bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Evaluation of Student Trade Project Designs for Recyclability and Greening the Environment in TVET Institutions in the North Rift Region of Kenya
Authors: Musyimi Titus M
Published: February 2025

The study focused on an evaluation of the trade projects which trainee candidates were undertaking in TVET Institution. So far, there is limited literature available on investigations on how these student trade projects impacted on environment in TVET institutions. Due to debate on global warming and its impact on society, there is compulsion to establish whether managers of TVET really understood what this might mean for their institutions. The purpose of the study was therefore to evaluate the impact of student project designs on greening the environment in TVET institutions of North Rift Region of Kenya, and was guided by two objectives; to determine whether such projects were in compliance with public procurement and disposal act, and to examine whether projects supervisors put emphasis on projects environmental impact as required by National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA). Descriptive research design was employed, while questionnaires & observation methods were used for data collection. A sample of 102 projects that were done over a period of 5 years was selected using cluster and purposive sampling from 6 institutions in the North Rift Region of Kenya. Data was analyzed at confidence level of 95% by descriptive statics and inferential statistics. The findings indicate that student trade projects were not environmentally sensitive. Secondly, that majority of such project designs did not consider possibility of recyclability, disassembly or disposal after they were finished with them. Conclusions drawn from the research showed that most trainees "trade projects did not consider the impact on the environment in choosing their designs, and that the lecturers who supervised the projects did not put any emphasis on environmental sustainability designs“ green designs & recyclability of the project materials. The recommendations were that every project done by trainees must seek to address its impact on the environment; that project supervisors should insist on the recyclability, waste disposal management and cost effectiveness of materials used; and that TVET Institutions should implement energy plan and install noise barriers and recycle most project materials to earn some income to enhance greening the institutions. It is also recommended for institutions to include student project in their audits as focal areas in their work plan activities.
Administrative Strategies to Address Wastage in Public Primary Schools in Arid and Semi-arid Areas of Kenya
Authors: Serem Fredrick Kipkoech
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this study was to investigate the strategies to eradicate wastage in public primary schools in Baringo County. The objectives of the study were to: assess the education polices and institutional processes, school-based, house hold and community based and student related strategies that may be used to eradicate wastage in public primary schools in Baringo County. The study was guided by the Social Darwinism Theory of Equal Opportunities. The study adopted a mixed method research design. The target population comprised of 6 sub-county District Quality Assurance and Standards Officers (DQASOs), 370 head teachers, 2960 teachers and 370 parents from 370 public primary schools. Purposive sampling technique was used to select 36 head teachers, 36 parents and 6 Sub county DQASOs. Simple random technique was used to select 289 teachers to participate in the study. Questionnaire, interview schedule and document analysis were the tools of data collection. Data obtained was organized, coded and analyzed using qualitative and quantitative techniques. Pearson Product Moment Correlation was computed to assess relationships between the variables and findings were presented in form of tables, charts and graphs. The study findings revealed that in order to address wastage in schools, a number of factors, strategies and their linkages needed to be investigated. School factors that dispirit students from continuing with their education unattractive school condition policy irregularities were some of the examples that could act as push factor to students. Both demand and supply driven factors play a role in the process of school dropout and therefore they should be addressed as one. The study concluded that activating and strengthening guidance and counseling in schools were the best solutions for dropout in schools; high student-teacher ratio contributed more to dropping out in schools cultural impact or harassment favoured pupils drop-out from school and that making educational materials more available would enhance schools internal efficiency.
The Influence of Selected Socio-cultural Practices on Internal Efficiency in Selected Public Technical Training Institutes in Baringo County, Kenya
Authors: Wambu Charles
Published: February 2025

