Small Christian Communities: Membership and Participation in Tenden Sub-Parish, Kapcherop in Eldoret Diocese, Kenya (Published)
In the present-day Church, Small Christian Communities embody the reality of a religious and social life founded on concern for others as seen from the original Jerusalem Community. The study examined the characteristics of Small Christian Communities in Tenden Sub-Parish, Kapcherop, Eldoret Diocese, Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive approach. It relied on purposive and stratified sampling to sample 12 key informants, comprising priests, Deacons, Seminarians, and SCC leaders. The study employed questionnaires and interviews to collect data. Secondary data was generated from various libraries. The findings of the study showed that majority of those who attended SCCs were aged 36-45 years. Women still formed the majority of attendees. Fewer men than women attended SCC meetings. Men who attended SCCs were selective of activities in which to participate. Most of the SCCs, though recently established, were relatively active in pastoral activities. Despite the many challenges they experience, SCCs still play an important role in elevating members spiritually and materially. Therefore, based on the study findings, there is need to encourage younger members of the Church to attend SCCs for spiritual nourishment. Moreover, professionals and other educated laypersons should also be encouraged to participate in SCCs. They can bring their skills and competences to enhance the management and effectiveness of SCCs. This paper provides insight on the current state of SCCs to help church leaders in enhancing the efficiency of these communities and lay participation in SCCs.
Keywords: Membership, Participation, parish, small Christian communities
Regulatory Challenges in the Upgrading and Maintenance of Standards in Teachers’ Professionalism in Nigeria (Published)
The compliance with minimum regulatory standards in the practice of teaching is bound to promote a competent, dedicated and productive classroom teacher for character molding and qualitative education. In Nigeria, issues of professionalization of teaching have continued to suffer from setbacks resulting to poor remuneration, low self-esteem and quackery in the teaching profession. This scenario negates the promotion and achievement of functional educational system at all levels. This paper examined the challenges militating against the attainment of minimum regulatory standards in teaching despite its pioneering effort as the mother of all professions. It adopted the exporatory approach to examine the various trend analysis and used the institutional framework design through secondary literature and observation to justapose the structures of teaching with other professional bodies. Based on the challenges,it recommended the institutionalization of a professional body for the upgrading, coordination and enforcement of minimum regulations to benefit members in raising the status of the teaching profession to meet global competiveness.
Keywords: Code, Education, Ethics, Membership, Profession, Quality, Regulation, Standard, Teacher
