BULGARIAN JOURNAL OF SCIENCE AND EDUCATION POLICY

220-232

Authors: D. Pavlovic, Z.S. Petrovic

The main research objective of this paper is to point out potentials and limitations of the Internet in the process of learning in higher education, through review and analysis of literature. The results of this theoretical study emphasize positive aspects of the Internet use in the learning process of university students that arise from the Internet features such as high technical capabilities, power, speed, universality and accessibility, as well as high sensitivity of young people to the means of new media. The positive effects of the applica-tion of the Internet were pointed out in research studies that analysed the pro-cess of innovation in higher education, the changes in the culture of learning, or certain aspects of personality development of university students. In contrast, some studies pointed out the limitations that may occur when using the Internet in the learning process related primarily to the credibility of the infor-mation, light and entertaining content dominance, and dependence on technology. Accordingly, it is recommended to adopt the measures on a larger scale that will affect the greater use of the Internet in the process of acquiring knowledge, especially in the field of higher education.

246-266

Authors: O.O. Olatomide

The study examined retirement adjustment of teacher-retirees in Osun State, and explored the interaction effects of pre-retirement guidance and family in-volvement on retirement adjustment. Exposit-facto design was used. The population comprised retirees from public, civil and private establishments from which 122 teacher-retirees were selected using a multi-stage sampling technique. An instrument: Family Involvement, Pre-retirement Guidance and Retirement Adjustment Questionnaire was used for data collection. Three research questions and three hypotheses guided the study. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results revealed that retirees in Osun State are not optimally adjusted, and positive significant interaction effect was found between family involvement and pre-retirement guidance on retirees adjustment, among others. Appropriate policy implications are outlined.

279-293

Authors: M.F. Faremi

This study assessed the relationship between teacher retention and job security in private secondary schools in Ogun state, Nigeria. The study assessed ade-quacy in teaching and learning infrastructure, evaluated mode of recruitment of teachers, the factors responsible for high teacher turnover and teachers retention strategies employed in private secondary schools. Descriptive research of the survey design was employed in this study. Data were collected using questionnaire. Multistage sampling technique was used for data collection among 200 teachers including the school principals. Data collected were analyzed with a mixture of descriptive and inferential statistics. Percentages, mean and frequency counts were used to answer the research questions raised while Pearson Moment Correlation Coefficient and t-test analysis were used to test the formulated hypotheses at 0.05 level of significance. The findings from this study revealed that teaching and learning infrastructure were inadequate in most of the schools. It was observed that books, classroom and teachers were very adequate in some of the schools. However, few of the schools had internet facility for knowledge transfer and student exposure to the worldwide web. The study also showed that the proprietors were primarily responsible for staff recruitment although there were instances where formal advertisement for recruitment was made. The study further revealed a significant relationship between teacher retention strategies and job security in private secondary schools in Osun state. The study also showed a significant relationship between teacher turnover and job security in the schools. In addition, the findings showed a significant relationship between teacher turnover and job security in private secondary schools in Osun state. Lastly, the study revealed a significant difference in the mean rate and female teachers' turnover in the selected private secondary schools. Based on the findings, it was therefore recommended that teacher retention strategies should include prompt payment of salary, workers welfare packages, good working conditions, teacher mentoring programme, teacher preparation and the provision of basic amenities for effective academic calendar in the secondary schools to ensure job security in private secondary schools.

320-337

Authors: S. 'Tayo Subair

Governance and management of higher education worldwide, bothers on management�s and staff�s acceptability of being responsible for their decisions and actions; stewardship, fairness in terms of justice and equity, and all other aspects of administrative performance. This study assessed the moral, process and supervisory accountability in Nigerian higher education. The study adopted the descriptive survey research design using purposive sampling technique. A total of 1,000 academic and administrative staff members drawn from two federal universities in the Southwestern geopolitical zone of Nigeria constitut-ed the sample frame. Two instruments tagged "Accountability Assessment Questionnaire Types A and B" for academic and non-academic staff respec-tively were used to obtain needed information from the respondents. The results obtained showed agreement to all assessed variables on moral accounta-bility except payment of allowances 77.8% as and when due. Similarly, process accountability was considered good as values above 60% was obtained in the average on documentation, review of activities and staff promotions among others; however, supervisory accountability was equally good except that reward for excellence among staff 62.9% was not institutionalized. The study therefore concluded that for staff in Nigerian higher education to be appreciated for their passion and commitment to work, payment of their allowances as and when due should be taken serious and timely. Recognition should equally be given to members of staff to serve as motivator for others. University management should not wait for staff to embark on strike actions before they are attended to as this would infringe on public perception of their moral, process and supervisory accountability.

352-369

Authors: V. Lamanauskas, D. Augiene Preview

Career management as a lifelong lasting process becomes very actual in today's modern society because of many reasons. The environment becomes turbulent, in a general sense; therefore, it is natural that career environment, basically, is chaotic as well. Nevertheless, career for many people is, undoubtedly, very important, because it is directly related to life quality. Professional activity satisfies almost all human needs: physiological, safety, social, attainment, self-realisation, independence, autonomy and other. The efficiency of the mentioned activity and the ability of the personality to construct his career are closely related things. Individual's career process studies are especially popular recently, because deeper career perception helps to understand the most important relations between man and work, career management and constant learning, helps not only to know man's abilities, but also the abilities to give oneself to modern environment, to understand career projection possibilities, to plan one's professional future. Seeking to analyse final-year university student position regarding career questions, a written form survey was carried out. The research was carried out between September 2015 and March 2016. The research sample (185) was structured applying a consecutive 'bunch' system. The respondents from three Lithuanian universities Klaipėda, Vilnius and Šiauliai, were selected in the sample. Professional career parameters were evaluated: career conception, the importance of work values and abilities, study influence, promoting and limiting factors and personal qualities. The research is grounded on a mixed strategy, when quantitative and qualitative research approach is combined. The obtained results, based on qualitative analysis, about professional personal career promoting and limiting factors and personal qualities are presented in this research.

