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Volume 6 Number 6 June 2020

Principals’ Leadership Variables and Undergraduates Attitudes Towards Practicum Exercise in Secondary Schools


Authors: Valentine J. Owan ; Ene O. Egbula ; Usen F. Mbon ; Festus O. Arop ; Michael E. Asuquo ; Blessing I. Nwannunu ; James E. Okon
Pages: 659-669
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.66.659.669
Abstract
Background: The attitudes of many undergraduates towards practicum exercise is declining in each passing year, affecting the quality of educational leaders produced from higher education. Studies in the past, have documented that there is no significant difference in the attitudes of students with or without practicum experience towards academic activities in higher education. Little or nothing seems to be known at the moment regarding the reasons why there is an indifference in the attitudes of students after completing a practicum course. In response to this gap, we designed this study to assess principals' leadership variables as the presumed cause of undergraduates' declining attitudes towards practicum exercise in secondary schools. Methods: A census study was carried out in Cross River State, where the entire 667 secondary school administrators (271 principals and 396 vice principals) were studied. “Principals’ Leadership Variables and Undergraduates’ Attitudes Towards Practicum Exercise Questionnaire” (PLVUATPEQ), designed by the researchers, was used in data collection. Data collected were analysed using simple linear regression analysis. Results: We find amongst others, that principals’ leadership styles, communication patterns, decision-making and supervisory approaches significantly predict undergraduates' attitudes towards practicum exercise relatively. Each of these independent variables accounts differently for the variance in the dependent variable based on their unique coefficient of determination. Conclusion: It was concluded generally, that principals’ leadership variables significantly predict undergraduates’ attitudes towards practicum exercise. The attitudes of undergraduates towards practicum exercise increases as the leadership styles, communication patterns, decision-making skills, and supervisory approaches of principals improve. The implications of this study are discussed for policy and educational reforms.


A Lacanian Reading of Orhan Pamuk᾽s The Black Book


Authors: Mojgan Abshavi ; Shahla Moayedi
Pages: 649-658
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.66.649.658
Abstract
From long time ago up to now, and in the trend of the human’s thought development, question about identity and the essence of self has been always an attractive matter for thinking. Searching for a lost soul mate, that can be supposed as a reflection of ourselves has been a great challenge for human beings, as well. The present research focuses on a type of psychoanalytic criticism which is based on ideas developed by Jacques Lacan in regard to Orhan Pamuk’s The Black Book.  Lacan as a psychologist with a post-structuralist viewpoint believes that the unconscious is structured like a language. He states that language, the signifying chain with a perpetual sliding of the signified under the signifier, never provides "ultimate meaning" or a "transcendental signified". Accordingly, this study represents a Lacanian reading of Orhan Pamuk᾽s The Black Book with emphasis on the main roles of the "other", and language in forming of the unconscious and individual identity. Galip, the protagonist of the novel, apparently is in search of his lost wife "Rüya". But in fact, following this lack, he starts his search for knowing himself through a chain of signifiers. However, this search does not lead him to reach to a complete ultimate meaning of his "self". His bewildered subject cannot anchor at a fix point of integrated and wholeness of the "self".

Action Research to Promote Islamic Learning for Elderly Muslims in Khao Tum Sub-District and Yarang Sub-District Yarang District Pattani Province


Authors: Kasetchai Laeheem ; Punya Tepsing ; Thongphon Promsaka Na Sakolnakorn ; Hasbullah Azizskul
Pages: 639-648
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.66.639.648
Abstract
The objectives of this action research were to explore the conditions of promotion, to develop guidelines for promotion, to examine the results of the operational promotion of Islamic learning, and to propose application of the results for policymaking.  Data were collected through in-depth interviews, brainstorming and critique meeting with early-elderly Muslims, Muslim leaders and Muslim academics.  The data were analyzed with content analysis after experiments were conducted with the target groups.  T-test and one-way ANOVA using the R program were performed.  The results were as follows.  1) The elderly Muslims in the two areas had problems in Islamic learning, needed Islamic learning, had methods for Islam studies, received Islamic learning promotion, and had the same factors of Islamic learning.  2) A suitable guideline for promoting Islamic learning was group study activities or “Halaqah Activities Program”.  3) After the operational experiment, all the four groups of elderly Muslims had higher performance results on all the three aspects.  4) Heads of families, community leaders and local organizations should encourage the use of Halaqah activities to promote Islamic learning among all age groups.

