The dynamics and intricacy of budgeting in secondary schools in Lesotho: Case studies of three high schools

Abstract

This paper reports on the qualitative study that used in-depth interviews and document reviews on financial management practices in their schools. The participants were school principals of the case study schools. The findings of the study highlighted problems regarding the implementation of the policy – despite the Manual for Principals of Secondary Schools on financial planning and organisation, there are still problems regarding the collection and recording of school fees, budgeting, as well as a lack of administrative support. Findings further suggest that during the process of budgeting, power relations surface where principals play a dominant role in decision making regarding both departmental budgets and the school's main budget. Findings also suggest that lack of policies on the use of fees affects issues of budgeting in these schools. Moreover, most school principals are not provided with sufficient capacity building on financial matters, which cripples them in performing the budgetary tasks. The implications of the study are that there should be adequate capacity building of the principals in regards to budgeting and systems should be put in place regarding policies on how the school fees are to be used.     

Tracing the development of poor student motivation and performance in township secondary schools

Abstract

Unsatisfactory motivation levels related to learning and studying among students is a universal problem. Students represent a diverse collection of abilities, talents, personalities and aspirations and come from different social and political backgrounds which may affect their motivation to learn and study. Some students are taught in schools where there is an abundance of resources and facilities, whereas others are taught in schools with inadequate resources and facilities. Student motivation, however, is a prerequisite for academic performance. Consequently, students’ potential, qualified teachers and school resources and facilities count very little if students are not motivated. This article examines the development of the lack of student motivation and academic performance in township secondary schools. The study has found that the motivation of students in these schools has been eroded by the students’ and teachers’ protracted involvement in anti-academic activities which have disrupted the education process. Due to the poor motivation of students, academic performance has deteriorated markedly and this situation should be resolved.     

浅谈中职学校学生学业成绩评价方法

面对中职学校免试入学后,中职生源质量的较大变化,传统的学业成绩评价方式不适应目前中职学校学生发展的现状,阐述了教学评价改革的基本理念：促进学生素质的全面提高;教学评价应达到有效性;学业成绩的评价应强调过程;评价方法要多元化。据此提出了加强过程性评价;采用多元互动化考评模式;重视实践性教学评价等中职学校学生学业成绩评价的改革措施。以期构建一套科学的、符合中职教育规律的中职学校学生的学业评价体系。最终使教学评价结果能激发学生树立职业意识和挖掘职业潜能。     

论中小学教师信息素养的构建及其培养途径

在教育信息化背景下,加强和提高中小学教师信息素养是一项紧迫而重要的任务。进一步明确中小学教师信息素养的内涵,积极构建中小学教师信息素养的科学体系,通过有效途径和方法大力提高中小学教师的信息素养,对提升中小学教师队伍的整体素质,提高中小学教师实施素质教育的能力,促进中小学教师专业化发展具有重要意义。     

基于新会计准则体系的中职会计教育与教学问题研究

随着企业的发展,会计行业迎来了高速发展新局面,国家为了促进会计行业更好更快地发展,颁布了新会计准则体系。新会计准则体系的实施对中职会计教育与教学理念和内容产生巨大影响,为了让中职会计专业的学生能够更好地掌握会计方面的知识,本文就新会计准则体系进行了简单的解读,并详细地说明了其对中职会计教育与教学理念及内容的影响。     

The autistic spectrum. Characteristics,causes and practical issues

Recent inclusive policy directives and advice offered to schools strongly recommend special/support teachers to expand their role and extend their duties. In light of this, we investigated how Greek secondary special/support teachers perceive and experience their role, work profile and the challenges they encounter. Qualitative analysis revealed that participants perceived their role as multidimensional, but focused on its reactive rather than proactive aspect. Role ambiguity, confusing expectations, lack of collaboration and the devalued position within the teaching staff of the school were some of the complexities reported. The findings are discussed in terms of their implications for advancing teachers’ professional development and promoting inclusive practices within secondary education schools.     

