AbstractThe desire to make transport infrastructure a universal good that all who need it could use has stimulated research works on assessing the impact of transport decisions on social welfare and ...equitable distribution of cost, benefits and opportunities. To trigger alternative policy debates, this paper employs the social equity framework and spells out the socio-economic pitfalls and undesired consequences of road infrastructure expansion and the power dynamics involved in Ethiopia. Data were collected and analysed through literature review, and inductive and normative analysis techniques. The paper found that although the massive road development is driven by the country’s developmental state political economy, international partners have stimulated the desire through the provision of finance. Thus, the large sum of money pumped into road infrastructure has depleted resources from other social sectors such as education and health, and created an unprecedented debt burden on the country. Road expansion has also disproportionately affected the poor who have shouldered most of its undesired socio-economic impacts such as the disruption of social cohesion, displacement, congestion, traffic accidents and environmental impacts. Furthermore, it was found that the decision-making process is affected by ethnic favouritism, urban bias and a top-down approach where the rural poor and peripheral areas are deprived of the power to influence decisions and equitably benefit from any connectivity programs.
AbstractAmidst the vast landscapes of Saudi Arabia lies a rich tapestry of recreational pursuits, with hunting and camping at its core. However, a comprehensive understanding of the motivations and ...challenges associated with these traditional activities remains scant. The primary objective of this study was to explore the driving factors behind individuals’ engagement in hunting and camping as recreational pursuits and to identify the challenges they encounter. Adopting a qualitative research design, 43 male participants, aged 20 to more than 50, were purposively selected and interviewed using a semi-structured format. The instrument encompassed two main sections: demographic details and four key interview questions. Thematic analysis was employed to interpret the data. Findings from this study illuminated a diverse array of motivations driving individuals towards hunting and camping activities in Saudi Arabia. These motivations span from cultural heritage, an escape from urbanization, adventure, and social bonding, to government promotions and spiritual connections. Conversely, participants face multifaceted challenges, including environmental unpredictability, bureaucratic complexities, technological intrusions, mental challenges, safety concerns, and financial constraints. Delving into these intricate dynamics, the study offers an enriched understanding of recreational motivations and their challenges in the Saudi context, bridging a notable academic gap and paving the way for future research and informed policy-making.
Impact of foreign aid on Nigerian economy Rojík, Stanislav; Maitah, Mansoor; Malec, Karel ...
Cogent social sciences,
12/2024, Letnik:
10, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
AbstractThe study critically assessed the impact of foreign aid on the Nigerian economy with a specific interest in official development assistance from 1980 to 2019. It employed the ARDL bounds ...testing approach to cointegration and finds a long-run relationship among the variables employed. Furthermore, the estimated results suggest that official development assistance as a form of foreign aid and credit extensions does not contribute to the progress of the Nigerian economy, it rather retards it. Also, the study concludes both the short and long run that the labor force contributes to economic progress in Nigeria, whereas gross capital formation just like foreign aid retards growth. The Granger causality test reveals no sign of either unidirectional or bidirectional causal relationship between official development assistance and economic growth in Nigeria. The study recommends that adequate support through credit extensions to SMEs should be fostered to strengthen domestic capital formation. The originality of this work lies in its rigorous analysis of the long-term impact of official development assistance on the Nigerian economy, employing the ARDL bounds testing approach. The findings challenge conventional wisdom and offer valuable insights into the dynamics of foreign aid and economic growth in Nigeria. However, this study has certain limitation. The study temporal scope spans from 1980 to 2019 due to limited data.
Kroz Gradsku knjižnicu do mature Fištrek, Ivana
Vjesnik bibliotekara Hrvatske,
03/2019, Letnik:
61, Številka:
2
Journal Article, Paper
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Cilj. Svrha rada predstavljanje je razvoja projekta Kroz knjižnicu do mature u pet godina njegova provođenja, od 2013. do 2018. godine, čime se ukazuje na važnost knjižničnih programa i usluga ...usmjerenih na zadovoljavanje i razvoj obrazovnih, kulturnih i informativnih potreba te interesa srednjoškolaca.
Metodologija. U uvodu su navedeni poticaji za osmišljavanje i pokretanje projekta te teoretski okvir, kao smjernice za nastanak i razvoj projekta. Slijedi kronološki prikaz projekta, od opisa pilot-projekta do rezultata anketiranja učenika i suradnika provedenog nakon njegova završetka 2013. godine. Na kraju rada navedeni su i opisani primjeri održanih programa unutar projekta te zaključna razmatranja.