Education forms the basis upon which economic, social and political development of any nation is founded. It is one of the basic human rights that are universally proclaimed as many countries in the world aim at attaining equity in education. Internal efficiency in public secondary schools is measured by drop out, retention and transition rates. In Kenya, internal efficiency in technical training institutions has remained low thus raising concerns among the education stakeholders. In Baringo County dropout rates, repletion and low transition rates in technical training institutions still persists which indicates low internal efficiency. This study aimed at investigating the influence of selected socio-cultural practices on internal efficiency in selected public technical training institutions in Baringo County, Kenya. The selected socio- cultural practices were early marriages, moranism and nomadic pastoralism. The researcher adopted the production function theory which asserts that the institutions of higher learning act as the firm that processes the inputs (students at entry) to come out with the outputs (graduates) at the end. The study used correlational research design. The target population in the study was 2 principals and 95 students in the selected public technical training institutions in Baringo County. Purposive sampling was used to select the principals and stratified random sampling was used to select students in different certificate and diploma programmes. Data was collected using interview schedule for principals and a questionnaire for the students. The data obtained was analysed using descriptive statistics (means and percentages) as well as inferential statistics (Poisson Regression) with the help of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS version 22) computer program. From the study results the selected socio-cultural practices such as early marriages had a P value of 0.014 on repetition, 0.008 on transition and 0.0018 on dropout rates. This is an indication that early marriages had a significant influence on dropout rates, transition rates and repetition rates.The information obtained from the study may be used by education policy makers to ratify the education system to ensure internal efficiency in technical training institutes in Kenya.
Effect of Seed Coat Colour on the Seed Quality of Water Melon (Citrullus Lanatus)
Authors: Maina Faith N. W , Nyambura K S
Published: February 2025

Water melon is one of most cultivated vegetable fruit crop in the world. In Kenya the demand for this fruit for both local and export markets outstrips the supply. For Kenya to meet the high demand for water melon, quality seed is paramount since it guarantees high germination rate and vigor and on sequential high crop yields. However, it has been observed that water melon seeds have different seed coat colours even in the same growing season. The aim of this study was to establish to what extent seed colour affects seed viability (measured by % germination) and vigor (measured by absorption of water and electrical conductivity) of water melon (sugar baby variety). The study was conducted at University of Eldoret seed science laboratory. Seeds were obtained from the Kenya Genebank whose colour was determined using Munsell colour chart for plant tissues. Water absorption, electrical conductivity and germination percentage of seeds were determined using recommended methodologies. Complete random design was used and data collected was subjected to ANOVA and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) test at 5% level of significance using the GENSTAT version 14.2. The correlation between water absorption, germination and electrical conductivity was determined by Pearson Product moment correlation coefficient and regression analysis. It was found that water absorption, germination percentage and electrical conductivity significantly differed between the dark brown, light brown, brown and yellow seeds. Seed quality was highest for dark brown, followed by brown, light brown and finally yellow seeds. There was negative correlation between water absorbed and germination but positive correlation between water absorbed and electrical conductivity. It was concluded that seed companies should consider seed colour as one of the parameter during grading of water melon seeds. This would improve the quality of seed sold to farmers and consequently water melon yields in Kenya.
The Empowerment of Women through Technical Education, Training and Employment in Africa
Authors: Maina Felista W
Published: February 2025

The purpose of this research paper was to establish how access to education, technical training and employment opportunities for women affected their empowerment. This was motivated by the ever increasing disparities in both the economic and social dockets where women from across the globe are denied equal chances as opposed to men, be it in employment, politics and in other social arenas. It is argued that this not only affects the women individually but the global economy as a whole since there is underutilization of this available manpower. This paper adopted descriptive survey design and had a sample of 150 respondents which was derived through stratified random sampling. A self-structured questionnaire was used in the study. The paper established that women with technical education and with various training skills showed high responsibility, made their own rules, empowered their relationships, and were willing to empower other women. It recommends that women should be encouraged to take up technical education and contest for available employment opportunities to empower themselves for better jobs
Social Economic Benefits of Green Buildings in Tertiary Institutions in Kenya
Authors: Kimani Lucy , Kiaritha Hannah
Published: February 2025

Sustainable development is a global concern given that the natural resources are getting depleted. Conventional buildings consume a lot of electricity and water and release carbon dioxide gases into the atmosphere, contributing to global warming and air pollution. The green building concept is the practice of creating structures that are environmentally friendly and resource-efficient throughout a building's lifecycle. Research revealed that a minimum increase in cost of two percent to support a green design results in a life cycle savings of twenty percent of the total construction costs. Cost Benefit Analysis carried out using life cycle costing shows that green buildings are cost effective investments. Green buildings address the challenges of high cost of electricity, perennial water shortages, waste disposal, and occupants' health issues accompanied by declining abilities to learn or perform tasks. The Kenya building industry is slowly embracing the green building concept. Kenya currently uses two rating systems for green buildings; Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) and Green Star certifications based on specified features and points are earned. Out of the nine green buildings certified in Kenya, two are for education institutions; Strathmore University and Catholic University of Eastern Africa. Education institutions are considered ideal for green buildings because a large population spends more days in school. Despite the enormous benefits of green building concept, out of 141 universities and government Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges in Kenya, only two have attained certification which account for 1.4 percent. This brings to question whether the concept is understood by the Kenyan population and in particular, whether the tertiary institutions are aware of the benefits of constructing green buildings. This paper therefore, puts into perspective the immense contribution that tertiary institutions stand to benefit by adopting the green building concept.
Natural Resource Management in Greening TVET For Environmental Sustainability
Authors: Mburia Lydia W
Published: February 2025

