The African Journal of Governance and Development is accredited by the International Bibliography of the Social Sciences (IBSS). In this edition of the African Journal of Governance and Development, we examine issues of foreign aid, secondary education, higher education and social media.
Abstract
Introduction
Therefore, foreign debt and foreign aid can be a good or bad thing for the economy depending on how the government uses it. This is where the study comes in - it aims to empirically analyze the impact of foreign aid and external debt on the economy in Africa and how governance indicators affect this relationship.
Literature Review
In Tanzania, Albiman (2016) found that foreign aid has a negative effect on the economy using the Dynamic OLS estimation technique, which differs from the Zimbabwean case study of Moyo and Mafuso (2017) who found that foreign aid has a positive effect on the Zimbabwean economy. Mallik (2008) collected data from the six poorest countries in the world and found that foreign aid still has a negative effect on the economies of these countries.
Data, Model and Methodology
Using time series data from 1970 to 2010, they found that foreign aid has a positive effect on the economy, while foreign debt has a negative effect on the economy. Tait and Siddique (2015) found that foreign aid improved the economy and this effect did not depend on the degree of freedom of 25 sub-Saharan African countries.
Results and Discussion
The coefficient means that with other factors held constant, a 1% increase in corruption control increases the impact of foreign aid on GDP by 0.004%. The negative coefficient implies that, with other factors held constant, a 1% increase in foreign aid to lower-income countries in Africa reduces their GDP by 0.12%.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The study recommends that African countries should formulate strong policies and spend borrowed loans from abroad prudently and be careful when receiving foreign aid. There is no doubt that foreign aid and loans are crucial in Africa as they help finance the budget deficit to meet planned expenditures.
A study on the relationship between corruption and government size: The role of democracy. Munich Personal RePEc Archive MPRA Paper No. Foreign Aid Implications on Economic Growth in Least Developed Countries.MPRA Paper 39518, University Library of Munich, Germany.
Management of Institutions within Thomas’s Analytical Framework: A Ugandan Higher Education Case
This paper explores the importance of leadership in the context of higher education institutions in Uganda that have undergone unprecedented mega-changes as in other countries elsewhere (Daigneau, W. et al. 2005; Staley and Trinkle, 2011). Therefore, management practices in higher education institutions in Uganda and elsewhere in the world cannot avoid being shaped by the external environment.
Defining and Managing of Higher Education Institutions in Uganda
Higher education institutions in Uganda operate under the legal and regulatory frameworks set out in the Universities and Other Tertiary Institutions Act (UOTIA, 2001), as amended, and other frameworks of the National Council for Higher Education (NCHE). Given that governance is central to the management of higher education institutions, the aim of this paper is to explain what governance is, not in terms of structure, but in the context of function within higher education institutions.
Rational Profession Perspective and Management of HEIs in Uganda
Managers make decisions and act in the interest of the organization, i.e. the achievement of unified goals. They argue that people do not behave like rational machines even in the most organized organizational structures (Herbert, 1955).
Agency of Capital Perspective and Management of HEIs in Uganda
In such a complex, uncertain and dynamic economic environment, pure objective rationality explaining managerial behavior in which managers have total control over situations is highly questionable. Rationality in managerial behavior in such a complex environment is subjective and managers must adapt to emerging challenges and realities of the times.
Agency of Capital and Management of Private HEIs in Uganda
The managers are usually under pressure to fulfill the interests of the owners or shareholders. Managers of private universities are said to have personal interests and goals to pursue, which tend to conflict with those of the owners.
Agency of Capital and Management of Public HEIs
University of the Martyrs, Islamic University in Uganda, Bugema Adventist University, are some of the private faith-based universities. The managers of private HEIs are responsible to the owners of these institutions and are expected to make rational managerial decisions that maximize the wealth of the owners (shareholders).
Political Perspective and Management of HEIs in Uganda
Based on the background given above, politics in the management of higher education institutions in Uganda stems from the diversity of interests and the need to somehow resolve those conflicting interests. On politics in the management of HEIs in Uganda, we conclude that politics is an unavoidable part of management behaviour.
Magic/Religion Perspective and Management of HEIs in Uganda
Political behavior in the management of HEIs in Uganda, especially public HEIs, is also evident when institutional politics are intertwined with national politics. Managers of higher education institutions operate in conditions of uncertainty and complexity in the higher education environment.
Conclusion
Organizational responses to public sector reforms in higher education in Uganda: A case study from Makerere University. State of Tertiary Education and Training in Uganda: A Report on Tertiary Education Delivery and Institutions.
Teacher Support Systems and Quality of Pedagogical Practices in Uganda’s Public Secondary Schools
The study focused on two main concepts: teacher support systems and the quality of pedagogical practices. The quality of pedagogical practices was used to mean teaching strategies that enhance learning and focus on the quality of learning outcomes (Kahsay, 2012).
