American Research Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Nibret Sefiw Adugnaw (MSc) 

The paper is addressing the impact of urban expansion on agricultural land in Lalibela town, Amhara regional state, Ethiopia and the most problems that occurs in the study area arereducing the amount of urban and rural agricultural lands, displacement of farmers from their agricultural land, loss of the most productive agricultural land, and land disputes.The town covers an area of 92,166 kilometer square and it is one the municipal woreda witha population of 51,328.It consists of six (6) woredas. Tools and methods include questionnaires for affected households,focus group discussion, field observation and from the municipal and agricultural development office through interview were applied to investigate on the impact of urban expansion on agricultural land. To meet the general objective, the following specific objectives were set: determining the amount of agricultural land lose caused by urban expansion andassessing the driving forces for urban expansion on agricultural land in the study area. The collected data results showed that, there were rapid conversions of agricultural land for urban use in Lalibela woreda. During the year 2011-2020 more than 1543 hectares amount of agricultural land were used for residential land use in Lalibela town. The main driving forces contributed for urban expansion on agricultural land were increase in population through rural to urban migration and natural increase in the town.There are different mechanisms to reduce losses of agricultural land due to urban expansion. Such as, vertical urban development, compact settlement, applying zoning regulation of the town, building social service at kebele level to minimize rural-urban migration, use properly family planning method, building condominium, the expansion of the town must consider agricultural land and the local government must take in to account the agricultural land to protect from urban expansion.

Col Gaurav Bhatia*, Sheela Misra**; Priyanka Verma**, Arundhati Bhatia***

Instances of natural and anthropogenic disasters are on a steadyrise, all over the world. These instances have accentuated the need for a well-trained, adequately equipped force to ensure that mitigation measures are in place, preparedness for disasters is complete as also to conductrelief and rescue operations when disasters strike. The answer to a simple question - “What is the most appropriate strength of a Disaster Response Force at a State / Union Territory (UT) level?” proved to be the start point for this intriguing academic study. While evaluating the Disaster Score Cards (DSC) for each State / UT, aspects such as the Population, Number of Districts, GDP, Hazards, Vulnerability, Exposure, Capacity were considered. The basic equation of Risk=[Hazard ×Vulnerability ×((Exposure )/Capacity) ] forms the bedrock of the study which draws on existing datasets based on a set of common indicators for deriving the variables for each State and UT in the above-mentioned equation, on a scale of 1 - 10. These values collectively derive a Composite Disaster Risk Index (DRI), and a Disaster Resilience Index (DResI) based on a scale of 1 to 100. These factors together are evaluated to arrive at a cogent, empirically sound quantitative model to estimate the probable strength of a Disaster Response Force, which may be mandated for a particular State / UT.

Ahmed Aldousari

Students with dyslexia often face many challenges in their learning process. Some of the challenges could be trying to understand the content when they lack the ability to read properly. Teachers, however, and all other professional stakeholders have a duty to find ways to help these students meet quality education and exploit their maximum potential despite their challenges. By incorporating technological solutions in the classrooms, academic challenges for learners can be reduced, ensuring that students with dyslexia get the most out of the education process. Therefore, this systematic literature review aims to explore what mobile applications are available that can be used to enhance the learning experience for students with dyslexia and what the literature says about how the overall learning experience of these students might change by providing mobile applications. Nine articles met the criteria for review and were included. The results showed that the introduction of mobile applications can effectively enhance the learning process, essentially pertaining to individuals with dyslexia. Furthermore, the various systems being developed in the form of m-learning applications are proving to be useful, especially on pre-literacy and dyslexic learning. The new developments are poised to increase students with dyslexia motivations for learning since they grant them an opportunity and avenue to make the learning process easy for them. The review concludes that there is a need for more research to determine what development components are needed to evaluate the mobile application that being used for students with dyslexia.

Gemeda Akuma Kubura1*, Fekede Silashi Fufa2

This study deals with the emerging dynamics of socio-religious controversies and conflicts in south western Ethiopia particularly in Jimma Zone. Religious controversies and conflicts have become topics of discussion among peoples across Ethiopia, particularly in Jimma. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine the emerging dynamics of socio-religious controversies and conflicts in Omo Nadda woreda. To this end, qualitative data gathering method was employed. A total of thirty six research participants: from the dwellers, religious leaders, administrative and police offices of woreda and zonal level were purposely selected and interviewed. Besides, FGDs and case study was conducted. The research participants were drawn from different social strata, gender, age, ethnic background, marital status and religious background. Moreover, relevant documents were reviewed. All the data generated through these data gathering tools were analyzed thematically and meanings were constructed out of them. The study examined and tried to identify different factors contributing to Muslim-Christian controversies and conflicts. Similarly, it explored how the emerging religious teachings undermined the healthy relationship between the inhabitants. The study further examined controversies over religious radicalization among different sections of the community and how the local authorities have been trying to resolve religious conflicts and mitigate religious controversies in south western Ethiopia.