Natural resource management encapsulates sustainable consumption and production in terms of promoting resources and energy efficiency, sustainable infrastructure, and providing access to basic services, green and decent jobs and a better quality of life for all. Conserving natural resources is a basic requirement for sustainable development and improving the quality of human life. A practical guide for institutions proposes that there is greater priority to ecological principles with regard to greening TVET by pursuing knowledge and practices with the intention of becoming more environmentally friendly to enhance decision-making and lifestyle in more ecologically responsible manner that can lead to environmental protection and sustainability of natural resources for current and future generations. The objective of the study was to examine the effectiveness of the green natural resource management projects initiated at Wote Technical Training Institute. The research adopted a descriptive survey design via structured questionnaires administered to 200 respondents comprising 100 staff members and 100 students. The findings revealed that 55% supported the greening initiatives while 45% opined that greening TVETs had helped mitigate climate change and created a green economy. Wote Technical Training Institute has successfully initiated the following greening short courses of study such as solar water heating and cooling systems training, rain water harvesting, compost manure making, tree planting, fabrication and use of waste segregation bins, landscaping technology and e-waste management systems.
Youth Unemployment among Graduates of Tertiary Institutions in Kenya
Authors: Vundi Benson  Nason
Published: February 2025

Millions of the youth world over remains unemployed; furthermore, the phenomenon is on the increase. For instance, the projections by countries' policy makers say youth unemployment is likely to rise by 4 million globally each year. What is more complicated to the policy makers is the high rate of youth unemployment among college graduates. Therefore, graduate unemployment has posed a challenging and complex problem to the leaders, educationists and policy makers at all levels. Even for the few graduates who have managed to secure jobs there is some disquiet among the employers concerning skills deficiency among the recently graduated ones. The issues mentioned by the job market analysts are mismatch and skills oversupply in the market. Based on the simple economic laws of demand and supply, it is catastrophic to over supply labour because a significant number will remain unemployed. Moreover, there is an increment of colleges of higher education globally and each year these colleges are belching out thousands of graduates who throng to the job market. However, more graduates are coming out possessing skills that are seemingly not in demand in the job market. Therefore, a huge gap exists between the skills demanded by the employers, and the skills possessed by the graduates, thus, only those graduates possessing the relevant skills are employable. This paper attempted to investigate tackling of unemployment among college graduates amongst the youth in Kenya; it focused on the youth in Africa Inland Jericho. The objectives of the study were to establish the causes of unemployment among the youth, determine how much the youth know about the skill-driven courses and to demonstrate the programmes that are likely to lead to higher rate of employment. This was a descriptive study where the researcher collected data from 50 respondents sampled from a population of 1,500 church going youths in A.I.C Jericho. The findings showed that 12.5% TVET diploma graduates were unemployed; 93.75 % non-TVET diploma graduates were unemployed, while 80% degree graduates were unemployed. Therefore, the research concluded that lack of skill-driven education among the youth was the greatest cause of unemployment. The study recommended that more emphasis on pursuing skill-based education; more awareness to popularize TVET education because a few of the youth were aware of TVET.
Enhancement of Hands-on Teaching and Learning Experiences through Project-Based Learning among Interior Design Students
Authors: Nansubuga Lydia , Nabaggala Justine , Opit Elizabeth
Published: February 2025

This paper presents findings from a study conducted in the Department of Art and Industrial Design, Kyambogo University. The study was premised on the theoretical concepts of learning to learn and learning by doing as vocational education and training (VET) models that guarantee students' full participation towards the development of professional competence. A participatory action research model was used to carry out this study using qualitative methods of data collection and analysis. Data was collected from thirty-five (35) study participants consisting of 25 students, three Alumnus, four instructors, one technician, one departmental administrator, and one expert from the world of work. Individual interviews, document analysis, observation, and focused group discussion meetings were used to provide descriptive data for content analysis. Study participants revealed that the graduates of interior design lacked both professional confidence and practical competencies due to inadequate practice. Consequently, the stakeholders democratically identified two intervention strategies for enhancing students' hands-on experiences: a skills lab and the project-based learning approach. The study's intervention strategies were progressively implemented over a period of one year. The evaluation findings of this study revealed that the interventions enabled students to acquire confidence, more knowledge, and professional competencies in interior designing. Project-based learning enhanced teamwork among all the stakeholders and individual learners' participation in project tasks, thus the success of the study.
Entrepreneurship Education and Self-Employment Intention
Authors: Mamman Joshua Sule
Published: February 2025

