3 December 20, 2023
Editorial
1.
Jacob Owusu SarfoFrom 2014 to 2024: Celebrating a Decade of Open Access
Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education. 2023. 10(3): 106-109.Abstract:
The Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education (JARE) was started in 2014 by the then KAD International (now Centre for Behaviour and Wellness Advocacy, Ghana) to promote free Open Access publishing opportunities. In 2024, the JARE will be celebrating a decade of publishing quality peer-reviewed scholarly papers across the globe. Today, the JARE has evolved as one of the fastest-growing journals in Ghana, Africa, with an international outlook. The JARE boasts of distinguished authors from 24 countries across five continents. So far, we celebrate authors from Africa (44.26 %), Asia (8.28), Europe (16.26 %), North America (4.84 %), and the Middle East (0.35 %). With a commendable track record of consistent publications, we have committed to promoting open access and securing comprehensive funding to aid all our contributors. As we commemorate our 10th anniversary of disseminating scientific knowledge without financial, geopolitical, or institutional constraints in 2024, we reflect on the accomplishments of our journal and editorial team. We appreciate all regulatory bodies and funding partners for their unwavering support. Collaboratively, we aspire to elevate the JARE to the pinnacle, making it the leading choice for researchers, academics, students, practitioners, policymakers, and anyone engaged in creating or consuming research outputs.
Articles
2.
Jackson Lutaaya, Maria Sewela Mabusela, Thembela Comfort NtshangaseRe-imagining the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Curriculum that can Address the Skills Shortage Gap in South African Rural Communities
Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education. 2023. 10(3): 110-120.Abstract:
The study’s main aim was to investigate challenges faced by the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in addressing the skills shortage gap in the rural communities of South Africa. The human capital theory was employed as the theoretical framework in this study. The study followed the qualitative approach for data generation and analysis. In their respective portfolios, six campus senior personnel participated in the in-depth interviews. The findings identified a lack of trained lecturers, the poor design of the TVET curriculum, curriculum fragmentation, weak institutional structures, and poor infrastructure. The findings also noted the poor funding norms, poor policy frameworks, lack of active support by the stakeholders, and a poor relationship with the TVET partners.
3.
Kingsley Chinaza Nwosu, Ezeugo Nneka Chinyere, Njideka Gertrude Mbelede, Cyril MadukaAssessing Students’ Mathematics Interests and Perceived Teacher Effectiveness in Rural Communities: Implications for Rural Mathematics Education
Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education. 2023. 10(3): 121-132.Abstract:
Students in rural areas in developing nations are at risk of under-performing and dropping out of school. This worsens when it comes to science subjects such as mathematics. Sustaining their mathematics interests demands understanding the factors that impact their mathematics learning outcomes. Our study adopted a cross-sectional survey research design to examine the association between teacher effectiveness and rural students’ mathematics interests. Our sample comprised 205 randomly sampled secondary school students from six community schools in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Our findings revealed that all the components of teacher effectiveness were positively related to students’ mathematics interests. After controlling for gender, the regression analysis revealed that the dimensions of teacher effectiveness had a joint significant association with students’ mathematics interests, with the student-teacher dimension having the greatest predictive capacity on students’ mathematics interests. We concluded that affective aspects of teacher effectiveness are crucial for stimulating rural students’ interest in mathematics.
4.
William Effoh-Forson Asamoah, Patrick Appiah, Enoch Kwame Tham-AgyekumAssessment of the Usage of Extension Communication Channels for Disseminating Crop Production Information to Oil Palm Farmers in the Birim South District, Ghana
Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education. 2023. 10(3): 133-144.Abstract:
The study assessed the usage of extension communication channels for disseminating crop production information to oil palm farmers in Birim South District. A sample size of 181 farmers was selected through purposive and simple random sampling techniques. The data collected were analyzed using frequency, percentage, mean, standard deviation, ordinal logistic regression, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance. The results showed that radio, extension agents and colleague farmers were generally the most available communication channels for oil palm farmers. Radio, colleague farmers and extension agents were the communication channels that the farmers frequently used. Nursing and planting, pest and disease control, use of fertiliser, and harvest and post-harvest handling were the crop production information mostly sought by the farmers. It was also discovered that the majority of farmers do not get any agricultural information from farmer magazines, newspapers, or mobile text messages. Sex, level of education and household size were the most significant factors influencing oil palm farmers' frequency of use of the available/accessible communication channels for crop production information (p values =0.037, 0.010 & 0.034, respectively). The major challenges affecting the use of communication channels were low farmer-extension ratio, poor signals and the high cost of using such channels. The study recommends that the Ministry of Food and Agriculture and Non-Governmental Organisations facilitate the establishment and maintenance of farm radio programmes and encourage more peer-to-peer extension among rural farmers.
5.
Emmanuel DziwornuPlight of Persons with Disability in Ghana: An Overview
Journal of Advocacy, Research and Education. 2023. 10(3): 145-156.Abstract:
Disability in most developing countries has serious implications on health, socioeconomic, and national development. In recent years, Ghana has made significant strides in advancing inclusivity and disability rights. However, this review highlights persistent gaps and issues that continue to hinder the full integration and empowerment of persons with disabilities in Ghanaian society. By shedding light on the challenges faced by persons with disabilities, this paper aims to raise awareness and inspire action toward a more inclusive and equitable society. It underscores the importance of collaborative efforts among government institutions, civil society, and the international community in addressing the plight of persons with disabilities and fostering a society where everyone can participate fully and thrive. It is therefore important for strong public education to be done across the country, advising on how everyone could assist in the fight for the rights of people with disabilities.
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