The role of local languages in teaching mathematics in the bridging class (grade 3) within South Wahgi area of Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea

Knowledge can be perceived to be constructed personally without external physical or social influence (Von Glasserfield, 1995). To think this way does not do justice to the potential of human knowledge, which could also be shared through communication in situations such as schooling and thus become a group possession (Mercer, 1995). In schools, communication is the vital link between teaching and learning. If learning is achieved only as a result of personal cognition, it would deny the important roles of teaching, a communication process that aims at guiding learning (Vygotsky, 1986). Teachers use language as the primary medium for achieving this task. As Mercer (1995) indicates, teachers’ language-use in the teaching process guides knowledge-construction that often results in effective learning. However, most classrooms in the world are multilingual (Clarkson, 2006), and how communication occurs within these classrooms becomes even more complex. According to bilingual theory, balanced bilinguals or multilinguals (able to speak all languages fluently) have the advantage of enhanced cognitive processes, compared to other students (Cummins, 1985). The students that were part of this study were in grade 3, the first grade of the bottom-up primary schooling in the Wahgi area of Jiwaka province, Papua New Guinea. They were in an additive stage of their language development: learning English as an additional language to other fluently spoken languages: Wahgi and Pidgin. The government of Papua New Guinea, which had been using an English-only policy for teaching, recognized this challenge tolearning. In 1992, the policy changed, and the new language policy recommended a ‘bridging process’ at the lower primary sector. This meant that a fluently spoken local language should be used as a resource to help these unbalanced-language multilingual students learn effectively. In this study the learning they engaged with was mathematics. This study aimed to assess this policy by specifically studying the educational role of the local languages when alternated purposefully as a resource through code-switching during the teaching process. The study observed eight teachers in ‘bottom-up’ primary schools within South-Wahgi speaking areas of Jiwaka province, Papua New Guinea. These teachers all used the local languages and English in their teaching. The study found the purpose of code-switching and alternating the local language was mainly to enhance the teaching process, increasing the potential for effectively guiding unbalanced multilingual students in mathematics lessons. The teachers believed and showed through their teaching processes that, in order to guide unbalanced multilingual grade 3 students in learning mathematical English and mathematical content successfully, they needed the use of their local languages and cultural knowledge. However, the data shows that the crucial endpoint in the teachers’ minds always remained the learning of mathematics in English. This result confirmed that the new language policy for the lower primary education in Papua New Guinea, which recommended the use of the local language as a teaching and learning resource, was enhancing the teaching process. This study did not target learning through such a teaching process, but it appeared there was a greater potential for the unbalanced students to be guided effectively if teachers purposefully code-switched and used the local language as a resource when introducing mathematical knowledge expressed in English

Revisando a história do número: como a Etnomatemática transforma perspectivas sobre culturas indígenas

Many accounts of the history of number rely on written evidence such as clay, stone, and wood engravings or paintings. However, some of the oldest cultural groups (between 5 000 and 30 000 years old) have had only recent contact with the rest of the world, namely between 80 and 140 years ago but these were oral cultures without written records. Finding out about their understanding of number has involved analysis of the types of counting but also how counting related to the rest of their cultural relationships. There is some surprising evidence of diversity of number systems, longevity of the systems, and the interplay with cultural practices that begs respect for Indigenous cultures. Brief summaries of this history of number in Papua New Guinea and Oceania and the diversity of systems is followed by how this new knowledge can inform school mathematics learning in any part of the world.Muchos relatos de la historia de los números se basan en pruebas escritas como grabados o pinturas de arcilla, piedra y madera. Sin embargo, algunos de los grupos culturales más antiguos (entre 5 000 y 30 000 años) solo han tenido contacto reciente con el resto del mundo, es decir, hace entre 80 y 140 años, pero se trataba de culturas orales sin registros escritos. Conocer su comprensión del número ha implicado el análisis de los tipos de conteo, pero también cómo el conteo se relaciona con el resto de sus relaciones culturales. Hay alguna evidencia sorprendente de la diversidad de sistemas numéricos, la longevidad de los sistemas y la interacción con prácticas culturales que exigen respeto por las culturas indígenas. Breves resúmenes de esta historia del número en Papua Nueva Guinea y Oceanía y la diversidad de sistemas es seguida por cómo este nuevo conocimiento puede informar el aprendizaje matemático escolar en cualquier parte del mundo.Muitos relatos da história do número dependem de evidências escritas como em argila, em pedra, em gravuras, em madeira ou em pinturas. No entanto, alguns dos grupos culturais mais antigos (entre 5.000 e 30.000 anos) tiveram apenas um contacto recente com o resto do mundo, nomeadamente entre 80 e 140 anos atrás, mas esses tinham culturas orais sem registos escritos. Descobrir a compreensão do número envolveu a análise dos tipos de contagem, mas também como a contagem se relacionava com o restante de suas relações culturais. Há algumas evidências surpreendentes da diversidade de sistemas numéricos, longevidade dos sistemas e interação com as práticas culturais que imploram respeito pelas culturas indígenas. Breves sumários desta história de números em Papua Nova Guiné, Oceânia e numa diversidade de sistemas são seguidos por uma reflexão sobre como esse novo conhecimento pode informar a aprendizagem de Matemática escolar em qualquer parte do mundo