Self-employment intention is crucial to the formation, growth and development of entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship on the other hand is seen as the engine of economic growth and sustainable development of emerging economies like Nigeria. This study examined the impact of entrepreneurship education on self-employment intention among business education students in universities in Kwara State. The study answered two research questions and one null hypothesis was tested for the study. Descriptive survey research design was used for the study. The population of the study comprised of 372 business education students from the three universities offering business education in Kwara State. The study was a census study. Entrepreneurship Education and Self-employment Intention Questionnaire (EESIQ) which was duly validated with a Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient of 0.82 was used to gather data for the study. Three hundred and seventy-two copies of the questionnaire were administered, and all were retrieved and used for the study. The data collected to answer the research the questions were analyzed using mean and standard deviation. Linear regression (least square regression) statistics was used to test the hypothesis at 0.05 level of significance. The study found that students have a strong positive intention for self-employment, and entrepreneurship education has a significant positive impact on students' self-employment intention for sustainable development (B = 1.78; t(370) = 9.257, P = 0.000). Based on the findings, the following are recommended, among others: there is need for management of universities to make entrepreneurship education a compulsory course to all departments as this will help to direct youth's attitude towards self-employment. Non-governmental Organizations and philanthropists should also do more in the area of start-up capital for the students who indicated strong self-employment intention to help them actualize their intention.
Students' Attitude towards Home Science Subject in Selected Secondary Schools
Authors: Chelagat Abigael , Kitainge Kisilu M , Were Gertrude
Published: February 2025

Upon entry into an institution of learning, students would come with the willingness and enthusiasm to learn. A learner with a sincere interest and zeal in a given subject has a tendency of being motivated towards studying that particular subject. This is because a student's attitude is a key component of learning and where there is a negative attitude, it is most certain that no learning would take place, therefore, there will be no acquisition of any new knowledge or skill. Among other factors, the environment under which learning takes place may contribute towards a positive or a negative attitude in the learner's mind. This study sought to establish students' attitude towards Home Science subject and its effects on enrolment in selected secondary schools in Elgeyo Marakwet County. Descriptive survey design was adopted, and purposive sampling technique was used to select all the six-county secondary schools offering Home Science subject. This study comprised a sample of 178 respondents (116 Home Science students, 50 students who had dropped Home Science subject, 6 Home Science teachers, and 6 principals of the sampled schools). Data was collected by the use of questionnaires and interview schedule. They were then analyzed descriptively and presented using frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation distribution tables, and charts. This study established that students had a positive attitude towards Home Science subject and there was a positive correlation to enrolment. Also, this study found out that students had been introduced well to the subject while in form one. Based on the findings of this study, students' positive attitude should be reinforced by offering the necessary learning resources and more practicals especially in Clothing and Textiles which will positively impact on the learners' confidence in handling them thus increasing enrolment.
Strategy Implementation
Authors: Riungu Festus Kinyua , Senaji Thomas A. , Mugambi Hellen Nkirote
Published: February 2025

Education plays a critical role in ensuring the survival of any nation in the global economic setup leading to emphasis on quality outcomes of education. Strategic management practice is a very critical factor for any organizationâ€™s survival in the modern competitive operating environment. The purpose of the study was to establish whether schools adopt strategic management practices and their influence on competitive academic performance. Strategic management practices were decomposed into specific objectives of environmental scanning, strategy formulation, strategy implementation and strategy control. The study concentrated on the role of strategy implementation on competitive academic performance of secondary schools. It was conducted in eastern counties of Kenya namely, Meru, Embu, Tharaka Nithi, Kitui and Machakos informed by stakeholder and human resource-based theories of strategic management. The study adopted cross-sectional survey design with a target population of principals of secondary schools in eastern counties with a frame of 919. The counties were divided into strata with a sample of 273 drawn based on survey monkey formula. The counties were further stratified and random samples drawn from each stratum. Data collection was through questionnaires, analyzed by descriptive and inferential statistics. The findings indicated that schools had intricate programmes for strategy implementation and processes which when followed enabled the schools to remain competitive. Overall strategy implementation practice was found to have a significant influence on competitive academic performance. It is recommended that strategic management training be extended to all school principals with emphasis on strategy implementation because the input of employees who are strategy implementers determine performance. Participation in strategy implementation should be through shared responsibility enabling the heads of departments to shoulder responsibility for the outcomes. Finally, the study recommends that principals should be allowed to complete at least two cycles of strategic management in one school for their strategy implementation capabilities to be reflected in academic performance and hence used for making and implementation of proper decisions.
Participation of Rural Women in Vocational Training Programmes in Northern Nigeria
Authors: Saba T. M., , Mamman J. S., , Saba H. A. , Mustapha A
Published: February 2025