Effective civic education: an educational effectiveness model for explaining students' civic knowledge

In this study, a comprehensive educational effectiveness model is tested in relation to student's civic knowledge. Multilevel analysis was applied on the dataset of the IEA Civic Education Study (CIVED; Torney-Purta, Lehmann, Oswald, & Schulz, 2001 Torney-Purta, J., Lehmann, R., Oswald, H. and Schulz, W. 2001. Citizenship and education in twenty-eight countries: Civic knowledge and engagement at age fourteen, Amsterdam, The Netherlands: IEA.  [Google Scholar]), which was conducted among junior secondary-school students (age 14), their schools, and their teachers. In total, 28 countries, 4,136 classrooms, and 93,565 students were included in the analysis. The results indicated that the influences on students' civic knowledge are multilevel. Students' civic knowledge and skills were partially explained by individual characteristics, by factors related to quality and opportunities for civic learning offered by classrooms and class composition, and by factors at the national context level. We conclude that most effectiveness factors are relevant for the field of civic and citizenship education and that schooling and educational policy matter for students' success in this field.     

Classroom,Home and Peer Environment Influences on Student Outcomes in Science and Mathematics: An analysis of systemic reform data

Using secondary analysis of a large database from a Statewide Systemic Initiative, we examined the effects of several types of environments on student outcomes. Over 3 years, nearly 7,000 students in 392 classes in 200 different schools responded to a questionnaire that assesses class, home, and peer environments as well as student attitudes. Students also completed an achievement measure that, developed by scientists, teachers, and science educators, was not aligned with any particular curriculum. Students were enrolled in middle‐school science and mathematics classes in schools that had participated in the Statewide Systemic Initiative. Rasch analyses allowed us to compare across student cohorts and across schools. Findings confirmed the importance of extending research on classroom learning environments to include the learning environments of the home and the peer group. Although all three environments accounted for statistically significant amounts of unique variance in student attitudes, only the class environment (defined in terms of the frequency of use of standards‐based teaching practices) accounted for statistically significant amounts of unique variance in student achievement scores. The findings are supported by other studies of systemic reform in the United States.     

Fe^3＋、Cu^2＋掺杂TiO2光催化降解日落黄的研究

通过溶胶-凝胶法分别制备了掺杂Fe^3＋、Cu^2＋的TiO2.以日落黄为目标降解物,研究Fe^3＋、Cu^2＋掺杂TiO2为催化剂的紫外光催化反应,考察了金属离子的掺杂量、催化剂的加入量、光照时间、溶液pH值、溶液初始浓度对脱色率的影响.结果表明：Fe3＋掺杂对提高TiO2光催化活性的效果优于Cu^2＋掺杂.在Fe^3＋、Cu^2＋掺杂比为1.5%,Fe^3＋、Cu^2＋掺杂催化剂用量分别为0.04、0.1 g/L,紫外光催化降解2 h,pH为10,初始浓度为6 mg/L的日落黄100 mL的条件下,Fe^3＋、Cu^2＋掺杂的催化剂脱色率分别达92.14%、58.68%.     

Analysing teachers' operations when teaching students: what constitutes scientific theories?

ABSTRACT

The aim of the study is to analyse teachers’ efforts to develop secondary school students’ knowledge and argumentation skills of what constitutes scientific theories. The analysis is based on Leontiev’s three-level structure of activity (activity, action, and operation), as these levels correspond to the questions why, what, and how content is taught. The unit of analysis was a school development project in science education, where design-based interventions were conducted. Data comprised notes and minutes from eight meetings, plans, and video recordings of the lessons, and a written teacher evaluation. The teachers’ (n = 7) learning actions were analysed to identify (a) concept formation in science education, (b) expressions of agency, (c) discursive manifestations of contradictions, and (d) patterns of interaction during the science interventions. Three lessons on what constitutes scientific theories were implemented in three different student groups (n = 24, 23, 24), framed by planning and evaluation meetings for each lesson. The results describe (1) the ways in which teachers became more skilled at ensuring instruction met their students’ needs and (2) the ways in which teachers’ operations during instruction changed as a result of their developed knowledge of how to express the content based on theoretical assumptions.