Journal of Education and Social Sciences

109-126

Authors: Syeda Anum Nizam, M. Shahnawaz Adil

Teacher’s job satisfaction has been considered a very important element in the training and development of pupils in their early academic years. This study investigates the impact of five determinants of the teacher’s job satisfaction in the context of primary and secondary schools when controlling for their age, gender, experience, marital status and education. These five determinants include occupational stress, empowerment, interpersonal relationships, working conditions and self-efficacy. A sample of 280 respondents is drawn from school teachers of Karachi. Principal component and hierarchical multiple regression analyses with ‘forward’ method are used to analyze the data. With exception of self-efficacy, the results show that occupational stress, empowerment, interpersonal relationships and working conditions have been found statistically significant predictor of teacher’s job satisfaction in Karachi. Therefore, the school administration and management should mainly concentrate on developing interpersonal relationships as well as providing them with a suitable working conditions. Consequently, school teachers could remain satisfied with their job which may lead to produce better candidates for the higher education as well as highly-competitive professionals for different industries. Moreover, teachers should also be given an appropriate level of autonomy to manage the academic affairs of students in classrooms. It would not only help them reduce their occupational stress but also enhance their level of job satisfaction. Managerial implications and areas for future research are also discussed.

144-153

Authors: M. Fareed Dar, Imran Khan

This paper investigates the levels of oral communication anxiety of undergraduate engineering students in Pakistan. The data was collected from four departments of the university. McCroskey’s (1978) Oral Communication Apprehension (OCA) Survey Instrument was adopted for this study. The questionnaire was translated into Urdu (National Language of Pakistan) to make it clear to respondents. The data analysis revealed 18% of the sample had high level of oral communication apprehension, 66% faced average level of oral communication apprehension and 16% were in low level of oral communication apprehension. This study also discloses that there is no significant difference in levels of oral communication apprehension of male and female. Further the study reports and compares levels of oral communication anxiety of the students to whom English is the second language and to whom English is the third language ( both in foreign language context). Finally, the study concludes that although the majority of the undergraduate engineering students face average level of writing anxiety, however, with attention and guidance they can be brought to low level of writing anxiety category.

163-172

Authors: Shah Rukh Hashmi, M. Arif Khan, Munazza Khan

The paper explains how the People’s Republic of China has developed its strategy on three different levels: domestic, regional and global to manage its interests, focusing on the objectives and choices available at the end of China. The purpose to conduct this research is to critically analyze how the objective of peaceful rise is gradually, but coherently in the right direction, by the application of ideological, economic and defense means in well-articulated way. The crux of utilization of these foreign policy instruments, reflects that Confuciusism and tributary system’s legacy is applied in dealing with smaller neighboring states and four regional powers, both engagement and containment are adopted. On the global front, the geography of China contributes a lot in her favor, whereas several global engagements of the United States as hegemon prevent her to wage an effective check on China either through a global strategy of containment or engagement.

67-77

Authors: Kiran Hashmi

The paper presents the results of the content analysis of the Pakistan Studies textbooks, of grade IX and X, published by the Sindh Textbook Board (STBB). The content was evaluated against the objectives set by the Federal Ministry of Education. The analysis includes the connections between the selected content and the set framework with additional focus on the quality of the textbook with respect to its printing and publishing styles. An adapted content analysis check-list by March (2009) was used for the study. Results show quite a few similarities between the national objectives and the selected content, however, some differences could be detected when comparing the matter with the framework. The content analysis of the selected textbook also shows that they retain the content directed by the national curriculum, however the ways (examples, content of the images etc.) in which authors present the topic differ. The findings of the study highlight a number of flaws in the content of the textbook. Pakistan Studies being one of the most important subjects for the citizens of Pakistan is being dealt in the worst way. The problems lie in the selection of matter, use of outdated statistics and factual data, in congruence with the national objectives and substandard matter and printing materials. Based on the analysis, recommendations are made, including rewriting of the textbook in lieu with theory and practice, piloting of the textbook, assessment of selected matter and objective, and review by experts after two years. It is expected that the study would provide guidance to the curriculum developers and textbook authors about the criteria for the content selected and published and would also benefit content with respect to the national objectives.

95-108

Authors: Najmonnisa, M. Zubair Haroon

This paper attempts to analyze the perceptions and practices of primary school teachers regarding the effectiveness of cooperative learning (CL) method and to identify the challenges that are encountered while implementing CL in schools. Sample was constituted by 65 teachers from a private sector school system with the help of stratified sampling technique. Questionnaire was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze the data. Data analysis reveals that lecture method is highly used teaching method at primary level whereas teachers use other teaching methods as well, such as lecture demonstration (LD), CL, project based learning (PBL) and inquiry based instructions. Findings of the study indicate that teachers have positive perceptions about the use of CL approach in terms of academic achievement, better understanding about subject matter and improvement in interpersonal skills. Whereas, teachers showed their concerns with reference to classroom size, non-availability of learning resources, lengthy syllabus and lack of support from school administration. The study recommends the implementation of CL by providing administrative support and conducive learning environment as well as engaging teachers in continuous professional development programs to equip them with interactive teaching methods.