Opportunities and challenges for private service delivery: The case of private crop protection and community animal health workers’ service delivery in Alaba Special District, Southern Ethiopia

CAHWs and PCPS are the two community-based private services operating in Alaba since three years. However, there was no systematic assessment of this initiatives have been made to learn lessons and develop a strategy for scaling successful experience. This research was initiated to fill this gap. Specifically the research attempted to address four important questions: i) What are the challenges and opportunities for emergence and expansion of these services? ii) What are the extent of service coverage and commercial viability to providers? iii) How do the private service providers perceive the entrance and expansion of service delivery? iv) Why some farmers use privately provided services and others don’t? The key findings of research are i) the providers are different in their supply capacity. Although the PCPS providers were relatively better capacitated with basic equipments, CAHWs are lacking the minimum critical facilities for primary animal health care provision. The providers have also perceived many opportunities yet specific to each service. Constraints perceived are also different for each service and many of them are non-technical, but are issue of policies and institutional challenges for both services and require service- specific policy and institutional arrangement to promote the service delivery system; ii) PCPS service coverage has shown the dominance of herbicide service than that of pesticide as well as pre-harvest service coverage than that of post-harvest. In CAHWs, the coverage is cattle dominated than other species with focus of antibiotic treatment than other services. Overall, service coverage is an indicator of the performance of service provider. Analysis of financial viability of the service to providers has also showed its viability even if the current costs of chemical and drugs increased by 14 and 10% for CAHWs and PCPS respectively; iii) The PCPS better satisfied the nearby PA users, whereas in CAHWs service the far PA users were better satisfied with accessibility and effectiveness of the service; and iv) The survey has also revealed that majority of users are willing to pay the said charge if it will improve their income as farmers and empower them financially. The findings imply: i) the effective demand for herbicide than pesticide and confirms the cereal crop domination of the district than cash crop production; ii) the difference in performance of providers in respective PAs and effective demand for CAHWs and PCPS in far and near PAs, respectively; iii) The proportion of those who perceived the current CAHWs charge is lower are greater than that of PCPS. This implies these users might have satisfied by the benefit they derived from CAHWs service; and iv) An increase in income is an issue of ability to pay for services. The key recommendations to seize opportunities & address challenges include: i) For the future, the providers have to focus on existing opportunities at hand and should explore effectively; ii) In response to the challenges identified, it is recommended to develop supportive services and enabling policies and institutional arrangements; iii) In order to avoid unfair competition, enforcement mechanism is vital regarding licensing and policing. PCPS is quite new, needs service standards and guidelines; iv) the service delivery should go beyond mere increase in yields into more of income generating schemes and market facilities for users in order to sustain their income and this is an important condition need to be attached to WTP

Asuhan Kebidanan Berkelanjutan Pada Ny. G. T Di Puskesmas Nangapanda Kabupaten Ende Periode Tanggal 24 April Sampai Dengan 09 Juni 2019

