Retirement is an inevitable end for people engaged in full-time employment. But the quality of life after retirement is a grave concern for many because retirement is not well prepared for. Seventh-day Adventist Church pastors in Africa traditionally rely on church-sustaining benefits for retirement. However, the inadequacy of such provisions has left many pastors in penury at retirement. This study investigated the pre-retirement financial behaviorsand preparedness of Seventh-day Adventist pastors in Africa. It focused on Seventh-day Adventist (SDA) pastors studying at the Theological Seminary of the Adventist University of Africa (AUA), Kenya. The study adopted a descriptive, quantitative research design. A total of 105 pastors participated in the study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, such as frequency and percentage. The findings revealed positive pre-retirement behaviour but low financial literacy and inadequate financial preparedness for retirement. Therefore, activities and policies that can increase financial education and pension scheme literacy should be implemented in the ministerial education. Furthermore, ongoing educational initiatives and collaborations with financial experts to mentor pastors are worthwhile and beneficial for enhancing pre-retirement behavior and financial preparedness among SDA pastors in Africa.
Nigeria’s development journey is characterised by numerous economic reforms aimed at catalysing citizens’ welfare and development since its independence in 1960. Regimes, military and civilian, have adopted diverse christened economic reforms such as development plans, Operation Feed the Nation, SAP, NEEDS, and ERGP. The overarching question of whether these policies achieve the intended welfare of citizens and enshrine sustainable economic development remains paramount to achieving SDG 8. This sets the objective for this study. The research adopted a qualitative analytical design and employed secondary data sources from credible online and offline to interrogate Nigeria’s experience. It found that the series of economic reforms undertaken was abysmally low, made sustainable economic development difficult, inflicted pains on Nigerians and betrayed their promised expectations. Hence, the repeated regime’s disappointment qualified the parenting tough love approach to theory in application to the government-citizen relationship. The study canvass, amongst others, suggests that the government should be selective of the policy to adopt.
This study investigated the vocational goals of tertiary-level students with hearing impairments in Calabar, Nigeria, using an ex post facto research design. Specifically, it examines the influence of emotional, social, academic, and physical self-concepts on students’ career aspirations. Data were collected from 90 students in the Department of Special Education, University of Calabar, through structured surveys and interviews. Four hypotheses were tested using descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. The findings revealed that emotional self-concept significantly influenced vocational goals (X̄ = 23.63; F = 3.231, p < .05). Social and academic self-concepts also significantly influenced students’ vocational aspirations, highlighting their critical role in the career development of students with hearing impairments. The study concluded that these students encountered multiple academic and vocational challenges that may have limited their career outcomes. Therefore, it recommends the provision of specialized vocational training programs, increased access to sign language interpreters, and stronger collaboration among educational institutions, industries, and parents to support effective vocational development for students with special needs.
The application of artificial intelligence (AI) to pedagogical frameworks is rapidly evolving, particularly in STEM education. This study investigated research trends in the literature on AI and STEM education from the earliest to the most recent. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to answer seven research questions. The Scopus database was used to collect data, yielding 354 documents from 2008 to 2025. The findings revealed that publication trends in AI and STEM education increased gradually, whereas the annual citation rate fluctuated. According to the keyword co-occurrence analysis, STEM education, AI, and robotics were the most commonly used terms. Research trends in AI and STEM education are evolving from the integration of simple computer systems in early publications to the practical use of AI platforms, such as ChatGPT, in STEM teaching. These findings provide comprehensive information and insights into the dynamics of AI and STEM education, informing future research.
This study examined the interplay between academic interest and academic performance among high school students in Uganda, with emphasis on the role of motivation in learning. The study was guided by Self-Determination and Expectancy–Value Theories. A quantitative correlational design was employed, involving 297 students selected through proportionate stratified random sampling. Academic interest was measured using a 19-item questionnaire, while academic performance was assessed using promotional grades. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and simple linear regression. Results indicated generally high levels of academic interest among students. Significant positive relationships were observed between academic interest and performance in arts subjects (r = .167, p < .01) and overall academic achievement (r = .138, p < .05). However, no statistically significant relationship was observed between academic interest and science performance (r = .102, p = .077). The study concluded that academic interest contributes to overall academic performance, though its influence varies across subject areas. We recommend that educators adopt interest-enhancing strategies, particularly in science subjects, to improve student engagement and learning outcomes.