The study determined the current level of participation of rural women's in the vocational training program in Northern Nigeria and strategies of improving rural women's participation in the vocational training program. Two research questions and two null hypotheses were formulated. The study adopted a mixed method using quantitative and qualitative research methods. The study was carried out in Northern Nigeria, and three states were sampled from each geopolitical zone. A multistage sampling technique was used to sample 4,500 subjects; 1,500 subjects from each zone. Questionnaire and focus group discussion guide were the instruments for data collection. Cronbach Alpha was used to ascertain the reliability coefficient of each cluster 0.87 and 0.89; while the coefficient of the entire 23 items questionnaire was found to be 0.91. Questionnaire return rate was 83.36%. Mean and Standard Deviation were used to analyse the data to answer the research questions, while Leveneâs test Statistic, one-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Scheffe Post Hoc test were used to test the hypotheses. Focus group discussion was made under two major themes; women's level of participation and strategies for improving women participation in vocational training. Findings, among others, were; the participation of rural women was low and creating awareness among rural women on the importance of vocational training was the prominent strategy identified for improving women's participation in vocational training. The study recommended, among others that, there is a need to create awareness on the importance of vocational training for women and to increase the number of women trainers.
Electronic Assessment in Learning Institutions as an agent of Green Economy
Authors: Kosgey James
Published: February 2025

Electronic assessment, also known as E-assessment is the use of technology to manage and deliver assessments which vary from multiple choice quizzes to essay based questions. E-learning has greatly contributed to wide use of online teaching but so far, E-assessment has not been widely embraced which could have contributed to efficiency in teaching, learning and assessment. The objective of this research was to: establish how students view the e-assessment website pages user interface; find out how system use of the e-assessment site  contributed to overall usability, and to determine student perception towards online assessment.  Qualitative research was used as a research design to establish the various e-assessment tools that are commonly used in learning institutions. Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment (Moodle) was found to be the common e-learning content management system that offered trainer friendly e-assessment platform. Questionnaires were used as a data collection tool to obtain data from 46 students on their views on e-assessment in learning based on User Interface and System Use Perspective. The sample was selected purposively from a population of students who had been exposed to e-assessment. The students reported that e-assessment was much better because of easy user interface, automated marking and immediate release of results. The institution would greatly benefit by saving costs for printing exams by fully implementing e-assessment. This paper addresses an evaluation of electronic assessment tools that are in use. It identifies the user interface issues that can be addressed as well as a couple of system use concerns. It identifies the need for constant feedback from the users of the system in order to improve electronic assessment.
The Challenges and Prospects of Implementation of ISO 9001:2015 in TVET Institutions
Authors: Kiarie Nahashon
Published: February 2025

Quality is considered to be a competitive weapon in today's marketplace. There is now a shift to service-based economies where supply chain has become complex and there are increased expectations from customers. Consequently, there is a need for a greater focus on customer requirements where conformity of products and service delivery should be ensured. This can be achieved through the implementation of high-level-structured Quality Management Systems (QMS) such as the ISO 9001:2015, an updated version of the ISO 9001:2008. A significant number of TVET institutions have induced the confidence of their stakeholders by implementing ISO 9001:2015 into their system; however, there is major gap in research in the area of ISO 9001:2015 implementation in these institutions. The aim of this paper therefore is to investigate the challenges and prospects of Implementing ISO 9001:2015 in TVET institutions and propose solutions to address these challenges. The research adopted a mixed methods approach and a two-stage sampling procedure was used on a sample size comprising 33 teaching and none teaching staff of Nkabune Technical Training Institute. A toolkit containing a self-administered questionnaire and a structured in-depth interview guide was used. The study ascertained that Nkabune Technical Training Institute in its quest to acquire and implement ISO 9001:2015 certification encountered key challenges namely: massive documentation requirements, high cost of hiring consultants, and complexity of the processes and lack of clear understanding of ISO requirements. The standard is highly documentation-driven and requires that all documentation be updated to reflect all its system requirements. The study recommends the use of an effective document management system that ensures easy accessibility and accuracy of documents while maintaining their validity. Academic institutions should also consider integrating ISO 21001:2018 management system for educational organizations to complement other international standards. Development of a good organizational culture is also a fundamental pre-requisite to the successful implementation of the standard and for the achievement of quality.
The Influence of Stakeholders in Project Monitoring and Evaluation on Sustainability of Water Projects in Kwanza Sub-County Kenya
Authors: Aupe Naker Diana , Sagwa Evans Vidija
Published: February 2025