Rezultati. Rezultati provedene ankete pokazali su da za projekt Kroz knjižnicu do mature postoji velik interes. Projekt se razvijao i mijenjao sukladno iskazanim potrebama i interesima srednjoškolaca, a programi su ostvareni u suradnji s pojedincima i ustanovama iz područja obrazovanja i kulture.
Praktična primjena. Projekt Kroz knjižnicu do mature primjer je dobre prakse, koji mogu primijeniti i druge knjižnice kako bi, u suradnji s drugim ustanovama iz područja kulture i obrazovanja, djelovale na dobrobit mladih i njihovo cjeloživotno obrazovanje.
Društveni značaj. Budući da su sudionici projekta većim dijelom srednjoškolci iz zagrebačkih učeničkih domova, nastoji ih se informirati i usmjeriti ka korištenju gradske kulturne ponude i boljem poznavanju grada te razviti u njima osjećaj pripadnosti lokalnoj zajednici u kojoj borave tijekom svojeg školovanja. Svi sudionici projekta potiču se na korištenje knjižničnih usluga u svrhu boljeg obrazovanja, kvalitetnijeg provođenja slobodnog vremena, čitanja te širenja interesa.
Originalnost. Originalnost ovog rada ogleda se u činjenici da je prvi prikaz petogodišnje prakse provođenja projekta Kroz knjižnicu do mature. Projekt je osmišljen za učenike srednjih škola, a održava se u u svrhu ostvarivanja obrazovnih, kulturnih i informativnih potreba mladih.
Abstract Maturation interferes with physiological and mechanical aspects of muscle contraction. The aim of the present study was to compare the efficiency of the stretch-shortening cycle (SSC) ...between different maturation stages. One hundred forty six young people, with 72 boys and 74 girls, were recruited to participate in the study. Sexual maturation was measured and the group was stratified into adolescents (> 3 auto-tanner) and children (<2 auto-tanner). Squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) performance were measured to measure reactive force (RF) capacity, eccentric utilization ratio (EUR) and pre-stretch augmentation (PSAP). The children did not present statistical difference between SJ and CMJ (t(55)= -1.93; ∆ = -0.61; 95% CI = -1.24 to -0.02; p = 0.058), while the adolescents presented higher performance of CMJ (t(89)= -12.28; ∆ = -2.44; 95% CI = -2.84 to -2.05; p <0.001). In addition, adolescents had higher RF performance (t(144)= 5.18; p <0.0001; 95% CI = 2.53 to 1.13), PSAP (t(144)= 4.38; p <0.0001; 95% CI = 14.00 to 5.29) and EUR (t(144)= 4.38; p <0.0001; 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.05). We conclude that more mature young people have better SSC utilization.
Resumo Maturação interfere em aspectos fisiológicos e mecânicos da contração muscular. O objetivo do estudo foi comparar a eficiência do ciclo alongamento-encurtamento (SSC) em diferentes estágios maturacionais. Cento e quarenta e seis jovens, sendo 72 meninos e 74 meninas, foram recrutados para participar do estudo. Maturação sexual foi mensurada e o grupo foi estratificado em adolescentes (≥ 3 e crianças (< estágio 2). Salto estático (SJ) e o salto contramovimento (CMJ) foram utilizados para mensurar a força reativa (RF), razão de utilização da excêntrica (EUR) e aumento do pré-estiramento (PSAP). As crianças não apresentaram diferença significante entre SJ e CMJ (t(55)= -1.93; ∆ = -0.61; 95% CI = -1.24 to -0.02; p = 0.058), Enquanto que os adolescentes apresentaram maior desempenho de CMJ (t(89)= -12.28; ∆ = -2.44; 95% CI = -2.84 to -2.05; p <0.001). Em adição, adolescentes apresentaram maior RF (t(144)= 5.18; p <0.0001; 95% CI = 2.53 to 1.13), PSAP (t(144)= 4.38; p <0.0001; 95% CI = 14.00 to 5.29) e EUR (t(144)= 4.38; p <0.0001; 95% CI = 0.14 to 0.05). Nós concluímos que jovens com mais maturados apresentam maior capacidade de utilização do SSC.
