Abstract: Every society’s quality is largely determined by the quality of its educational system. Given the apparent constraints on educational resources, the importance of maximizing their efficient utilization for maximum academic results cannot be overstated. This study assessed the status of educational resources in rural public secondary schools in Misungwi District, Tanzania. It was guided by three specific objectives: to examine available educational resources used in teaching and learning process, to determine the distribution of educational resources in teaching and learning process and to assess the relationship between effective management of educational resources and teaching and learning process outcomes. The mixed research approach and explanatory research design was used. The sample comprised of 3117 participants including 4 heads of schools, 208 teachers, 2900 students, 4 Ward Executive Officers and 1 District Educational Officer. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data. Validity was ensured through content validation by research experts. Reliability was r = 0.82 ensured through test–retest. Quantitative data were analysed by descriptive statistics while qualitative data were analysed thematically. A synthesis of the findings indicated that educational resources are available in rural secondary schools. The results also indicated that there is a relationship between distribution of educational resources and teaching and learning process as confirmed by correlation statistics; r=0.86. The study concludes that educational resources are available but are not well managed in teaching and learning process. Therefore, proper mechanism of ensuring the management and utilization of educational resources should be put in place.

Abstract: The main purpose of this study was to examine how teaching and learning are implemented using digital technology or modern gadgets in differentiated instructional approaches to improve the teaching and learning process in secondary schools in Magu District. Specifically the study focused on to identify the rationale of technological resources for a differentiated instruction in teaching and learning process. The study was guided by Multiple Intelligence Theory. The study adopted mixed research approach and convergent parallel research design. The sample size was 187 participants. Quantitative data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics with the aid of Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 20 and presented in frequency, percentages, graphs and charts. Qualitative data were collected through interview and focus group discussion and it was analyzed thematically by creating themes. The study unveiled that the use of digital technology in implementing differential instructional approaches was not effective. The use of this approach is likely to contribute to improved teaching and learning, hence good academic performance in the district. Thus, the government should prioritize the use of technology at secondary schools, especially the public ones, which the government ensured with funds to run the school routine activities.

Abstract: This study examined challenges facing students with special needs in public secondary schools in Musoma District. It specifically aimed at examining infrastructural challenges facing students with special needs in secondary schools. This study employed a mixed research approach and a convergent parallel research design. The sample size was 99 participants including 1 District Secondary Education, 2 heads of school, 30 teachers, 66 students who were obtained through probability and non-probability sampling. Data were collected through questionnaire and interview. The study revealed that although chairs, tables, classrooms, laboratories and libraries are available in most of secondary schools, they don’t satisfy the needs of the mass students with special needs. Hence, more components were highly required to ensure the effective learning process. The study recommended the use of strategies such as effective interaction, teacher training, close supervision, improvement of school environment, policy reforms as well as improvement of stakeholders’ participation for effective access to inclusive secondary school education.

Abstract: A transition from pre-school to primary school for children is not just a change which has immediate effects but effects on the rate at which children change. The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of parental involvement on learners’ transition rate from public preschools to public primary school in Kapseret Sub County, Uasin Gishu County. The study was guided by Jean Piaget’s constructivist theory. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. The target population for the study included 102 preschool teachers, 153 Grade one, two, and three teachers and 51 headteachers, giving a total of 306 target population. The researcher sampled 171 respondents, including 85 Grade one, two and three teachers, 57 preschool teachers, and 29 headteachers. The study research instruments used were questionnaires. Data from questionnaires were analyzed using both quantitatively and qualitatively using SPSS version 26. Quantitative method involved descriptive analysis and presented in form of tables. Qualitative data from interview schedules were analyzed thematically and presented in prose form. The study findings showed that parental involvement has significant influence on learners transition. Parental and family support plays a key role in transition, learners’ parents share information frequently on progress of their children. The study recommends that preschool children should be well cared for by their parents by checking their education progress and instilling values.

Abstract: Fundamental right to education and training has been well established and recognized within numerous political frameworks across the world. Young people and adults still face difficulties accessing or completing TVET programmes across the world. Systemic inequalities related to course materials, financial endowment, human resource, school infrastructure and teaching practices are examples of barriers affecting access in TVET programmes. Even if a second wave of infections is avoided, global economic activity is expected to fall, with average unemployment increasing considerably. Education is an area in which all governments intervene to fund, direct or regulate the provision of services. This paper focuses on access to financial resources and institutional infrastructure and physical facilities. Methodology adopted includes systematic review of literature from primary and secondary databases and featured articles. The findings shows that there was poor physical facilities; poor funding mechanism; inadequate teaching and learning materials and poor assessment methods. As there is no guarantee that markets will provide equitable access to educational opportunities, government funding of educational services is needed to ensure that education is not beyond the reach of some members of society. This paper concludes that although government funding on tertiary education often fluctuates in response to external shocks, slowdown in economic growth and it may be worse due to current Covid – 19 pandemic. Thus, it was recommended that the government and stakeholders should redouble their effort towards strengthening the process of access to TVET institutions.