384-416

Authors: A.O.A. Awofala

A strong foundation in mathematics as a science of thinking may lead to an improved performance in chemistry. The study investigated attitudes towards mathematics as predictors of preservice teachers' achievement in senior secondary school chemistry among 325 Nigerian preservice chemistry teachers from two public universities in Lagos State, Nigeria using the quantitative research method within the blueprint of descriptive survey design of an expost facto type. Data collected were analysed using the descriptive statistics of mean, and standard deviation and inferential statistics of independent samples t-test, Pearson product moment correlation, analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. Findings revealed that gender differences in attitudes towards mathematics and dimensions of attitudes towards mathematics among preservice chemistry teachers were at a zero-tolerance level while grade level of the preservice chemistry teachers was a factor in their attitudes towards mathematics. Grade level, gender and value in mathematics made statistically significant contributions to the variance in preservice teachers' achievement in senior secondary school chemistry. Based on the results of this study, it was recommended that chemistry teacher educators should emphasise the connec-tions between chemistry and mathematics for effective learning at the preservice teacher level.

28-50

Authors: T.L. Adepoju

Vocational and technology education (VTE) is widely recognized as agent of technological development, industrial revolution, economic growth and voca-tional independence all over the world. In Nigeria, attempts have been made by various governments to restructure the system so as to keep pace with what operates in developed countries and to meet global competitions and best prac-tices. However, in this paper, the need for the renewal and paradigm shift in the curriculum contents of vocational and technological education is empha-sized. The paper e-rays the historical development of vocational and technolo-gy education in Nigeria from the colonial era. The paper further examines is-sues associated with implementation of a reviewed curriculum and the partici-pation of VTE in industrial revolution and vocational independence. A curvi-linear model and two equations are developed in the paper to explain the as-sumed linear correlation between curriculum renewal and technological break-through (technological development, industrial revolution, economic growth and vocational independence). The challenges facing VTE in Nigeria and the implications of the proposed curriculum renewal for stakeholders are highlight-ed in the paper.

67-82

Authors: M. Marković, V. Spasenović, Z. Stanisavljević Petrović

In the education system reform which is currently underway in Serbia and in most countries of the region, considerable attention has been paid to modern media technologies. Although a whole decade has passed since the initiation of the reform there have been no significant developments regarding the school system computerisation, which resulted in raising the issue of integration and seeking valid arguments which indicate the key role of new media in the re-structuring of the school system. In that context, the basic goal of this paper is an analysis of primary research studies which suggest the reasons for the inte-gration of new media into the school system in order to set out the reform guidelines regarding the application of information and communication tech-nologies in formal education. The results of the analysis attest to a large num-ber of compelling reasons for implementing modern media technologies into the system of educational institutions. Among them one should distinguish the general reasons which deal with improving the quality of and bridging the gap between formal and informal education. The selected research studies state objective reasons such as rationality and cost-effectiveness, as well as peda-gogical reasons relating to the learning context innovation, presence of new knowledge sources provided by Internet resources, changes in the process of learning instigated by the development of e-learning and a higher motivation of the participants in the process of education. In the conclusion of this re-search the authors emphasise the necessity of integrating media technologies into the school system for the purposes of creating a modern coherent system founded on networking, communication and exchange.

121-131

Authors: M. Shehu, Y. Zhurda

The Internet plays important functions in identity formation, personal autono-my, and relationships outside the family. It allows teens to develop their own interests, to identify with others. The aim of the study is to present concrete evidence regarding to the communication through social networks and parental care in the management of online communication. Referring questionnaire “Student Needs Assessment Survey” by N. E. Willard (2007), but the author has selected questions to the scope of its study. The sample of the study includes 255 pupils aged 15 – 19 (110 Male and 145 Female). The statistical data processing was performed by SPPS statistical program, version 20. Cronbach’s Alpha 0.764 were used to assess the reliability of the instrument. The most favorite activity on the Internet by the teens is navigation on the In-ternet to see/learn new things (68.6%), during the week the subjects spend ap-proximately less than 2 hours per day (34.1% of them). Most of teenagers (82.7%) claims to have communication with their parents about how they treats their friends and 56.5% of them say that sometimes have control by their par-ents for what they do online. If pupils would victim of pressure on the internet and do not have opportunities to can be contained by those 69% of them approve that they would tell to their parents and also (63.9%) to school staff members. When there have been cases of violence, even threatening suicide rate of reporting and collaboration between parent - teacher is high, while in other elements resulting lower interest rates. One of the main factors in man-agement of this online communication and Internet is the parent care, which is considered most important in terms of education and not only.

160-170

Authors: T. Peev

The application of the Academic Staff Development Act (2010) has led to a significant increase of the associate professors and professors in the Bulgarian higher schools and scientific organizations. The lack of effective control in the implementation of the habilitation procedures, provided for by the law, is the cause of the numerous abuses committed, which affect the quality of the newly promoted academic staff. An example of a crude deviation from the science criteria, a lack of scientific competence in the chosen scientific jury, and a compromised but successful awarding of the educational and scientific degree "doctor" (PhD) is described and discussed in the present article.

188-192

Authors: B. V. Toshev

ISBN 978-619-167-179-3