Literature review
Regarding teacher evaluation and the quality of pedagogical practices, the findings of several previous studies revealed a strong relationship between teacher evaluation and the quality of teaching and learning in schools. Secondly, in order to elicit the opinions of DASH inspectors and selected school leaders on the contribution of supervision and evaluation of teachers to the quality of pedagogical practices, the interview method and the relevant interview guide were used.
Results
The majority (56.2%) of the teachers indicated that they have challenges with explaining concepts using real examples. The majority (86.1%) of the respondents agreed that they made corrections when returning marked scripts.
Verification of the hypotheses
Pseudo R2 = 0.5047 means that the explanatory variables in the model explained 50.5% variability in the overall quality of pedagogical practices. The results mean that with the other explanatory variables held constant in the model, the quality of pedagogical practices will improve significantly with increased teacher supervision and evaluation.
Discussion of Results/Findings
Teacher supervision, with the highest coefficient of 1.89, most characteristically explained the variation in the quality of pedagogical practice in public secondary schools. The quality of teaching practices is largely anchored on teacher support systems, but formative assessment systems are barely in place and summative teacher assessment is irregular in public secondary schools in Uganda.
Health Remedy Fallacies Strike Social Media: What is the Role of Development Education?
The past few decades have seen social media (SM) dominate other forms of media in the world, achieving unparalleled prominence with its endless opportunities for users to both consume and create media (Thompson, Dawson, & Ferdig, 2008). In fact, as efforts in 'development education' spread, especially in developing countries like Uganda in the last two decades, there has been little or no awareness among the beneficiaries, perhaps resulting in the population becoming passive recipients. information – with few attempts to critically assess their authenticity.
The Context and Problem
While most of the time medical professionals agree with information published as medical aids, sometimes they are not. Therefore, although the authors adopted some of the theories, they are aware of their duration.
Need for Theory to Extend to Health Behaviours
Health is defined as the state of balance of mind and body, and research has found that health is managed through the effective transfer of knowledge to individuals, clients and families (van Eemeren, 2009). In recognition of the challenges, many researchers and theorists use typologies and classification systems to describe types of theories in the context of purpose, functions, boundaries and goals, especially in the field of technology (Gay and Weaver, 2011).
Uses and Gratifications Theory
In fact, the Uses and Pleasures theory originally grew out of Maslow's (1970) Needs and Motivation Theory, which suggests that people act in accordance with a specific personal hierarchy of needs. Therefore, while the first three assumptions are relevant, especially the existential need for users with health conditions, the theory also articulates the interests of most SM users (Kahneman, 2011).
The Theory of Social Media Interaction
Social Media Interaction theory has four underlying assumptions: (1) SM is a means of accessing and obtaining information; (2) SM creates a virtual community where interaction takes place; (3) Different groups may have different cultural practices regarding the acquisition and dissemination of information; and (4) Humans interacting rationally seek to maximize their health. Similarly, social media interaction theory has four fundamental propositions: (1) Interaction changes over time;. 2) SM promotes well-being; (3) Successful interaction leads to active participation; and (4) SM spreads information quickly.
Related Literature
The key concepts of the theory are defined accordingly: personal health agenda, SM transaction, social exchange and social integration (Meleis, 2007). Many of the so-called fallacies of reasoning can also be considered cognitive heuristics or shortcuts that help individuals make decisions in these contexts (West, et al. 2007).
Findings and Discussion
The analysis was guided by content and narrative analysis as well as stories and narratives. Instead, the author turned to more analytical and interactive techniques to discover the reasons why SM users do not use a critical approach to analyze the information published in SM.
Consumption of Sugars
Likewise, it's no secret that exercise and a healthy diet are among the most important ways to lower blood pressure.
Consumption of Water
Water is present in liquids and foods and is essential for daily use to replace the large amounts of water that are continuously lost each day through evaporation from the skin, respiration, urine and feces. In addition, the posts often do not provide the symptoms of water poisoning and how it can be fixed.
Use of Ginger
In fact, drinking water (whether plain or in the form of juices or other foods) is essential to one's health (Thompson, et al. 2008). While both unnamed publishers had genuine concerns and valid arguments, the ideal amount of water to consume was never suggested.
Honey Consumption
Lemon Water Consumption
Use of Garlic
Consumption of Aloe Vera
It is a rage in the beauty and health world, all thanks to the presence of several medicinal properties. While aloe vera may have several benefits, it has various implications that include: latex, which comes from under the plant's skin, causes skin allergies, eye redness, skin rashes, irritation, and a burning sensation (Kahneman, 2011).
Consumption of Green Tea
There is no denying that it is loaded with nutrients, but there is a chance that aloe vera may not suit your body, skin or hair, which may further lead to side effects. Similarly, the bioactive compounds in aloe vera can interfere with the liver's detoxification process, further causing health complications.