The objective of the study was to find out the influence of stakeholders in project monitoring and evaluation on sustainability of water projects in Kwanza Sub-county.  The study was guided by Community Participation Theory and Sustainability Theory. A descriptive survey research design was used. The target population of the study was 32,181 households in Kwanza Sub-County, Trans-Nzoia County. The researchers used the Sekaran sample size determination formula to obtain a sample size of 380 households. The researchers used simple random sampling to select the households. The study used a questionnaire to collect data. The researchers pre-tested the questionnaire on 38 households in the neighboring Kiminini Constituency. The researchers ensured and enhanced the validity of the data collection instrument by seeking advice from two experts on matters of water and irrigation. The researchers used the split-half method to compute the reliability of the instrument. The researchers observed ethical consideration such as informed consent, and confidentiality. Data analysis was aided by SPSS computer software. Quantitative data was analyzed using both descriptive and inferential statistics. Descriptive analysis generated frequencies, percentages, proportions, mean and standard deviation while inferential analysis generated Pearsonâ€™s correlation to show the association between the dependent and the independent variable. The study found that there was a significant moderate positive correlation between stakeholder participation in monitoring and evaluation and sustainability of water projects, where the Spearman's rho(r) = 0.496, p=0.010, CL=95%.The study recommends that the government and other development agencies should enhance stakeholder participation in project monitoring and evaluation for sustainability of water projects for faster realization of Kenya Vision 2030 goals. Further studies should be conducted to establish the moderating effect of project leadership on the relationship between stakeholder participation and sustainability of water projects in Kwanza Sub-County, Kenya
The Influence of Physical Facilities on the Teaching-Learning Process in Public Primary Schools in Bungoma County, Kenya
Authors: Etale Ochwada Youanita , Oseko Agnes , Murunga Felicity
Published: February 2025

This paper presents the findings of a study undertaken to investigate the influence of sufficiency of physical facilities on the teaching-learning process in public primary schools in Bungoma South Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya. The findings of this study will be significant to the Ministry of Education in terms of providing additional information for policy formulation in public primary schools. Descriptive survey research design was used. The target population was the head teachers/deputy head teachers, class teachers, and pupils in the public primary schools in Bungoma South Sub-County, Bungoma County. A combination of stratified sampling, simple random sampling and purposive sampling were used.  In a case where there was more than one stream in a class, simple random sampling was used to select one class teacher from each stream. A sample size of 30 % of the target population was used. Primary data was used and collected using questionnaires and focus group discussions. Results of this study showed that sufficiency of physical facilities - specifically adequacy of classrooms significantly affect the teaching-learning process. Those who reported having adequate classrooms performed better than those who reported inadequacy (Z=1.776, 0.046). The study concluded that among the physical facilities, adequacy of classrooms was the only factor that significantly affected teaching and learning whereby adequate classrooms positively affected, while inadequate classrooms negatively affected teaching and learning. The study therefore recommends that national and county governments should ensure that classrooms are adequate in public primary schools.
The Changing Strategies in Student Recruitment among Selected TVET Institutions in Machakos County, Kenya
Authors: Vundi Nason
Published: February 2025

