Journals

Many researchers and education stakeholders in South Africa point to the need to develop teachers’ mathematical knowledge of the mathematics concepts that they teach to their learners. In this research the researchers explore the understanding of 60 pre-service primary mathematics teachers on multiplication and addition of fractions. Data were generated from the written responses to an assessment as well as semi-structured interviews. The written responses and interviews were analysed using content analysis. The purpose was to explore the methods used by pre-service primary mathematics teachers to solve a given task on multiplication and addition of fraction. Emphasis was also based on whether the pre-service primary mathematics teachers were able to use different methods to solve the given task. The results showed that 46 participants were able to solve the task using one method, while 20 of them were able to use two different methods. The most common method used was based on the part-whole relationship method. Few students identified different other methods of solving the task correctly but some of them were unable to use any method. These results indicate that these students are not yet ready to teach these primary school level concepts even though they have studied advanced mathematics topics as part of their pre-service training. The study recommends that pre-service primary mathematics teachers should also be provided with more structured opportunities to help develop pedagogic content knowledge of the primary school level content as part of their teacher training programme as well as possess a deep understanding of different interpretations of fractions

The paper examined the behavioural influence on locational pattern of economic activities as against the theoretical approach commonly emphasized as the basis for locating a business. The maxmaization cum optimization economic inclination has been rightly controlling the locational pattern of industries due to complexity of human behaviour. Data were collected from the secondary source of data through extensive literature search. Different locational theories and models were reviewed. Most of them place importance on assumptions which could not be applied in the real business world. They were only developed to gain general understanding of location factors and patterns but could not test theories. It was revealed that the application of locational theories and models would require extensive data collection which might not be easy to gather. The actual locational patterns could not be adequately replicated and completely explained by any theory due to human behaviour complexity. The paper put up a recommendation that in this ageof globalization more and meaningful data should be collected to strengthen intuitive knowledge on how industrial prosperity could be sustained.

This paper discusses the various moral decadences taking place in Nigeria in the present dispensation. It looks at the opinions of scholars that the school system should be the actual place to eliminate these banes through character development especially in the youths. It highlights the relevance of character development in Nigerian education in restructuring the nation to bring it out of the abyss of moral decadences it has fallen into, to return it to that golden era of people having values and respect for the nation. Modalities for inculcating character development are expressed. Recommendations on the agents of socialization like the family, schools and social media to be more proactive in their activities to bring the nation to its glory are hereby given.

The benefits Biology offers can neither be enjoyed nor applied by all Nigerian Secondary School Students due to the new Secondary School Curriculum. This study investigates attendant effects emanating from the new curriculum review (2011) which made Biology optional in senior secondary schools. Three hundred and sixty Biology students and twenty-five Biology Teachers samples randomly selected from public and private senior secondary schools in Odeda Local Government and Abeokuta South Local Government Areas were considered for the study. The study employed a descriptive survey design using a structured questionnaire and oral interview as means of data collection. The data collected were analyzed using a descriptive mean and simple percentage and the hypotheses tested using t- test with the level of significance considered at P< 0.05. Findings from the study showed that 76% of the respondents agreed that the new curriculum has led to reduction in students' enrollment for the subject. Moreover, 64% agreed that biology teachers are underutilized. Also, 92% and 49.7% of the teachers and Students respondents respectively agreed that making Biology an optional subjects at secondary school level is not a good decision by the education policy maker. In conclusion, the new curriculum review has given rise to serious attendant problems.