Career Readiness Among Vocational Graduates: Implication of Competency Based Learning


Authors: Fazillah Musa ; Abdullah Mat Rashid
Pages: 633-638
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.66.633.638
Abstract
This study aims to investigate career readiness among graduates of vocational colleges in Malaysia. Past research shows that graduates from technical and vocational institutions faced problems in choosing a career. In Malaysia, competency based learning adopted by vocational colleges to create opportunities for student personalized their own learning regardless of time, place and pace of learning. This ex post facto research design is intended to identify the level of career readiness of vocational college graduates, and to examine the effect of the CBL approaches implemented in vocational colleges on graduates’ level of career readiness.   The total of 330 graduates from fifteen vocational colleges in Malaysia were randomly selected as respondents in this study. Finding shows that the graduate career readiness is at lower level whereas the one-way ANOVA analysis shows that the CBL approaches do not have a significant effect on the level of career readiness among vocational college graduates.

Attitude of the Students, Teachers and Educational Administrators for Incorporating Human Rights Education in Secondary School Curriculum


Authors: Tapan Kumar Basantia ; Irfanul Haque
Pages: 623-632
DOI: doi.org/10.32861/jssr.66.623.632
Abstract
After the World War-II, human rights education has become an increasingly visible feature of the educational policies, debates and foundations at international level. Steps have been taken by various nations to incorporate human rights education in their school curriculum. In India, a few studies have been conducted in the context of incorporating human rights education in school curriculum in general and in secondary school curriculum in particular. In the present study, an attempt was made to study the attitude of the students, teachers and educational administrators for incorporating human rights education in secondary school curriculum. The study mainly focused to compare the attitude of the students, teachers and educational administrators for incorporating human rights education in secondary school curriculum, and to identify certain basic content areas of human rights education that may/should have a place in secondary school curriculum. The study was considered under descriptive survey-cum-content analysis research. The participants of the study included 640 students, 256 teachers and 88 educational administrators under secondary schools of Bihar, India. A self-developed attitude scale titled ‘Attitude scale for studying the attitude for incorporating human rights education in secondary school curriculum’ was used for collecting data from participants for the study. Both the quantitative and qualitative methods of data analysis were employed for analyzing the collected data of the study. The study mainly revealed that among the entire sample studied, the students possessed better attitude than teachers and educational administrators for incorporating human rights education in secondary school curriculum. Further, the study helped to identify certain basic content areas of human rights education that may/should have a place in secondary school curriculum.

The Role of Influential Dynasties and Local Families in Urban Development and Political Centrality of Shushtar in Khuzestan Province During Safavid Era


Authors: Masoud Vali Arab ; Hamid Asad Pour ; Hamid Peighambary ; Ali Rasouli
Pages: 615-622
DOI: doi.org//10.32861/jssr.66.615.622
Abstract
Shushtar as one of the most important cities of Khuzestan in safavid era was inhabited by some officials and rulers mostly due to its specific geographical, strategic and military situation during the rule of Safavid dynasty. The establishment of new villages in Shushtar and its surroundings areas by the local rulers caused this city to grow and develop more. In the same regard, due to the entering of many different clans and tribes to Shushtar in the Safavid period, extensive ethnic conflicts emerged in this city. Turk Qizilbash (Shamlus, Rumlus, Afshars, Ustodjlus, Turkmens, and Dulghadirs), Chagatai family, Circassia, Georgians, great religious scholars from Jabal Amel region, Jazayeri and Kalantar Sadats were among the tribes and clans entering Shushtar in the Safavid period. At the end of this period, natural disasters such as flood influenced Shushtar status both socially and politically to a great extent. The current study attempts to describe the political and social conditions of Shushtar during the Safavid period, aiming to answer this question: Why was Shushtar under the spotlight by the Safavid rulers and inhabited by most governmental rulers and authorities? It is hypothesized in this study that due to the geographical and military situation, Shushtar have always been considered as a defensive barrier by the Safavids against Mushashaiyah central bases in the South of Khuzestan, and Ranshis bases in the North of Khuzestan and also against Bakhtiyari Khans. Unquestionably, taking into consideration the topics such as ethnic origin, tribal interests, occupation state, religious and social values, and changing or modification of each case can give provide us with some useful information about the social and political life of Shushtar in the Safavid period.