Latar Belakang: Asuhan Kebidanan Berkelanjutan adalah asuhan kebidanan yang dilakukan mulai antenatal care, intranatal care, postnatal care, dan bayi baru lahir pada pasien secara keseluruhan. SDKI mencatat AKI di Indonesia tahun 2016 mengalami penurunan dari 395 per 100.000 kelahiran hidup menjadi 305 per 100.000 kelahiran hidup. AKI di NTT pada tahun 2015 meningkat yakni sebanyak 176 kasus (133 per 100.000 KH). Di Puskesmas Nangapanda tahun 2019 tidak ada kematian ibu dan kematian dan bayi. Tujuan umum: Mampu menerapkan Asuhan Kebidanan Berkelanjutan pada Ny. G.T di Puskesmas Nangapanda periode 24 April sampai 09 Juni 2019. Metode: Jenis penelitian yang digunakan adalah studi penelaahan kasus dengan unit tunggal. Lokasi penelitian di Puskesmas Nangapenda. subyek penelitian Ny. G.T umur 34 tahun, G2P1P0A0AH1, usia kehamilan 38 minggu 3 hari. Metode pengumpulan data menggunakan data primer dan data sekunder. Hasil: Kehamilan Normal. Melahirkan secara spontan di Puskesmas Nangapanda pada tanggal 30-04-2019 jam 05.40 Wita. Keadaan ibu dan bayi baik. Asuhan untuk bayi baru lahir dan ibu nifas dilakukan melalui kunjungan nifas 1-4, dan kunjungan neonatus 1-3. Keadaan ibu selama masa nifas baik. Ibu sudah mengikuti metode kontrasepsi suntik 3 bulan saat 40 hari post partum. Simpulan: Setelah dilakukan Asuhan Kebidanan Berkelanjutan sejak kehamilan, persalinan, bayi baru lahir dan masa nifas, dapat disimpulkan bahwa keadaan ibu dan bayi sehat, bayi mendapat ASI ekslusif, ibu sudah menjadi akseptor suntik depoprovera. Kata Kunci : Asuhan Kebidanan Berkelanjutan, Kehamilan, Persalinan, Nifas, Bayi Baru Lahir dan Keluarga Berencana

Gestion Des Ressources Humaines Dans Les Entreprises Congolaises, Malaises Ou Epanouissement Des Travailleurs: Une Etude Menée A L’office Congolaise De Contrôle « O.C.C »

La gestion des ressources humaines au sein d’une entreprise constitue une source importante et considérable pour la survie d’un importe quelle firme. Au regard des résultats issus de cette recherche après collecte, analyse et interprétation des données, nous constatons que, y a une mauvaise gestion des ressources humaines l’office congolais de contrôle. Ce qui est à la base des malaises et le manque d’épanouissement des agents. Cette situation est due salaire de misère (pour 59,7% des sujets enquêtés), impaiements (pour 18,7% des participants), autres sources (pour 18,4% des sujets), recommandations des politiciens (pour 6,7% sujets), et enfin, ainsi qu’aux mauvaises conditions du travail (pour 6,7% des sujets enquêtés).

