MULUNGUSHI UNIVERSITY MULTIDISCIPLINARY JOURNAL

Effect of Financial Literacy and Risk Perception on Investment Choice

2024-08-01T11:28:52+00:00

The objective of this study is to assess the effect of financial literacy, and risk perception on investment choice. A quantitative design with a survey as a strategy was adopted, with a sample of 172 respondents. Data was analysed using one-way analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and Multi logistic regression. The results from the ANOVA tests shows that although the differences in means were observed among investment choses, they were not statistically significant at 0.05% as the observed P-values were more than 0.05 (0.847, 0.889 and 0.263), indicating that that Risk perception and financial literacy do not significantly affect investment choice. Further the findings show that 56% of the respondents chose real estate compared to 44% who chose financial assets an indication that individual investors in Zambia prefer real estate to financial assets. Unlike other studies, this study is unique in that it included real estate as part of the investment options and found that real assets are more preferred to financial assets in Zambia.

The catholic Marianist brothers’ compulsory policy of religious education as a moral saver: a case of Matero boys’ secondary school in Lusaka district, Zambia

2024-08-01T11:28:52+00:00

The article focuses on the contribution the Marianist Brothers made to moral and integral boys’ education in their education philosophy at Matero Boys Secondary School popularly known as MaBoys. Cox’s (1994) theory of phenomenology of religion was used to generate empirical data from the religious and lived experiences of the Marianist Brothers as well as the narrated stories from both former teachers and pupils of the first twenty-five years at MaBoys. The study was purely qualitative and allowed the social phenomena to speak in its social setting. Specifically, the study used a follow-up case study design to capture and understand the Marianist applied pedagogical practices in enhancing former pupils’ lives after leaving the school. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and data analysis was done thematically from the merging themes. The findings indicated that Religious Education was the core of morality in provision of quality education. Further, findings revealed that RE was supplemented with other religious programmes which is the Marianist Brothers’ initiative to impart spiritual moral behaviour in the learners through assessments. Additionally, frequent observations made by both Brothers and teachers on virtues of Christian life in areas of prayer, devotion and charity affected the learners’ religiosity behaviour long after living the school. This was evident that Marianist imprint remained in the boys’ lives who became responsible citizens of the nation. The study recommends that RE should be made compulsory at all levels in both faith based and public schools to promote moral values.

Effects of rare values on organisational commitment and performance

2024-08-01T11:28:52+00:00

While, some scholars have given a clarion call for value-based leadership, studies on the effect of RARE (Responsible, Accountable, Relevant, and Ethical) value-based leadership (Ngambi, 2011) on organisational behaviour are rather fragmented and disparate. This study, therefore, sought to assess the effects of these RARE values of leadership on organisational commitment and performance. The study examined survey data on experience of stakeholder employees in public institutions that were sampled from three out of ten of Zambia’s Provinces, namely: Copperbelt Province, Central Province, and Lusaka Province. The case study and descriptive survey design was adopted, where data were collected through questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics, chi-square, correlations and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The results indicate that the higher the educational attainment, work position and the more experience an employee has, the more likely they are to appreciate their organisational leader who applies the RARE leadership value-based principles. The correlation values on Affective, Continuance and Normative commitment were 62.1%, 67.1% and 55.2% respectively in relation with RARE principles. This denotes a strong positive relationship. Regression analysis was used and established that there is a 58.1% positive relationship between RARE values and performance. The results suggest that organisational leaders, who are equipped with RARE values, are able to positively influence the perceptions of employees and enhance organisational commitment and performance.

The effects of 100% grade seven progression rate policy on learners in secondary schools in Kitwe district, Zambia

2024-08-01T11:28:53+00:00

The Republic of Zambia has since 2018 adopted a policy where all seventh grade learners are allowed to proceed to grade eight regardless of their performance in the grade seven national examination. However, the lack of an empirical evaluation of this policy to ascertain the perception of teachers, learners, parents and head teachers and its effect on the learners’ academic performance prompted the need for this study. This study aimed to assess the grade seven to grade eight 100% progression policy among selected schools in Kitwe. The study adopted the exploratory research design and the qualitative research approach. Individual and focus group interviews were used to collect primary data from a sample of eighty-nine purposefully sampled participants among selected secondary schools in Kitwe on the Copperbelt of Zambia. Qualitative data was analyzed using thematic analysis in MAXQDA software. The findings of this study revealed that the perceptions of the grade seven 100% progression policy were associated with lower quality of education due to overcrowded classrooms and pressure on teachers to pass all learners. Low-achieving learners who were promoted to higher grades despite their low academic performance had lower self-esteem and faced learning challenges. The findings further revealed that the policy widened the gap between high and low achievers, with low achievers falling further behind as they struggled to keep up with the pace of the curriculum. The policy had a negative impact on the overall academic performance of learners, increasing the number of grade nine dropouts and external candidates.

