi grįžtamąja informacija, iškilusius klausimus aptaria konsultuodamiesi ir bendradarbiaudami su kolegomis. 3. Atlikus tyrimą paaiškėjo, jog hipotezė efektyviai pedagoginei pagalbai (savižudybių prevencijai) įgyvendinti trukdo nepakankamas socialinių pedagogų ir klasės auklėtojų... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / The theoretical work of cooperation in the cultural education institution between social class and teacher educators analysis. The hypothesis that an effective pedagogical assistance (Suicide Prevention) prevents the lack of social class and teacher educators co-operation. Method of questionnaire survey was carried out with a goal - to reveal the social class and teacher educators co-features. A statistic analysis of data. The study involved 263 teachers. The empirical part examines social class and teacher educator co-operation situation and the possibility of providing suicide prevention program services to children and the environment. The main empirical findings: 1. Shared social class and teacher educators support the objectives of which provides assistance to pupils, forming a positive attitude towards the environment and the educational institution at the same time initiate mutual cooperation. 2. Social class and teacher educators to actively cooperate with insufficient course of their work and learn from their experiences: links theoretical and practical knowledge, used to reflect on work practices and possible alternative options for solving problems, is interested in feedback, discuss issues raised during the consultation and collaboration with colleagues. 3. The study showed that the hypothesis of effective pedagogical aids (suicide prevention) prevents the lack of social class and teacher educators co-operation because of social class and teacher educators is an... [to full text]

Latinos are the largest and most rapidly growing ethnic minority in the United States, and they have the highest dropout rates of any major ethnic group in the country (U.S. Department of Labor, 2003). Latinos' educational attainment is consistently lower than that of other students (Gandara, 2008). The majority of Latino college students in the state of Oregon are of Mexican origin and have parents with low income and low levels of education, which ultimately influences the students' decisions in whether or not to pursue higher education. This study examines these and other factors which motivate Latino students to pursue higher education in selected colleges in the state of Oregon. Quantitative data was gathered and evaluated to determine their academic self-efficacy, an idea grounded in Social Cognitive Theory (Bandura 1997). Accordingly, this dissertation analyzed personal, environmental, and demographic factors as determinants of the academic self-efficacy of Latino college students. The results indicated that mothers (family being one of the environmental factors) were the most motivating persons for Latino college students pursuing higher education, followed by the influence of friends. The results also revealed that another influencing factor in academic self-efficacy of Latino college students was their own self-efficacy and their personal goal orientation. Female students reported the highest scores of self-efficacy for a four-year institution, followed by students of both genders aged between 18 and 22 years old. Latino college students' choice of agriculture as a program to pursue in higher education was also analyzed, despite the fact that the majority (92 %) of Latino college students did not choose an agriculture-related career. / Graduation date: 2012

Text in English / Anyone using the Internet is likely to use Facebook and anyone using Facebook is likely to use it just about every day. The prevalent uses of the Internet and related technologies is a sign-showing that they have become a part of human life. On any student’s academic side of life, the use of social media (taking Facebook as a case) has become commonplace, but their influences over the academic engagement and performance of students requires deeper understanding. In Africa, the need for studies on the interplay between social media and education is growing. This study focuses on the influence of Facebook on the academic performance of undergraduate social sciences students using three federal Universities in Nigeria, West Africa as research sites. The study shows that Facebook use did not significantly influence the academic performance of the surveyed students at these universities and that its use can, however, be harnessed for augmenting student academic performance and for advancing education in general. / Sociology / M.A. (Sociology)

The purpose of this research study was to investigate the need parents who are home schooling may have for knowledge and assistance to enhance the social development of their children. Findings from an initial investigation into the literature indicated that peer relations and extra-curricular activities may provide opportunities for socialization in children. Informal rating scales measuring social developmental trends and relationships with others were used to obtain data from parents and children regarding the social development of the children. Furthermore, data were obtained during focus group and individual interviews, from questionnaires and children's drawings. Results from the literature study and empirical investigation resulted in a body of knowledge that would assist home schooling parents to provide opportunities for the adequate social development of their children. It can be concluded that home schooled children would find interaction with peers and participation in extra-curricular activities beneficial for their social development. / Educational Studies / M.Ed. (Guidance and Counselling)