The syntax and semantics of And-Coordination in Kaonde

This study examined the nature of and-coordination in Kaonde. In order to meet this goal, the study sought, firstly, to identify conjuncts that are coordinated by and-equivalent in Kaonde. Secondly, the study sought to identify and-coordinators in Kaonde. That is, it tried to identify coordinators in Kaonde that are equivalent to ‘and’ in English. From the study, it was observed that Kaonde has two (2) forms or variants of the coordinator ‘and’. These include; ne and kabiji. Thirdly, the study sought to examine how and when the coordinators ne and kabiji are used in Kaonde. From the data collected (through desk research, introspection and simple phrase lists) and analyzed, it was observed that coordinators are used whenever one needs to connect or link two or more linguistic units. The syntactic analysis of and-coordination in Kaonde was done using the X-bar theory of Government and Binding theory while descriptive linguistics was employed to account for the semantic aspect of the study. In addition, the study examined the nature of coordinate structures in Kaonde. It was observed that a coordinate structure is usually made up of at least two conjuncts and a conjunction. The conjuncts are conjoined together by a conjunction to form one larger linguistic unit of the same kind. Further, it was observed that conjunctions play a very important role in ensuring that coordinated meaning is expressed. The study explored semantic functions of and-coordination in Kaonde. It was observed that and-coordination denotes a relationship between and/or among conjuncts in a sentence. The conjunctions may show a cause and effect relationship between conjuncts. They are also used to show chronological sequence, contrast, condition or simply addition. Thus, by linking conjuncts in a coordinate structure, they establish relationships that otherwise are not easy to understand. In relation to the theoretical framework, the indication is that X-bar theory of Government and Binding theory does apply to coordinate structures in Kaonde. With regard to the findings, one would suggest that more research should be undertaken to analyse coordination as a whole in Kaonde. That is, analysing coordination which covers all coordinators which include; or and but. Lastly, there is need also to analyse possible coordinate structure constraints in Kaonde

Pengaruh Variasi Ketebalan Media Filtrasi Terhadap Penurunan Kadar Besi (Fe) Air Sumur Gali

Pencemaran air sumur gali sering kali disebabkan oleh komponen anorganik dan organik, seperti kadar besi (Fe), yang dapat menimbulkan masalah kesehatan dan lingkungan. Salah satu cara untuk menurunkan kandungan besi dalam air sumur gali adalah melalui metode filtrasi dengan menggunakan media multifilter. Tujuan penelitian ini adalah untuk mengetahui variasi ketebalan media zeolit, arang aktif, dan silika yang paling efektif dalam menurunkan kadar besi (Fe) dalam air sumur gali di Kampung Rappocidu, Kecamatan Somba Opu, Kabupaten Gowa. Penelitian ini merupakan eksperimen semu dengan rancangan pretest-posttest, yang dilakukan dengan tiga kali pengukuran. Data hasil penelitian dan pemeriksaan laboratorium kemudian diolah dan dianalisis menggunakan uji statistik deskriptif. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa pada kontrol, kadar besi (Fe) sebesar 4.21 mg/L. Setelah perlakuan, diperoleh rata-rata 1.59 mg/L pada T1 dengan efektivitas sebesar 62.23%; 1.18 mg/L pada T2 dengan efektivitas sebesar 71.97%; dan 0.67 mg/L pada T3 dengan efektivitas sebesar 84.08%. Urutan media filter yang paling efektif adalah T3 > T2 > T1

Applicability of microsoft excel in teaching secondary school statistics for learners’ acquisition of twenty-first century skills.

Thesis of Doctor of Philosophy in Mathematics Education.The aim of this study was to investigate whether MS Excel Software is applicable in teaching secondary school statistics for learners’ acquisition of 21CS. The research was conducted with grade 11 learners at Mwense Secondary School in Luapula Province, Zambia. The grade level was purposively selected, and the two study groups, experimental and control, were randomly chosen from four grade 11 classes. An embedded quasi-experimental design was utilized, and both qualitative and quantitative data were collected. The experimental group received statistics lessons using MS Excel, while the control group was taught statistics using conventional teaching method, with scientific calculators being the only technology used. A diagnostic assessment on 21CS was conducted on the two groups before the intervention, followed by a focus group discussion interview, Likert-scale questionnaires, and a statistics test after the intervention. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically, and MS Excel was used to score and organize the quantitative data. Descriptive statistics, independent sample t-test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Spearman test were performed using SPSS V27.0 during the data analysis. It was found that there was a statistically significant difference (sig 0.01). The study recommends improving computer and internet access, setting up wellequipped computer labs, and encouraging the use of MS Excel software in teaching statistics. Test and exam questions must assess both mathematical computational and reasoning. Future research could explore the influence of gender on acquiring 21CS with MS Excel, teachers’ competencies in teaching with Excel, and their perceptions of its use in teaching mathematics, particularly statistics. Key words: Microsoft Excel, Statistics, Twenty-first Century Skills, learning experiences, performance