Effect of Academics Workload on Academics Productivity in Nigeria (Published)
This study examined the effect of academics workload on academics productivity in Nigeria. Data were collected through questionnaire that was admitted 257 academics in faculties of Education, Sciences and Social and Management Sciences in Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko. Academics Productivity was measured by total number of research publication and conferences attended in the last 3years, Academic Workload was measured by academics service either professional or non-professional in last 3years and Family Responsibility was measured by number of dependent children and age of last child. The study adopted both descriptive and logistic regression analysis. The findings showed that academic workload and family responsibility affect academic productivity. It was recommended among others that government and policy makers should reduce academics workloads and academics with dependent relatives should be considered when allocating academic workload.
Keywords: Academics, Productivity, University, Workload
Factors Affecting Students’ Academic Performance in Colleges of Education in Southwest, Nigeria (Published)
This study was carried out to assess factors affecting students’ academic performance in Colleges of Education in southwest, Nigeria. Four hundred and eighty students from six Colleges of Education were randomly selected for this study. Data collected were analyzed with descriptive and inferential statistics. The results obtained showed that 52.4% of the respondents were between 20 – 24 years of age, predominantly female (67.6%), supported by family/guardian (88.9%), stayed off-campus (69.8%), had personal motivation for studying Education (65.8%) and bold (91.1%). Also, results of parental background revealed that the parents were married (63.8%), educated (68.2%), and earned average income of ₦60,604.5/month. The study concludes that students’ factors, parental background, school factors, and teachers’ factors have serious influence on students’ academic performance. It is hereby recommended that school facilities should be adequately provided; Colleges of Education should be given appropriate attention and funding while government should provide alternative power supply by purchasing generator plant for Colleges of Education.
Keywords: Academics, Affecting, Education, Factor, Performance
School- Based Factors Affecting Grade 12 Learners’ Academic Performance in Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary Level Biology in the Khomas Educational Region, Namibia (Published)
This study investigated school-based factors affecting Grade 12 learners’ academic performance in the Namibia Senior Secondary Certificate Ordinary level (NSSCO) Biology and how the Biology teachers manage the factors in the Khomas Educational Region. Mixed methods research design involving both quantitative and qualitative approaches were used to collect data. A sample of 450 NSSCO Biology learners, 15 Biology teachers and 15 science Heads of Department (HODs) were randomly selected to fill questionnaires. Furthermore, a sub-sample of 2 science HODs and 2 Biology teachers who have taught Biology for at least three consecutive years were purposively selected to participate in the interviews. The study found that lack of relevant teaching and learning resources, lack of laboratory equipment, lengthy NSSCO Biology syllabus, overcrowded classrooms, and school management’s lack of commitment constitute the school-based factors affecting Grade 12 learners’ academic performance in NSSCO Biology in the study area. The Biology teachers managed these factors through: networking with professional colleagues within the same school clusters, organizing after school classes, and improvising on available teaching materials. It is however, recommended that: the schools management seek support from government, donor agencies and philanthropic organisations for relevant teaching and learning resources, including laboratory equipment. The management should also step up their supervisory role as it is an important part of quality assurance measures that could support teaching and learning.
Keywords: Academics, Learner Performance, NSSCO Biology, School-Based Factors
Triangular Assessment Model: An Alternative Procedure for Assessing Higher Degree Research in Education in Nigeria (Published)
The aim of this paper is to provide an alternate procedure for assessing higher degree research in Education in Universities in Nigeria. The author therefore proposed Triangular Assessment Model (TAM) and considered it appropriate for assessing higher Degree Research in Education since it provides an opportunity for the external and internal examiners as well as the supervisor to score the higher Degree Research for certification at the ratio of 40%, 30% and 30% respectively. The Current method where the total power is vested on the External Examiner is out of phrase with valid assessment procedure which relies on the average scores from several scorers. In Triangular Assessment Model, each of them will independently complete their respective Forms. Three instruments (Forms) developed for these purpose are – Higher Degree Research Assessment Form (HDRAF) for External and Internal Examiners, having 82 items with reliability of .8264. Higher Degree Research Supervisor Assessment Form (HDRSAF) having 27 items with reliability of .8003 and Observation Form having 8 items with inter-rater reliability of .7924. The Model was considered appropriate and the forms are believed to provide verifiably data for certification of Higher Degrees in Nigeria.
Keywords: Academics, Education, Higher Degree, Nigeria Universities
An Empirical Investigation of the Relevant Skills of Forensic Accountants: Experience of a Developing Economy (Published)
Accounting frauds and scams are perennial. They occurred in all eras and in all countries, and affected many organizations, regardless of their size, location, or industry. From Enron and WorldCom in 2001 to Madoff and Satyam in 2009, accounting frauds and scams have been dominating news items in the past decade. Corporations and regulatory bodies are trying their best to analyze and correct existing defects in their reporting system. After having an overview of the fraud scenario in India, it is apparent that criminals have become technology-savvy, and invented newer schemes to perpetuate crimes. In the current reporting environment of “digital-age,” forensic accountants (FA’s) are in great demand for their ‘niche’ accounting, auditing, legal and investigative skills. Hence, ‘forensic’ accounting has been thrown in the forefront of the crusade” against financial deception and accounting scandals.The present study investigates through a questionnaire, which was conducted in three leading States of the national capital region (NCR) of India during 2011-12, “if there are differences in the views of the relevant skills of FA’s among accounting practitioners, academics, and users of forensic accounting services.” From the statistical test of the hypotheses propounded for this study, we discovered that “core skills are not enough requirements for FA’s, there are significant differences in the relevant skills of FA’s, as given by previous researchers with the current research, and the necessary skills of FA’s, as identified by both academics and professionals, will hopefully meet employers’ expectations too.” Therefore, FA’s, being professional experts having ‘sixth’ sense and possessing ‘special’ skills are urgently required to counter all the ingenuity of these criminals. At present, some Universities in India are considering adding forensic accounting course to their curriculum. The results of this study may provide some guidance to educators for the development of forensic accounting curriculum by identifying the pertinent skills to accompany such a program of study.
Keywords: Academics, Accounting Frauds, Corporate Governance, Forensic Accountants, Forensic Accounting, Practitioners, Scams, Skills Required, Users of Services