Innovation in Foreign Language Teaching and Assessment: A Literature Review

2024-08-01T11:28:53+00:00

In the past few decades, there has been a dynamic shift in language teaching methodologies. The teaching of foreign languages in particular has evolved from the traditional teacher-centred approaches to technology-based methodologies which promote innovation and create an autonomous and motivated learner who is able to learn language for communication. Changes in technology have taken language teaching to another level, with innovation taking centre-stage. Through a review of literature from scholarly sources, the study analyses the recent innovations that have appeared on the foreign language teaching arena to make foreign language teaching more effective than ever before. In doing this, the article reflects upon current trends in foreign language teaching, innovation in assessment and conditions that are necessary for a successful implementation of innovations in the language classroom. The article further examines the merits and challenges which go with integration of these technology-based methodologies and how the challenges can be alleviated if learners have to reap maximum benefits. However, in the course of the review of literature, it has come to our attention that while the world of foreign language education has shifted to innovative teaching methodologies, some pockets of educators are lagging behind due to diverse challenges centred around failure to embrace change and the desire to remain in the traditional realm due to fear of the unknown. Other difficulties encountered are inadequate technology infrastructure or lack of resources to acquire relevant devices and unexplained reasons for innovation. All in all, this article views language education as a revolutionalised field whose impact should have long lasting communicative and cultural experiences on the learners. Given the urgent need to take on board all foreign language teachers, the article ends with recommendations that institutions of learning should support innovation at all costs and that teachers should shift from their traditional pedagogies and embark on continuous self-training for innovation if they are to remain relevant and stay afloat in the 21st century.

Impact of Urbanization on surface runoff using Remote Sensing and GIS technology:

2024-08-01T11:28:53+00:00

Accurately assessing the hydrological impact of urbanization on surface runoff is crucial for resilient urban planning and effective water resource management. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of urbanization on surface runoff using Geographic Information System (GIS), Remote Sensing, and the Soil Conservation Services Curve Number (SCS CN) model. The research was conducted in Lusaka District, Zambia and involved classifying land use/land cover maps derived from Landsat TM/EMT+ imagery for the years 1984, 1994, 2004, 2013, and 2020, employing an integrated approach of remote sensing and GIS techniques. Four distinct land use classes; built-up area, vegetation, water body, and barren land, were defined. The supervised classification technique, specifically maximum likelihood pixel-based classification, was used to select training sites for each land use class by identifying representative ground features using different spectral band combinations. The resulting land use/land cover maps exhibited an overall accuracy ranging from 93.22% to 99.19%. The study further analyzed surface runoff using the SCS CN model to investigate variations in surface runoff corresponding to changes in land use. The SCS CN model considers various factors such as soil type, precipitation data, land use, soil moisture conditions, and the size and shape of the watershed. The findings revealed a notable increase in the percentage of urban areas from 28.7% in 1984 to 68.7% in 2020. The SCS CN model demonstrated an associated increase in surface runoff, with a minimum recorded runoff of 385.02 mm in 1994 and a maximum of 1082.59 mm in 2020. These results indicate a clear correlation between urbanization and heightened surface runoff. Continued monitoring and assessment of land use changes using high-resolution satellite imagery are recommended for better understanding urbanization dynamics.

The Transformed Muzembo Funerary Ritual of the Tonga People of Chikankata in Zambia, 2013-2023

2024-08-01T11:28:53+00:00

This study aimed at investigating the Muzembo funerary ritual of the Tonga people of Chikankata, in the Southern region of Zambia. The Muzembo is an important funerary ritual in the Tonga culture that is performed after burial, usually on the third day after the occurrence of death. Methodologically, a qualitative research approach was applied using a purposive sampling technique in selecting 32 participants drawn from different communities in three villages of Mwenda Chiefdom in Chikankata District, namely Chikankata, Haampande and Moonga. Semi-structured and Open-ended interviews were conducted to obtain primary data, while the research also drew upon secondary data sources. Results were analysed thematically and the findings highlight five main emerged themes. It has been found that despite the influence of Christianity on the Muzembo funerary ritual, the Tonga people of Chikankata preserved the original old ritual name by referring to the name in the ritual performance that characterised the events of the last day of funeral gatherings. This implies that the custom had neither been completely eradicated nor had its name changed due to the influence of Christianity. The funeral ritual, therefore had only been altered in content due to the synergy that resulted from the fusion of traditional customs and Christian beliefs. The author recommends conducting a similar study among the Tongas from other sub-regions of the Southern Province with different levels of Christian influence, to appreciate and highlight the subtle differences.

Investigating the role of public universities in imparting communities with entrepreneurship education, knowledge and skills

2024-08-01T11:28:54+00:00

One of the core accountabilities of a university is community service. There are many universities in Zambia today and there is little known about their involvement in empowering the communities around them with entrepreneurship skills. Therefore, this study sets out to investigate the role of public universities in empowering local communities with entrepreneurship skills. In assessing this, the study focused on the role of universities in imparting entrepreneurship education and skills to the community. It further looked at the role of the universities in encouraging entrepreneurship activities. The study adopted a positivism paradigm quantitative design. To achieve the laid down objectives, a survey design was used as a research strategy. Structured questionnaires were randomly distributed to 208 members of the surrounding communities from four universities. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics specifically Linear Regression and Analysis of Variances (ANOVA.) Research results showed that public universities input in empowering surrounding communities with entrepreneurship skills and knowledge is fairly low hence the need for improvement. The study further revealed that the entrepreneurship knowledge possessed by the community is quite high. Universities need to take interest to ensure that the knowledge acquired by the community is applied.