Teaching of geological contents in elementary school and gymnasiums has not yet been systematically addressed. Under the auspices of Slovenian Geological Society, members of the Task Group for the ...Popularization of Geology, have set themselves the goal of gaining insight into the teaching of geological contents in elementary schools and gymnasiums. Review also covered general matura examination as it represents the completion of secondary education. In order to provide an overview of the teaching of geological contents, we fist reviewed the subject curricula and the knowledge catalog for general matura subjects. We also reviewed valid textbooks and general matura exam questions. The extracted geological contents were classifid into six general geological content assemblages. All extracted geological content was evaluated according to Bloom's taxonomy, which, on the basis of structure, enables the recognition of the taxonomic complexity of learning objectives and knowledge tests. We also evaluated cross-curricular relationships. We have discovered that geological contents are taught in elementary school in obligatory subjects such as Society, Natural sciences and engineering, Natural sciences, Geography, Biology and in optional subject Environmental education. In gymnasiums geological contents are taught in the subjects Geography and Biology, where knowledge is also checked at general matura. Learning objectives and contents are mostly appropriately upgraded, but the content presented in textbooks is often insuffiient and professionally inadequate. There is also a lack of the important geological topics in the fild of formal education. For individual cross-curricular sections, we have made recommendations for promoters of science to contribute to a better understanding and the correct and professional content presentation in public. The presentation of geology in the textbooks is discrete, often professionally flwed, and the content is very limited. This research provies a starting point for starting the placement of updated and appropriate geological contents into formal education.
Istraživanje je motivirano raspravom kako rezultati državne mature utječu na uspjeh prijediplomskog studija: prosječna ocjena i trajanje prijediplomskog studija. Na državnoj maturi su tri obvezna ...predmeta: matematika (MATH), hrvatski (CRO) i strani (FORL) jezik. MATH i CRO se mogu polagati na dvije razine (viša i niža). Analizirani su podaci iz upitnika među 257 diplomanata od 2016. do 2018. Višestrukom regresijom analizirano je da li i kako ocjene predmeta iz državne mature utječu na uspjeh prijediplomskog studija: prosječnu ocjenu i trajanje studija. Kako bismo povezali ove rezultate, koristili smo kanoničku korelaciju kao poveznicu višestruke regresije i korelacijske analize. Analiziran je odnos između dva skupa varijabli, ocjene mature: MATH, CRO i FORL i uspjeha na prijediplomskom studiju: trajanje i prosječna ocjena studija. Ocjena mature iz matematike je statistički značajan prediktor prosječne ocjene i trajanja prijediplomskog studija. Što je viša ocjena iz MATH to je viša prosječna ocjena studija i kraće je trajanje studija. Prva kanonička varijata za uspjeh na prijediplomskom studiju ima veću težinu prosječne ocjene od trajanja studija.
This study was motivated by a discussion how the results of state maturity influence on academic undergraduate performance (average mark) and the number of year students take to complete their undergraduate studies (study duration). There are three compulsory subjects on the state maturity: Mathematics (MATH), Croatian (CRO) and foreign (FORL) language. MATH and CRO can be deployed on two levels. Were analysed data using data from a questionnaire among 257 graduates from 2016 to 2018.(Table 1) A multivariate linear regression was used to analyse if and how marks of subjects from state maturity predict undergraduate study achievement: average mark and duration of study with logarithmic transformation. In order to consolidate these results, we used canonical correlation as a variation on the concept of multivariate regression and correlation analysis. analyse the relationship between two sets of variables, maturity marks: MATH, CRO and FORL and undergraduate performance: duration and average mark of study. Mark of MATH on maturity is statistically significant predictor of average mark and duration of undergraduate study (Table 4). The higher MATH the higher average grade of the study and the shorter duration of the study. Results of canonical correlation shows that only the first canonical correlation rc1=0.3576 is statistically significant F(6,392)=5.43, p<0.001. The first canonical variate for undergraduate performance shows most weight on average mark than duration of study.