Dr. Saroj Malik,Asst. Professor

A child’s future depends on the form of education he/she receives. “Education begins at home”, there is no truer sentence, but the education a child acquires at school is just as important to mold the lifestyle of the child. Their career, psyche, mentality, connection with society depends on the education received at school. And a well-defined and well-planned education policy helps for the growth of a nation’s economy and social position. Based on the culture, tradition, and societal view, a country adopts an education policy. And with the growth observed in our country’s most valued possession, the intellectual youth, the adoption of a new education policy seems to be a progressive thought. This paper concentrates on highlighting the innovations and new adaptions in NEP 2020 along with its comparison with the existing policy, merits, implications, and improvements.

Markella-Elpida Tsichla

The cultural activity of the Municipality of Thessaloniki begins in the first post-war years and especially in the 50’s and later, in order to cover the inability of the Greek state to finance cultural activities outside the capital. This weakness is based on the fact that Greece came out devastated by the German occupation, but also by the civil war, which was the painful result of national division. On the other hand, it was considered a symptom of the Cold War. Consequently, the Municipality of Thessaloniki with its meager forces undertook the task of promoting and familiarizing its citizens with forms of contemporary culture and modern art, as the cultural heritage of the ancient Greek world was in the hands of of the central administration. Along the way, the Municipality of Thessaloniki and its departments take up the organization of art exhibitions, mainly of artists who came both from the city and from the Macedonian hinterland. The first concern of the Municipality was the creation of a gallery with works by contemporary artists and then it implemented a cultural activity, which was to become one of the most important cultural institutions in the country: Dimitria Festival, in the honor of the patron saint of Agios Dimitrios. During the Political Changeover, the Municipality of Thessaloniki increased its activities in the field of Culture as the economic situation of Greece significantly improved being a permanent member of the European Union since 1981. Thus, sponsorships were made by its citizens for the creation of new cultural infrastructure (Vafopouleio Cultural Center, History Center); the architectural wealth of the once prosperous Jewish community was used for cultural purposes, and also the Ottoman buildings, which are scattered throughout the city, were preserved.

Rhonda Dookwah and Gabriel Julien

This action research highlights the experiences of undergraduate students who studied Developmental Mathematics using the Problem-Based Learning(PBL) strategy. They were exposed to fifteen weeks intervention at a Higher Educationinstitution in Trinidad and Tobago called HilltopCollege. A review of the existing literature within the local context indicated that there is a paucityof information about theirexperiences.Consequently, their experiences are critically important since they can be an impetus for the formulation of policy and implementation towards the teaching/learning of Developmental Mathematics inthis country.Thus, it is absolutely necessary that policy makers heed the voices of these students especially when they are formulating curriculum that pertain to Developmental Mathematics. A qualitative case study was conducted to carefully ascertain their experiences and answer the research question: What are students´ experiences with Problem-Based Learning in the study of Developmental Mathematics at Hilltop College? Twenty-four students participated. A structured questionnaire and semi-structured interviews were utilized with four focusgroups. Data were analyzed under six major headings: Approach to teaching, social relationships, resources, pace of teaching, emotional intelligence and the role of the teacher. Recommendations strongly advocating that student-centered strategies be employed when studying Developmental Mathematics were also offered.

1Rhonda Dookwah, Gabriel Julien 2

This research highlights the experiences of sixteen undergraduates who studied Macroeconomics at a higher education institution in Trinidad and Tobago called Prestigious College. The students used the Problem-Based Learning (PBL) approach for the first time and were extremely excited and anxious about learning through the use of the PBL strategy. Furthermore, they were quite willing to deviate from the traditional instructional method to accept the PBL. A review of the existing literature within the local context, indicated that there is a dearth of information about the experiences of these undergraduates who study Macroeconomics, using the PBL approach at Prestigious College. Hence, their voices and opinions about their experiences are absolutely necessary since they can be a catalyst for the proper creation of policy and implementation of PBL in this country. Moreover, their voices and opinions answer the research question: What are students´ experiences with Problem-Based Learning in the study of Macroeconomics at Prestigious College? Consequently, an action research which used a case study was employed to adequately ascertain their experiences. It involved semi-structured interviews with four focus groups. Data were collected, collated, analyzed and narrated using two major themes: PBL motivates learners and PBL facilitates self-directed learners. Recommendations strongly advocating student-centered strategies were also offered.

*EGOBUEZE, Anthony, PhD, OGELE, Eziho Promise, AJUNWO, Daniel

The Legislature is officially elected or otherwise selected body of people vested with the responsibility and power to make laws for the good governance of the State. The Legislature like every other institution of the State, hardly functions without conflict which could either be internally or externally induced. This research is empirical, and interrogates conflicts in the National Assembly of Nigeria between 1999 – 2018 and reviews the implications for democratic consolidation. Employing secondary data and content analysis as methods of data collection and analysis as well as conflict theory as a framework of analysis, the study revealed the inordinate ambition of the political class to retain power at all cost for economic gains as the major cause of conflicts in the Legislature and recommends respect for the rule of law, making legislative offices as part-time and less attractive as the panacea for democratic consolidation.