Management practices and leadership styles of female Head teachers in high performing secondary schools in Kabwe urban, Zambia

2024-08-01T11:28:54+00:00

Recent empirical evidence has suggested that female Head teachers tend to outperform their male counterparts. In light of this, the study aimed to explore the leadership styles and management practices of female Head Teachers that could explain their better performance, leading to improved learner outcomes. The study was based on a qualitative case study design, focusing on three high-performing secondary schools in Kabwe urban district, Zambia, led by female Head teachers. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the three female Head Teachers, and data was manually analyzed using thematic analysis. The findings revealed that female Head teachers adopted different leadership styles, including democratic, servant, team, and authoritarian, depending on the situation. They also used consistent management practices which could account for the good performance. Key management practices included counseling or disciplining troublesome teachers and learners, regular teacher observation, consistent meetings, and awarding deserving teachers. The study also identified challenges faced by female Head teachers, including stereotyping and gender bias. The study recommends that the Ministry of Education should consider placing more women in leadership positions, recognizing their unique contributions to the effective running of schools. The findings contribute to understanding the role of female educational leaders in promoting excellence in secondary education.

Technauriture as Contemporary Oral Literature: A Case of Bishop Chomba’s ‘Isa Umone Efyo Lungu Acita’ Song

2024-08-01T11:28:54+00:00

The article uses Bishop Chomba’s Isa Umone song to argue that oral literature exists in contemporary society albeit in the form of technauriture – the result of the interplay between orality, literacy, and technology. Bishop Chomba breaks into a spontaneous panegyric when asked to call upon the then Zambian President Edgar Lungu during the commissioning of the Arcades fly-over bridge in 2020. Anchored by Mostert and Kaschula’s (2011) idea of technauriture, we deconstruct the dichotomised assumption that oral literature does not exist in present day society because it belongs to the past which ceases to exist once other media such as writing and technology emerge. On the contrary, we take a qualitative, case study approach to use the purposively sampled song, Isa Umone and highlight aspects of oral literary characteristics drawn from the initial performance of the song. Furthermore, we explore various online versions of the song as a way of establishing the workings of technauriture. Our findings reveal that technauriture acts in such a way that rather than being the death of oral literature, technology now facilitates the means by which orality survives and is perpetuated when spatial and temporal coverage are not limited to human custodians. Particularly, the associated threat of extinction should they die with the knowledge or oral art they possess. Furthermore, the paper demonstrates how technology provides the paradigm through which aspects of lecto-orality, remediation, repurposing and reoralisation provide new ways in which orality harnesses new technologies assuring its continued existence.

Earnings smoothing and the shift from actual loan loss provision to expected credit loss

2024-08-02T07:44:48+00:00

After the 2007 financial crisis, protecting the stability and resilience of the financial system is still a matter of concern in academic literature and the industry. The crisis highlighted the shortcomings in the accounting of financial instruments. As a response to the deficiencies, the International Accounting Standards Committee (IASB) developed and published International Financial Reporting Standard 9 (IFRS 9) on financial instruments. The standard was published in 2014 and came into force on January 1, 2018. One of the main reasons for the adoption of IFRS 9 was to address the negative impact of inappropriate credit losses in financial statements. IFRS 9 provided a complete change in the accounting of loan loss provisions, introducing an expected credit loss model compared to the previous loss model based on International Accounting Standards 39. This study examines whether the implementation of the accounting change from loan loss provisions to expected loan loss provisions provides space for compensation of revenues. The study used a quantitative study design, monthly data from all 19 commercial banks in Zambia registered with the Bank of Zambia at the time of the study was analyzed by regression. The results do not show any evidence of a smoothing of revenues both before and during the period of implementation. This research contributes to the current debate between accounting professionals and researchers on whether IFRS 9 contributes to smoothing of the company's revenues.

The provision of specialized materials and resources in schools for the implementation of inclusive education: a case of selected schools in Livingstone District of Southern Province of Zambia

2024-08-01T11:28:55+00:00

The study aimed at investigating the availability of specialized resources to be used by learners with disabilities for the purpose of inclusive implementation in schools. The study was guided by the theory of John Rawls of 1971. The study employed a convergent mixed method research design. Purposive sampling was employed to officers from DEBS office and head teachers while simple random probability sampling technique was used to sample teachers. Data collection was based on the questionnaires, interview guide and observation schedule. The results from the findings revealed that there were inadequate resources and learning materials in schools in Livingstone. The study revealed that inclusive schooling policy in Livingstone District was not effectively implemented by schools as it did not meet the needs of learners with special education needs adequately.. Most teachers do not have basic skills and knowledge to teach in an inclusive class room. It was also found that learners with special education needs received very little support from school management. The study recommends that adequate resources and learning materials should be provided by government to ensure effective implementation of inclusive education for all learners in schools. Deploy adequate qualified teachers to handle inclusive education if quality is to be enhanced.