South Asian Journal of Social Studies and Economics

The study assessed the functionality of the Parent-Teacher Association in Public Secondary Schools in Ondo State, Nigeria. A descriptive survey design was adopted. The 304 Public Secondary Schools in the state were the main population while 20 secondary schools, 220 government-employed and full-time teachers (males and females) were the targets. 4 questions were raised and 3 hypotheses formulated for the study. Samples were drawn using multi-stage, stratified, and simple-random sampling techniques. Data were collected using a 20-item questionnaire, validated and tested for reliability. Data were analyzed using tables, frequency count, and percentages while the hypotheses were tested using chi-square statistic (x²). It was found among others that there was no significant difference in the perception of principals and teachers, female and male teachers, female and male principals, on the functionality of the Parent-Teacher Association in the schools. It is recommended among others that the government should ensure that the Parent-Teacher Association is made functional and effective in all secondary schools, should be more involved in the administration and financing of schools while there should be an execution of standard projects related to an academic pursuit in schools.

Aim: This was an investigative study on affordable housing in the wake of global pandemics: A reality or a mirage the Kenyan perspective? 22 % of Kenyans stay in towns and the inhabitants in these cities continue to grow at the rate of 4.2 % annually. This growth rate has outstripped the supply of housing units built. For instance, Nairobi needs a minimum of 120,000 new houses per annually to satisfy the demand but a paltry 35,000 units are constructed annually. The excess demand is likely to continue pushing the housing prices beyond the reach of many Kenyans. Studies conducted in Kenya on housing prices focused on non-macroeconomic determinants and more importantly none of the studies globally envisaged how global pandemics can influence housing prices. Therefore, the influence of global pandemics like Corona Virus Disease (COVID-19) and macroeconomic factors on housing prices in Kenya remains unknown.

Study Design: Correlational research design.

Methodology: The study employed unrestricted Vector Autoregressive analysis involving quarterly time series from quarter 1 of 2014 to quarter 1 of 2020 with a dummy variable measuring the influence of COVID-19.

Results: Results indicated that the total money supply had a positive influence on inflation that was highly influenced by extended broad money.

Conclusion: From the results, it was concluded that some macroeconomic factors, time trends and global pandemics like COVID-19 influence housing prices in Kenya. Professional, administrative and support services, time trend, transport and storage, information and communication, real estate and housing prices at lag 1 increased housing prices in Kenya by 0.41%, 0.41%, 0.94%, 0.37% and 0.59% respectively given unrestricted VAR coefficients and t-statistics of 0.41(4.184), 1.27 (9.862), 0.19 (2.740), 0.94 (10.178) and 0.59 (6.055) for the variables. Housing prices at lag 1 and 4, COVID-19, other services and tax on products reduced housing prices in Kenya by 0.26%, 0.99%, 3.29%, 1.01% and 0.05% respectively given unrestricted VAR coefficients and t-statistics of -0.26(-2.366), -0.99 (-8.770), -3.29 (-4.550), -1.01 (-6.568) and -0.05 (-2.807) for the variables respectively. Economic growth, financial and insurance activities and previous housing prices at lag 5 had no influence on housing prices in Kenya.

Aims: Maintaining diverse diets through diversified farming systems presents opportunities for better nutrition and greater health status for peasant families in rural communities around the globe. This study explores the welfare effects of the adoption of indigenous food crops by farming communities in the Northern Region of Ghana.

Study Design: The study followed a multi-stage sampling procedure and utilized primary data collected.

Methodology: Using a standard treatment effect estimation approach, the study examined the effect of the production of indigenous food crops on household dietary diversity using primary data collected from 405 households in farming communities in Ghana’s Northern Region for the 2016/17 crop season.

Results: Descriptive results reveal a mean dietary diversity score of 8.5 for producer households which is significantly different from the score of 6.2 for non-producer households. Also, the results show a high proportion of indigenous crop-producing households in the medium and high dietary diversity scores compared to non-producing households. Empirical results reveal a positive and significant impact of the production of indigenous food crops on household dietary diversity. The study also finds that household head education, non-farm work, livestock ownership, age and number of children have a positive effect on household dietary diversity.

Conclusion: The study concludes that the production of indigenous food crops promotes the consumption of diverse foods among farm families and recommends that policies aimed at diverse food consumption and improved nutrition security among rural farming communities should consider promoting increased production of indigenous food crops.

The study was conducted in five major Binamasur-5 growing areas of Bangladesh, namely Magura, Pabna, Jashore, Kushtia and Faridpur districts. It is important to know the profitability and the existing level of technology in terms of agronomic practices, time of operation and input use. At Magura (85%), Pabna (85%) and Faridpur (75%) farmers, sowed seed in optimum level but 5% in Jashore and 8% in Kushtia farmers followed it. The adoption index of sowing level of adoption Binamasur-5 was higher use. The average net return was Tk. 52405.29 per hectare. The average Benefit cost ratio was 1.86. The highest BCR was found in Magura district (1.96) which was followed by Jashore (1.91), Faridpur (1.88), Pabna (1.84) and Kushtia (1.73) districts, respectively. The first ranked constraint was unavailability of Binamasur-5 seeds (93%) in all areas. It is followed by lack of technical know-how (71%), lack of training (65%), attack of root rot diseases (50%). Nonetheless, lentil farmers should also be provided hand-on training on package technology of lentil cultivation.

This paper aims at identifying the public and national security issues created by the Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh. Different published sources have been utilized in writing this review paper. The authors of this paper argue that the Rohingya issue is creating a number of security concerns for Bangladesh and a unified effort should be made in solving this issue involving Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, India and other neighboring countries. The authors further predict that although the issue is limited to Bangladesh at this moment, it will spread as a regional security concern soon if not solved as early as possible. Finally, the authors expect that this paper will be beneficial for further research on security issues postured by the Rohingyas.