AbstractThis study employed mixed methods, including a survey of 400 households, 21 key informants, and 10 focus groups conducted in January-March 2019, to evaluate the contribution of Volcanoes ...National Park (VNP) conservation to local food security in Rwanda. Data was collected from communities within 0-5 km and 5-10 km park buffers, facilitating distance-based comparisons. Food security status was assessed using the Consolidated Approach to Reporting Indicators of Food Security. Despite government attention to food security, its integration into VNP conservation remains minimal. Shockingly, 71% of local residents experience food insecurity, concentrated within the 0-5 km buffer. Interestingly, while only 38% of households directly benefit from park conservation, 72% of these beneficiaries reside within the 0-5 km zone. This suggests that community conservation and revenue-sharing programs are disproportionately funded at the park’s edge, where human pressure on resources is most significant. These findings highlight the need for policy and strategy amendments, as well as revisions to the park management plan, to effectively integrate food security concerns into VNP conservation efforts. Linking a specified percentage of revenue-sharing funds to participation in relevant food security programs, co-managing land for conservation and community needs, weaving food aid into safety nets for vulnerable groups, prompt wildlife damage payouts for secured livelihoods and fostered coexistence, and skill training and microloans for diversifying income and curbing poaching are crucial for enhancing food security among households around the VNP.
This paper reports a study on mathematics teachers’ perceptions of the Matura mathematics exam in Croatia. The study focuses on the suitability of mathematics school textbooks for students’ ...preparation for the exams, the complexity of the tasks in the exams, the grading and scoring of the exams, and teachers’ level of satisfaction with student achievement. The study used a convenience sampling method. It was conducted through a questionnaire administered to 308 upper secondary mathematics teachers. The findings showed that teachers do not perceive school textbooks as suitable resources to prepare for the higher level exam. Furthermore, the teachers believe that the test length is not appropriate i.e., the time given to students for the higher level exam is insufficient. On average they are satisfied with their students’ results, but are undecided about the criteria and scoring of the Matura. Vocational school teachers showed more dissatisfaction with the requirements and outcomes of the Matura exam compared to grammar school teachers. The results of this empirical study can be taken as a good starting point for re-assessing the requirements of the Matura exam in mathematics.
U ovom radu predstavljena su mišljenja i stavovi nastavnika matematike o ispitima iz matematike na Državnoj maturi u Hrvatskoj. Cilj rada bio je ispitati mišljenja nastavnika o prikladnosti srednjoškolskih udžbenika matematike za pripremu učenika za ispite državne mature, općim zahtjevima ispita, ocjenjivanju i bodovanju na ispitima te o uspjehu učenika. Istraživanje je provedeno putem upitnika na prigodnom uzorku od 308 nastavnika matematike koji poučavaju u srednjim školama u Hrvatskoj. Rezultati pokazuju da nastavnici matematike školske udžbenike ne smatraju prikladnima za pripremu učenika za ispit više razine. Nastavnici smatraju da je vrijeme predviđeno za ispit više razine nedovoljno. Većinom su zadovoljni rezultatima svojih učenika, no neopredijeljeni su po pitanju kriterija i bodovanja na maturi. Nastavnici strukovnih škola u većoj su mjeri nezadovoljni zahtjevima i postavkama državne mature u odnosu na gimnazijske nastavnike. Rezultati ovog empirijskog istraživanja mogu poslužiti kao polazište za ponovno razmatranje općih zahtjeva državne mature iz matematike nakon više od deset godina nakon njezina uvođenja.
The research object of this article is the essays written during the Lithuanian language and Literature State matura examination in 2019. The aim of the research is to investigate the essays from the ...perspective of punctuation, identify the most common punctuation mistakes based on the applicable punctuation norms and present methodological recommendations concerning the teaching/learning of punctuation of various syntactical units in the comprehensive school. The quantitative study of the essays confirmed the insights provided by earlier studies concerning a strong tendency of deteriorating pupils’ punctuation skills. By their frequency the mistakes of punctuating the clauses in a complex sentence significantly exceed other mistakes. More troublesome cases include the punctuation of attributes, parentheses and explanatory parts of the sentence. Unmotivated punctuation, which is not based on the internal structure of the sentence, is also rather common in the language practice of pupils. The high number of such mistakes is determined by the poor skills of syntactical and punctuation analysis. Apparently, the overestimation of intonation as a punctuation criterion plays an important role in the occurrence of mistakes. The compulsory punctuation rules are mainly based on syntax. Therefore, it is very important to strengthen the skills and abilities of syntactical analysis. The source of mistakes is both the lack of and poor knowledge of the rules. It is important to make pupils aware that the variety of the variants of optional punctuation is only useful for those who are well versed in punctuation and understand which rules are elementary, compulsory and helping to grasp the thought and which only show its nuances and a different intonation.
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