Abstract: An increase in growth and use of the internet has also resulted in attacks evolving and more novel attacks having a devastating effect are witnessed. The Intrusion Detection System (IDS) is yet to achieve maximum success due to false positives and low detection. The purpose of the study was to determine the modelling of an intrusion detection system using the Asynchronous Advantage Actor-Critic (A3C) Algorithm. In this paper we look at the following: (i) To evaluate the current machine learning techniques being used in IDS, (ii) To determine the effectiveness of using the Asynchronous Advantage Actor-Critic algorithm in anomaly detection, (iii) To select the appropriate training data set and prepare for use on A3C. A conceptual study was done in looking at these objectives. The UNSW_TRAIN and UNSW_TEST were samples selected by purposive sampling from the whole population of UNSW-NB15 dataset. Analysis of the dataset was done using Python. Key findings were that anomaly detection approach is the best approach due to its ability to detect novel attacks. Also, there is need to continue research on intrusion detection and improve solutions to the problem of false positives and fully optimize on accuracy. The UNSW-NB15 dataset is comprehensive and so all the attack types should be used so as to accurately depict the intrusions and should selected attack types be used, feature selection should be done accurately so as to reflect modern attack types.

Abstract: Safe food handling in the market is an important practice to protect the people from foodborne illnesses. Bacteria count as a key factor in assessing the quality and safety of food. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing microbial and food hygienic practices among street food vendors in Dodoma city. The study employed cross-sectional observational descriptive design. The study used observation, laboratory experimentation and questionnaire for data collection. Five wards were selected randomly as research sites. A total of 50 food samples which included vegetables like tomatoes, onions, spinach, Chinese, and cabbage obtained from five different wards were tested. The findings revealed that 30% of samples were contaminated with E-coli bacteria while 70% were not contaminated with Escherichia coli. Findings show that only 29.6% of respondents/vendors had food processing and handling college level knowledge while 70. 4% didn’t have any formal education related to food handling except for home and self-online learning. Overall, the findings indicated that food safety and food quality among street food vendors is still low and poorly practiced. The study recommends that basic food vending training and certificate should be provided to street food vendors to qualify them for vending businesses, regular inspection and monitoring should also be done to ensure the quality and safety food measures are followed and set into safe food code practices.

Abstract: This conceptual study introduces the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic as a global burden that has disrupted peoples’ quality of life. The Kenyan government confirmed the first case of COVID-19 pandemic on 14th March, 2020, after the novel corona virus disease. One of the containment strategies put in place by the Kenyan government was the suspension of all learning activities and home confinement for all school going children and university students. The aim of this study was to find out the effects of the contextual concerns of covid-19 pandemic on the university students’ mental in Kenya. The review found out that the public health containment measures led to the closure of universities, which resulted to virtual learning, virtual graduation, loss of jobs as some companies shut down, movement to rural areas, lack of supplies, isolation, pornography, concerns on one’s own health and the health of loved ones, eating and sleeping disorders, all study levels and gender, knowledge of infected person, information technology exacerbated the situation of the students, Covid-19 contributed to general poor health and that vulnerable university students may have been worse hit. All these culminated into mental health issues as depression, anxiety, stress, sleep and eating disorder and loneliness. The study recommended that apart from the student counsellors, the universities also ought to engage the services of psychotherapists and psychiatrists where applicable in the fight against mental health related concerns among the students during COVID-19 pandemic.

The general objective of the study was to assess the economic impact of COVID-19 to the growth of hotel industry in Rwanda. This study was guided by the following specific objectives: to assess the impact of COVID-19 to the employees’ welfare, to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the development and to identify the impact of COVID-19 to the stakeholders at Radisson Blu Hotels and Convention Center. This research was descriptive. The total population was 150 people and the sample size was 60 respondents. The research used universal sampling technique for choosing the respondents. The main findings for first objective revealed that 62.8% of the respondents agreed that COVID-19 has caused the management to reduce the salaries and wages of employees. Also, 44.2% strongly agreed and 55.8% agreed that COVID-19 has decreased the employees’ welfare. For the second objective, 41.9% of respondents strongly agreed and 58.1% agreed that COVID-19 affected the development by decreasing hotel occupancy rate, whereas 32.6% strongly agreed and 67.4% agreed that COVID19 reduced the number of customers reflecting the reduction of revenues. On the last objective, 30.2% strongly agreed and 69.8% agreed that COVID-19 led to reduce the number of suppliers. So COVID-19 has affected negatively the growth of hotel sector. The hotels should look at different strategies that can help them to sort out the problems caused by COVID-19 pandemic.

Abstract: The study sought to interrogate the views of secondary school teachers as implanters of the Continuous Assessment (CA) practice, a reform initiative adopted by the Government of Zimbabwe (GoZ) through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (MoPSE). Some10 secondary school teachers were selected on the basis of convenience from five departments in one of the schools used by MoPSE for administration of education in the Kwekwe district of Zimbabwe. As this was a small scale qualitative investigation, focus group discussions and interviews were used to collect data from informants. The findings were categorised according to different Stages of Concern (SoC) and then analysed. The findings revealed that the success of CA largely depends on ongoing training of teachers in addition to, administrative support and provision of adequate resources. Recommendations for effective implementation included guiding teachers through change process of implementing CA by offering ongoing professional development, procurement of resources of all kinds, effective monitoring and evaluation of CA. Above all concerted effort is needed to address the teachers’ concerns as this will motivate them to effectively implement CA.