In recent times, there has been a global rise in the consciousness of the impact of gender issues in education and national development. Despite the documented benefits to economic and social development of women and the constitutional guarantee for equal rights under the law to all citizens, the advancement of the status of women in Nigeria is still far from satisfactory. Elimination of gender disparity at all levels of education is one of the major global goals in the pursuit of sustainable development. This paper therefore aims to analyze the pattern of gender enrolment in Nigerian polytechnics with a focus on Yaba College of Technology (YCT) for five academic sessions. Data was collected from the Center for Information Technology Management, YCT and from relevant publications. Findings reveal that there has been improvement in few polytechnics including Yaba College of Technology (YCT), however, there exists disparity in favour of males in engineering programmes. Analysis of gender enrolment status in YCT shows that the Gender Parity Index (GPI) increased from 0.72 in 2014/2015 to 0.85 in 2018/2019 academic session. It was observed that female enrolments increased for higher national diploma for the same courses with low participation in national diploma and a generally low participation of females in the STEM programmes was observed but with improvement in industrial maintenance engineering, computer science, physics, and statistics. GPI analysis indicated that parity had been reached for chemistry, physics with electronics, statistics, and agricultural extension and management programmes in YCT. Mainstreaming the gender perspective in all policy planning, implementation and evaluation activities is necessary at bridging gender inequality in the educational sector so as to fully explore the competence, experience and potential of women.
A Decent Employment in Tanzania
Authors: Raphael Charles
Published: February 2025

Youth decent employment is currently a national priority in Tanzania due to her large and growing youth cohort into a labour market that currently offers too few prospects. This growth is challenged by poor quality jobs as the growing youth population is without the education, skills, and experience demanded by a new economy. As a result, Tanzania youth remain trapped largely in informal work and low-skilled jobs. This paper therefore assessed the influence of technical, soft and green skills on decent employment among the youth in Tanzania. It specifically examines the knowledge level of technical, soft and green skills among the youth graduates in Tanzania; determines the extent to which the youth graduates are prepared in technical, soft and green Skills in Tanzania; evaluates the influence of technical, soft and green skills on decent employment in Tanzania. This study was approached quantitatively based on explanatory survey design. Data were collected using questionnaire from 350 youth graduates and 150 employers sampled using stratified simple random technique. The collected data were analyzed using Descriptive Statistics and Multiple Linear Regressions. The findings show that, the youth graduates had high level of knowledge on technical skills but low level of knowledge in soft and green skills. Furthermore, the youth graduates are prepared to the large extent in technical skills while they are prepared in very small extent in soft and green skills. Technical, soft and green skills were found positive and significant for decent employment among the youth graduates in Tanzania. The study recommends that, the colleges, institutes and universities should emphatically instill technical, soft and green skills to their respective youth graduates before they graduate.
The influence of Technological Factors on E-procurement Adoption in Small and Medium-Size Enterprises in Nyeri County Kenya
Authors: Gitonga Peter Waweru
Published: February 2025

Globally Small and Medium-Size Enterprises (SMEs) have been acknowledged as having a crucial role in the development of economies. A strong SME sector can tremendously contribute to gross domestic product and generate employment, reduce poverty levels and as well promote entrepreneurial activities. Though there are various benefits of E-procurement adoption many firms, especially SMEs, are yet to adopt the technology. This is especially so in developing countries like Kenya, where EÂ­ procurement adoption is very slow. This study sought to assess the influence of technological factors on E-procurement adoption in SMEs in Nyeri County Kenya. The objective of the study was to assess the influence of technological factors on EÂ­ procurement adoption by SMEs in Nyeri County, Kenya. The Resource-Based Theory guided the study. In the study, technological factors were the independent variable, while E-procurement adoption was the dependent variable. The study used a self-administered questionnaire for data collection that was issued to 105 Small and Medium-Size Enterprise business owners within Nyeri County. A Pilot study was conducted by administering five questionnaires. Data analysis was conducted using descriptive analysis in order to determine the relationship between the variables. The results were presented in tables and the findings were discussed. Based on the findings, the study concluded that technological factors such as fear of security and confidentiality of information, absence of IT infrastructure, lack of support from system vendors and developers and lack of proper needs assessment, lack of technical expertise, and unavailability of E-procurement software affects E-procurement adoption in SMEs. The findings of this study can help in deepening the understanding of obstacles that hinder E-procurement adoption by SMEs for policymakers and form a body of knowledge for referencing to scholars. The study recommends that organizations that intend to operate efficiently have to make deliberate and sustained measures to enhance their technological factors like IT infrastructure, employee or Manager IT perceptions of information technology, and build trust regarding technology to effectively adopt E-procurement in their operations to remain competitive in their areas of operation.
Board Characteristics and Working Capital Management Linkage
Authors: Tanui Peninah Jepkogei , Omare Dominic
Published: February 2025

