Abstract: The transition to competency-based curricula (CBC) has intensified expectations placed on teachers as central agents of curriculum reform, requiring sustained professional commitment alongside pedagogical competence. While institutional factors influencing CBC implementation have received considerable attention, less synthesis exists on how teachers’ socio-demographic characteristics shape commitment to curriculum reform, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This narrative review synthesises empirical and policy-oriented literature on socio-demographic determinants of teacher commitment in CBC implementation in secondary schools. This narrative review synthesised literature published between 1997 and 2025 sourced from Google Scholar, ERIC, Scopus, and relevant policy documents. The review focuses on key socio-demographic variables including age, gender, teaching experience, educational qualification, employment status, and school location. The findings indicate that socio-demographic characteristics influence not only the level but also the dominant dimensions of teacher commitment-affective, continuance, or normative-shaping how teachers engage with CBC reforms. Younger and more highly qualified teachers often exhibit stronger affective commitment, while older and permanently employed teachers demonstrate greater normative and continuance commitment. Gendered workloads, rural–urban disparities, and employment precarity further condition teachers’ capacity to sustain reform engagement. The review highlights the need for differentiated implementation strategies that recognise heterogeneity within the teaching workforce. It concludes that effective CBC implementation in secondary schools requires policies and practices that account for teachers’ socio-demographic realities alongside institutional support mechanisms.

Abstract: Poor sanitation is a pressing public health concern globally, with significant implications on disease prevention. This study aimed to assess factors affecting the availability and utilization of latrines in Chinseu Village, Zomba District, Malawi. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, targeting 64 households randomly selected in that village with and without latrine. Data were collected using questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS. The study revealed that households from the village utilize latrines, however, only 54.7% of the households owned latrines, while 45.3% relied on shared facilities. Maintenance and cleanliness issues (31.3% poorly maintained) were highlighted as barriers to effective utilization. The study also discovered that almost all the study participants had knowledge on the benefits of latrine utilization (81.3%), yet significant associations were found between latrine availability and socio-demographic factors, which included age (p=0.033), economic status (p=0.025), and occupation (p=0.020). The study, therefore, concluded that latrine availability is affected by age, economic status and occupation status. The study’s critical recommendations for improving sanitation outcomes in similar contexts include enhancing community education, subsidizing sanitation facilities, and integrating sanitation initiatives with socio-economic development programs.