General Discussion
Aloe vera also leads to a drop in blood sugar levels, dehydration and reduced levels of potassium in the body, which further causes an irregular heartbeat, weakness and fatigue, especially in the elderly and sick. Aloe vera is further discouraged among pregnant women and lactating mothers due to its properties that stimulate uterine contractions, which can lead to birth complications.
Conclusion and Recommendation
Consequently, development education, as a form of emancipatory and dialogical learning, is based on “critical-humanistic pedagogy” – which is unfortunately lacking among most social media users. Take two aspirin and tweet me in the morning: how Twitter, Facebook and other social media are reshaping healthcare.
Social Accountability Mechanisms in a Decentralised State: Exploring Implementation Challenges
Carmago and Jacobs, however, differed sharply when they argued that citizens' demand for social responsibility stems from poor administrative capacity that impoverishes communities and leads to underdevelopment. In South African municipalities, adherence to CSR has become a challenge for many local governments due to a weak understanding of CSR and a reluctance to hold communities accountable for how public funds are used (Carmago & Jacobs, 2015; Brinkerhoff & Wetterberg, 2015).
Theoretical framework: New Public Management (NPM)
This view contradicts the goals of social accountability in some respects, as it assumes that citizens and civil society organizations must work together to demand accountability from government officials. Nevertheless, civic participation is enabled under the NPM, where social accountability mechanisms can be used to engage civil servants in service delivery issues (Hughes, 2003).
Contextualising Social Accountability
The NPM focuses more on efficiency and ignores the traditional principles of public administration, which speak of equality, fairness, fairness and control, among other things. The lack of social inclusion in the NPM model defeats the goal of civic engagement in social responsibility, as the goal is to integrate all involved communities to speak with one voice, which is fundamental to attract government attention.
Mechanisms used in Social Accountability Processes
Oversight Structures: Committee System: Choice between Section 79 and Section 80 Committee
The importance of izimbizos is that citizens got the opportunity to ask officials about the nature and strategy of service provision in their communities. From this discussion, it can be argued that izimbizos provides a platform that allows citizens to engage public officials, but citizen participation is necessary for izimbizos to work well for effective service delivery.
Ward Committees
Nevertheless, the success of izambiz as a social accountability mechanism depends on citizen participation in policy development to ensure that local government is responsive to citizen demands and accountable and transparent to the public (Theron, 2005:64; Buccus and Hicks, 2008). Very few studies have been conducted in South Africa to assess the use of social audits when officials are required to be socially accountable.
Service Delivery Satisfaction Surveys
A questionnaire survey was designed to examine the effectiveness of social accountability mechanisms used by citizens to demand service delivery in the City of Tshwane. The second focuses on the effectiveness of the identified social accountability mechanism towards improving service delivery in communities governed by the City of Tshwane.
Public Official’s Response to the Grievances of People in Service Delivery
First, the researchers distributed questionnaires to 270 participants drawn from selected communities in the City of Tshwane. This section discusses the results, interprets and analyzes the quantitative and qualitative data collected from both citizens and municipal officials in the City of Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality.
Municipal’s Limited Financial and Human Resources to Implement Social Accountability Mechanisms
Findings from key informant interviews revealed that in most cases, citizens are not aware of the availability of innovative opportunities that they can use to increase social accountability. Increasing access to human and financial resources is key to exercising social accountability in the communities we govern.
Corruption and Poor Governance in Social Accountability Mechanisms
From the graph, a question was posed to respondents whether corruption and poor governance discourage social accountability in communities. However, only a few of the respondents (10.4%) disagreed that corruption and poor governance discourage social accountability.
Influence of Political Environment and Social Accountability
The pie chart above shows that 25.6% of respondents who took part in the survey strongly disagree that the political environment is an obstacle to exercising social responsibility. Findings from interviews with key informants further revealed that, despite the plethora of social accountability mechanisms, citizens have a limited capacity to hold civil servants accountable for service delivery.
Conclusions
Such citizen participation in social accountability mechanisms can help to hold municipal officials accountable for their actions in service delivery. The participation of citizens in social accountability can be influential by using the already existing digital platforms (WiFi hotspots, social networking platforms, Facebook, Twitter and the municipal website).
Acknowledgements
Understanding social accountability: politics, power and the construction of new social contracts, The Journal of Development Studies, Vol. The role of social accountability in poverty alleviation programs in developing countries: an analysis with reference to Bangladesh.
BOOK REVIEW ESSAY
Governance and the postcolony: Views from Africa
Overarching argument, structure and contributors
Analytic Review of Governance and the postcolony: Views from Africa
If we are not aware of the strengths and weaknesses of African ways of knowing from ages past, we consider approaches like network management to be new. The effort to unpack and understand the term governance is a strong point.
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