A firm does not operate in a vacuum but where there is an interaction with shareholders and stakeholders. Thus, other than providing resources, a firm given its board as one of corporate governance aspect is in a better position to enhance management of its resources. To extend existing knowledge in literature, the study therefore examined the effect of board characteristics on working capital management of listed construction and manufacturing firms in Kenya. The specific objective was to test the hypotheses as to whether there was a significant relationship board size, board independence, board committee, board's gender and working capital management. As guided by resource dependency theory and explanatory research design, 14 listed construction and manufacturing firms from 2008 to 2017 were targeted. From the panel regression analysis, WCM positively and significantly related to board's gender, board size as indicated by ji= 18.293 (p-value=.011) and Hr= 3.822 (p-value = .019) respectively. Moreover, board composition had significant (p-value = .028<.05) and negative tji= -35.833) result while relationship between board independence and WCM was negative tjl= -6.581) but insignificant (p-value = .558 >.05). The study thus concluded that board size and gender diversity of the board enhanced WCM. The findings of the study contributed to resource dependency theory by examining the extent to which the features of the board affect management of resources inform of working capital. The management firms listed in construction and manufacturing sectors were suggested to increase female representation in the board as well as ensuring that optimal board size and committee is maintained. Future studies were expected to extend the model by incorporating other board characteristics. Furthermore, working capital strategies and ownership structure could be considered by upcoming researchers as mediating and moderating variables in that order.
The Impact of Climate Change on Women Subsistence Farming Practices in Bumula Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya
Authors: Shikuku Sarah Faith , Okaka Fredrick , Omondi P.
Published: February 2025

Climate change is expected to adversely affect women subsistence farming practices and make their livelihoods more unsteady than their men counter parts; however, there is limited information on the impacts of climate change on women subsistence farming practices, particularly at a localized scale, yet they constitute an integral part of the population in addressing climate change. This study was designed to examine the impacts of climate change on women subsistence farming practices and their adaptation strategies. To realize the purpose of the study, a cross-sectional survey was adopted. Systematic random sampling method was used to pick desired sample of 396 households from the total of 44,922 households. Descriptive statistics in form of frequency tabulations, together with thematic analysis and image processing were employed . The findings revealed major impacts of climate change included; new variety of pests and diseases, loss of crops and livestock, drying of rivers, water and firewood shortage and increase in HIV I AIDS infections . Based on the findings, the study recommends that the ministry of agriculture should carry out intensive research to come up with effective ways of dealing with the new pests and diseases. More specifically the study recommends that the national and county government should strive to drill boreholes close to homes in order to enable women access water easily and free them more time to spend on their farms and other educative matters.
The Effect of a Community Health Volunteer-Led Mobile Phone Technology in Public Health Surveillance of Bed Bug Infestation among Households in N akuru County; Kenya
Authors: King'ori Samuel Wairia , Mogere Dominic, M , Kariuki John , Nzioki Japheth  Mativo
Published: February 2025

Globally there has been a resurgence of bed bug infestation after decades of suppression using modem pesticides such as pyrethroids. The dramatic rise in bed bug infestation has been reported in Canada, USA, Australia and Africa causing panic and significant public attention. Bed bug is widely found in temperate and in sub-tropical countries and is broadly distributed in regions north and south of the equator. Bed bug infestation is shallowly studied and thus limited information regarding the parasite especially in developing countries such as Kenya. The objective of this study was to establish effect of a Community Health Volunteer (CHV) led mobile phone intervention in Public Health Surveillance of bed bug Infestation among households in N akuru County. The study deign was a quasi-experiment conducted in intervention and control sites. Flamingo and Kivumbini wards where intervention sites while Menengai and Kiratina were control sites respectively. Sample size for intervention and control sites were354 and 362 households respectively. Purposive and systematic sampling methods were used to identify the study participants. Ethical approval will be sought from Mt. Kenya University Ethical approval board and the National Council of Science and Technology (NACOSTI). At baseline, crude and adjusted Odds Ratios indicated that there was no significant difference in public health surveillance of bedbugs [Crude OR=l.005, 95% CI=0.812-1.244, P>0.05)] and [(Adj. OR=l.41995%CI=0.797-2.524, P>0.05)]. However, in the end term survey, both crude and adjusted ORs indicated a significance difference in public health surveillance of bed bugs in intervention site compared to control site. Crude OR. =O. 339, 95% CI: 0.184-0.623; P<0.05)], and adjusted OR=l.621, 95%CI: 1.064-2.468)]. The Community Health worker Mobile led Intervention increased the probability of bedbug detection and reporting (Surveillance) by 62% in the intervention site. The community health worker based mobile application is effective in carrying out public health surveillance of bedbugs. The ministry of health should adopt such technologies and scale up to entire Country to help in controlling the menace caused by bedbugs in Kenya.